Why I Don’t Want a Kindle.
The only thing that rivals my passion for food and cooking is reading books.
Holding books in my hand. Smelling them. Seeing them sitting on my shelf. Finding a book that I read years ago that is now tattered and torn.
There is nothing I love more than curling up with a book and getting lost in it. Over the years I have often found myself thinking about a book days after I’ve finished it, hesitating beginning a new one because I am still lost in the previous one. I am a huge dreamer and books take my fantasies to another level.
I don’t ever want to give up holding a book in my hands. I don’t need another screen to look at. Whether it was The Giver or the latest Sweet Valley High book when I was younger, I would spend hours reading, usually finishing an entire book in one sitting.
How I long to have that kind of time again…
93 Comments on “Why I Don’t Want a Kindle.”
I bought one when they first came out (and boyhowdy, am I depressed they are selling for little these days!). I still read books, lol.
However, I’m so ADD/ADHD that I rarely read one book at a time. Then toss in magazines and newspapers. The Kindle allows me to put all that into one little package that I can toss into my handbag and have at the ready. Plus the app also works on my Blackberry. I was picking my niece up from ballet the other day, got there early and read about 10 minutes :)
Many times there will be a situation where I’m ordering books or something from Amazon and it’s cheaper for me to throw in a book for myself than pay for shipping or I’m borrowing a book from a friend.
I <3 my Kindle :)
I feel the same way! I love reading an actual book. I don’t think I would enjoy reading a book on a screen. That’s what blogs are for!
I agree! My entire career as an educator has been spent sharing my love of books. Not keyboards, not gadgets, not things that buzz, light up, and go ding.
Books are for sharing. Books are for quiet moments and cups of hot tea. Please share this with a child.
Ms. How Sweet,
YOU are the bomb!
My boyfriend got me an e-reader for my birthday this year and I was so excited when I first got it, but the novelty wore off quick. You have to turn it off if you’re reading on a plane, and you definitely don’t get that curling up with a book feel like you do with a real book.
i am 100% with you on this one…i love books and the feel of the paper and the smell of the bindings…plus, i really would rather not stare at a screen for the ENTIRE rest of my adult life! books are amazing :)
I’m the same exact way and my boyfriend doesn’t get it. I was just telling him last night that I will always read our children REAL books after seeing a commercial about electronic books for kids.
I love the smell of books, especially old ones. You can’t ever replace that!
Jessica, I’m SO with you! I love the magic of walking into a library and smelling the pages of thousands upon thousands of books that have been around for a while. I love feeling the pages in my hands. I love being able to bookmark or dog-ear a page. And, as strange as it sounds, I love feeling the weight of books in my hands when I go to check them out. It makes me feel nerdy at my finest!
That’s why I don’t books will ever be electronically replaced.
I feel the same way!
I feel the EXACT same way! I even go so far as to only get library books because I like feeling like someone else has read the words of this very book before me and felt the same way I’m feeling. Even if it is germy.
LOVED The Giver when I was younger. I need to reread it.
I completely agree! Isn’t part of the experience of reading browsing the aisles of a book store? And I love used books because I like to imagine who owned it before me and why they sold it in the first place. You can’t do those things with a Kindle!
Plus, I’m a bit of a book snob, and enjoy showing off my collections on the bookshelf my Dad made me for my first apartment :)
You KNOW I feel the same!!!!!!!!!!!
I feel the same…I look forward to go to the library and seeing what I can find!
BTW, did you know this was coming out?? http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2010/07/23/sweet-valley-twins-are-back-and-much-more-adult/
I did! YES!
I loooove reading and always have!!!! The only reason that makes me want a kindle is the fact that I spend plenty of time on the road, and books are heavy….
I am a book purist as well, but guess what? I own a Kindle, too. I have the original version, and yet I still read TONS of books. In fact, I just spent my lunch hour at the library. Kindles are wonderful for travel or when you want a book instantly–I find I go in spurts, where I will read tons of stuff on my Kindle, but then I’ll miss my books and switch back for awhile. Don’t knock it til you’ve tried it, they’re pretty great! :)
Thank you for sharing!
