I am a lover of books. I love the look, the feel, the weight of them. I love words on a page. I have been a voracious reader since I was a little girl. The thought of not having something to read makes me panic. I have also said many times that nothing will ever replace a book for me or reading an actual newspaper.
That being said, a recent conversation between my husband and me found us discussing eBooks and readers like Kindle or the Nook. We came to the conclusion that there was nothing wrong with the use of a reader for commuting or travel as long as we still read and bought actual books. Not half an hour later, my sister called me and told me she just bought a Nook from Barnes and Noble. (Meredith also loves books and reading.) My nephew and his wife had just been visiting them in Florida and they showed their Kindle to Mer. She became intrigued. Since she has some travel planned in the near future, she decided to buy a Nook. She extolled its virtues and I found myself thinking that it would be a great asset for someone like me who travels fairly frequently.
Yesterday, I went to check my mail at the theater and there was a box waiting for me. From Barnes and Noble. I hadn’t ordered anything from them. Hmmm. After the walk back to the apartment, I opened the box. Meredith had sent me my own Nook!
I was dumbfounded. It takes some getting used to but for me, on the road away from home, it is the perfect thing. You can download current hardcover books, magazines and newspapers but there are many, many free eBooks to download. Free. As I have mentioned before, we are counting every penny at the moment. Times are tough. So I downloaded Pride and Prejudice and Anne of Green Gables – for free. I started Anne last night. What fun!
You can also play sudoku or chess. I’m crossing my fingers that someday soon they will have a crossword puzzle available.
Don’t worry. I still have my books with me. And boxes and boxes of them back home – just waiting for the bookcase I hope to build this year. Nothing will replace them.
But this sure is neat. Thank you, wonderful sister.
Hi Claudia! My gosh, this was so nice of your sister!! I have to get my head out of the sand though, apparently. I have heard of the kindle, but not the “Nook”. Are they the same thing, just a different brand?.. Well, I can look that up I’m sure, but whatever the case, I’m sure in time you will wonder how you ever got along without it! Enjoy!.. I have my nose (or should I say “am sinking my teeth”!!) in the books myself lately! LOVE them, when I make the time for them! Have a great weekend! ~tina
I completely understand about the importance of holding a book in hand in order to fully capture the adventures held within. However, I did break down and buy my son and daughter-in-law—who travel a lot—a Kindle a couple of years ago and they love it! They still buy books too but really enjoy all the perks while traveling!
Oh…BOOKS! I do love them! The lure of the bookstore is always a new adventure!
Have a great day!
Coralie
that looks fun!
Claudia, that was so gracious of your sister. I am almost envious but not really. I hardly ever travel so am quite content with my hardbacks from the thrift store. I do think Kindles and Nooks have a place but will not replace the real thing. Happy Weekend!
olive
Books look so much prettier on a shelf than a kindle or a nook. They do have their strong points when it comes to technology and convenience when travelling I suppose…. but there’s just nothing better than the pages of an old book.
Di
Claudia, last year, my daughter(the librarian) actually asked for a Nook for Christmas! She is a most avid book lover. I think that, if it is ok for a librarian, it’s ok for any other book lover! Enjoy!
Claudia, i could have written the first part of this post about myself. I love words! I don’t know what it is about words on a page, but they are intriguing. I don’t remember learning to read. I do remember sitting on my aunt’s lap when I was 4 or 5 and reading to her. She taught me. I love the way words form thoughts, express feelings, describe things, people, places, etc…. I would much rather read a book than see the movie. I want to use my own imagination to form the pictures that the words are making. I do think I would like to have a Nook or a Kindle for the times that we travel 15 hours straight in a car or fly to the West. What a sweet and generous sister!
I just finished reading Anne of Green Gables for the second time after many years. It’s just a perfect cozy heartwarming story for you to read right now. Now, Kindle, Nook, etc are great for traveling, but like you I still like the feel of a book and the stacks and stacks of them around the cottage prove that to be true! Have a wonderful weekend!!
Love,
Susan and Bentley
xxoo
I’m a ‘traditional’ book lover, but yours is the second post I’ve read that makes me realize there’s room for both the old and the new. I’ll always have my shelves full of books, but the Kindle or Nook would give me even more opportunities to read. Have fun with yours!
