So after walking around boxing books, paying for hardbacks I cannot live without, my 40+ authors I follow, I several years ago gave in and bought a Kindle.

The first one they sent me was a clunker - no two ways around that - the Kindle techies knew I had their number on speeddial - finally they said send it back, and another will be sent.

This one actually worked. But I have selectively bought books on it, and when my VISA bill looked mostly AMAZON purchases, I bit the bullet and if there was a book I needed - I ordered it on Kindle - it is a cool thing to have the book come to the Kindle within a minute - and surprisingly there are lots of books that are available on Kindle for free!

So I have been using Kindle more frequently, mostly before I go to bed, which is my major reading time. It's handy - pardon the pun - when you're in bed to flick 'next page', 'last page' etc. BUT...

I miss the feel of the paper on my hand, the dust jacket you can flip to if necessary, the words on that paper that made me fall in love with reading in the first place.

I miss my books. But it is so much more affordable to have Kindle deliver my books, and no packaging to throw away, and no books piling up.

But I am having the shakes missing the joy of tearing open the packages and feeling the tactile joy of holding MY book!!!

I will continue using Kindle, but will allow myself the LUXURY of ordering a for real book.

Kindle is a fine machine - when it works, but nothing can beat the feel of a bound book, and the excitement of discovering the gift of the story as it unfolds.

ellen george