Also, one other quick Kindle note: as long as you turn off the “wireless” part, which I do anyways to save battery, they are fine to use on airplanes. I LOVE mine for traveling–I can “bring along” 7 books on my ONE kindle. Awesome! :)
I was going to do a post about this just the other day. I am a HUGE reader (I even have a tab for book reviews on my blog) and I find myself drawn to the Kindle just for the novelty…maybe. But I do see the allure for traveling. I would still read real books though. That smell, curling up on the couch…I don’t think you can curl up with a screen in quite the same way.
Exactly. But you have a point on the travel!
I love tearing through page after page of a good book =) I agree 100%.
I hear ya, I vow to never give up on books and I also long for those lazy days when I was younger, when I had all the time in the world to read!!
THANK YOU! I never want a kindle either and no one can figure out why!
i agree with you 100%. I’m currently holed up at my aunt’s in Ohio…a cozy fire…a plate of cookies…and a great novel! (American Wife) :)
love,
cathy b. @ brightbakes
I LOVED American Wife. Seriously… it’s one of those books I still think about. I also went and go Laura Bush’s memoir after that because I was so enthralled with her life (even though they say it’s “loosely” based on it).
i love “American Wife”, and I too got Laura Bush’s memoir right after I read it because I hoped it would be an extension of “American Wife”, lol.
Hehehe glad I wasn’t the only one!
I’m a big reader, reading 2-3 books per month, mostly library books, which are increasingly available as ebooks. While paper & ink will always have a special place in my heart, I’ve been moving from that format for a while. I’ve re-read my favorite paperbacks to the point of falling apart and I cringe at their now delicate condition.
I bought myself a Sony Reader for Christmas two years ago and absolutely love it. Changing the font size is handy, and the Reader is a lot easier for me to hold and turn the pages, especially when reading larger books.
Modern, dedicated ebook readers use a screen technology that works just like ink on paper so no eye-strain. And take it outside in the bright sun and it looks exactly like real paper!
Best part, I can put my reader in a resealable baggie (and tape it close if I’m especially paranoid and take it out with me in all kinds of environments and weather and still turn the page.
@Beth On the plane, you have to turn off any wireless features, but you can still read on it. I ALWAYS take mine on the plane with me.
Thanks so much for the insight. Great points!
I lover reading books too! I wouldn’t want to have to upload all my book onto “another screen” like you said. I get enough screen time with my computer!
I still make time to read a whole or most of a book in a weekend, although it’s not as often as I’d like. :)
I completely agree. I love books. I LOVE HOW THEY SMELL.
I have favorites I read over and over, and a bookshelf full of them is beautiful…
<3
books and bingo.
why don’t we live closer to each other?? *sigh*
We would rule the world.
I have to tell you – I used to feel the same way. And I’m a crazy reader too – often finishing full books in a single sitting, and going back to them again and again.
Now, I have a kindle. And it’s awesome. 1-I’ll frequently “browse” my library and go back and re-read much more than I used to. 2-Imagine you’ve finished your book, and you’re about to get on a plane. Quick download, and you can read whatever you want, not whatever they happen to be selling in the airport. 3-No lugging your book back and forth during a commute. 4-Someone suggests a book to you, you download it, you read it. So quick and no waiting for someone else to finish so they can lend it to you!
Those are just a few of the reasons why I love it. And don’t get me wrong, I love hard copy books, but there’s no reason you can’t cherish both those and the electronic version for what it brings.
Thanks girl – those are excellent points!
Man, you like to cook AND read, you sound like me! I think you should have a book section on your blog! Share with us what you are reading and there will bound to be some good conversation. I love your blog! If I could figure out how to put my picture on here like everyone else, I wouldn’t seem like such a creeper :)
I will consider that!
And you’re not a creeper! It is called a gravatar and I think if you google that you may find a way to do it! :)
I have EXACTLY the same issues. I can see the benefits for travel and whatnot since my suitcase to Mexico was nearly overweight due to the five books I insisted on bringing (lounge chair + ocean+ umbrella drink + book = heaven). However, I just have a really hard time letting go of my physical books. I don’t see it being something I’d buy ONLY for travel even tho that’s where I see the benefit, but I don’t see myself actually wanting to use it at home. What’s a girl to do? My boyfriend has one and I asked him to download a book for me so I could give it a full on test drive to see if I could deal with it. I work in technology and am usually an early adopter of all things geeky and techie…this is my one hold out. :)
This is just another example of a post that I read and think, “YES! I am the same way!” I really enjoy your blog and incorporate your ideas into my daily life. Given that I think we’re nearly the same person, that isn’t too hard. :)
Take care!