What a wonderful gift! I too am resistant to the “artificial” books, but have a friend who is very booky who bought a Nook. She loves it! I can see the sense in it too, especially with travel. I haven’t taken the plunge yet, still hanging on to those paper pages, but to read Anne of Green Gables again…. Hmmmmmmm, my favorite book growing up besides “Little Women”.
Ann (without the “e”)
Well now wasn’t that just the sweetest thing for sis to do? I’m so happy you now have something so portable to carry around. You’ll never be without something to read! I too have a fear of not having a book or magazine to read. (That and the notion I might run out of toilet paper one day. I stock pile that Charmin.)
Brenda
Hey Claudia!
Okay now…serious question here…
Do you and Mer need a new sister? I do clothes and dishes, iron on Wednesdays, wash the car on Fridays, grocery shop on Mondays…what do ya think?
If it’s a deal…send me my Nook and I will travel!
hahahaha!!!!!
Seriously girl, what a wonderful sister you have. She’s got a sweet heart knowing that little box in the mail would brighten your day being so far from home at the moment!!!
This post made me soooo happy…I hope you are just as happy right about now, all curled up reading Anne of Green Gables on this big Friday night :)))))
Have a wonderful weekend Claudia :)
Your sis is such a sweetie!! I’ve gone back and forth on the whole ebook thing. I love the concept- but then there’s the tactile/sensory thing for me too. I love the feel of a book, the smell of the pages, and cracking that spine when I start a new book. I think that I will eventually do the ebook thing also though.
I love Pride & Prejudice and Anne of Green Gables! I just listened to Anne on book-on-tape recently– (I spend a substantial amount of time commuting to work and between sites.) I love that story so much. Oh, and P&P– be still my heart. I love that Mr.Darcy.
Anyway, have a great weekend, and enjoy your wonderful new “nook”!
Hugs,
Jill
You are welcome. I hope you are having as much fun as me!!!
Love you,
Mere
I can see that this would be handy for traveling, but might take a little getting used to, my problem is that some of the books that I like to read I like to underline and write notes in the margins. Might be hard with that. How sweet of your sister to think of you. Have fun with it!
xo,
Debra
Ummm—you are tempting me into trying one out! I also love to read and never go anywhere without a book or books.
How much longer are you in SD? I bet all at home are missing you.
Just home from Hawaii for my granddaughters high school graduation. Lots of fun.
Dogwood
What a delightful surprise! I, too, am reading Anne! As a matter of fact, I am going to log off right now and pick up where i last left off (over 2 months ago!). Happy “nooking”!
i love this post!
so sweet and i love that your sis surprised you with a special gift. have fun with your new toy! :)
xo
elyse
Claudia, how perfectly wonderful! I must investigate this Nook! Oh, and I LOVE Anne of Green Gables! I have all the movies! Enjoy your read!
Love ya,
Maryjane
Hi Claudia:
What a great gift you received from your sister. Handsome and I had been talking about the eReaders before his January birthday and I got him a Kindle. It’s perfect for travel!
We are book lovers, too, and had a whole room of shelves installed in a room when we first bought this home. I can’t imagine a life without lots of beautiful books, but this alternative sure has its benefits.
I know you’ll enjoy it!
xoxo
Donna
PS
Nothing like a sister! You have a dear one! xox
Hi Claudia,
Thank you for your lovely comments. Wow, I can’t believe how much you and I have in common. “I am a lover of books. I love the look, the feel, the weight of them. I love words on a page. I have been a voracious reader since I was a little girl. The thought of not having something to read makes me panic.” and “I’m crossing my fingers that someday soon they will have a crossword puzzle available.” Those are the exact same words I’d use……..! I’m a vorocious reader myself, and a very fast one, too, so books don’t last long with me. I read the whole 17 book series of the “Anita Blake” vampire books by Laurall K. Hamilton in less than two weeks. If I can keep my eyes open, I can read a novel a night, and I keep full comprehension, too! Us ADHD people have amazing abilities sometimes.
You certainly have one sweet sister.
Hugs,
Meri
Your sister is a sweetheart! Enjoy your nook! :)
HAPPY PINK SATURDAY CLAUDIA,
THANKS FOR STOPPING BY
HOW LOVELY OF YOUR SISTER TO SEND YOU A NOOK.
DO YOU LIKE IT…DID THE INSTRUCTIONS HAPPEN TO SAY, HOW LONG YOU CAN READ BEFORE THE BATTERY RUNS OUT?
