Why I Love My Kindle Even More Than Books

I have been in love with books since the moment I learned to read. My childhood dream was always to someday have my very own home library filled floor-to-ceiling with books. When we remodeled our home four years ago we converted what was supposed to be the formal dining room into a library with built-in bookshelves and while the books don’t reach from floor to ceiling, I felt like my dream had finally come true. I was in heaven.

Simply put, books are my friends. I love the way they look. I love the way the feel. I love the way they smell.

When the Kindle first came out several years ago, I turned up my nose. After all, I was a purist. I love real books, I insisted. I want to feel them in my hands while I’m reading and see them on my shelf when I’m done. I liked the visual reminder of what I’ve read, liked the experience of reading a BOOK, not some silly electronic gizmo.

But then, about three years ago, I was doing some research on a particular topic and the only books I could find on the subject were Kindle books. After hemming and hawing for a while, then searching around some more and still finding nothing, I finally broke down and ordered the cheapest Kindle option I could get (only $69!)

To say it changed my life is not an exaggeration.

To my utter surprise, I absolutely loved reading books on my Kindle. In the years since, I have ordered two more Kindles for my own family, and have given them as graduation gifts to three of my college-bound nieces and nephews. I went from wondering how anyone could give up real books to wondering how I ever lived without one. After giving it some serious thought, I realized there are seven main reasons I now love reading my Kindle even more than regular books:

It’s Portable

Unlike all those pretty books on my shelves, which are heavy and obtrusive, my Kindle library is completely portable. I’m a pretty fast reader, which means if I am going on an airplane or vacation, I will probably want to read several books along the way. A Kindle is lighter and smaller than even one book, much less three or four. Even if I happen to forget my Kindle and find myself waiting or needing to kill some time, I can take advantage of the free Kindle reading app on my smart phone and have all my books right there at my fingertips. They will even sync to the page I was reading on my other device.

It’s Cheaper

Every day there are literally hundreds–perhaps even thousands–of free books available on Kindle. Since Amazon only allows most books to be free for a few days, that list changes constantly. The best way to keep up with the constantly changing selections is through a site like eReaderGirl.com, which selects 15-20 of the very best free eBooks each day to save you the effort.

While all the free options could probably keep you busy for years to come, it is also nice to know that paid books for Kindle are almost always at least a few dollars cheaper than their paper counterparts. That $3-4 difference can add up to a lot of money over time, especially if you purchase a lot of books.

It’s Unobtrusive

I enjoy reading in bed at night before I go to sleep but the light used to really bother my husband. I love that with the lighted case for my Kindle, I can read to my heart’s content without any of the heavy sighs and annoyed looks I used to get. Depending on which model you choose, it may or may not include a lighted or back-lit screen. The $69 Kindle does not have a light, but there is a nice case available which includes light powered by the Kindle battery. This is the one I have and it works just great!

It’s Shareable

Our one Amazon account is linked to all three of our Kindle devices, as well as to the free Kindle reading app on my phone and my husband’s phone. This means that we can purchase a single book but still read it at the same time on our respective devices. It also means that even if I happen to forget my Kindle, I’ve still got my books available to read on my phone. The sharing isn’t limited to our own books, either. As Amazon Prime members we can also “borrow” books directly from Amazon–up to one per month–then “return” them without needing to purchase them. Some public libraries also feature a eBook lending option which is very cool.

Better Selection

There are now far more Kindle eBooks published than traditionally published paper books. This is especially true for niche topics that might appeal to a narrow audience, as well as for technology-related books that need to stay as current as possible. Furthermore, new books are often available on Kindle a few weeks or even a few months before they are available in the bookstores.

Clutter-Free

As much as I love my library bookshelves, they are already pretty full, which means at the rate I devour books they would probably be overflowing in just a few years. I am perfectly content to let my bookshelves stay the way they are and let all future acquisitions stay in digital format. This has also been a great way to keep the clutter off my nightstand, where I used to keep a pile of the books I was reading or wanting to read.

Convenience

Call me lazy, but I just love the fact that I can download a new book to my Kindle in less than a minute without having to even get up, without having to go to the store or wait for shipping. Granted, that much convenience can be a little dangerous (another reason to pick free books as often as possible) but for me the easiness factor far outweighs any detriments. It is instant gratification at its finest.

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Do you have a Kindle or eReader? What do love most about it?

 

This post has been underwritten by eReaderGirl.com. All opinions are mine.   eReader Girl.com is a free website created specifically to help you find all the best FREE and discounted eBook deals for women. Each day eReader Girl highlights 15-20 different FREE books in three basic categories, Nonfiction, Children’s books, and Christian Fiction.

Taking advantage of free book deals on Amazon is a great way to cut costs, but only if you can find them. That’s where eReader Girl comes in–she’s already found and selected all the best free book deals each day. All you have to do is download them. Just add eReaderGirl.com to your daily reading list so you don’t miss a single book.