I have a confession to make. I resisted getting a Kindle for a long time. I love the weight of a book in my hands, the tactile experience of turning pages, the movement of my eyes tracking from left to right at a steady pace flowing down the page. The thought of reading books on a flat screen with no texture, no bookish smell, no smooth cover, and no bookmark that tracks my progress through the pages held no appeal.
But I’m an indie author and I sell more ebooks than any other format. I wanted to know the kind of experience my readers were having, so last year I finally broke down and bought a Kindle for myself.
It’s been a game changer.
As I write this, I’m out of town for the weekend. Tossing my Kindle into my bag was so much easier—and lighter!—than packing multiple books. (Because of course you have to bring more than one. Just in case.)
Instead of having one, two, or even three options to read depending on how many fit in my bag, my Kindle Paperwhite gives me access to hundreds. I’ve even organized my library into collections by genre to help me find something faster.
No more paying fines for library books that accidentally fell into a sink of soapy water because I was reading while washing dishes. (Especially if I use a stand and a hands-free page-turner.)
And have you ever dropped a book on your face because you fell asleep reading in bed? Please tell me I’m not the only one. That combined with the low light screen—I’ve tried so many different book lights over the years, and all of them disturb my husband when he’s sleeping—makes it my go-to preference for reading in bed at night.
If you’re like me, you get a little overwhelmed looking at all the options available. What kind of Kindle? What sort of features are there? How big of storage do you really need?
There’s the Kindle Colorsoft that (as its name suggests) offers a color screen. The Kindle Scribe is a tablet with a stylus for scribbling notes and organizing your thoughts. But if you’re looking for a basic device that will give you a great reading experience without breaking the bank, I recommend the Kindle Paperwhite. The screen is easy on the eyes, with options to adjust from cool to warm light. It’s lightweight, fits easily in my [not very large] hands, and has enough storage that I will never have to worry about running out of space.
There’s also the Kindle Oasis which some readers love, but you’ll probably have to find it second-hand since Amazon is no longer making it.
Whatever you decide, don’t forget to get a case! There are lots of other neat accessories you can get, but a case is definitely a must-have. (I’ll be sharing about some other accessories soon.)
Here’s an extra tip: Watch for deals during Prime Day or Cyber Monday to save money on your new Kindle.