Amazon Kindle e-reader: A Bookworm’s Review

I'm sure many of us have reached a point where our book-to-shelf space ratio has gotten out of hand. Your “To Be Read” list has become an unattainable goal yet you’re constantly overcome with the urge to walk into the bookstore. For many readers, the smell of books can be alluring. There’s something about opening up a new book and taking a whiff of crisp clean pages. Or maybe you like the worn and torn hand-me-downs, with the cracked spine and coffee stains.

Whichever you prefer, physical books can have you at hello, but they take up space! This is why so many readers have dabbled in the world of e-readers.

It’s important to know that Amazon sells five different Kindle e-readers they each have different features, and each has more features than the previous but they all have the same ability to purchase and download books instantly. The cheapest and basic Kindle is $99.99 which you can usually catch for a much lower price on Amazon Prime Day. The most expensive Kindle is the All-New Kindle Scribe priced at $339.99

I will be reviewing the basic Amazon Kindle 8th generation. Updated versions of this Kindle do get released but the differences are specific to details such as battery life, resolution, and storage. Currently, they have reached the 11th generation, but whichever generation you choose they are all very very similar.

Amazon Kindle e-reader Features I Liked

• Instant access to books: these days we all seek instant gratification. With the Kindle, I literally click a button and I’ve immediately purchased my book for instant download. Within two minutes I’m opening up to the first page of my new read. When I come across a book I am interested in reading I do NOT like to wait until my next day off or free moment to take a trip to the bookstore unless I truly want the physical book (because the cover is pretty).

• Purchasing books for a lower price compared to the physical version: this is truly my second favorite thing about the Kindle. Let’s talk numbers. For the purpose of simplicity let's just say my local bookstore sells the novel Regretting You by Colleen Hoover for $14.95. With my Kindle, I could buy the e-book for $5.99. I personally find that to be a pretty great price. I’ve seen books in the Kindle store as low as $1.99!

• Access to Kindle Unlimited: now this one is a hit or miss, this subscription could be worth your money or it couldn’t. I won’t go into too much detail on the specifics of the subscription but basically, you have access to over a million e-books. The subscription is $9.99 a month so depending on how much you read you can save even more money. Now that same book I just mentioned, Regretting You by Colleen Hoover is $0 with Kindle Unlimited. (One downside, you cancel your subscription you lose the books).

• I can read in any environment comfortably: Lying in bed in the dark, sunbathing, and even by the poolside. The screen is anti-glare, brightness and tones are adjustable, and it’s easy on the eyes.

• Compact, compact, compact: Did I mention compact? It’s about 6”x 4” and super thin. It's lightweight enough to carry around in your bag or purse. You can even add a pop socket to make it more comfortable when you read.

• Good battery life: I am not exaggerating when I say I barely charge my Kindle. I work 12-hour shifts 4 days a week and I have been able to go all week without having to charge it. Were allowed to read in our downtime, so yes there are intermittent moments when I am not using it. But I still consider that great battery life, my iPad could never.

Amazon Kindle e-reader Features I Don’t Like

• Can tend to slow down: like so many devices, the more you store on it the more it can start to lag or freeze. I find sometimes buying books through the store on the actual Kindle device can get tedious due to this.

• One page in a hard copy book can equal 2-3 pages on the Kindle: I may have confused you there. In other words, what is considered one full page in your hard copy of let’s say Stephen King’s The Stand can be two to three finger swipes or “pages” on the Kindle. So sometimes you think you’ve read so much but you truly haven’t. If you're a stickler for page numbers and progress you might hate this.

• Not waterproof: now this is entirely up to which Kindle you purchase but considering this one is the cheapest I’m sure it is the Kindle most people opt for. Sadly, this one is not waterproof.

• Obnoxious ads on my lock screen: For some reason, Amazon thought people would enjoy seeing the ad for a book upon locking their Kindle. I think we can all agree we hate ads even on apps we use on our phones. I know I do. Luckily, Amazon offers the option to remove these lock screen ads at a special cost. I say that with all the sarcasm in the world.

Overall, I would say I’ve gotten a lot of use out of my Amazon Kindle. The Kindle Unlimited feature as well as lower-priced digital books have helped me save a lot of money this past year. I find myself buying fewer books at the store and benefiting from the large selection provided on Kindle Unlimited.

I hope I’ve shed a bit more light on my Kindle experience!