Praise for Kindles

Maybe it’s Seasonal Affective Disorder. Maybe it’s the polar vortex. Maybe it’s just that time of year. I know I need to go Christmas shopping, but I don’t want to leave the house. Every time I think about getting ready to go, I read a book instead.

I made it to 60 books a little early this year. My new goal is to finish The Count of Monte Cristo before the end of 2016. I’ve been reading it as long as I’ve had my Kindle, so six years.

In 2010 I read a total of 43 books, which was still better than the 20 or so I read in 2009. That was the year I bought myself a Kindle for my birthday. Every year since then, I’ve read at least 60 books, varying from novels to non-fiction books for work.

I doubt I could reach this goal if I didn’t have a Kindle. How could I afford them? Electronic copies aren’t that much cheaper than paper, but they are cheaper, for which I am thankful. Second, where would I put them when finished? I’m all about sharing, but I don’t want my books to end up in the trash because someone else decided gay romance was inappropriate. My bookshelves are full, even after the great purge of 2015. I searched for my copy of Stephen King’s Different Seasons yesterday. I purged every Steven King story collection, not just that one. I’d purchased them second hand, anyway, but it made me sad. There’s only so much space on my floor-to-ceiling shelves, and my love for science fiction and fantasy outgrew horror somewhere in the eighth grade.

The great thing about Kindle – I will always have my books, my notes, and my copied passages. I can TAKE notes, and then copy them into One Note instead of handwritten into a notebook. That’s a huge plus. 

I know Kindles aren’t for everyone, but mine has made life so much easier for me. Over 300 books at my fingertips. It’s even keeping me in shape. I have incentive to work out because I read while I pedal or walk. (Thanks for the font size increase function!)

If you’re still looking for the perfect gift for the writer in your life, consider a Kindle.