I don't talk about my Nook very often (or even about ebooks in general)--probably because I still have mixed feelings about it/them. I know many people have ereaders these days or use other portable devices like phones or ipads/tablets to read books, and many people love reading this way. Although I surprised myself by liking my Nook much more than I thought I would and even don't mind reading books on it, I have to admit, I'm still a little ambivalent about electronic books. I still far more prefer paper books over the digital sort. Almost always I reach for a book from my reading pile over picking up my Nook, even though it is loaded with wonderful books. So this is probably not the best introduction to writing a post about ebooks, is it?
The thing with ereaders, though, is the ease and immediacy of getting new books loaded onto it. It's almost too easy, and that can be a dangerous thing. Loads of books I don't own are right at my fingertips and I can have them at literally a moment's notice. Granted the free books do take a few extra steps and must be loaded from my computer, and new books via the B&N store need a wireless connection for access, but under the right circumstances the books are mine in moments (well, as long as the battery is charged on my Nook!). So I am trying hard to find a way to love my books yet also love my Nook. Surely they can happily coexist? I don't see a need to cast off one format in favor of the other, but see it all as an opportunity to have access to all sorts of books!
I have a feeling that a new discovery might just help pave the way for me and my Nook: Bloomsbury Reader. Have you heard of it? Simon at Stuck in a Book also recently mentioned this new project. I had just stumbled upon it by chance when I was looking for new books recently. If you still also prefer paper books to ebooks, from what I understand they will also be publishing the books on demand. As they are in the UK, though, and I haven't been able to find the paper books for sale in the US online and the ebooks are readily available (oh, and I am greedy and impatient), I decided to buy a few and load away. Once again these are books that are no longer in print and often difficult to find (wonder if that means they are not publishing any more Bloomsbury Group titles?). I'd like to say I think this is the niche for me when it comes to ebooks, but of late I have also bought a few new books as well. The thing with the Nook is you can load samples of any books they have in their store before you buy, so you can get a little taste, which can also be dangerous.
I've had to rein in my enthusiasm a little, but I have loaded several of the Bloomsbury Project books. As you can see I have E.M. Delafield's Late and Soon (country house novel set in 1942). I also have Love Among the Single Classes by Angela Lambert (love story? about an Englishwoman who answers an ad for marriage from a Polish exile), Men on White Horses (a novel set in Edwardian England as well as during WWI) and The Diamond Waterfall (another story of Edwardian England and WWI--I'm such a sucker for books about this era!) by Pamela Haines. Sample-wise I am trying 1939: The Last Season of Peace (the last London Season--may be my next purchase!) by Angela Lambert, A Long Walk to Wimbledon (dystopian-sounding story) by H.R.F. Keating, and The Long Night (a story of suspense) by Hartley Howard. The list of authors they are/or will be publishing seems quite extensive--a few of interest to me: Rose Macaulay, H.R.F. Keating, Monica Dickens, Ivy Compton-Burnett, Ann Bridge (!!), Storm Jameson, Margery Allingham and I suspect there will also be new to me authors who I will want to explore.
I try and look for cheap ebooks and sometimes load the freebies B&N gives away on Fridays. Other new books include The Blue Rose (gardening mystery recommended by Margaret P.) by Anthony Eglin, A Cold Day for Murder (mystery set in Alaska recommended by Petrona) by Dana Stabenow, Black Sheep, Devil's Cub and The Nonesuch by Georgette Heyer (Sourcebooks will often have sales on their ebooks). Then there are all the free books from Project Gutenberg and Girlebooks. I must easily have over 100 ebooks on my Nook. An abundance of books!
Now I just need to get into the habit of picking up my Nook every day and choosing one book to concentrate on. I think I'll start with the Delafield and add her to my regular reading rotation. I'll let you know how I get on with my ebook.