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I am in the market for an e-reader.

I know, I know. When I first heard about e-readers, I was very skeptical and vowed that nothing would ever be able to replicate or replace the feeling of an actual book in hand. I still stand by that sentiment, but logically, an e-reader makes more sense in the long run, at least for me.

I travel a lot, and I always, always bring books with me. Not only do I travel, but I also move from place to place a lot. Basically, I’m almost always en route from Point A to Points B, C or D. Not having/bringing books is not an option for a bookworm like me, so I have schlepped my books to the ends of the world and back in my lifetime. However, it is not feasible for this to continue. Books are expensive (I have an aversion to libraries, but that’s a long story), books are heavy and books take up space. These are problems I’ve had with books and my lifestyle from day one.

E-readers solve most of these problems. Yes, they are expensive – certainly more expensive than any lone book. But e-reader versions of books are cheaper than print versions, and e-reader books that are in the public domain are free. They are also very light and can store over a thousand books on the device, which solves most of my book woes.

Sounds great, right? But there’s still a problem. I don’t know what type of e-reader I want. Or rather, which type of e-reader is the best fit for me.

I’ve narrowed it down to two: Amazon Kindle and Barnes & Noble Nook. Both look very good. I’m leaning towards the Kindle, but I don’t really have a reason for that except that it has a longer battery life. Honestly, both look really awesome and I’m completely torn as to which one to get. If I were to get the Nook, I’d be able to get it (relatively) soon. If I were to get the Kindle, I’d be debating whether or not I should wait a little longer and see when the Kindle 3 comes out before purchasing anything, as that release ought to be soon… right?

Anyway. Kindle or Nook? Anyone have experiences, stories, etc with either, or e-readers in general, to share that would be helpful?

Inspired by Krissy, I’ve decided to compile a list of books that have changed my world. I don’t read life-changing books at a regular rate by any means; my book of choice is usually one in the chick lit category. But that’s not to say that I haven’t come across a life-changing book or two (or that chick lits aren’t capable of falling in that category!).

• “The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak
  I can’t put into words just how monumental an impact this book hand on me. It’s wonderfully written, with some of the most vivid characters I’ve read. The premise is very unique (have you ever read a book narrated by Death?) and Zusak is a gifted storyteller.
• “Atonement” by Ian McEwan
  I’m a sucker for romantic novels and the love story in “Atonement” just blows the rest out of the park. A sweeping love story set at the dawn of World War II, it explores how one girl’s serious mistake has irreversible implications for the lives of those around her. The balance of all the characters and intertwining plotlines is remarkably well done; it’s just a really amazing book.
• “Someone Like You” by Sarah Dessen
  This is not the first Dessen book I read, but it will always remain my favorite. The strength of the bond between Halley and Scarlett has always been a benchmark for me when it comes to the strength of my own friendships. It’s such a pivotal story of growing up, becoming your own person and falling in love for the first time and all the trials and tribulations that come with it.
• “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald
  A standard required reading for all juniors in high school in the US, this is the best required reading I was ever assigned. The characters are so distinctly unique and I love how they embody the characteristics of the roaring 20′s.
• “The Golden Compass” by Philip Pullman
  I’ve read the entire “His Dark Materials” series and “The Golden Compass” is my favorite (with “The Subtle Knife” a very close second). I love how the story completely takes you into this world filled with daemons and there’s always a sense of the world being a much bigger and scarier place than we realize, with so much that is unknown. It’s another book that stays with you, which I think is the best quality a book can have.

Even though it’s practically June, I’ve finally decided to make good on one of my goals for 2010 and start reading more fiction. I attempted reading a YA novel to start off with, but I think I’m starting to grow out of the YA genre. There are some exceptions, of course; Sarah Dessen will always be by far and away my favorite author and there are some YA novels that I will always hold near and dear to my heart. Still, I’ve begun to turn my attention from YA authors to that of chick lit, specifically British chick lit¹.

I know the genre of chick lit is not always seen as a respectable one in the field of literature and more often than not it is described as brainless/mindless reading. I’ll agree that there might be some merit to the arguments against chick lit; chick lits aren’t going to be novels that are taught in high school English classes anytime soon. Still, it’s one of my favorite genres, if not my favorite. After a long and harrowing day at class/work, the last thing I’m going to want to read is a hefty, brainpower-intensive tome like War and Peace or Anna Karenina. Rather, I’m going to want to curl up on the couch with a relaxing read that I know I will enjoy.

There’s something about British (and Irish, too) chick lit, though, that places it a cut above chick lits from authors of other nationalities. I’m not quite sure why, but there’s something I find completely fascinating about tales of these women in their twenties and thirties, living in London (or Dublin, as in some of the books by Marian Keyes, a favorite of mine²) and juggling work commitments, friendship/family dramas and of course ongoing conflicts with various misters Right and Wrong. Maybe it’s the culturally dry humor that’s rampant throughout these novels, or my own personal fascination with glamorous-sounding city life of a twentysomething woman in London. Whatever it is, I am always on the lookout for a British (or Irish) author whose novels fall under the genre of chick lit.

My go-to chick lit authors are Keyes, Sophie Kinsella and Harriet Evans. These three have never, ever let me down, and I love them for it. It was Evans’ novel “Going Home” that broke my reading “drought” of over nearly a year, which was no small feat considering I’d stopped reading almost every book I had begun in an attempt to start reading again after about 30 pages.

Both Keyes and Kinsella have novels out that I have yet to read, which I am very excited about; they are definitely next on my to-read list. I’ve also got some of Evans’ novels to catch up on as I’ve fallen a little behind in keeping up with her newest books. But once I’ve read all of those, I’m at a loss at where to turn to next for a good British chick lit. So, anyone have any recommendations?

1. Some might say that this is slightly ironic as my work-in-progress novel is deeply rooted in YA. Still, they say write what you know, and I most definitely do know YA. As of right now, the same cannot be said for chick lit! [↩]
2. Keyes is Irish, not British. Dublin is not a British city but I still love Keyes’ work (some of her books are also set in London, or both London and Dublin). [↩]