Confessions of a Kindle Convert, or 5 Reasons a Bibliophile Came to Accept Digital Books
I’m a bibliophile. I started collecting books when I was growing up. While other kids saved their allowances to buy toys, a special treat for me was to go the bookstore with my mom and pick out some new books. Some of my earliest memories are going to the library with my mom. I’ve passed on that love of books to my daughters now, too. We all appreciate the smell of books, the feel of a crisp new book in our hands, or the familiarity of a well-worn book.
When I first heard about e-books around 2008, I was flummoxed. Who wants to read a book on a computer? Especially a clunky old desktop computer that can’t be carried to your favorite reading nook to enjoy? People started talking about Kindles then, but I hardly paid attention. No, most definitely not, I would not want a Kindle. Books are books and electronic devices aren’t.
So what changed my mind? How did I become the proud owner of a Kindle Fire in 2012? It was a Christmas gift from my parents for one thing, but I have since become persuaded that digital books aren’t so bad after all —
5 reasons why I became a Kindle convert:
Storage
As homeschoolers, we have amassed an even bigger book collection than most people I know. I’ve heard the comment, “We have too many books” from my husband more than once. A lot of that has to do with the fact we’ve moved so many times and he can never get over how most of the boxes seem to be full of books. Heavy books. Okay, I can understand his point in that case. It’s also hard to catalog that many books and remember what we have and what we don’t, where we packed it, and which shelf it’s on once we unpack. Space is always a problem because there always seem to be more books than bookshelves.
The Kindle has offered a perfect solution to that storage problem! Do you know how many hundreds of books can be stored in one Kindle? I’m not sure exactly what the memory limit is because that’s a technical detail and I’m not a technical person, but let me tell you, it’s a wonderful thing to be able to carry an entire bookshelf’s worth of books in one hand! It’s also easily searchable so I don’t have to remember what I put where.
Flexibility
Even though we make use of the library, the hours and location aren’t always convenient for us when we need a book right now. Kindle offers us the flexibility to search for and find what we need immediately and have access to it in minutes without ever leaving home. Even better, many libraries offer a Kindle lending library, too!
The Kindle obviously offers easy portability as well. You don’t need to carry it around in a wagon or bookbag, unlike the stacks of library books we get. I can also put books for the whole family on the Kindle, which is great for when we’re taking a long car ride. The girls take turns reading and playing with educational apps. I have a parent password and control what they have access to so they can’t accidentally buy anything either.
Durability
I originally thought an electronic device wouldn’t last long in the hands of my kids, especially my sweet daughter on the autism spectrum who doesn’t exactly understand that these things are breakable. I have been surprised to find that with a good cover or case, Kindles can withstand some amount of dropping, even onto a wood floor. I wouldn’t recommend any experiments, but thankfully so far we’ve come out okay. Amazon does offer protection plans and I think their latest kid-friendly Kindle edition is genius! Our “real” books on the other hand have often come apart, lost pages, or just deteriorated in general over so many years. I won’t mention what mice did to a boxful of my books in a storage unit once. I have never recovered from having to throw away so many books.
Cost effective + free stuff
Although the initial purchase is definitely a major investment, I believe the Kindle pays for itself in the long run. I have been able to download so many free books — everything from picture books to classic literature. {Check out the free classic Christmas books I mentioned in this post and the Classic Books for Girls series which has free Kindle reading options.} I can also download free samples so I can “try before I buy” and read excerpts before making a purchase. If I decide to buy a book after finishing the sample, I just click a button and the Kindle saves my progress and delivers the rest of the book instantly. No waiting for a book to ship!
In addition to that, Kindle books are usually less expensive than print copies. Those savings add up!
I have downloaded many free or inexpensive educational apps as well.
