I haven’t read a book for pleasure in probably 20 years. That changed this past week. About two weeks ago the whole family loaded up and headed to the mall. We originally went so that we could visit our Disney Store that would be closing this month. We had the stroller, and to make it easier to get in, I suggested we enter via the Borders Bookstore due to the push button doors. Kim was a little surprised and excited. Usually I don’t suggest her going into a bookstore….EVER. It’s like sending me into an electronics store or into a shoe store that carries Jordan’s. There was no turning back now.
After about 40 minutes we were done, and I had purchased the first book for pleasure in a VERY long time…maybe ever. I think when I was younger and reading a lot my parents bought my books. Then there was the library. The library is almost a bad word in our house. Kim loves books. LOVES books. That’s why we don’t go to the library. She loves books, but doesn’t like to give them back. The library kinda frowns upon that. So, we buy books.
So, the book I bought is/was about an assassin. I bought it for that reason. I loved the game Assassin’s Creed and I generally like any game like it. Hitman, Splinter Cell, etc. Kim calls them my “Sneaky bastard” games. So, I started reading on Thursday. I thought I’d bitten off more than I could chew. My first book back and it was 670-some-odd pages, and it was the first of three in the series. I finished it in 3 days. Could have finished it in one if I’d sat down to read more, but I didn’t. I’m now halfway through book #2. Kim is excited. Actually, that’s an understatement. She is thrilled that I started reading again.
Next up? That would be an E-Reader of some sort for me. See, Kim loves books. She loves the way they feel, the feel of the pages, the feel of the printed words, the smell of the books. Everything about them. And pretty much those same things are what I DON’T like about books. A couple months ago I brought up the idea of getting Kim a Kindle from Amazon or a Nook from Barnes and Noble. She declined due to the previously mentioned reasons for loving books. However, she is now suggesting that we “get one for [me] that she can ‘borrow’ when we go on trips”. Uh huh. Well, it is actually a good idea for the most part. I’d like one because I wouldn’t have to deal with the things I don’t like about books, and I’d get a new gadget. Gadgets are cool. So now, it is a matter of deciding which one.
This past Saturday we went to the bookstore to check out the Nook in person. I don’t like it. It is too small for my tastes. It is also quite slow. I played with a Kindle when my mom came out to visit a few months ago, but didn’t really like that either. It has a keyboard on it (basically) and that just makes it bigger than it needs to be. So as of now I’m waiting to see what the HP Slate and the Apple iPad are like. I think the tablet will be the way to go for me. Bigger screen, and more than just an E-Reader. The HP Slate is a full-blown computer in a tablet format. The iPad is an oversized iPod Touch. I’m leaning more towards the HP Slate due to the fact it is an actual computer and can multi-task. Plus, I won’t have the temptation to get the 3G data plan that the iPad would bring. Since neither is out yet, well, I guess I will just wait. Unless someone that works for HP or Apple is reading this. In which case, feel free to send me a pre-production model to test for you. I’d love that. Then, I could put up a review on here. Maybe start serving a better purpose than a location for my incomprehensible babbling. I’m off to bed. Kim’s working tonight and I got stuff to do tomorrow!
