I just returned from the most amazing 12 day trip–six countries and three continents. While most of the trip consisted of a seven day cruise, there was still a lot of packing and unpacking involved. Rather than take along numerous books — which I ordinarily would have done for a trip that lengthy — because heaven forbid I find myself on any continent without something to read! — I went high tech (very unlike me) and used my new Kindle.

Michael had given it to me for Christmas, but since I’m technologically challenged, I didn’t even take it out of the box until a few days before our departure. I’m pleased to say it wasn’t that hard to get the hang of, even for a gadget klutz like me. I didn’t even have to resort to cursing before I had downloaded two books, long books, books still in hardcover that I couldn’t have carried to the other side of the globe without paying a fee for extra baggage weight. My worst fear wasn’t getting used to reading off the screen because that’s what I do all day, every day. My worst fear was running out of juice while flying over the Atlantic. (I think there’s power cord that will enable me to plug it into an airplane, but I didn’t have one.) I was able to recharge the battery, even in Istanbul, using a converter/adapter, so my Kindle never lost power.

It has a few design flaws. For instance the on/off switch is located on the back, which is rather inconvenient, and the page turner runs down the entire right side, so I was constantly flipping before I was ready to. But it’s lightweight and has the capacity to store as many books as I would read in a year. Most of the bells and whistles I’ll never use, but techies will love them.

Will it ever take the place of books — actual paper pages, and covers, and the tactile pleasure I derive from holding a book? No. But for travelers or commuters already loaded down with reading matter, I can recommend you check it out.

Oh, and if you do, you may notice that one of the books listed on a sample menu page is CHILL FACTOR by Sandra Brown!