This is reposted from my old blog. I’ve imported the whole post, comments and all, into a single space here. I’ve listed it here under its original date.
Something to Look Forward to
Monday, December 14, 2009
This is going to be a good Christmas. I already know what I am getting from Santa, because my mom needed to ask whether I could make it work outside of the US. She’s getting me a Kindle Reader from Amazon. (I’ve borrowed one from a friend who got his for his birthday earlier this year, so I know I can get it to work in Singapore and Shanghai.) It is going to be so nice to be able to carry loads of reading material with me, without it weighing so much. Packing for all my travels just got so much easier. (Thanks, Mom!)
I’m also excited to hear that Jasper Fforde has a new book coming out. This is not a Thursday Next book, nor is it Jack Spratt. It’s a new tale altogether, from what I understand, called Shades of Gray. Fforde is one of my favorite writers, and I am really looking forward to this book, as it promises to be a little darker than his previous works. A little darker, with all of his amazing humor and outstanding writing? I can hardly wait.
I’m planning on ordering the Kindle version of Fforde’s new book, which will make a great package for me. It will be great to have a new toy loaded up with a new work by an old favorite.
Does it get any better than this?
©2009 Shelly Bryant
Can hardly wait for it to arrive in Singapore now!
I’ll look forward to your upcoming Kindle reports.
Malcolm
And really, I don’t feel like I am looking at an electronic screen when I use the Kindle. I don’t know how to describe it — it isn’t like paper, exactly, but the quality of print on paper is there. It is really nice.
And, I like that this version of the Kindle makes it easy to carry PDF files. I have printed out less material this week than I usually do, as I can store the material as a PDF file in my Kindle instead. That has been handy for doing some reading of student papers and so forth. I really hate reading on the computer screen, as it makes the eyes so tired. This device enables me to read e-material, but without that fatigue to the eyes. It is as good as advertised.
And the number and quality of free books available for the Kindle is fantastic! I downloaded over 200 pieces for my mom to set up before she sent it over, and they are really quality stuff. It’s great for people who like the classics, because there’s so much available for free. In addition, I read a lot of ezines that make material available in PDF, and I’ve downloaded several of those for reading this week. If you do much reading of material on the computer screen, then I think you would like the Kindle a lot, because you can read that same material on a device that feels more like a book (to both hand and eye) instead of on the computer, just by sending the PDF to the device.
Pretty great technology, I think!
Shelly Bryant 