I used my e-reader for the first time today. I spent a relatively brief time downloading
free e-books from the Kobo website. I
spent a much longer time trying to find available (and free) books from the
library. The first of those tasks was
fruitful and I now have about 31 books to read.
The second was difficult because anything I wanted was too popular and
was subsequently checked out. In
addition, some of the waiting lists were so long that I didn't feel inspired to
get on them.
As far as reading goes, it seemed rather comfortable. It certainly took less effort to turn the
page--unbelievable to think of all the energy I wasted turning pages the old
fashioned way. (I guess I can take
solace in the fact that I probably burned a few calories the old way)
My first book was a bummer.
It was really short (I read it in about 30 minutes) It wasn't
particularly well written, but since it was free, I really shouldn't
complain. I am on the second book, and
all is progressing nicely. It is better
written, and managed to keep my attention for most of the trip home.
I don't seem to have any eye strain, and the e-reader is
probably lighter than any book I have ever carried on the bus, so I shouldn't
experience any muscle pain. If I have
misjudged this, I will probably wake up tomorrow with an incredible headache.
The only negative thing about the device so far is that way
it counts pages. In a single commuting
session, I read about 200 e-reader pages.
I take pride in my reading speed, but that seems rather fast. The pages are small, so you blast through a
lot of them.
I talked to a woman on my bus and one of those George R. R.
Martin books clocks in at over 1000 pages.
Keeping that in mind, I was temped to download Charles Dickens' Bleak
House, but that would most likely surpass 2000 pages.
Time will tell if this device will replace books for
me. Most likely I will still go to the
library to check out books from time to time.
I can't imagine my life without periodic pilgrimages to the library.
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