Lapsed reader - is a kindle worth getting to get back into it?

[Mamma53547]

Inspired a bit by the other thread about recommended books that can't be put down. I used to be a voracious reader but then I had kids and I've fallen out of the habit. I'm not one to keep books, I usually go to the library or buy and give them away.

I'm thinking about a kindle so I can always carry something with me and for space saving and reducing clutter. To reread old books and find new ones.

-Are they a good investment long-term for a regular reader?
-I'm on screens far too much - are kindles easy on the eyes.
-Can I read digital library books on them?
-If I buy a kindle book on Amazon, is it really mine forever or is it more like a long-term rental?
-Which one would you recommend - the one with a "warm" backlight is the kind of thing I'd go for but is £200+ and seems much too expensive.
-Any other benefits?
-Anything else to watch out for?

It's a tablet not an e reader. Not even a very good tablet. E readers are designed to seem like books and they are much easier on the eyes to read.

Could have written this op . Just back on a flight yesterday and the guy next to me had one and I was so jealous. I hate having to use my glasses and find my phone too small even with text size increased it’s too heavy to hold for a prolonged period.

Does the paperwhite connect with Apple AirPods for audio books?

I'm sorry if someone has already said this - but if you are over doing your screen time - don't just put the kindle app on your phone because you'll just use your phone even more! And don't get a Kindle fire which is just another screen. Kindle paperwhites have a different lighting system that is easier on the eyes. And I don't know your budget but they needn't be overly expensive.

Sites like Bookbub can give you access to free or discounted books. Subscribing to Kindle Unlimited gives you access to hundreds of free books if you can do the monthly subscription.

I'm a Kindle user if you hadn't guessed!

I've got a Kobo. It's about 7 years old, no idea what model it is. My library uses Libby. I find searching for books on my Kobo really clunky and difficult. I can search for books on the Libby app on my phone which then upload onto my Kobo.

Before getting an e-reader I used to have a little light that would clip onto my paperback book, proper old skool 😂 But it meant I could read my book in the night without waking my husband by putting on the bedside lamp (I don't sleep that well). Might be worth considering if you want to try actual books before investing in tech. The book clip lights are inexpensive.

I have an ancient kindle, one of the first versions, the one with the keyboard. I love it. I recently read an actual book (hardback) and didn't enjoy the experience, it felt too heavy. When it finally gives up the ghost I'll get an Oasis or Paperwhite.

Kindle paper whites are amazing. Very easy on the eyes and I can make the print bigger to suit me. The back light is brilliant. I’ve read triple the amount of books on my kindle than I would have reading paperbacks

"BookBub: Get ebook deals, handpicked recommendations, and author updates" https://www.bookbub.com

This site is great for free and 99p books. You get emails daily with offers. You just put in your preferences they choose

I guess it is working out whether you've gone off reading full stop? This can happen when life is a bit full on.

e-readers are better but they don't fundamentally change the activity.

I love mine, it's so easy to download books, I read at least 2/3 a week and would never be able to afford/store them all! I don't like using the app on my iPhone, it's too small and I like to be able to put the phone away and focus on the book without the temptation of notifications and other apps on there or my work emails. I would 100% recommended getting one.

Why not try audiobooks? I admit, as a lover of the feel and smell of books, and who would spend hours in any bookshop, i was sceptical.
However, i am a convert; more room in suitcase, less likely to leave on public transport, etc. You can control the speed that you are 'read to', and you can set snooze times so the book stops after a certain time

I always enjoy rereading old books. I read an old one on my phone last night which was both enjoyable and a really awful experience, on dark mode too.

I would love to both find old books again and discover new ones. I spent £15 on a hardback that I devoured last month.

My DH loves audiobooks and has been trying to get me into them for years, but I don't really get on with them. I feel bound to the speed of the narrator (when I like the option of scanning pages) and some accents put me off. (Want to reread Harry Potter, couldn't listen to the Stephen Fry audio.)

Definitely. Lighter to hold than paper and much easier on the eyes than a phone. I won't read on phone. I have a paper white and the new kindle scribe and switch between them depending on what I'm reading and where.

The paper white has the same warmth adjuster on it as my more expensive model, it should work well for you I think.

My Paperwhite has been a complete waste of money, I only ever use the phone app, means I don't have to carry two devices, can use dark mode which is just as good in the dark as backlit and you can adjust the font size to avoid eye strain. I also disagree about getting distracted by other apps on your phone, it's the other way round for me, I don't get into scrolling SM etc as much because I always have a book to read wherever I am.

@Mamma53547 I know what you mean re syephen fry. I did listen to the harry potter books during radiotherapy, and was ready to scream by the end of them all!