Kindle Love

My sister vows that I'm contributing to the demise of the printed word. My husband fears that instant access to seemingly endless titles will drive my amazon bill to new heights. They may both be right to a certain extent, but still, I love my Kindle.

A birthday gift from the very man who scrutinizes our credit card bills, my Kindle is absolutely my new favorite toy. Truth be told, I was a little unsure of whether or not it would be worth the price tag. It took merely days for it to earn its keep.

I love the instant gratification - er - access. I heard about a book on NPR today, looked it up on my Kindle tonight, and I already have a sample of the book awaiting me, at my beck and call.

I love being able to read the newspaper in a confined space, without getting my hands and clothes dirty.

I love being able to carry around a pile of books in a compact, lightweight, lime-green encased rectangle. Perhaps best of all, I can feed my insatiable book appetite and flip from title to title without having to worry about where I will shelve all the books when I am finished with them.

True, my Kindle doesn't have the feel of a book, though with the cover, it comes close. It doesn't have the heft, either, which is both gratifying and a little sad. As an author, I'd readily agree to make my book available this way, but I'd also feel a little cheated if it wasn't also available in traditional book form.

Much as I love my new toy, however, I still can't imagine abandoning traditional books completely, although I must admit to being more selective about which ones I'll purchase in that form, for reasons of both space and price. I have no intention of ceasing my weekly trips to the library either, believing firmly as both a reader and a writer that there is a place for all kinds of books - hardcover, paperback, electronic, audio - and that my Kindle love is simply proof of that belief.

So, if you'll excuse me, I have a newspaper, several book samples, novels and non-fiction electronic texts clamoring for my attention. Having all of those optionsl literally a touch away may be the best part of all.