Bookish joy comes from many sources. Some readers search used bookstores for different editions of their all-time favorites. Others love owning personalized books from authors they have met in person. Lately, I have found unexpected readerly delight in owning multiple e-readers and discovering the benefits of having more than one way to read books electronically.
You may be asking yourself: “Why would someone own more than one e-reader? Don’t they all do the same thing?” I used to think the exact same thing. Now after owning only one e-reader at a time for about 15 years and expanding my collection last summer, I wish I had purchased multiple ones even sooner.
Having the ability to afford multiple e-readers is a privilege; I currently own a Nook, two kinds of Kindle, and a Boox. They are not cheap and are definitely not a necessity for reading. Some readers prefer print books only and that is a-ok! Using a digital reading device is not for everyone. I enjoy the e-ink experience but totally understand preferring pages to pixels. (I am just a tad bit envious of those of you that can use your phone or tablet to read. The world is truly your reading oyster! Trying to read on my phone gives me headaches and I get distracted by notifications, calls, and texts.) With so many choices in reading formats out there, I am extremely grateful that I have the means to own a few different e-readers for both my personal reading and work on Team MMD. I do not take it for granted.
For years I was perfectly content with my first electronic reading device, a Barnes & Noble Nook. I adored the page turning buttons and was so impressed by the amount of storage. Being able to read in a new format was exciting and the Nook made the experience easy. I had caught the e-reader bug.
About five years later, right before our first child was born, my Nook was becoming glitchy. Amazon had introduced their built-in light so I treated myself by upgrading to a Kindle Paperwhite. It really came in clutch for all those late night feedings. Thanks to that purchase, reading on an e-reader went from a somewhat sporadic occurrence to a daily habit for me. I actually owned a physical copy of The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest by Stieg Larsson but opted to wait months for a library e-copy instead because I enjoyed reading e-books so much. (Plus, it was much lighter than that 566 page hardcover!)
Fast forward to a fateful day last June. I was feeling frustrated that my Paperwhite would not fit in my crossbody bag. I also kept forgetting it at home when I meant to bring it with me on errands and appointments. Luckily, an almost cartoon-style lightbulb went off above my head when I realized I wouldn’t have this issue if I had two e-readers. Prime Day was quickly approaching so I did some research via Bookstagram and made plans to buy their smaller e-reader, simply called Kindle. I strongly considered a Kobo at the time as well, as I know readers who adore theirs and I loved the idea of being able to purchase ebooks in support of smaller businesses. However, a few years back, my library system sadly stopped using Libby/Overdrive in favor of CloudLibrary. This made it impossible to borrow titles to read on Amazon e-ink readers and a hassle to transfer to Kobo since they would have to be sideloaded with a computer connection. Knowing neither e-reader would seamlessly work with CloudLibrary like it did with Libby, I ultimately chose the Amazon product since I already had a collection of Kindle formatted e-books. Utilizing the Amazon trade-in discount in addition to the annual sale, I got my new “purse” Kindle for about the price of two hardcover books.
We often discuss genius moves for the reading life in MMD Book Club and having two e-readers was a total game changer for me. The many bookish benefits became quickly evident. The smaller size fit into tiny bags and even my pocket. I can read easily in more situations since I carry it with me at all times. It’s one less item to remember to grab when I leave the house. I immediately noticed an increase in my time spent reading. I was catching snippets of time throughout the day while out and about instead of getting pulled into Instagram on my phone. Now I always have an e-reader on my nightstand and my purse option for when I’m on the go. Thanks to the devices syncing up to my last read page perfectly when connected to wi-fi, I don’t ever miss a word.
As an added bonus, I don’t worry about taking my smaller e-reader out of the house the way I would a more expensive device. Knowing it would cost less to replace than my larger one eases my mind. Let’s say you have an almost cult classic level e-reader with page-turning buttons that you adore and happens to be discontinued. We are looking at you, Kindle Oasis. Then you can rest easy that your precious (please read in a LOTR Gollum voice) is safe at home when you have a smaller back-up.
About three months ago, I introduced another device to my e-reader lineup. (Spoiler alert: it is my current number one draft pick.) After seeing this glowing review from Wirecutter and learning that Bookshop.org would be offering e-books, I ordered my own Boox Palma 2. This adorable phone sized e-ink device runs on Android and arrives with the Google Play Store installed. The way I quickly downloaded all my reading and library apps when it arrived may have broken a world record. Now I have access to library electronic resources again and can finally choose to support independent book stores when I buy e-books. Huzzah!
However, the Boox Palma 2 does have some aspects that fellow readers may find to be red flags. The set-up and learning curve can be time consuming, the price is high, and I often run into issues with “ghosting” (lingering images from the previous page). Bookstagram and YouTube videos have been really helpful in learning the many cool features, gift card presents offset some of my cost, and the ghosting can be quickly remedied by the push of a button. Best of all, those aforementioned aspects are completely forgotten when I am reading e-books from my library or local indie that I can’t access with a Kindle. And did I mention how small and light it is? The size and weight make it so easy to hold on my occasionally achy finger joints. The page-turning buttons are another great feature and like many other aspects of the device, fully customizable to my preferences. The Palma may not be the perfect e-reader, but it is pretty perfect for me and I honestly love reaching for it when I read around the house.
I am pretty sure the perfect electronic reading device does not exist. (Please tell me if you find it or invent one!) Some readers want the ability to write on their e-reader, others prefer a color e-ink display, and quite a few like larger screens best. We’re talking about a real Goldilocks scenario here. In the meantime, having multiple e-readers is a great option with significant benefits in my reading life. Keep in mind that this approach is by no means necessary to have robust reading options or a good fit for everyone. After all, the best e-reader for you will be one that will make you want to pick it up often and dive into the pages of a good book.
What is your preferred e-reader(s)? How do you feel about reading electronically? Please share in the comments.
P.S. Elevate your reading experience with these favorite bookish things and Add joy to your reading life with these favorite bookish accessories.
About the author
Brigid Misselhorn is our MMD Book Club Community Administrator. Her go-to genres are mystery, romance, and sci-fi. You can find Brigid on Instagram @brigid_emily.