Posted 11:54 pm Sunday, July 15, 2012
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Equip Yourself With The Proper Reading Gear
By Vanessa Pearson
vpearson@tylerpaper.com
Sure, I’ve got about 10,000 pages ahead of me on my quest to read 30 books before I turn 30 in January. But I’ve got a few creature comforts to help me out.
vpearson@tylerpaper.com
Sure, I’ve got about 10,000 pages ahead of me on my quest to read 30 books before I turn 30 in January. But I’ve got a few creature comforts to help me out.
My eReader
Some purists would call me blasphemous for not reading all of my 10,000-plus pages on printed paper, but I love my Kindle.
I bought the first version Amazon presented in 2008 and instantly fell in love. I updated to the second generation about a year later. Now I could read 1,000-page books without having to feel the weight or be daunted by the physical manifestation of how much was left.
I’ve had wrist problems since I made doughnuts for Krispy Kreme in college — I’ve had a surgery and multiple procedures done to manage the pain it still sometimes causes, so holding giant books can be physically painful.
I bought the first version Amazon presented in 2008 and instantly fell in love. I updated to the second generation about a year later. Now I could read 1,000-page books without having to feel the weight or be daunted by the physical manifestation of how much was left.
I’ve had wrist problems since I made doughnuts for Krispy Kreme in college — I’ve had a surgery and multiple procedures done to manage the pain it still sometimes causes, so holding giant books can be physically painful.
My Kindle weighs about 10 ounces. “Crime and Punishment,” which I’m still working on, weighs about two pounds in paperback or three pounds in hardback, based on Amazon.com shipping weights.
I already want to take an ax to my head for putting the Fyodor Dostoyevsky classic on my list, so I don’t need to feel the heft or see just how many pages I have left to slog through.
The eInk screens of Kindle and other eReaders such as Barnes & Noble’s Nook look like paper and can be read outside without glare, unlike the glossy, backlit color screens of smartphones and tablet computers.
Don’t get me wrong — I still like physical books, but being able to put 1,000 books in my purse is awesome. Plus it probably would’ve been a lot longer before I fell in love with Diana Gabaldon’s “Outlander” series, which all come in around 1,000 pages. I read the first seven in less than six months.
I already want to take an ax to my head for putting the Fyodor Dostoyevsky classic on my list, so I don’t need to feel the heft or see just how many pages I have left to slog through.
The eInk screens of Kindle and other eReaders such as Barnes & Noble’s Nook look like paper and can be read outside without glare, unlike the glossy, backlit color screens of smartphones and tablet computers.
Don’t get me wrong — I still like physical books, but being able to put 1,000 books in my purse is awesome. Plus it probably would’ve been a lot longer before I fell in love with Diana Gabaldon’s “Outlander” series, which all come in around 1,000 pages. I read the first seven in less than six months.
Its Clothing
I can’t have something and not personalize it.
So I went for an amazing cover by Oberon Designs. The leather covers are handcrafted in Santa Rosa, Calif., when you order them. The leather is dyed so the color won’t rub off, and the pewter latches are a fabulous detail. And the intricate designs kept me waffling for weeks before I took the plunge.
Of course, the beauties aren’t cheap — mine cost $75, but newer models are smaller, so they cost about $10 less.
I don’t regret the purchase — the case feels amazing in my hands every time I pick it up.
And to cover up the reader’s naked white plastic frame, I selected a vinyl skin from DecalGirl.com (above) for $14.99. It’s basically a giant sticker that protects the surface of my Kindle or any electronic device.
So I went for an amazing cover by Oberon Designs. The leather covers are handcrafted in Santa Rosa, Calif., when you order them. The leather is dyed so the color won’t rub off, and the pewter latches are a fabulous detail. And the intricate designs kept me waffling for weeks before I took the plunge.
Of course, the beauties aren’t cheap — mine cost $75, but newer models are smaller, so they cost about $10 less.
I don’t regret the purchase — the case feels amazing in my hands every time I pick it up.
And to cover up the reader’s naked white plastic frame, I selected a vinyl skin from DecalGirl.com (above) for $14.99. It’s basically a giant sticker that protects the surface of my Kindle or any electronic device.
Mood Lighting
Just like books, the Kindle needs light for me to read by.
I have a small, clip-on book light from Mighty Bright, about $12. The LED light produces more than enough illumination for dim rooms.
But I also love my floor lamp with a second gooseneck lamp. My current one is from IKEA (left) — it’s perfect because it only cost $11.99 and I can reposition the smaller lamp at will.
I have a small, clip-on book light from Mighty Bright, about $12. The LED light produces more than enough illumination for dim rooms.
But I also love my floor lamp with a second gooseneck lamp. My current one is from IKEA (left) — it’s perfect because it only cost $11.99 and I can reposition the smaller lamp at will.
