Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Is Your Kindle Cluttered? And How About The New Fire?

Less than a year ago I bought my first e-reader, the Amazon Kindle. I thought I was buying it primarily to download research books for my historical novels so I wouldn't have to lug heavy books around. Oh boy, was I ever wrong. I love it. I bought the basic one which I think was about $149.00 then. And I bought a red case and a light to read by at night. My hubby loves it because I don't keep him awake at night. But even more than that I love the fact that the font can be adjusted. This has become very important to me and my changing eyesight. It was bad enough having to get use to bifocals but regular 12 font in a typical paperback novel just isn't what it used to be. I would have loved to have had this as a kid when I was growing up. I could have stayed awake all night under the covers with my ability to read by Kindle light. :)

Now before you think I've gone completely off the deep end for e-reading, hold on a minute. I still love a book with a beautiful cover and the feel of real pages. I don't think I'll ever not love the smell of a new book, the feel of a new book, a traditional author signature of a favorite novel.

But here's a really scary thought. You can now store up to 1,400 books on a Kindle. 1,400! I thought my bookshelves were way to heavy on the home front. I currently have 91 items on my Kindle. 91! What's going on? This is crazy. Isn't it? I don't need 91 books, do I? Is the invention of the e-reader a good thing or is it going to suck away even more of our cherished minutes per day?  What do you think?

And now the Kindle Fire has been unveiled. I didn't buy a Nook because it was too expensive. I'll wait for the Fire to come down in price, but I've got to tell you I'm scared. I think this could be a real time suck. I think I may have to set more boundaries on it's use just because all I'll do is read. And what about all those other features. And Minow thought television a vast wasteland.

Wasteland or treasure chest?  Curse or blessing? How many books do you now have on your e-reader? If you haven't bought one yet what do you think about our changing times and our love of reading?

12 comments:

DRC said...

I don't have an ereader yet, but seeing as I'm publishing an ebook in November, I feel a bit hypocritical. I need to get one - but I don't see the point in getting a bog standard Kindle. The Fire has won me over and I love the idea of the colour screen as opposed to the usual Kindle's black and white one. I go through stages of doing a lot of traveling, and the idea that you can watch films on them too is fantastic! So I'm going to wait until it is released in the UK and the splash out.

Jillian Kent said...

Hi there DRC,
That colour screen does look awesome doesn't it? And I can't think of anything better for traveling. Oh, and when you buy that e-reader think about reading Secrets of the Heart set during the Regency. I'd love your feedback. Are you all able to check out books from your libraries with the e-readers? That's going on here in the states and will also be changing the way we purchase books and visit our libraries.

Speaking of libraries. I hope we don't lose them the way we are loosing bookstores. I think that's the biggest downside of the e-readers, but life changes and this is one of those big changes.

Congrats on the e-book. What's it about?

DRC said...

Hi Jillian...

When I get my eReader, I will certainly check out Secrets of the Heart and give you feedback - although I'm not sure when the Fire is being released in the UK. Our libraries over here are starting to deal with eBooks, so that's good - but I'm like you and hoping that they don't end up disappearing altogether. It frightens me how much people are starting to rely on technology. Where would we be if it all went wrong?

Anyway, my book is a psychological thriller called Son of Jack. It's based around the fears of four strangers living in a soceity shadowed by a serial killer. I usually write fantasy and horror, but this is something I'm using as an experiment to see how the world of eBook publishing actually works. I got so excited about it a little while back that I attempted my own eBook Trailer. Here's the link to that blog post if you're interested. It might give you a better idea of what it's about.

http://nhwcwritingexercises.blogspot.com/2011/08/son-of-jack-ebook-trailer.html

Anne Mateer said...

I love my kindle, though I still love a real book. But lately I've been traveling and especially with the cost of checking luggage, my kindle has allowed me to take more books than I could ever read on each trip for less space than one book! I love it! (And I'm scared to count how many books are on my kindle now.) However, I'll pass on the color kindle or nook, because although they look cool, I need the e-ink instead of the backlit screen to help with eyestrain. :)

Jillian Kent said...

DRC,
You've got me hooked. Even though I write romance I'm fascinated with Jack and the history. Even wrote a paper about him when I studied with a group of students from the states in Oxford. Had to walk home in the fog after research.

Let all of us here know when you publish it. I'll probably scare myself way too much, but it won't be the first time. :)

Jillian Kent said...

Hi Ann,
You know, I didn't check out the eyestrain issue with the new Fire Kindle. That would be a problem for me too. I'll have to go read about that aspect. Maybe by the time I'm ready to spend the money again it will be perfected in that regard. Glad to see you here, kiddo.

Jillian Kent said...

DRC,
I forgot to tell you I watched the trailor. Spooky and creepy. Good job!

Lena Nelson Dooley said...

Actually, I'm leaving my Kindle somewhat cluttered. I've made file folders, and move the books I've read into a "read" file.

I'm leaving all the books on it, because when I'm gone, whichever of my children or grandchildren who ends up with my Kindle will have a wealth of excellent Christian fiction to read.

DebMoss said...

I have a Kindle, and I love it. I just realized that I'm going to have to organize my books on it though because now they are all haphazard. But as much as I love the Kindle, there is nothing like holding a "flesh and blood" book, so to speak, in your hands. Curling with up with a good book, a cup of tea, and an afghan (with my puppy beside me) is heaven on earth!

Jillian Kent said...

Lena,
Don't laugh. Are you telling me you can actually organize the books on the kindle? This is what happens when you're so excited about getting a new toy that you don't read the instructions. Now I really have to go exploring.

And I think you've come up with something that will be included in all our wills now. I bequeath my kindle to ... now that could cause some family squabbles, Lena. :)

Jillian Kent said...

Hi Deb!
You said:"But as much as I love the Kindle, there is nothing like holding a "flesh and blood" book, so to speak, in your hands. Curling with up with a good book, a cup of tea, and an afghan (with my puppy beside me) is heaven on earth!"

I'm so there with you. I have to admit the puppy was a nice touch, Mike Dellosso are you reading this? :)
Deb, you must be careful with these horror writers when you speak of flesh and blood books. :)I've been reading the gang on the left side of the screen too much. Okay, I liked that stuff before I got here so I can't blame them.
Sleep tight.

Welcome to my site said...

Good article on the Kindle Fire.

The Kindle Fire is the true iPad killer. It has more CONTENT than Apple and Android combined! Steve Jobs wanted to nuke Android, but Amazon was nipping in the back tablet door whilst Jobs was fighting Android! Jobs will be turning in his grave...a third tablet rival rises :)

ashane
http://www.kindlefiregeek.blogspot.com/
http://justthewritecharisma.blogspot.com/2011/10/is-your-kindle-cluttered-and-how-about.html
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