(go on guess where the photo is from!)
You are already familiar with my devouring love of all things bookish. Like many bibliophiles I had watched the kindle’s ascent with a mixture of curiosity and superiority. Like my fellow book lovers I argued that, precisely, as a book lover you needed an actual book for the part.
I was also secretly worried that, with my addiction to reading everyday, especially early in the morning and late at night, spending what had previously been non-screen staring time actually staring again at a screen might send me blind. As a lot of people nowadays I should imagine, I spend a significant portion of my day on the computer, for work, studying, emailing, catching up on facebook and reading the paper, etc. After a long day concentrating I could feel that I wasn’t doing my eyes, or head, any good.
I also appreciated the fact that books can be shared and regifted (if you don’t crease the spine), as well as taken to the beach, poolside etc. The logistics and negotiations involved in packing a dozen books for a fortnight’s holiday however, and the sheer feeling of power at having hundreds of books at your fingertips finally tipped the balance however and I went over to the dark side.
Once I got kindle I was hooked, I found I actually read more ( I know, I didn’t think it would be possible) with it, not to mention the joy, the relief to have hundreds of books with me at all times.
Nearly six months later this is still the case, I read the paper during lunch break and enjoy the supermarket queue and waiting for football practice to finish.
Being quite active I’ve always hated to waste my time, so my kindle has actually turned me into a pretty laid-back person, “take your time, no rush” I murmur, nose in the latest chapter of my book.