After having a Kindle for a full year, and not reading a fiction print novel since then, I decided it was time to (literally) dust off the old paperbacks I hadn't read yet and dive in. I chose to go with an author that I loved in high school to help ease me back into the paper world...Dean Koontz. I noticed a huge difference right away. No automatic bookmarks! I had to dig around for a book mark (which ended up being a sticky note...) and found TONS of them, but... they were all from when I was much younger. And it was obvious. After that I figured, I would actually share my "rediscovery" experience with everyone... so here we go!
What I missed about my Kindle:
What I missed about my Kindle:
- Automatic bookmarks - ugh...hate it when bookmarks fall out! And I refuse to "dog ear" or fold over the corner of a page.
- Kindle book light - just better lighting than overhead lighting
- Size - it is sooo skinny it fits in my purse without making it bulky
- Weight of my Kindle - even with my case on, it still weighs less than the paperback book
- The device itself - because I just love it that much!
- Having a built-in, easily and quickly accessible dictionary
- Hands free reading - using the stand on my case
- One hand reading - holding my book with just one hand for more than 2-3 minutes..without pain.
- Book Library - I really missed being able to access more than one book at a time.
- Anonymity - Nobody would know what I was reading or working on.
- Notepad - used to jot down the book recommendations people give to me while on campus.
- .... (I missed everything about my Kindle!!)
- Smell - Fellow book junkies can agree! New books smell good!
- The sound of "breaking" the spine of a brand new book.
- Feeling the amount of pages I have/have not read
- No Dictionary - find words I didn't know; write down the words; look up the words later (if I remember)...too much work!
- Smell - Old book smell isn't that great.. especially dusty and dirty old book smell. Now before you get all jumpy, I keep my books in a drawer, not on shelves, and they still got dusty and gross.
- Texture - when it's cold outside your skin might not be as soft or smooth...rough skin can easily catch on the paper and makes the pages feel gritty... ewww (cringe)
- Covers - I love cover art, but hate it at the same time. Everyone and their brother knows what I'm reading and feels that it is their civic duty to ask about it.
- Holding it open - I didn't really like having to hold it open, it's not easy to multitask after a while.
- Bookmarks - finding a bookmark that didn't slid out, wasn't easy to loose or one that I actually wanted to keep with me was annoying, so I decided to just use a sticky note. Generic, but it worked!
- Yellowing - paper is biodegradable so it oxidizes and yellows over time. My paperback books are three years old and turned that oh-so familiar light yellow color.
- Slower reading - Oddly enough, I read slower with the print copies than I do with an ebook. Weird? Anyone else?
8 comments:
I love my books, so I feel like I'm going to have a difficult time transitioning when I get a Kindle. However, after reading your post, maybe it won't be as difficult as I imagine? I love devices, and am addicted to my Blackberry - so, I know I'm going love *that* aspect of the whole experience. I love organization, and compactness as well . . . so . . . I can't wait to get a Kindle!
Interesting coincidence: I'm writing a biography about Dean Koontz right now.
I bet you will love it Jenn! I LOVE gadgets too. My Kindle was sort of a 'gateway drug' to getting even more gadgets though. haha.
I also read slower with a print book, and I haven't found a bookmark yet that doesn't slide out.
See! I'm not the only one. :D
I'm glad that I got my Kindle for Christmas from my family.
I was a very lazy reader who continually half finished books. I think it was the fact that I was put off by the number of pages left to read.
Although there is the progress marker at the bottom of the page, it feels less imposing when reading a book.
Would I go back to the days of pre-Kindle? Certainly not as it's inspired me to read again, set up my own blog and make new friends in the book blog community.
I don't think I'll ever be able to go back anymore either. It was pretty difficult for me, although it was interesting! Thanks for stopping by Theta! :D
I haven't fully converted to the Kindle...and to be honest I probably never will. The one thing I don't miss about books (drum roll)... by the time I've finished (and/or reread) a paper/hard back book they are all crooked from the way I hold them. Oh and I don't miss book covers falling off. Am I the only one that happens to? My favorite book, well one of them, "Blood and Chocolate" has the cover taped on...yeah, I really love it that much I've read it enough times the cover has nearly fallen off =]
Sidney - the dust jackets are always falling off for me too. I hate it! You have an iPad. That's close enough! :P
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