Convenience
I’ve found the Kindle to be a time saver {and sanity saver} in many ways. As a homeschool mom, I like the idea of portable learning so we can take our books and apps with us wherever we go. Big Sis enjoys Stack the States, Stack the Countries, and VocabularySpellingCity apps on the Kindle and she has really learned from them. Lil Sis and Baby Girl have advanced in their reading skills by using free phonics apps and Dr. Seuss read-along books. It’s not merely entertainment or diversion, though the Kindle offers that as well through their Netflix app and Amazon’s video library. My girls are learning in ways they wouldn’t without the Kindle. They have also learned lessons in sharing and taking turns as they use the Kindle together.
I like the convenience of being able to check my email, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest on the go wherever I can get a wifi connection. Those are all free apps available on the Kindle Fire!
Acceptance and Conversion
No, you don’t get that lovely “book smell” from a Kindle. I don’t think real books will ever be replaced in my heart, but in this digital age, I believe the Kindle is a bibliophile’s new best friend. I don’t have a smart phone or any other kind of tablet, but I have definitely become a Kindle convert.
Do you use a Kindle or similar e-reader?
- Woodland Birds Christmas Ornament - December 21, 2024
- Christmas Lights Scavenger Hunt with free printable - December 18, 2024
- Customizing Your Homeschool Curriculum For Special Needs Students - December 11, 2024
I love my “real” books. I have many, many shelves (hopefully my children will also learn to love real books too). But, I never go anywhere without my Kindle in my purse – it’s so lightweight and handles so many books and I have a kindle app on my phone…. Electronic books are very convenient for busy people.
No, I don’t have a Kindle, but I love your reasoning and descriptions of how you have adapted to it! At the moment I have three or four books that I have set to read, but they are the regular turn-the-page type.
I love my e-reader, especially for travel! It is so much easier to take 10 books on a trip when they are all in one small device. And if I change my mind on what I want to read, I can easily download new titles. Plus my suitcase is certainly a lot lighter, too.
I am laughing, because it took me forever to convert, too! I still love physical books, but I got my Nook mainly for travel (because I couldn’t stop lugging a ton of books all over the world) and it has been the best thing ever! I fell in love with it all over again when our daughter was born, because it’s so much easier to hold while breastfeeding than a physical book! Our library has tons of ebooks available, and we don’t have smartphones, so the Nook gives me a way to get online while out and about (with free wifi, where available). I guess I just get stuck in old ways…I thought I’d never love my digital camera, either…
I like my Kindle for many of the same reasons you mentioned & think its a wise investment as well. My children have benefited from apps, simple readers and classics as they were learning to read. I use it when we travel to check email, FB, etc as well because its more portable than the laptop & fits in my purse. But, in my heart….I love holding a book. My 15 yr old & I are the “book worms” in the family and we both cling to our actual papered books like they are gold. We check out TONS of books from the library, have an extensive library at home & rarely a trip to the mall or out of town that we don’t end up in a book store adding to our collection. I know digital is the way of the future…but I hope my little people still love to hold a “real” book in their hands like I do when they are grown!
I have the Amazon Kindle app on my phone. I’ve moved too many times with books to be able to continue storing books. I think it was moving the books a couple of times that I was very happy to embrace the Kindle. 🙂
I’m a die hard need a book in my hand kind of a gal but after reading these points (even the ones I heard before) I might be closer to converting. I love reading, even though I don’t always take the time to do it, and most of the reading I do is on my phone, news articles, what have you, so I’m not sure why I was so against the ebook idea. I think you have me pretty close to converting – now to only talk the hubby into getting a kindle….
This is so me! I never thought I would embrace Kindle books, but I’ve grown to love them. However, I must read physical books in between. There’s something about holding a digital device versus a physical book that just doesn’t do it for me… yet???
Yes, I have a Kindle and like you I remember stating emphatically that I would never read on one. I too love books. When my husband and I moved to a tiny 450 sq ft apartment we began to get rid of our dvd collection, our books and anything else we could. My favorite books are now available to me whenever I want them. I can carry them all with me wherever I go. Yes, I surprised myself. I still have some books and love holding them in my hand and turning the pages. But I have accepted the benefits using and e-reader. I made a cover for my from a book. Check it out on my blog.
