Kindle

I finally have some spare time for pleasure reading and thus will not spend overly much of it goofing off on here. However, I had promised some links for people with Kindles, and have to touch on that subject.

I started to create a post with links to all of these books on Kindle. However, for whatever reason, the system that allows me to link to most other products in Amazon (including the Kindle technology itself), will not actually allow a link to the Kindle ebooks. Weird, I know. Only the classics will work, so some of the required reading I am doing shows up and I will post Clarissa for anyone interested. If you really just must have the electronic forms, I am sure the book links have a redirect option to purchase the same thing digitally.

One note though on the Kindle. By posting these links I am not saying I prefer the Kindle to any other reader. As a matter of fact, I use the Sony eReader, acquired from Best Buy and absolutely love it. However, many of my friends, family and so on use the Kindle and really love that system too. In short, I have no preference in regards to which electronic reading device you might choose to use. The Kindle links are solely a reflection of my use of Amazon on this blog, chosen for reasons previously explained.

That said, I will make a quick note on the topic of electronic reading devices. I struggled with this one. As you can imagine, I am obsessive about books. I love them and always have. The reading is not by any stretch the only aspect of the experience for me. I adore the books themselves: how they look (especially lined up on rows of shelves in my library, ahhh), how they feel, how they smell, all of it. I find sanctuary in bookstores and libraries. I cringe whenever I hear talk of reducing libraries in favor of electronic media. I truly cherish the book.

But...

Let's just take my of-late much discussed Clarissa. That sucker is HEAVY. And large. And if I am running errands and need to take my reading on the road, do you really think I want to carry it around?? No. You better believe I have the book on my eReader for back up. Trust me, it saves some trouble. These devices weigh nothing, fit in a purse or small bag and can store hundreds of books. When I have to fly across country (or worse still, internationally) I don't necessarily want to stuff six novels in my carry-on. (disclaimer: although such devices will make in-transit reading significantly easier, I must warn that no amount of nifty devices can remedy the horrors of air travel these days. A moment of silence for the good old days when air travel was fun and convenient...) Also, it is helpful that these things usually have the ability to change the size of the font, so people like me, who get motion sick at the drop of a pin, can blow up the font to a huge size and thus read while in transit or working out without incurring a headache or other undesirable malady.

Bottom line: nothing, and I repeat, NOTHING will ever replace the aura of the book. I think it will always be important and necessary. However, adding one of these devices to your library can only compliment and perhaps expand your reading pleasures.

I have rambled on far too long. Here is the link. Should I find a way to add the others at some point, I certainly will. Anyway, my reading calls!
Keep reading!
Sarah