e-reader |

by Malena Lott

I found it a tad bit ironic to see Oprah holding the new Dickens’ compilation with the gorgeous Oprah-branded cover in one hand for A TALE OF TWO CITIES and GREAT EXPECTATIONS and the Kindle in the other. Yes, every member of her audience got both, and she said something to the effect of “While books will always be around and I love to hold a book in my hand, the Kindle is great for taking on vacations.”

That image is precisely where we are in the reading evolution. Holding on to the past, embracing the future, and getting to experience both in the present moment.

I love to hold a book, too, but when comparing the weighty double-novel paperback to the light Kindle, I gotta say, I’d choose to read Dickens on my e-book device, which in my case is the iPad. Since Dickens is in the public domain, you can download both books for free. That’s just what I did. Oprah admitted she’d never read Dickens, and it inspired me to “join the club” and re-read the books. Honestly, I don’t remember much from reading them in my much younger days.

GREAT EXPECTATIONS was written in 1867, and while the book has a lot of Dickens’ trademark curmudgeons, criminals and feisty boys, I’m loving the dialogue and Dickens voice all over again. I hope some of you will read along with me.

But if you don’t yet have an e-reader or reading app on your smart phone, you can buy the special edition Oprah-Dickens book here. If you’re ready to get or give a Kindle, the wi-fi version is only $139, which, in my opinion, is a steal.

And don’t forget about our HoLITday picks in the sidebar if you’re looking for great books to give this year.

By BEB Bookette Carmen Shirkey

It’s my first post as a Bookette! I feel like I should do high leg kicks or something!

As the Travel Bookette, I’ll be writing about travel, books, books about travel, traveling with books – well, you get the idea.

For my first post, I thought I’d tell you about my most recent travel hallelujah moment.

I spend a lot of time on airplanes. Mostly, I hate flying, but the best part about being trapped on a plane is the uninterrupted book reading time. However, with luggage fees putting a premium on carry-on space, it’s hard to decide between a 600-page mystery and a cute pair of shoes. Which do I take?!

After being the only holdout among the Mac enthusiasts to get an iPhone, I recently decided to suck it up about the data fees and get one. Soon after, a download of the Kindle app followed. I’ll admit, I was skeptical. Could I really read a book on a screen this size?

The answer, I’m happy to report, is yes. On a recent trip to Las Vegas (a favorite city, and possibly my travel Mecca, which I’m sure you’ll tire of hearing about) I downloaded a Lilian Jackson Braun “The Cat Who” mystery. (It was “The Cat Who Played Post Office.”)

The book itself was mildly entertaining, but the format in which I was reading it was fascinating! I didn’t have to make room for a book! It was hand-held, it was small-screen and my thumb did a lot of page turning, but it was a really nice alternative to holding a book – at least on an airplane.

The Mac geek in me would now like to upgrade my e-reader to an iPad, but no matter your platform, I’m looking to create an army of e-reader travelers to go roam around the world!

(Though, I will admit for home reading, I still appreciate the tactile experience of the feel and smell of a book.)

Do you use an e-reader? What’s your e-reader of choice? What’s on your e-reader reading list?

Tag Archives: e-reader

Thoughts on Oprah’s Dickens Pick

Travel Hallelujah!