I FEEL SO EMBARASSED THAT I AM 55 YEARS OLD AND HAVE NEVER READ PRIDE AND PREJUDICED. IT IS ON MY LIST OF THINGS TO DO.
YOUR SHELLS ARE SO VERY PRETTY. I CANNOT THINK OF ANYTHING MORE RELAXING THAN WALKING ALONG THE BEACH LOOKING FOR SHELLS.
HAVE A LOVELY WEEKEND
HUGS AND BLESSINGS
SIMPLY DEBBIE
Oh Claudia…
That made me tear up…. I love a sweet gift when it’s sent “just because”….I’m sure it will bring you hours of pleasure when reading the real deal would be difficult. Yep, you do have a wonderful sister.
Huggies!
Spencer
Can you believe I’ve never even heard of a Nook before?! Sounds like fun!
Hi Claudia,
I’ve looked at the Kindle but have not see the Nook before. I like the idea of having media available this way although I am a great lover of books…paper in general..I like to feel it! I guess there are many of us that feel the same way.
I guess the only thing that has stopped me from buying one of these is the download amounts. I use Verizon Wireless 3G network for my home internet connection since up here on this ridge the only other option was dial-up! So with this wireless plan I do have a 5gb limit per month. I have to really consider my download sizes.
I do miss my super high speed with NO limit but I’m thankful to have the speed that I do.
So anywho…I’d be interested in knowing how many megs you are downloading for a book or magazine??
I totally understand your comment about “times are tough”. Thomas lost his job in February of this year when he thought he’d have work at least through the end of the year..the layoff really hurt us.
I know you are tickled with your sweet gift of the Nook…what a great sister you have. :0)
Have a wonderful day,
Stephanie ♥
Me again..LOL
Speaking of Andrea….Have you been to Andrea’s blog to see that beautiful baby girl she just had? What a sweet beautiful thing she is.
Hugs,
Stephanie ♥
Wow Claudia, what a fabulous surprise!
I too am a book lover, and so is my husband. I am still not sure about the ebooks, but I can see how traveling it would be really great.
I love the look and feel of a book, and the print on the page. I think I always will.
Your free books are really wonderful! I love both books. I haven’t read Anne in 25 years, but I loved it when I did.
Hugs,
Terri
I feel the same way as you do about books- I think the feel, the look, I like holding them. But lately, I’ve been so intrigued by the idea of a Kindle and being able to have so many books in one place. I guess its similiar to how I feel about my Ipod- at first, I thought, no, I want to be able to look at all my CDs- but I do love the convenience of my Ipod- and have a new addiction- podcasts.
I could not, nor want to, live without books, honey. When I say I’m vegging out or taking a break, that usually involves a book. I buy them at the book exchange in my town and buy them by the dozen so I’ll never run out of something to read. That causes near panic! However, it is my “relaxing” thing to do since we don’t have a television (or WANT one). I am never without something to read.
xoxo,
Connie
Hi Claudia,
You have a very sweet sister. What a nice gift.
I am like you when it comes to books. I like to have the book in my hand and I’m not sure I could get used to the Nook.
Keep us posted on how it’s working for you.
hugs
Sissie
My husband recently received a Kindle for gift, and we too can see how it will be a very nice thing for traveling, and for taking advantage of the free downloads online. I just came home from the bookstore, and I have a stack of library books to return in the next few days. Nothing will ever take the place of the real thing for me, but I do see the day when there will be fewer and fewer book stores that sell them. It’s a sad thought for me. At the same thought, anything that makes reading books more accessible is a good thing. Balance I guess is the answer to such things, just as in most of our endeavors.
xo
Lena
How great! I have thought for books I may not want to keep I would like this, you know the silly kind or ones you end up not liking. I really only keep my series ones anyway! What a super sweet sister you have!! Enjoy! Our Library system has free down loads too. Check it out!
Hugs, Lisa
I’m very interested to see what you have to say on this, Claudia. Like you, I am a book lover, and my greatest fear is that they will go the way of the dinosaur. But I have to admit that technology is attractive in terms of how many books you can download and enjoy.
Thanks for this report, and you have a sweet sister!
XO,
Sheila
oh i have to admit i somehow would feel as though I’m betraying my love of paper and ink and printed books if I were to even hold one of these things…
and yet, wow…it looks so light, sleek, stylish and modern…compact…and you’ve downloaded two of my favourites!
i’m intrigued!
ciao bella
creative carmelina