2015 Book Challenge with the Aid of a Shiny New Kindle

Absences the romantics say, make the heart grow fonder, or as the pessimists say, absences make the heart wander. So romantics, did you miss me? Unfortunately the Leaving Certificate grows ever closer with each passing moment of 'spare time', but in a few months I'll be all yours.

More to the point: book challenges. What better a way to force ourselves to eat chunks out of that 'to read' list, and force ourselves to make time in our ever busy lives for that pastime we miss so dearly, than to succumb to one of those new years resolution style lists, in which you pretty much read everything in sight, and end up with a book in your hand constantly?

Allow me to share my chosen Book Challenge:

Let me tell you, it's not easy to find an author with the initials C.B. though (thank goodness for My Left Foot). Anyway, as an extra challenge, and to motivate me a little more, I'm going to review each of the books I read, starting with Pride and Prejudice which I just finished.

Also as a motivating factor, I very recently purchases a brand-spanking-new Kindle, which I adore with all my being. Now for all you ebook sceptics out there keep your pants on; I accept your arguments, and I have lived amongst you for years, as my stubborn book-smelling, paper-feeling, sentimental self. BUT. Wait for it. After weeks of 'To Kindle or Not to Kindle' musing, my mind has recently been opened to the idea of le Kindle for numerous reasons:

1. My main reason is, books that are out of copyright, (if the author has been dead for 70+ years) are free to download from Amazon. That's soooo many books, and oh the classics *contended sigh*

2, If you haven't tried a Kindle you have to. I have the new Kindle Touch, which has no background light, meaning, just like your hard-copy, you need light to read it. Kindles are anti-glare, they have a paper like display, and are practically so clear they may as well be printed. Not to mention the added bonus of the search function, the percentage of how far you are through the book, the amount of time it'll take you to finish the book (although I don't find that entirely accurate so far) and the ability to highlight passages.

And finally:

3. Going Kindle doesn't mean snubbing paper. As soon as the novelty of your shiny new toy becomes, well, less of a novelty and less shiny it's just a cheap, handy means of doing what you love to do: read. You can still read your prints, I promise they won't evaporate or anything. And you're not betraying them either. I still love my ridiculous amount of books for an 18-year-old to have with all of my heart.

So lassies and fellows, join me in book-ing it up this year, and embrace the shiny new pieces of technology that live to serve. Even Mr iRobot got over his aversion to technology, you can do it too.

Also feel free to share your thoughts with me on Kindles (don't hurt me) and book challenges, or share your lists!

You stay classy bookworms.