Let this serve as my official confession that I’m starting to change my mind about e-readers.
At first, I’ve been staunchly opposed to them. As a pretty consistent reader, I personally prefer to have a book physically in my hands. There is nothing like feeling the weight of a brand new hardcover. Even turning the pages and having a special bookmark is a big deal.
But for e-readers, that’s just not the case. You can’t “turn” pages, you can’t have a special bookmark (I use a dollar bill, but others like to customize their bookmarks), and you can’t appreciate the artwork on the cover and even inside flaps of the dust cover/jacket.
There is simply more to reading a book than the story. The book itself is a piece of art. Not to sound all artsy and whatnot, but a good dust cover does more than just tell the story…it’s SELLS the story.
But…
I just finished my 3rd book on my e-reader through the Kindle app. I have an old Samsung tablet that is like 3 years old. Not really that old, and it works just fine. I cleaned it up from all the apps my kids had on it and kept it simple, with only the Kindle app really remaining.
No, it’s not a Kindle device by any means. It doesn’t have all the features and options as an actual Kindle does. However, it runs the Kindle app just fine, which means I have digital access to the same books. And so far, it’s working pretty well.
In the past I’ve tried to use the e-reader several times through the Kindle app, never to have finished a book. This summer I gave it another try amd did finish “The Tipping Point” by David Darling on my e-reader, but I struggled with it. The book is great, and so is the story, but my ego fought through using the e-reader so it took me several weeks. I do recommend that you read “The Tipping Point”, as it is a great story!
Why start now?
Simple really. More and more books are starting to come out digitally first before they hit the physical shelves. Amazon is even running promotions to encourage people to download the “e-version” before the physical release.
For example, I was able to download “The Last Protector” by Simon Gervais for FREE a month early because I’m a PRIME member. I had already pre-ordered the physical copy and was eagerly awaiting its delivery. However, I follow Simon Gervais on Instagram and he announced that you could get it early if you were a PRIME member. So, why not?
As for “The Last Protector”, I read it in only a few days, giving the e-reader experience another try. And I have to say, I enjoyed it. My attitude towards it changed after watching the growing popularity of e-book and e-book releases, plus, I researched how much one of the nice Kindle devices cost. My Samsung tablet is free, a new Kindle is like $200+.
Not an affordable investment right now.
So far this year I’ve read the following on the e-reader.
The Tipping Point by David Darling (my review here.)
The Last Protector by Simon Gervais (my review here.)
Without Sanction by Don Bentley (my review here.)
Damascus Station by David McCloskey (currently in progress…very, very good so far!)
And of course, I have another e-book that I’ve pre-ordered which was a no-brainer. If you haven’t, I suggest you do if you like thriller books and espionage. “The Body Man” by Eric Bishop is coming on 11 November, and you can pre-order the e-book right now! (In fact, right here!).
So by the end of the year, I’ll have at least 4 books read on the e-reader if not 5. I’m sure I’ll pick up something else along the way this fall.
A viable option
E-books are going to be a viable option for me as long as the strain on my eyes doesn’t cause any problems. I wear glasses to read and am able to reduce the brightness on my tablet. Reading on it hasn’t been a strain so far, so let’s hope it stays that way.
With the premium book release time of the year coming soon, I’m going to look towards the e-reader to not only help me have a book on the go but also reduce space in my house. I’m running out of bookshelves, and with so many great authors releasing on a yearly basis I’ll either need a second house or e-books!
In the future, I will likely be looking at the Kindle as an option for further reading. It will be an investment, but a worthwhile one. The kindle has features that my tablet doesn’t, despite running the Kindle app. So, I’ll be saving my pennies in hopes of diving in and buying one in 2022.
In a nutshell, consider this guy sold on the e-readers and e-books. It’s a great option that I’ll likely be using moving forward.
Check out the great books mentioned above, and more right here at Goodreads.
