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Reader's Paradise

I've been Kindled!

16 years ago

Imagine my surprise when I got home from work this evening and my DH insisted I open an early Christmas present. Actually, you can't imagine my surprise because my DH, although he does have many wonderful qualities, is not a gift-giver. And he hates Christmas. I'm in complete shock. But not too shocked to have already downloaded a book! Wowzah! Yes, I love it already.

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Comments (13)

frances_md
16 years ago
Congratulations, Siobhan!
socks
16 years ago
That's terrific!
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I've been a Kindle owner since the first month it was released and I absolutely love it. My reason for buying it was that my book collection was, and still is, out of control. I never expected to like reading on the Kindle as much as I do. However, I find I read faster and with less distraction than when reading a "real" book. Some of the advantages: From Amazon you can download the first chapter of books for free. These samples help me decide whether I would like the book before purchasing it. As long as you live in an area with good Sprint coverage, you can purchase and download any Kindle book at any time in one minute or less from anywhere -- no need to have a computer involved. It can be propped up while you are eating or doing something else that can be multi-tasked with reading. It can be read easily in full sunlight, just like a book. It is not hard on the eyes like reading from a computer can be. There are several choices of font for those who like larger or smaller print. When you have finished reading the book you can delete it from the Kindle but download it again from your Amazon library whenever you want to see it again. It is possible to download free books from various sources as well as purchasing book from Amazon. I have not done that but know others do. I'm sure there are other advantages that I'm forgetting right now. I do still purchase books for various reasons -- reference books, garden books, knitting books, and books that aren't available on the Kindle. Sometimes I purchase books just because I want to. My love for books goes back to babyhood, I think, and I'm as surprised as anyone that I can love the Kindle, too. If you have any specific questions I will try to answer them.
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Pleasant looking room. Liking all the natural light potential. You might consider wood or faux wood vertical blinds for the window wall. Would add more wood vibe to the room and offer more options for light and privacy control . https://www.blindster.com/vertical-blinds/faux-wood-vertical-blinds/ Plants give a farmhouse vibe. You'd have more room for plants if your loveseat were not backed up to the window -- not just plant shelf/stand sitting on the floor but brackets with hanging baskets of the plants you really like that will get enough sunlight from your windows. Having your loveseats facing one another set at each long end of the rug with only a table and lamp between the one side and the exterior wall would be worth trying ... setting the front feet of the loveseats on the edge of the rug. If you draw, to scale, on graph paper the size/shape of the room with all its fixed features (windows, doors, fireplace, etc.) indicated, you can draw and cut out the size/shape of the furnishings you have and and see what works without moving the actual furniture. Taller thinner wood or metal post table lamps with medium/large white shades could help lighten the room ... and have a less formal vibe than the ones you are now using. An "industrial" style could work.
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Sorry I've Been Away So Long...
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Char,, your quilts are great. I really admire you for keeping up on your hobby under really less-than-ideal circumstances. Sailing is wonderful, but sailing and quilting seem pretty incompatible to me. You've made it work!! Shelagh looks beautiful underway. Donna, sailing is also a wonderful hobby. I found it a very empowering pasttime. I started sailing in my late 40's and racing shortly thereafter. It was my passion until I was about 73. At that time, I thought I'd leave racing to the younger set. I still love to sail, but since I sold my boat after I quit racing, I don't do it much any more. For Char, it's a lifestyle now.
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No question, just dropping in. I’ve been gone awhile.
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Doing okay, just getting older! DH got diagnosed with Parkinsons late last year, but doing good so far. We’ve only had the pontoon boat out 4 times this year. Getting harder for the 2 of us to manage. I’m still sewing, but not as much I do keep busy, but enjoy staying home more and more. Bought $200 worth of fabric from Joanns before we left Florida and Joanns was closing, working on that fabric now. We live in northeast Michigan, no, not the UP! Leaves are turning now. Frost warning for central Michigan tonight! Happy to see so many remember me. Kathy G in Michigan
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thyrkas
16 years ago
Merry Christmas! Keep us posted on all the skills, and books, you aquire as you enjoy you new Kindle.
J C
Original Author
16 years ago
Being of a frugal nature, I googled "free kindle online" and ended up back on Amazon - now I have The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. I'm amazed at what is available.
rambo
16 years ago
I'm not sure what file formats are compatible on the Kindle, but you can get a number of free classics on Project Gutenberg. They are mostly ePub and PDF files. Also Google books has many free ebooks too.

Here is a link that might be useful: Project Gutenberg
jungseed
16 years ago
Could I give my DH your DH's email address???? Think that might work?
sheriz6
16 years ago
My birthday is today, and I was also Kindled! It was a huge surprise, as I'd been waffling about wanting one for some time. However, now that I have it in hand it's pretty neat and looks like it will be a lot of fun to use.

I'm following your tip, Siobhan, and googling "free kindle online" for my first foray into using this. I'm a bit technology impaired (vs. the DH who lives and breathes this kind of stuff), so this will be an adventure! We'll have to compare notes as we go along :)
J C
Original Author
16 years ago
I think you'll find the Kindle very easy to use. I love it, although I would never have bought it for myself, much too pricy. But as a gift it is great. I can't see myself denting my budget to purchase books for it either, unless as a special treat at holiday time. But it is a great way to revisit so many books I have been meaning to re-read, or old classics I haven't got around to. Diary of Samuel Pepys, anyone?

You might find this website useful -

Here is a link that might be useful: Free Kindle Books
sheriz6
16 years ago
Siobhan, thanks for the link! I've hit paydirt with the free downloads. So far I've downloaded 30 free books from Amazon. These include the complete Sherlock Holmes, some P.G. Wodehouse, two books by Jerome K. Jerome that I've seen mentioned here, Elizabeth von Arnim's The Solitary Summer, Stoker's Dracula, A Christmas Carol, two Andrew Lang fairy tale books and all sorts of other goodies. I'm enjoying the hunt for free books tremendously. I hardly know where to begin!
Chris_in_the_Valley
16 years ago
Congrats, you two!
ccrdmrbks
16 years ago
I kindled my iPhone and am having fun downloading free books in anticipation of a long flight coming up for business. If I turn the phone horizontal the print size is fine, and there is enough of a page shown at once not to drive me crazy. I'm looking forward to not having to lug two or three books onto the plane (never know what I'm in the mood to read) but will have many to choose from. I'm still packing real books in my suitcase though.
vtchewbecca
16 years ago
I got some extra Christmas/birthday money (they fall right together for me), and decided to take the plunge and Nook myself. It is due to arrive sometime in February. I am so excited and kept thinking as I was finishing my most recent read - Grave Secrets of Dinosaurs: Soft Tissues and Hard Science - how nice it would be to be on an eReader, as it is a rather large paperback.

The links for the free ebooks appear to be ones that will work on any eReader, so I'm looking forward to using those sites when my Nook arrives.

So glad you all are enjoying your Kindles!
ccl38
16 years ago
And I discovered that there is a Kindle iPhone/iPod app so I have downloaded it to my iPod Touch and have been reading a lot that way. I find it much easier to read than a print book. I, too have downloaded quite a few free books. Further I decided that at $9.99 or less per book, I would allow myself $20.00 to spend on new books each month.

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