Why I don't have a Kindle, Part 2

Despite lots of sewing and no book posts, I am in fact continuing to read.  I "ran out" of books this week and went to Half-Price Books. 

As I returned home with a stack of 9 new books, requiring me to find about 9 inches of bookshelf space, I wondered if maybe I should reconsider a Kindle.  They are getting cheaper, and maybe that's something to add to a Christmas list.  I decided to go onto Amazon and figure out what the same books would cost me. 

Half-Price Books Total: $53.82 plus tax
Kindle Total: $59.15 plus tax

"Look," you say, "it was only a few dollars cheaper at the bookstore, plus you won't eventually have to have an extra bedroom to store all your books.  A Kindle is definitely worth it!"  Unfortunately, you would be wrong.  The Kindle total is only cheaper because 3 of the 9 books weren't available as eBooks! 

Between the expense of books and lack of availability, there's no justifying a Kindle for me yet.  $5.98 vs. $9.86 per book means a 65% premium for eBooks.  That's a bit too much for me to swallow.

Grace (Eventually)

I can't justify getting a Kindle, Nook, iPad, or other e-reader.  It's appealing.  The bookshelves are full.  I wouldn't have to use as much valuable luggage space when I travel.   I could carry around hundreds of books at a time.

But two things stand in the way.  One, I am frugal.  The readers themselves are pretty pricey, and most books tend to run in the $8-$15 range.  I can do better at the used bookstore.  Two, there is something nice about having a book that can be shared with a friend, even if they don't always find their way home.  (I'm talking to you, guy at work who still has my copy of Freakonomics three years after I lent it to you.  Too late to ask for it back now without seeming crazy.) 

Recently, I found a third reason.  When you buy used books, they sometimes tell a (bonus) story.

Take, for example, the copy of Grace (Eventually) I purchased.  Usually I flip through all the pages of a used book and make sure it's not terribly marked up, but I forgot this time.  When I got it home, I discovered something interesting.

It appears that this particular book was either purchased at or brought to a discussion and reading by the author.  First, it's autographed.

Second, there are notes from the talk.  Some of the notes seem to be directly related to one or two essays, but others are more generally about being a writer or artist.  The notes cover virtually every blank or partially blank page at the beginning and end of the book.  My favorite is a bit ironic - Ms. Lamott apparently gave the advice to always have a pen and index cards to take notes about things or people you encounter, which would probably be better than scribbling all over your paperbacks. 

As for the book, I think you either like or don't like Anne Lamott.  She writes about Christian spirituality from a very liberal perspective.  Although I'm more conservative and traditional in my faith, I think she's thought-provoking.  Even if I'm shocked by statements that I find borderline heretical, at least it makes me think about what I believe about the nature of God and the promises of Jesus, as well as what the role of Christians is in the world.  She's also good for the occasional belly-laugh.  Although I think I liked her Plan B better (the essays about teenagers and starting a Sunday School are so priceless I marked those two essays for my mom, currently starting a Sunday School and raising a tween and teen, hoping she would skip over the essays that included more colorful language), I found plenty to think about while reading Grace (Eventually). 

I hope everyone had a fantastic Easter.  He is risen!