Reading in the Digital Age

For a long time I was someone who pooh-poohed the idea of an e-reader.  I will always enjoy the tactile experience of holding an actual paper and cardboard construction.  There are other things that come along with reading a book (over an e-reader), like the smell of it.  Especially an older book that has that thrilling smell that I liken to the smell of an amazing adventure that awaits within.  (Yes, I know that that smell can mean bad things for the book, but I still enjoy it.)

It was hard to sell me on the idea of reading books in a digital reader.  I thought about all those negative things, like screen glare, etc.  That is, until my mother (who is an avid reader herself--albeit one who doesn't like the smell of an old book) got a Kindle last Christmas.  I refused to look at it; to be drawn into its charms (which according to my mom and my sister, it had). 

One day, however, curiosity got the better of me and I gave it the once over.  No glare.  Light weight.  Could look up words you might not know.  I started to win me over little by little.  I still couldn't get on board with owning one, even though I talked to some friends who really were enjoying theirs.  I asked all the questions one asks about how it works, and how much people enjoyed theirs.

I was sold after looking at Amazon.com.  (The price drop didn't hurt, either).  I asked my mother to buy me one for Christmas.  She gave me the money to order it--I ordered the Kindle Touch--so it would be linked to my Amazon account.  I placed the order, and received conformation of shipping just the other day. 

When I received the e-mail that it had shipped, I got very excited.  I went to look for free books offered by Amazon, and wound up downloading 86 titles.  They are mostly classics that I have never read, or have never gotten around to buying a hard copy of.  I'll admit I might have gone a bit crazy with the downloading.

So here it is, November 23rd, and I am expecting it to be delivered to me today.  Granted, I cannot open it, or have anything to do with it until Christmas.  That bugs the crap out of me, because I want to look at it, and play with it a little.  Instead it will be sitting there in its unopened box, taunting me.  That is, unless I can convince my mother to give it to me as an early graduation/birthday gift (both of which take place next month--the 16th and 19th, respectively).  I might just try that, and have her pick me up something else for Christmas!