Hooray for Nook-e

I have to admit that I love the Nook. This is completely unsolicited. One of my nurses had an eReader one day at work and I nearly destroyed it because I'm clumsy, but it was really cool.

I have been completely against eReaders since they came out. Books are a passion for me. They line the walls of my house and crowd all the flat surfaces. The idea of giving up those amazing pages just rubbed me the wrong way.

But, there is something about the Nook. I think it's the name. Seriously, they actually allowed the thing to be called the "Nook-e-book-reader". How can you not love something called the "nooky"? On top of that, it's a Nook. For those of you who do not have small children or who are not reading children's books as a hobby, you may not get the joke. But, those of us who know Dr. Seuss's classic One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish by heart know that it's pretty funny because a Nook can't read.

I was in Barnes and Noble the other day and actually played with one of these things for a while. It's TINY! Plus, the words are so easy on the eyes on the screen. It was totally something I could put in my purse and pull out and read while waiting at the DMV or whatever. So, it got me thinking that I might want to try it.

I did not buy a new Nook. I don't have that kind of cash. But, I did get a used, first-generation Nook off someone pretty cheaply. I thought I would try it. The first generation ones are not tiny. They also do this black flash thing when you turn the page. It is a bit annoying.

On the other hand, I can hold it in one hand in bed and read for quite a while. My eyes don't get tired and it's not that heavy. I am enjoying it.

I admit to some guilt, though. I look at all my wonderful books and I wonder what I am doing to them. I feel slightly like I am betraying the actual printed word.

I will still read my physical books. After all, it's pretty hard to judge a book by it's cover on the Nook. Since that's how I choose most of what I read, I'm heading to the bookstore and the library anyway.

So fellow bibliophiles, be not afraid. Try out the Nook. It's a neat toy and after you have your Christmas-morning love affair with it, it will just be a second way to read. It won't hurt your books. And if you've got the cash, get this teeny-tiny one. I will totally envy you.

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/nook/index.asp?PID=35699#logo