Question Time….

What is better?

A kindle, an audio app or a physical book when it comes to reading?

For me, I see benefits and flaws with all options when it comes to reading….. I use all options at different times and in different situations.

I love my kindle, I had the first one back in 2014 I think it was when they were first advertised and it was always in my bag to read on my lunch break at work, because who wants to sit there for an hour staring at a white wall all alone in silence? I used to read a couple of chapters during lunch then turn it off and continue reading either in the evening or the following day. After a good many years of enjoyment out of it, the system was no longer fit for purpose as they no longer produced updates for that model so I decided to buy the latest model at the time which was the kindle basic 2022 model, which unlike my previous one was touchscreen with no side buttons to turn the page or a central button for typing using the keyboard. BONUS WAS IT WAS ON A PRE BLACK FRIDAY DEAL 😍😍😍 instant selling point…

When it turned up, it was already linked to my Amazon account as I’d purchased it so all I had to do was type in my security details and away I went downloading my booklist and purchasing a fair few more I have to admit of new releases and books I’d been looking at for a while…. I’ve now had it almost a year and it’s still in my handbag, read in work, at night if I wake up during the night unable to get back to sleep and also if I go for a wander down the local park. It’s as light as a bar of chocolate so you don’t notice it in your hand and I have a wrist strap attached to mine so I can’t drop it or have it wrenched out my hand by any opportunist thieves.

The amount of people who approach me asking what I’m reading or what I’m holding is lovely as it’s a conversation starter and I’ve made quite a few new friends from reading and discussing the books I’m reading or have recently read which has the potential to give new options for others to read from my suggestions and also boosts the authors reader audience.

It holds its charge really well as I use it on Airplane mode which turns off Bluetooth and Wi-Fi signals preventing any updates or synchronisation of the device but I do this once a week to update my Goodreads account, my reviews and any book or system updates. Saying this, my first charge from buying it new lasted from June last year {2024} until January this year {2025} which compared to my old one is amazing.

I also use the kindle app on my iPad and iPhone occasionally if my kindle itself is on charge but screen wise I prefer my kindle as it’s a lot smaller and lighter.

I love my audio options as I tend to use these while doing housework or just fancy getting away from it all and putting on my headphones and going for a wander in nature. I use a number of audio options including Audible, Apple Books, and Easy Reader funded and supplied by the RNIB. All have their flaws and bonuses but the main one is Audible is so expensive and you only get one book a month for your subscription price and then have to pay for the others you want which can range up to £50 for an audio book which is insane, you do get to use the audible plus library too but I’ve personally found that very limited to my own tastes in reading. Apple Books is along the same lines with regard to pricing so I rarely use that unless I have no other options. Easy Reader is free to use but you have limited options to download books as their selection isn’t vast and rarely has current releases or a full set of a series to read.

When it comes to a a physical book I tend to only buy special editions with either sprayed edges or signed by the authors, classic clothbound copies which I collect anyway and some are so beautifully crafted I can’t say no! A complete box set of a series of an author I adore and then lastly a book if I’ve attended a book related event such as an author meeting. I personally find reading a physical book sometimes a bit cumbersome with the size of them or the weight and only ever read a physical book at home for the same reasons, especially if reading a spicy book – I don’t want my book to spark unwanted attention or conversations.

Physical books also can be priced a lot more than an audio or a kindle version of the same title so value for money I do the kindle option so then I can get a whole set for the price of the physical option of the single book. Then there is the storing of many books and protecting the special editions etc. 1000 books on the kindle take up a small amount of space on that device but the same amount of physical books is a library room in your home.

I am not biased in any sense when it comes to how people read a book, we all have our personal preferences and we are all entitled to our own views – I use all options in different situations.

If anyone has any questions or views on this please comment below – I would love to hear from you.