My Sony eReader

I have been using my eReader for a few weeks now, and I have to say that I finally feel like I've made the mental shift and fully embraced digital books.  By fully embracing, I mean that I honestly feel like this device can replace actual physical books in my life.  


When Conery bought me my first eReader back in 2000, digital content was in its infancy.  

My first eReader:
the Rocket eBook

There were very few new titles available in a digital form.  Thanks to Project Gutenberg and the like, you could get a lot of royalty free titles, but Stephen King was the only author really thinking about digital books.  He released the first title published exclusively as an eBook.

Now that the culture of downloading digital versions of content has found its foothold, there is actually a decent selection of eReaders as well as a great amount of digital content.  Currently, eBooks are outselling print through Amazon.com.


That's all well and good, but wouldn't I rather be reading a *real* book?  Turns out that I wouldn't.  *gasp*  I have apparently accepted this new device as a book.  There are certain habits you develop as a book reader that I have found myself exhibiting even though there is no paper involved.  Here is the evidence that I feel like I'm reading a book book:

• While I was having a pseudo picnic on a bench at lunch, I actually put my hand on the book when a gust of wind picked up to make sure I didn't lose my place.  I laughed to myself at that silly reaction.  Not having to constantly think about keeping the book open is great.
• I never lose my place in the book as the last location persists regardless of other books/periodicals read in between reading sessions.  You can also add markers, but I haven't had the need for any of that yet.
• I have this cover and usually tuck the front part under the reader.
  
  
  On occasions when I don't, I have found myself bending back the front cover like I'm cracking the spine on a book.  There is no need for me to do that, but I apparently do it without thinking about it.  Kind of like tucking hair you used to have behind your ear.
  
• I have also found that I feel the urge to pick up the bottom corner of the page in preparation for turning to the next when I'm really into what I'm reading.  Since the eReader is a touch screen that gesture actually turns the page.

I didn't think that I could really really give up reading physical books, but this device has changed my mind.

Oh, and get Tina Fey's book Bossypants.  It's hysterical!