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Original poster

Will I get used to a Kindle?

111 replies

Brigittebidet · 05/08/2021 18:51

DH, who is lovely in every way, bought me a Kindle today as he thinks I have been very stressed at work (correct) and we are off on holidays with the DC tomorrow and that it was a nice thing for me to have as I love reading (again correct). However, I love reading books, not screens.

I was grateful and enthusiastic but a little bit of me cried inside.

OP posts:
reallyworriedjobhunter · 05/08/2021 19:50

They are brilliant for reading in bed at night as they light up so you don't disturb others. Love mine for allowing me to read like this as I don't get much time to myself.

BlueSurfer · 05/08/2021 19:52

I love books and reading. Was completely against the thought of a kindle and when I got one, I even considered getting a air freshener that smelt of books. However, I’m completely converted and even more so for those times when you don’t want to lug half a dozen books on holiday or travel what, and instead can carry thousands without noticing the weight. The backlight is also perfect. Hopefully soon you will feel the same.

JayAlfredPrufrock · 05/08/2021 19:53

I struggle with mine. Yes, it beats packing 15 books if I’m going on holiday (I wish), but I still struggle with it.

Michellebops · 05/08/2021 19:54

I struggled at first but then read a favourite book on it and found my love for it. Still occasionally like a book but thankful I don't have to find storage for lots of books

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 05/08/2021 19:57

I felt like that untilI moved abroad and it was my lifeline to English books
(My Greek was no where near good enough to enjoy books in the local language!)

TheDevils · 05/08/2021 20:01

I love books. I have literally hundreds in my house BUT I love my kindle too. For all the reasons listed .... and I love that there are so many 99p books! It's great for holidays as I read so many and packing them used to be an issue!

NiceGerbil · 05/08/2021 20:02

Horses for courses.

I had a paperwhite that I used s lot for a couple years or so. Tube hols. Mainly read fanfic Blush

Back to books now.

Interestingly when they came out on the tube everyone had one and hardly any books.

The last year or so before lockdown books seemed to be back big time! Hardly any ereaders.

I think it's personal and what you use it for etc eg hols don't want too much weight.

If you really aren't keen though. Is it a fair bit of money for a gift in your household? If not give it a go. If yes, I'd say that's really thoughtful and lovely and thank you I just get so much pleasure from i actual physical books. What I'd really love is xxx can we swop it? I mean depending on how you both feel about gifts etc.

I would say that even though dh would be a bit sad. But, keeping a £££ gift and then obv having to use it even if you don't like it is a waste of money.

In the end I'd rather be told by miles.

DramaAlpaca · 05/08/2021 20:07

I don't much like my kindle. For me, reading is as much a tactile thing, the weight of the book, how the pages feel, even the smell of the book all add to the reading experience. However, the kindle is amazing for holidays and that's pretty much the only time I use it.

Glittertwins · 05/08/2021 20:11

I don't have enough room at home for all my books so moved onto a kindle about 8 years ago. I have the e-reader as opposed to a Kindle Fire or whatever they are called and they are no different to reading text on a physical book - no glare, no eye strain at all & totally different to an iPad or computer screen. I downloaded the entire Rebus box set one year for taking on holiday - I couldn't have taken 10+ books with me!

ReviewingTheSituation · 05/08/2021 20:14

What everyone else said!

I don't think of mine like a screen - it's very different from a phone or tablet.
I also like the fact you can download a sample. It's an easy way to track things you think you might want to read - I keep a folder of samples purely for this.

I also got into audiobooks a couple of years ago. I can only listen to them when I'm doing something mindless, that needs no other thought (running or gardening mainly), but I LOVE that it syncs with my kindle, so I can flit between both formats seamlessly.

I recommend getting a case for your kindle that opens like a book. Then you can hold it like an open book, which makes it feel more normal.

larkstar · 05/08/2021 20:14

I love both - I still love browsing second hand books shops - often I have nothing in mind but I rarely walk out without buying something. The kindle can carry a suitcase full of heavy books and it weighs next to nothing. I usually only buy kindle books on offer for 99p - my kindle had been full for years - every new books needs me to unload something. The kindle always remembers where I am in each book, I can look up words I'm not sure about - and read it in bed without a light on - it has lots of pluses but I still read as many paper books. Why not just love them both?

randomsabreuse · 05/08/2021 20:17

I love books but I really fell for Kindle when my DH introduced me to a series of very long books, which are massively unwieldy to hold, especially one handed with a glass in the other hand (or while breastfeeding...).

