Kindle app on my iPhone
I purchased the first ever Kindle made by Amazon, which I hardly used before it expired on me. I bought the first Kindle Fire in 2013, because it came out around the time I published my two short story collections. I wanted to see mine and my friends book covers in their true colour format. Did I use the Kindle Fire to read? I tried, but soon found staring at a lit screen for more than 20 minutes hurt my eyes. So, in 2014 I bought the cheapest Kindle version. Paper-ink and no light. It cost me £49, and had no purpose other than as an eBook reader. Turned out to be one of the best decisions I've made.
When I hurt my back in March, I found myself in a lot of pain and unable to do anything other than watch television or read. I don't know about you, but there's only so much television I can watch in one day. Even then, I'm not a flick-the-channels kind of viewer. I need something I know I'll enjoy to hold my attention, like a favourite series.
Holding an actual book and keeping the pages open is not the best option when you're laid flat on your back. So, begrudgingly, I turned to my Kindle. It was lightweight enough for me to hold in my hands and read for hours, and had the obvious advantage of being able to instantly download books.
While I'd love to have actual paperback copies of all the books I've read, that's not always practical or affordable. Having my Kindle helped me to fill the long hours and distract me when the pain was at its worse. If I had to recommend an eBook reader to a friend, I would always suggest buying the paper-ink version. Apart from being far lighter than a Kindle or iPad, it doesn't hurt your eyes or, as in my case, removes the risk of inducing a migraine.
How about you? Have you fallen for an eBook reader? Do you use the paper-ink version? As always, I'd love to know your thoughts.