Ode to the Kindle

I have to get this off my chest: I absolutely love my Amazon Kindle electronic book reading device.

Oh, I was skeptical at first. I love the feel of a book in my hands, and reading off a screen sounded both obnoxious and a sure-fire way to generate massive headaches. But I had to face it: there was no way I could carry a year’s worth of reading material with me. Actually, when I left I would have considered it an act of near magic to fit even one paper book in my lone and already overstuffed travel backpack.

Yes, there are bookstores here and there, and book exchanges in some hotels. But my experience has been that these leave a lot to be desired, and if I’m going to be reading I’d rather read something great rather than be forced to read something mediocre simply because it’s the only thing available.

In comes the Amazon Kindle. You can download up to several hundred books on it (at $2 – $10 each). You can hook it up to any computer via a USB cable (which means you can download new books while on the road). In the U.s., books download wirelessly to the device almost instantaneously. It’s portable. And best of all, it’s so easy and fun to read.

Because it’s not backlit, it doesn’t strain the eyes. Kind of like a calculator display. Amazon calls it “electronic paper,” and I suppose it’s as close as you can get. The battery lasts for hours and hours. And when I’m spending those interminable hours on the bus, I can read book after book to my heart’s content.

Yep, I’m a convert. It’s one of the smartest things I purchased for my trip.

Now, got any good book recommendations?