I still pick up books from the charity shop and miss the ability to pass an actual book on/give one as a gift but kindle is so convenient for reading in odd moments when I'm waiting for something...

LST · 05/08/2021 20:18

I love both. I go through stages of either just reading my kindle or just reading books.
Kindles are handy for just taking wherever you want to

itbemay1 · 05/08/2021 20:20

I love my kindle and was like you OP and thought I'd never get used to it but I wouldn't buy a physical book now.

WrongKindOfFace · 05/08/2021 20:21

I thought I’d hate it but I really like it.

They’re also great for holidays.

NoYOUbekind · 05/08/2021 20:21

@randomsabreuse

I love books but I really fell for Kindle when my DH introduced me to a series of very long books, which are massively unwieldy to hold, especially one handed with a glass in the other hand (or while breastfeeding...).

I still pick up books from the charity shop and miss the ability to pass an actual book on/give one as a gift but kindle is so convenient for reading in odd moments when I'm waiting for something...

It's been a long time since I had a baby to feed but I never even thought about how handy a kindle would be for that!

For a pp saying use your phone - yes, I do in an emergency but I (personally) don't want to take my phone to bed or get distracted by messenger or emails. Having a dedicated reader signals to my brain that I'm reading, not mindlessly killing time or working.

Knittingnanny · 05/08/2021 20:22

What everyone else has said and more! I’m a lifelong library user, avid reader , infant teacher teaching reading of books for my job and I got my first kindle 10 years ago aged 54.
I still have a pile of books by my bed and love passing them on to friends to enjoy but my goodness me I love my Kindle!
It has a shiny red leather cover and has kept me company on 13 hour flights to visit one child, 8 hour flights to another, leisurely hours on holiday, sitting by elderly relatives beds, insomniacal (?!) nights next to snoring husband etc
I think you might come back in a few weeks and let us know if you liked it.
One thing I really like is being able to read books I wouldn’t have found otherwise, authors recommended by my purchases.
Also being able to instantly download books in a series etc.
The only drawback is that as I’m left handed it took a while to learn the best way to “ turn the page” as the kindle is definitely designed for right handed folk.

Knittingnanny · 05/08/2021 20:26

@randomsabreuse, I agree about lengthy books, I’m reading New York by Edward rutherford and couldn’t physically manage the paper version.
I also forgot to say that it’s really useful being able to increase the font due to ageing eyesight.

LivingInABuildingSite · 05/08/2021 20:28

My Dh did this, quite a few years ago.

Mine is gathering dust within the pile of books to read.

I have promised to try it again but since I have the big pile (& accidentally bought more in the charity shop yesterday!) it’ll probably be a while.

And no holiday or long journeys planned to force me into it.

One day…

Time40 · 05/08/2021 20:30

I couldn't get used to it. I absolutely hated it, and I've stopped trying now.

TheChosenTwo · 05/08/2021 20:34

I didn’t get used to mine. I just prefer real books.
I took mine to school and it lives in my drawer for a child with a visual impairment to use as the font goes large enough for her to be able to read.
Dh bought it for me, it’s a paperwhite and I think I took it on a holiday once but it was relegated to a drawer at home completely abandoned.

SomethingNastyInTheBallPool · 05/08/2021 20:38

I’m a big reader and I absolutely love my Kindle. I find physical books a bit irritating these days. The only problem I had was forgetting the title of whatever I was reading, because it didn’t appear whenever you picked up the Kindle. But they’ve changed that recently - now you can get the book’s cover on the Lock screen rather than Amazon wallpaper.

I also have a Kobo Clara for library books.

SenecaFallsRedux · 05/08/2021 20:39

I love my Kindle. I got it (well, an earlier version) ten years ago for a long trip where taking books was not feasible. I soon began to use it almost exclusively, which continues to this day. I also have the app on my phone for reading while waiting for appointments, etc.

Countmeout · 05/08/2021 20:45

No abandoned it. I like the feel of books, the proper turning of pages, the look of a book, sticking my bookmark in where I’ve left off. I can’t buy a book without looking at it and handling it.

WhatsTheEffingPoint · 05/08/2021 20:48

I was the same, books over screen! I borrowed a kindle and then fell in love with it. I devour books so quickly I would need my own library, however with the kindle I have 1000s of books (yes really) as now when I see a book I like the look of I can download it and it takes up no space.

Tip....look at some of the freebie best sellers on amazon, there are some good books there. I've found a few new authors I like now.