Thanks so much Kim! I do think that a Kindle would be great for travel… but I don’t travel too much!
I wasn’t a big reader growing up. In fact I hated it. Though I blame that on being forced to read books in school that weren’t interesting…dull and boring or even confusing to me. I got back into reading as an adult and can’t stop. I’m always on the search for a new book. Because of that, my husband got me a nook for Mother’s Day and it’s been the best present… even with all of my random gripes along the way. It took getting use to. I’m with you with the wanting a real book part. I didn’t want to let that go or give in to technology, but it’s easier for me to read this way at night and in bed hidden under the covers… I do this because our youngest is still in our room and don’t want to bother her or my husband with my reading light. I find it weird to read with a real book now but still stand by… if I want a special actual book here or there, I’m going to get it. I’m not totally switched over, there are pros and cons to each option. They’re really handy for if you read a lot or don’t want to carry a bunch of books with you say on an airplane, etc. If you have a friend that has one, give it a try for a week or two and see what you think. They’re actually pretty neat little gadgets.
I also hated being forced to read books, but I think that is just because I am stubborn. However many times I ended up reading the Cliff’s Notes of my english reading assignments because I was way too caught up in my own book at home.
Also, can we start a virtual book club? I’ve seen some other food blogs have done it, but I think that perhaps yours might be more fun. :)
Aw, so sweet of you to say that! I’ll see what I can do. :)
Same here. Books are my trophies to prove just how smart I am ;)
I feel the EXACT same way! Curling up with a blanket and a book is m favoriteee thing to do. I love the way they smell too. Glad I’m not the only one =) I don’t think a Kindle would smell quite as good =)
-www.haleyandpatryan.blogspot.com-
Totally wouldn’t!
I could not agree more. When I’m stressed I go to Barnes and Noble and randomly walk the store pulling this book and that from the shelf to see if it peeks my interest. If it does I add it to a list I keep on my phone called “Books I must read”. I can then request these books at my local library. When I get the email telling me my “hold” is available it’s the greatest thing. Plus I read in the bathtub, I’d be worried I’d get the kindle wet.
I could sit in Barnes and Noble for HOURS.
I could sit in Barnes and Noble for days, and my daughters could sit there for MONTHS! :)
Can totally relate!
right on…i could not agree with you more. i love book stores and it saddens me to think they might disappear :-(
I will single-handedly not let that happen. But… I have no idea how. :)
loved sweet valley high:)
Yes!
Totally agree with you! I grew up going to the library…and you can’t beat the feel or smell of a book. It’s like a gateway back to your childhood!
Perfect description.
This was actually a topic of conversation in one of my graduate classes. As a child, I had soooo many books. I read so often, rereading many books twice. Thankfully, my grandmother kept most of them, and so I have a HUGE classroom library. My students love reading books that were mine!
I prefer books to e-readers, but like some previous posters have said, I could see getting one for travel/to get instantly. The bookstores in my area aren’t always the best in having the books that I want in stock.
Another great point. I didn’t think about access to the books I want but can’t find in a store.
The part I love most about my e-reader is that it does pdf’s so journal articles and research for school can be stored, easily read, highlighted and I take notes on it. I switch between paper books and those on my e-reader. Especially if traveling, I will take my digital because it is lighter and takes up less room, but I still have tons of packed bookshelves too.
If I was in school, I think a Kindle would be key!
I still love books but I don’t love moving big boxes of them and I don’t like the hours at the library. So I bought a Nook. I love that I can download a book anytime, anywhere and read many at a time. And I also love that it can fit in my purse when Lord of the Rings can’t if I’m reading it for the billionth time :-)
Excellent point!
I completely agree! I’d much rather hold a book in my hands than an electronic device, especially after being plugged in all day. However, I do love the instant-access feature of ebooks, so I have ordered a few on occasion and then just read them on my computer.
I agree… I’m such an internet generation freak that I could see myself loving the instant gratification.
I’m just like you, but I got Hubbs a Kindle for Christmas. I don’t think I could give up books :)
I agree, reading an actual book is a completely different experience. I could spend hours in a book store or library, getting completely immersed in the pages. I also really enjoy reading cookbooks as opposed to looking for recipes online – just something about it! Love the way you describe reading…it makes it sound so magical!
