Is An E-Reader Worth It?

For many of us, reading is a ritual. We write our names inside the book covers, turn the pages, flip through the table of contents and enjoy holding a bound book in our hands. 

But, e-readers are out there, and many of us have them. Are they worth it? 

The quick answer is: Yes. 

Reasons Why E-Readers Are Useful: 

• No need for a book light — We all have 'em. Those little book lights that our partners purchased because we liked to read in bed until all hours of the night. You clip 'em onto your books and the little light shines onto the pages. Like a flickering candle. Because the battery power usually stinks. And if you're reading a paperback, the book light is too heavy and causes problems. Get an e-reader, and you can read until you fall asleep using the electronic light of the electronic reader. And if the white light of the e-reader is too bright, many offer sepia or night-vision options. 
  
• No need for an extra suitcase when you travel — Think you're going to read 10 books during your vacation? Don't bring an extra bag just for your books. Save them all on your e-reader and just bring that with you. It all fits on your tablet and you can read for hours! 
  
• Arthritis — As we get older, some suffer from arthritis and can't hold a book comfortably for long periods of times. You can place an e-reader in your lap, then just tap the screen to move to the next page. Extend your reading time without the pain. 
  
• You can still use the library — Most libraries are hooked up to Overdrive, the free lending library service that allows you to check out the latest best-sellers on your e-reader using your already-established public library card account. Check out what you want, read it within two or three weeks (depending on the book and your library), then just delete it from your e-reader. There are no late fees with Overdrive either, if you have the book past your due date, it just deletes on its own.  
  
• Two Words: Project Gutenberg — There are over 45,000 free ebooks available through Project Gutenberg thanks to the fact that the copyright has expired on them in the United States. They are high-quality and fantastic. These aren't random, unheard-of books either. Here are just a sample of books available through Project Gutenberg: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, Les Mis by Victor Hugo, Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain, Grimms' Fairy Tales by the Brothers Grimm and the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle.

Do you use an e-reader? Do you love it or is it a necessary evil in this day and age? Let me know in the comments!

This post also appeared on my website: DanielleMastersonBooks.com.