Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

_atworkdontsendnudes t1_ixdfn84 wrote

I love paperbacks. Have a huge library. But my Kindle Paperwhite has been the best addition to my library, and it has allowed me to read in previously inconvenient places, but most importantly, in bed - without bothering my wife. If you have a loved one who suffers from excessive reading, Kindle might be a good gift for them this holiday season.

When it comes to books themselves, I can go on an on, but I will recommend what I’m reading now - Cormac McCarthy’s Border Trilogy. Incredible prose, relatable characters, fascinating storytelling.

And another fun gift would be to take your loved one to your favorite bookshop. Spend some time together, pick up a book or two, and if present, pet the bookstore kitten.

Cheers. Happy holidays.

21

Cormorant86 t1_ixdsd21 wrote

Agreeing on the e-reader front!

That said, I would also recommend talking to the reader/giftee before buying any e-reader (generally) or a Kindle (specifically).

I don't know if you (the person I'm replying under) is recommending Kindle (the brand) or using Kindle as a blanket term for e-readers (like how people call all bandages "Bandaids" or all tissues "Kleenex").

Not all e-readers are made equal, and when I was in the market for an e-reader, I specifically avoided Kindle because I hate the constant ad bombardment and how little of the homescreen is dedicated to the reader and their library.

TL;DR: e-reader, yes! Kindle, maybe! And talk to the giftee first!

Edit to add: the funny thing is: I had 100% settled on the Kobo Clara 2e. Then, for some reason, I got it in my head to look for a color e-reader (I had planned to use the Clara for knitting/crocheting magazines; diagrams are better in color), and then I was like, "for that, I'll just get a cheap tablet."

And then I remembered that I already owned a 6-yr old tablet I wasn't using, so I bought an "anti-glare/matte" screen protector and uninstalled all apps except those related to reading/learning, and it's an amazing e-reader.

The ONLY downside is that it's too big to fit inside my daily purse, but it was essentially free. I'll use it until it dies, and then replace it with a real e-reader later.

2nd edit: I also installed a free app that lets me make the tablet light dimmer and warmer. The default dimmest setting was still too bright and blue.

5

iwasjusttwittering t1_ixekp5b wrote

E-ink can be a game changer for people with deteriorating eyesight.

I gave a reader to my dad who couldn't read from paper for more than 30 minutes, but the reader has enabled him to read for hours on end.

Around here, the most common brand seems to be Pocketbook and I like their recent models quite a lot, even though I was skeptical after my experiences about a decade ago. I eventually got a Kobo Glo HD too, because it was supposed to be quite hackable. However, it's still far from ideal for PDFs and I'm not going to pay 500 € for a fancy 10" model.

5

Cormorant86 t1_ixenv60 wrote

>E-ink can be a game changer for people with deteriorating eyesight.

I'm privileged to have good eyesight and to not have to consider this factor when shopping for an e-reader, and I appreciate you bringing this up. :)

I am also a huge fan of audiobooks and some e-readers can handle those, as well!

1