To kindle or not

Kindle: set on fire, light, inflame, inspire, stir up, make or become bright, glow with passion, burst into flame.

When my step-daughter stayed with us recently she proudly showed me her new toy – a Kindle. It is an electronic book reader which allows you to use a device to read digital copies of books, magazines etc. Instead of a printed page there is a digital screen and one can turn the pages by pressing a button. It is powered by a long lasting battery and one can store an incredible amount of reading material on it. Many of these are included in the price which is around £109 otherwise I believe you buy and install them.

MTL’s eyes lit up and I knew he was thinking of my Christmas present. I can see the advantage of the equivalent of a light notebook compared with a heavy tome; it took all my strength reading Diana Athill’s ’Life Class’ in bed recently and there wouldn’t be the palaver of the dropped book mark and the flopping pages.

And yet, and yet in, comparison the kindle looks so dull, grey and clinical. I love the feel and smell of a book and the different designs, covers, print and layout style are all part of the pleasure of reading a book.

Has anyone had experience of this? I’m not a total Luddite and if it is going to add to the ease and quality of life then I may allow MTL to give it to me as a present. But at that price I have to be sure it won’t be a ten minute wonder. Waddya think?