As a very avid reader, I wasn’t quite sure how well I would like reading a book on an E-reader device like the Kindle or Nook.  I went along reading the old fashioned way only mildly wondering if it would be more convenient with a little device in my purse.  My husband made the choice for me and bought me a Kindle 3G for Christmas this year.

I have to say I’ve been pleasantly surprised. The convenience of being able to carry literally thousands of books with me at all times is wonderful.  I keep my Kindle in my purse and can pull it out any time I encounter an unexpected delay and can pass the time reading.  I have also pulled a few word games down, too, to keep me amused.  It’s also easier to find a comfortable position to read while lying in bed, since I’ve only got to hold the reader in one hand and click a button to turn the page.

I wasn’t really sure whether I needed the 3G version of the Kindle, which is about $50 more than the standard version.  The difference is that I don’t need to be near a wireless hot spot or router to pull down books.  I didn’t think that would be a big deal but I’ve also discovered the reader came with an experimental web browser feature, which has come in handy a few times and I was able to access it without being near a coffee shop.

Another thing I like is being able to load tons of books for free to my reader.  Classics that are no longer under copyright are free along with many more current reads.  I’ve already read (or re-read) Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Through the Looking Glass, and Grimm’s Fairy Tales and am now working on Pride and Prejudice.  Plus, any of these reads can be deleted from my Kindle if I wish but will always be stored in my online account and I can re-download them at any time.  I can also get magazine subscriptions, which I’m testing out with a trial subscription to Poets and Writers magazine.  It’s a very handy device.

I won’t give up my physical books, though, not by a long shot.  There is something comforting about sitting with a good book in a comfy chair by a fire at night.  I love the look of hardback books, without their dust jackets, lined up on my shelves and across the top of the piano.  And I like being able to pass on books that I really enjoyed to others I think may enjoy it, too.  But I think my Kindle was my favorite Christmas present in the last few years and one I will continue to use for years to come.