Shop, Live, Love - Kindle application for iPhone

I love to read books. I think since I learned how to read, I have devoured more than I could even count. Many nights of my childhood were spent under the covers with a flashlight, till all hours, as I rushed to find out what happened next in a story. The more books I read, the faster my ability to consume them. My dad would laugh at me and say, "Finished all ready?" as I begged to go back to the store and blow my allowance on more. Laura Ingalls, Beverly Cleary, Judy Blume, Sweet Valley High.
As I got older, my selections moved from paperbacks to the exciting new release, hardback book. Stephen King, Jean Auel, Anne Rice, Jackie Collins. I watched the "Coming Soon" list in the mall bookstores like a hawk. My favorite Christmas present when I was 14 was the new Jean Auel book, "Plains of Passage", in hardback. I think I finished it well before New Years Eve. Of course, it was around this time I learned the disappointment of spending so much money on a brand new book, only to finish it in a matter of hours. Don't even get me started on the price of college text books and required reading lists. I began signing up for bookstore membership and rewards programs to help offset some of the cost. I organized my must read list, begrudgingly putting some of the books off until they were released in paperback. I found friends with common reading interests and we swapped books, saving more money in our little reading community. In the end, there was nothing quite like curling up with a new book. Sometimes for sheer pleasure on a rainy day with a cup of tea and sometimes late at night, as a welcome distraction from stress and grief. (Harry Potter and friends kept me company in the weeks following my husband death.) Books were more than just words and stories in binding. They were friends, companions and guides to far off places. Of course there was the other downside besides price point. Books take up a lot of space and when you move as many times as I do, well, lets just say, they are not easy to cart around the world.
I remember when the idea of electronic or E-books started popping up on the Internet. It reminded me of the library or second hand bookstore. Limited selection and rarely new releases. I couldn't possibly imagine staring at a screen for long periods of time, being chained to my computer. Soon, came the portable reading devices and the Kindle. Now I have to admit, I love gadgets! I was always scooping up the latest cell phone (I had to get the first cell phone with a camera!) or iPod (music at my finger tips!) I relished audiobooks stored on my iPod for long road trips, replacing expensive and sizable books on CD. The release of the iPhone was met with huge excitement. Cell phone, camera, iPod, Internet in the palm of my hand! I was giddy with every new update and new application that made my life easier and more organized.
But, back to books. I began to face the price dilemma again. Money was tight and suddenly, buying new release hardbacks that I would read before the charge was even posted to my account seemed like a luxury I would have to put off. Even with my Barnes & Noble membership and coupon of the week, I was having a hard time justifying my addiction to reading. One afternoon, I was "window shopping" on Amazon, checking on the books that were "Coming Soon" and there it was, right under the list price. Kindle edition. I had read about the Kindle but didn't really know the details. A version of the book 1/3 of the price? A $26.00 new release for $9.99? I had to know more. Then, I saw the price of the kindle. Hmmm, could I offset the price by reasoning how much I would save on books? Did I really want another gadget to cart around and remember to charge? I began searching for answers and then I found it. There was a Kindle application for iPhone and better yet, it was a free application. There had to be a catch.
I downloaded the application and purchased my first ebook, "Twenties Girl" by Sophie Kinsella, guilty pleasure reading. I wondered, would it eat up my iPhone battery or take up too much memory? Would staring at the screen drive my eyes insane? You can imagine my excitement when it didn't do any of the above mentioned. It was easy, convenient and I could read anywhere! I always have my phone with me, thus I had my new book with me too. I read in the car line to pick my son up from school, in the kitchen while the oven preheated, in bed, in the dark while my fiance slept soundly next to me. It kept track of what page I was on (no more dog ears and bookmarks) and fit in my pocket. Best of all, I had saved enough money on that book to purchase another one, "The Last Symbol" by Dan Brown, released today. I can't stop raving about this. I am a dedicated iPhone fan (I still have my original 1st generation) and this only reaffirmed my affection for my favorite gadget! I almost felt guilty as I watched my best friend loading her carry-on with books and magazines for a long flight, knowing that I could do the same thing and not break my back or the bank. I would have to say that even if I didn't have an iPhone or iTouch, I would most likely have purchased a Kindle. The savings on new and popular titles is better than any rewards or membership program the bookstores have offered me. Now I can buy everything from the latest fictional novel to self help book to chick lit and not feel guilty when I finish it in record time (I read the complete Twilight series in a weekend). I love reading. I love books. I look forward to less dusty, cluttered bookshelves and thumbs black with printer ink. Off to start my new book.
♥♥♥♥♥ Five Hearts to the Kindle Application