For a long time I resisted the temptation to buy a Kindle. I called myself a luddite, and that I loved the paper books too much to settle for electronic ones. But the new Kindle Paperwhite made me a convert. One look at the picture and I decided I had to buy it. However it wasn't available for sale in India. So I turned to Lazygeek, who inspired me to start blogging. He is in Seattle now. I asked him to buy one for me and send it across. He bought it in December, but I had to wait till March for some one to bring it to India. I am floored is to say the least about it. No other gadget I bought has made me so giddy with pleasure.
I am yet to load up new books from the Amazon store. I am loading it with the classics that I have always wanted to read but never did. First up is Tolstoy's Anna Karenina (Constance Garnett's translation). The prblem with the paper version of the classics is their sheer size puts you off. But an ebook reader removes the fear of the size. (Oh, does that sentence read awkward or what?). I have completed part one of the eight part novel and it is easy going so far. I really love his prose. Only now did I learn that this novel was serialized in a magazine, which explains the interesting hooks at the end of each chapter.
For some one who started reading English literature pretty late, my initial introductions came from Tamil novels. The first time I read about Jonathan Livingston Seagull was in one of Sujatha's serialized stories where the heroine rides a bike jumping red light at all the signals in Mount Road wanting to "soar away like Jonathan Livingston Seagull, up up and above". That description stuck with me and I searched and found the book when I could. Similarly the first time I read about Anna Karennina was in Balakumaran's Karaiyora Mudhalaigal where Swapna says that her husband asked what she wanted for her anniversary / birthday she said Anna Karenina and her husband searched all the saree shops in Chennai for that saree. It made an impression and I always wanted to read Anna Karenina. Now finally, thank to Kindle I am reading it. Next up is another monster - James Joyce's Ulysses.
I am yet to load up new books from the Amazon store. I am loading it with the classics that I have always wanted to read but never did. First up is Tolstoy's Anna Karenina (Constance Garnett's translation). The prblem with the paper version of the classics is their sheer size puts you off. But an ebook reader removes the fear of the size. (Oh, does that sentence read awkward or what?). I have completed part one of the eight part novel and it is easy going so far. I really love his prose. Only now did I learn that this novel was serialized in a magazine, which explains the interesting hooks at the end of each chapter.
For some one who started reading English literature pretty late, my initial introductions came from Tamil novels. The first time I read about Jonathan Livingston Seagull was in one of Sujatha's serialized stories where the heroine rides a bike jumping red light at all the signals in Mount Road wanting to "soar away like Jonathan Livingston Seagull, up up and above". That description stuck with me and I searched and found the book when I could. Similarly the first time I read about Anna Karennina was in Balakumaran's Karaiyora Mudhalaigal where Swapna says that her husband asked what she wanted for her anniversary / birthday she said Anna Karenina and her husband searched all the saree shops in Chennai for that saree. It made an impression and I always wanted to read Anna Karenina. Now finally, thank to Kindle I am reading it. Next up is another monster - James Joyce's Ulysses.
6 comments:
Great..still I find it difficult to give up physical books for ereaders.
I too love Kindle. I still love the smell and the idea of building a library. Would not having the books inspire kids to take up reading?
I recently bought kindle and I find some of the books are not purchase in india. How do you manage to download the books?
Anon, I purchase through amazon.in , haven't faced problem with availability of books. Which books are you facing problem with?
stumbled on your blog through aimless browsing :). Just into 3rd or 4th post of yours.. strikes a great cord. This one in particular, I had the exact same experience of reading about Jonathan seagull in that tamil series and read Richard Bach literally 12-15 years later. Keep writing.. you have a way with words that makes it endearing.
I still love paper books given I spend so much time on computers. Bought kindle paperwhite a year ago.. and still havent tried it enough. After reading your feedback, I guess I should. In the United states, libraries were lending kindle books and some are still. With up to 24 books with auto expiration in 21 days, Kindle is a killer device. I wish Indian libraries supported e-books through this model; it might make books more accessible to kids.
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