So I'm finally ready to weigh in on the Kindle. I've now taken it on 2 trips. One was 2 weeks in Europe (kind of a no-brainer), and the other was a recent trip to New York (not as much of a no-brainer). My experience thus far has been - drum roll, please - positive! I like it. Am I ready to forsake books? No. But I can see using it other than just on trips. Let me give you a list of situations where I would use the Kindle while still in the Bay Area:
1. When I'm walking on the treadmill - it's a lot easier to set the Kindle on the double bar of the treadmill than using my towel to keep the book open (especially a mass market paperback) and then shifting the towel up and down.
2. When I'm having dental work done - holding a book, even a paperback, up in the air is tough, especially when I have to use one hand to hold the book and also keep it open - then, when I'm ready to turn the page, I have to bring the book (slowly) down to my lap - now, I can turn the page with my thumb.
3. ?????
Okay, so that's not many local uses for the Kindle (although I'm on the treadmill a fair amount). Nonetheless, I will be using it. Thanks again to my family for buying it for me.
I have 3 reviews of books I've read since I last blogged. All of them are authors I've read before (many times for 2 and the 2nd time for one). Here they are:
Nicholas Sparks - Best of Me - this is his 17th book (and 16th novel) - once again, it centers on star-crossed lovers, with the usual great joy and even greater sadness - it's a familiar theme but one that works well for him - it was enjoyable, as all of his are - a word to the macho men out there: Don't bother (or, if you do, lie about it).
Jeffrey Archer (author of Kane and Abel, a classic) - Only Time Will Tell - this is the first of a trilogy - it takes place in England (not surprising, since Archer is British) and follows a boy from early childhood through his teenage years and WWII - I liked it a lot - I thought it faded a bit in the last quarter of the book but was still a good read - he's no Follett (who started a trilogy last year, with Fall of Giants), but, then again, who is? - I will definitely read #2.
Brad Thor - The Athena Project - this is my 2nd novel of his - he's solid - definitely a B+-lister - the story centers around a "brick" of 4 women, who are the equivalent of special ops - they are all good-looking, athletic, and highly trained - they use their feminine wiles to take advantage of the bad guys - because I read a lot of books about special ops/anti-terrorism/CIA etc., it needs to be well-written, engaging, and have some kind of unique angle for me to recommend it - this does and I do.
Stay tuned next weekend for... (I'm not trying to lead you on - I actually don't know).
I'm seeing if I can post. If this works, I'll actually post
ReplyDeleteOk. Now that I can post, I have a few things to say.
ReplyDelete1. I think it's crazy that since before your trip it looks like you've read 10 books? I'm still reading Exile. David is back and trial is about to start! What's going to happen?!
2. Were you able to read this much in the thick of raising kids? If so, how and when?
I have one book at school which is guaranteed 20 mins a day. I have one book on my nightstand which has no guarantee as I've been falling asleep within one minute of hitting the pillow.
I envy your reading speed. Reminds me of my older days.
As an adult, I started reading when Josh was a baby (for those of you who don't know Josh, he's 35 now). Joni and I read every night before bed. That was it until all 3 kids were much older. I had the same situation that you have. It's only the last 10 years that I've been able to read as much as I do now.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, the first book I read 35 years ago was Shogun, by James Clavell. That is still 1 of my 3 favorite novels of all time. The other 2 are Pillars of the Earth, by Ken Follett, and The Source, by James Michener.