I’ve always been a reader. In second grade, I got in trouble for reading books hidden under my desk. There is always a book in my purse for whenever I have a few free minutes. And when I travel, my carry-on luggage is usually half-filled with books.
I never thought I’d be an e-reader fan. How could an e-book ever compare to the feel of a physical book in my hands? And what would I do without the beloved “new book” smell, or the musty “old book” smell, for that matter?
But then Dan got me a Nook Simple Touch for my birthday, and I’m a little bit in love. Here’s why:
1. It is so much easier to read 2 or 3 books at a time when you have them all in a little 5×7″ tablet.
2. I realized yesterday morning that I can upload any PDF to my Nook. So I copied and pasted my favorite blog posts from Joy, Cheryl and Jess into a Word document and saved it as a PDF. Now I have instantly accessible writing inspiration, even when I need to unplug from the internet!
3. I’ve been really pushing myself on the trainer lately. My cycling rides often end with my sprawled on the living room rug, exhausted. With the Nook, I can make the font of whatever I’m reading as large as I need, so I can still read as I push myself past 17 mph at high resistance.
4. Free books! Turns out, public domain books can be downloaded for free. I now have a collection of classics I’ve always meant to read, but haven’t yet: Pride and Prejudice, Wuthering Heights, The Time Machine, Vanity Fair. Maybe now I’ll actually get through Les Miserables– it is so much easier to read a few pages at a time when you don’t have to carry a 3-inch book around. I’ve also downloaded some of my favorite classics: Jane Eyre, Little Women and Phantom of the Opera.
Of course, e-books will never fully replace “real” books, especially when it comes to beautiful cookbooks and books that I know I’ll want to lend to friends and read again and again. But the Nook is still one of my new favorite things.
I never thought I’d like mine as much as the real thing either, but having sooooo many books at your fingertips is AH-mazing!
I feel the same way! I was a little skeptical at first… but an e-reader is so practical! Not only for traveling and just running errands where you know you will have to wait a while (gotta love doctors appointments), but also for the stage of the life I’m in too. College life & moving around every year is not very conducive to having an entire library of hard-cover books. My boyfriend got me the Kindle & I love it! I’m so glad you like the Nook too.
I hear you– moving boxes full of books are heavy!
ah, i would like an e-reader someday! maybe i’ll ask for one for christmas! this one looks pretty cool!
So glad to hear that you like your Nook. I am about to purchase a Kobo and am quite excited as well! Happy reading!
I am very hesitant about the idea of nooks. Like you, I feel like a physical book is so special. Maybe I’ll try it one day. Do you find that it hurts your eyes after a while?
Not at all! The Nook Simple Touch (and the basic Kindle too, I think) has an e-ink display, so it is more like reading a real book instead of having a backlight like a camera would.
I have a kindle and absolutely love it! I also understand the importance of owning books so you can share, and some books just need to be real. But for me I love not having to pack books on trips, and not having to go out and buy more at a store!
I am also a huge reader and love books. I have been resisting all e-readers since their first inception. People keep telling me that I would love it, but I am very old school in my love of books. Its nice to know that a die hard book fan can still enjoy an e-reader… I might have to rethink my stand on the issue.
I never thought I wanted one either but 3 years ago, I broke down & bought one (Nook original) – I fell in love! Last fall I upgraded to the Nook tablet, which I love even more. I still read physical books sometimes, but I’m definitely a convert. My favorite parts are how easy it is to take places with you & how wonderful it is to have as many books with you as you want
I thought about the tablet, but wasn’t sure about the backlighting– and didn’t want to get distracted by the internet and sucked into work in the evenings and on the weekends! How are you liking it so far??
I am really thinking about buying one of these…but I am usually the last one to fall into step with technology.
Also, Pride and Prejudice?! I’ve read it like 5 times and every time I am biting my nails waiting to see what happens in the end.
I was hesitant but I seriously loved my kindle and now my iPad is the greatest thing ever. It makes traveling with books so much easier!
I love my nook – I have that same cover for mine! I enjoy having the ability to check most books out from the library and download them almost instantly
.
One of my favorite parts of the nook is lending books to friends (so easily and fun if you have friends with similar reading tastes), and from the library – most local libraries will let you “borrow” books on your nook from them for two-ish weeks! Love it! I also love that the nook app is easy to use on my phone, so if I don’t have the nook itself with me, I can still read if I get stuck with down time – Love the Nook!
I also got in trouble for reading…past my bedtime, under the covers with a flashlight, usually a Babysitter’s Club or Sweet Valley High book. I haven’t made the switch yet. Sometimes when I’m packing two or three books in my carry-on bag for travel I think about it though.
I loved Sweet Valley High as a kid!
Did I hear Sweet Valley High Julie? Haha! Those are the pochetbooks I was so engrossed when I’m still in high school! But now, I’m more into reading e-books, DIY books and stuff..
i was totally, vehemently against all those e-readers at first. i love books. i live for books.
but i got one for christmas from my parents…and i have to say. for traveling? it is awesome. i can “carry” like 100 books with me all in one thing PLUS music? lifesaver.
there are still books that i will only buy in print because they’re the special ones, but they are definitely nice for traveling.
ps: i have that same cover, too! twins?
Yay, I love our cover!
Wait, which e-reader do you have? Because I don’t think mine has music capabilities…
i just have the classic nook, i think. my parents got it because it went on super sale when the new version came out.
there’s an option in the main menu (in my touchscreen part at the bottom) for music. i just plugged it into my computer and loaded a few cds, then just use my headphones when i’m traveling and reading.
That must be an older version, because mine definitely doesn’t have that feature. Luckily my iPod nano takes up zero space when I travel