socks - You definitely need a light for reading at night on in dimly lit places. It's just like reading a book. I read mine by the bedside lamp for over a year, and that worked fine. Then, several months ago, I ordered the light from Amazon...and I love it. It makes enough light to read by, without blinding anyone that's sleeping beside you.

Enjoy.

Also, you might want to purchase a cover to protect your Kindle. You will find a good variety, from a nice leather cover to a colorful skin. I understand Jeff Bezos (Amazon's CEO) puts his in a ziplop bag to read in the bathtub! Actually it would be very good for bathtub reading, no problem turning pages.

I'll definitely get a leather cover. I saw some incredibly beautiful ones (Oberon), but I think the standard black one is very nice and more my price.

What about the skins? Is it necessary to get a skin as well as the leather cover? Can you use both, or is it more protection than is needed?

Thank you.

The cover is fine, you don't need both. The skin is thinner but the cover provides more protection. I like the cover because the device is so very thin, I actually find it easier to hold with the cover on. But if I were worried about space and weight, i.e. if I commuted on a train or walked a long way to work, I would go with the skin.