I live to read cookbooks!
My husband was going to get me a Kindle for Christmas and I told him absolutely not! I don’t want one. I love my BOOKS! Also, I could see myself dropping a Kindle in the bathtub and ruining it and being out over $100, where if I were to drop a book in the tub, I’m out what? 12 bucks? And I would still be able to read the book anyway, it would just be wrinkly and ugly. lol.
Hahaha! I totally dropped a book in the OCEAN this past summer.
I couldn’t agree more.. I was asked this if I wanted one this Christmas and I said no. There’s something so great about holding the book and the smell. It’s just timeless. I wouldn’t trade my cookbooks for the world! They wouldn’t be the same on a Kindle.
Jessica
I totally agree with you. I’m using an iPad which has been touted to be good for ebooks but I can’t do it cuz it strains my eyes too much. That’s why I just go for plain ol paperbacks. I use my iPad to surf the net on the go & to read magazines since they’re designed to be read quickly but I can’t bring myself to read a book on this. I think I’ve got too much ADD to be staring at the screen with solely text. Magazines, blogs, and websites are different in that, at least for me, they’re easier to read on this iPad.
This is EXACTLY why I don’t want a Kindle or other e-reader.
Except for maybe during the times when I go on vacation and literally pack 9 or 10 books… THEN I might consider one, to cut back on luggage. But only then. All the other times, BOOKS all the way!
I love books too. I have a little problem (read: HUGE) problem with insominia, so I probably go through 10 books in a 3 week period. I LOVE reading books in the bathtub (my guilty pleasure, besides eating of course) and think I would either short one out, or drop it in the bathtub. That wouldn’t work out so well. I’ve dropped a few books in my bathtub, and most recently my 1 year old threw my mp3 player in the bathtub. I’m not such a big fan of electronics (but I’d die without a computer)
I completely agree, Jessica. I am obsessed with books and always have been. As an ONLY girl who didn’t have many female family to play with when I was a kid, I would get lost in my books and make best friends with the characters as my brothers wrestled and played with their Sega Geneis.
In fact, on my first date with a guy back when I was in high-school I made him take me to Barnes and Nobles just to see if he could “hang”…he couldn’t.
Also, I travel a lot for pleasure and work, and I STILL lug my book with me. I don’t like any sort of e-readers. AT ALL. Don’t want them.
I was the same way.. but I like a book to show the progress that I’ve made.. I get a sense of accomplishment looking at all the pages I have read.. however…. I’m horrible at going to the Library.. Books are expensive these days. That is was fueled my christmas wish of one for chirstmas.. plus… I read books once then I’m done.. I’ve read only a few a second time and I feel like it’s such a waste of paper… annd I take the T everyday, so a kindle is easier to carry into work.
It’ll never compare to reading a physical book, but it just might be a bit more practical.
oh, plus if you get a certain kind, you can still share the books with your friends. that sold me. I’m all about being cheap.
I was on the same page as you for a couple years (haha…page, get it?) but then I got a Nook. And let me tell you. It’s nice to have! Although I do love books for all those reason, nothing rivals sliding a tiny, skinny little sliver of a technology into your purse to go someplace instead of a large book or two.
I completely and totally agree with you about the Kindle vs. real books! My husband says that e-books are the future and I am going to have to “get over it”, but I refuse and will hold out until the end! :-)
I couldn’t agree more! My mother-in-law wanted to get me a Kindle, and I had a heck of a time convincing her that I enjoy going to the library and reading an actual book!
i love love love to curl up with my actual book too…especially my absolute favorites that have stains and marks and bent pages from all of the people i have shared it with…this quote is on an illustrated plaque in my living room and perfectly describes my love affair with books:
Books to the ceiling,
Books to the sky,
My pile of books is a mile high.
How I love them! How I need them!
I’ll have a long beard by the time I read them.
Arnold Lobel
Totally agree! I don’t get the same cozy feeling thinking of curling up with a cup of coffee and a warm blanket on a rainy afternoon and reading a kindle! I have my grandmother’s copy of Gone With the Wind from 1934 that she read as a child. I re-read it every year, and it would not be the same if I didn’t have the actual book. I also love giving giving and receiving favorite books with things underlined, notes in the margin, etc. Would totally miss that if we all switched to kindles!
Must we deem all the classic, good things obsolete just because we can make some “better” electronic alternative? :)