Kindle

Last week, I finally broke down and bought a Kindle from Amazon. I'd been debating it for a few months. It arrived at my house on Wednesday this week, so I've only had a few days to play around with it. I'd have to say, it's freaking awesome!

I put off purchasing one for two main reasons. First was that I'm usually at home when I'm reading. I have bookshelves filled with books at home, so I didn't really *need* a portable reading device. For some reason, I thought it would only be useful on trips.

The second reason was that you can't check out books from the library or lend your books to friends if you get them from the Amazon store. That really bothered me because I don't like to pay much for books. I usually only read them once and so I like to get them from for free from the library. That's also nice because I can return them when I'm done and not waste shelf space.

Those were silly concerns. First, the Kindle seems to be even more convenient than a printed book. For one, it's a lot thinner and takes up a lot less space. I can put a whole library on this little device and it wouldn't take up shelves and shelves of books. It would be a lot easier to move than boxes of books as well. I also found I can read much faster when I can just click the next page button rather than actually flipping the page. Strange, but true.

There's also tons of free content available. Many of the classics are available online or through Amazon for free. I've already loaded this Kindle with more books than I can probably read in the next year and I didn't pay for much of it.

In short, if you do read much at all, you should buy one. If not a Kindle, then get something else. Simplify and stop collecting stacks of books.

Attention Florida readers: Jane Heller is coming to town

Jane Heller, author of Confessions of a She-Fan: The Course of True Love with the New York Yankeesis doing a book signing in Tampa this Friday.

She will be at the Barnes & Noble Carrollwood at 11802 N. Dale Mabry Highway on Friday, March 6 at 1 p.m. I hope Squawker readers in the area come out to the signing to say hello. Jane is a friend of this blog, and a regular poster here.

Click here to read my review of "Confessions." I give it a thumbs up!