Ready to eRead

There are a number of signs to indicate when a person has branched off from the path in life that embraces all progress and taken a fork that favors the familiar and comfortable. For a lot of people the first step in this new direction, is rejection of new music. They like what they like and they won't listen to the new stuff--some go out of their way to deride it in an effort to frame themselves more as purists than has beens. A more dramatic step off the path is resistance to new technology. In a way, you can get away more easily with rejecting music because it so closely resembles simply having a preference. But by resisting technology, you are saying, "go ahead without me, I can't keep up."

Because I am not quite ready render myself antiquated I try to keep an open mind to all things new and keep myself to some degree current on new technology. Computers are a given. I embraced the iPod and the digital camera. I continue to upgrade my cell phone even though, before each upgrade, I can't imagine needing a phone to do anything more for me. I text, I chat and sooner or later, I'll probably tweet. Though it doesn't come naturally, I make a strong effort to appreciate hip-hop, reality TV, HDTV and performance art. But for the longest time, I found myself mentally blotting out the existence of the eReader.

As a reader, I was interested. As a lover of actual books, I was wary. One of my favorite simple pleasures is getting my hands on a new book. I savor every page from the author's dedication to the bio to the main chapters to the preview of the author's next book. I like the feel of the pages, the very smell of the pages. And I like to keep all the books I've read. I majored in English in college mostly because it was a good excuse to buy, read and keep books. Yet, in the back of my mind, I always knew I'd break down and try the Kindle at some point. I put it off for years, but knowing I was edging off that mainstream path bothered me. So, finally, last month I ordered my Kindle from Amazon.

Technology reviews can tell you how well a device functions but you have to experience it yourself to know whether it works for you. The Kindle started working for me when I recognized that did not have to be a book replacement. I can try out novels on the Kindle and buy them in book form if I really love them. This will keep books from eventually taking over my entire house. If I get it in my head that I want a book, I can have it in seconds. It is great for reading large tomes on the go. It can house a series and keep them all there for ready reference. It can do things I haven't figured out yet, too. I was inclined to turn up my nose at the eReader, but am glad I did not. Instead, I've made it another tool for further indulging my favorite pastime. I think it's going to be a good thing.