I have a tablet that I have several e-books on, but I don’t like to read on it. It’s just not the same as having a real book. Normally I order what I want to read from the library, even if I do already have the e-book. Maybe one day I’ll learn to like e-books too.
Love my kindle but have found when I really really like a book, I still order the print copy. Somehow rereading that way helps me apply its lessons. I am a non fiction reader so this doesn’t happen to me with fiction. Interesting post!
I have only very recently been finally won over to the Kindle. Now, that get me wrong, I still LOVE books. A device will never, ever replace my love of them. You have brought up all the reasons I was finally converted. thank you for sharing a great article and Have a Fabulous Day!!
I love reading, so I equally enjoy both a physical and a digital book. If I am at home, I prefer holding a real book in my hands, because I am already staring at my computer all day. If I am travelling, I always bring my Nook with me.
I agree I held out for a long time as well! Now I love reading that way. My husband gets up very early and it allows me to read late into the night without waking him up with a light. When you were talking about going to book store with your mom it made me think of the weekly reader book orders that we used to get in school. Where you had that little strip of paper and you put in a check mark and turned it and the money in with your teacher! Those were always the best days of school!
I have the Kindle app on my laptop and my smartphone. I love that it syncs up with where I left off. I’m slowly eliminating my book collection except for a select few. My favorite feature of the Kindle is the ability to adjust the font size. A great help for old and/or tired eyes. LOL!
We converted to Kindle because of home schooling, too. When we started using the Robinson Curriculum it just came with so many books and our options were either to print them all out (can you imagine the mess?) or have the kids spend their days sitting in front of the computer, taking turns, keeping it from me, etc. So we bought old-school Kindles because of the ease of pdf conversion. I still prefer books, but I have come to appreciate the advantages you’re talking about. They make packing books for a trip easier, too!
I have a Lenovo tablet and still learning about using e-readers. Thank you for the useful information!
Been there! 🙂 I used to say I would NEVER read on a Kindle (or such)… that was until I inherited my husband “old” kindle when he received a Fire for Christmas a few years back. Now, I’m the exact opposite. While I do still love holding a physical copy in my hands and seeing a full, neatly organized bookshelf, I would much rather read a novel the old-school way again. So much easier. I love that I don’t break my wrist trying to read in bed anymore. 🙂
I started out with a Kindle Fire but now I have an Ipad. I gave my Kindle to my husband, but he mostly plays games on it, go figure 🙂 I used to love going to the library when I was younger.
I love books to, not a huge fan of the ereader yet. I do have a nook and Samsung Tablet that I will read some things on. I love being able to touch something that can’t be edited without my knowledge. I do like the idea of lots of books all in one place.
Sara, great blog post. I do not own a Kindle, but I do have an iPad. I haven’t utilized it to read books, but you just gave me 5 great reasons to start. I love to read. There are several things I love as well about reading a physical book. I like the feel/texture, smell, and sound of the pages turning with physical book. However, I will consider starting to use an e-reader to read my books. Thanks, Sara.
I had a Kindle, then a Kindle Fire and now an iPad with the Kindle app. I LOVE reading with an eReader but sometimes I do miss having a physical book. My husband and I will sometimes go to Barnes & Noble because we want a new book, non-digital. 🙂 There is just something about a book that an eReader cannot replace. However, having an eReader while on vacation is awesome! In fact, we will be driving to Chicago next month and I’ll be all loaded up with books to keep me company on the drive.
Like you, as a little girl I loved nothing more than going to the bookstore to pick up a new Nancy Drew book. There is definitely something about the feel of a book in your hand and the sound of the pages as they turn. But, I am becoming more and more of a e-book reader. I have an iPad, as does my 9 year old. They’re so portable and convenient. But, when it comes to Bible studies or a book I feel I’ll be highlighting a lot in, I go straight to the hard or paperback version immediately.
I do have a kindle, but what I enjoy even more is the kindle app on my phone! No need to carry another device around, when I can just pull up the books we have in our electronic library on my phone. 🙂
I have always been the same way, I prefer a real book over an electronic device! I actually have not converted over to the electronic side yet but I will admit here lately I have been kind of thinking about it! Maybe in the near future I will give it a try but we will see! 🙂
I also love holding an actual book when I read it. I have been able to read a few books on my Kindle, but it just isn’t the same for me 🙁 I use it to mainly check e-mail and I have some educational apps for the kids.
I love the convenience of being able to read on my iPhone using the Kindle app. There are so many times when I’m waiting in the car for my daughter to finish some activity/event and I’ll just have my phone and can start reading any number books. Sure beats lugging them around. I do find though, that my reading pace for an ebook is much slower than if I were reading a physical book. Not sure why. I’ve always been an avid reader and love both methods.
We love the easy access to lots of reading material that Kindles give us:)
I love books, too! For the longest time, I didn’t want to buy an e-reader. But, the moment I bought the first Kindle, I was hooked. Now I upgraded to a tablet PC and have many ebooks in different genres. Great post!
I love my Kindle Reader on my iPad. My best friend can not stand an e-book. But, it is so easy to read a book anywhere at any time. These days I am totally in love. I wouldn’t have it any other way. From time to time, I do indulge in an old-fashioned library books. But, even the library will let me check out e-books. Say what? Thanks for sharing.
I too used to love the feeling of physical books and never thought that I would adapt to electronic books. But over time I have changed. Access to free Kindle books has made collecting many wonderful new books to explore so easy that I have joined the band! I must admit that I do not love reading on a screen as much as I like reading a paper book, but I am making concessions because of the convenience. I still cherish my trips to the library though!
Reading your post brought back memories from when I was a kid. I love to read and I remember my mom giving me money so I could buy books during the book fair at school. I still remember the smell of all those new books… I now read most of my books on my iPad. 🙂
I have always been dead set against using an ereader. I spend too much time staring at screens as it is, with my phone and the computer at work, my TV and my tablet for blogging. Plus I love to read in the bathtub, and if you drop a book in the bathtub it will dry out eventually, but I’m not sure a kindle could survive that. All that aside, I do have a kindle fire because some of my favorite authors insist on publishing eBook exclusives. I only use it when I have to and am still stubbornly buying actual books every chance I get.
I read on my iPad….but it’s just NOT the same as reading a real book!!! But If I think someone I know will also enjoy the book, I buy it in print form so I can give it to them.
Funny you should share your struggle of your conversion as it definitely hits home. I’m not there yet although we do currently have TWO (unused) Kindles in our house. As a digital-diva tech geek, it seemed to make perfect sense for me but I just couldn’t quite give up the “real” book benefits. Namely, I like to read outside, often by a pool or beach/ocean, which is not ideal for a digital device! My daughter got a newer Kindle for Christmas a couple years ago but soon lost her interest in reading that way too. Both my kids (daughter age 12 & son age 10) are voracious readers like I used to be, which is awesome. We visit the library regularly and they always have a book from their school library & are constantly beg me to buy them books from the school Weekly Reader book orders & at any store. I’m all for borrowing books but hesitate to buy to many of them, especially new as their value doesn’t last. And having moved a few times, I know how heavy a book collection can be! For now, we are firmly rooted in the real book phase but I foresee a transition at some point in our future. It’s probably inevitable eventually!
YES. The kindle is AWESOME. I have definitely become a convert, as I too LOVE the book smell and the feel of turning pages. But when I read my first book on kindle – I fell in love. For all your reasons you listed in this post. I read my kindle books on my kindle app on my phone or iPad. I just love it. SO convenient and I can bring it anywhere – mainly waiting at the docs office 🙂
I do have a Kindle since it was given to me as a present, but honestly I think I’ve used it a handful of times. I just can’t seem to stay away from regular books!
I’ve been trying to read more, and I have a bookshelf loaded with books. I downloaded the Kindle app on my phone, but it took up way too much space. I guess I should just invest in a Kindle! Thanks for shedding light on this!
We have them but really don’t use them much.