I got a Nook Tablet for Christmas. I am hooked. I have it rooted, which means I have full android access, so I also have a kindle app, a kobo app, and a few others. I collectively between all of the above and books i get for review over 1400 books. Of those, I have actually paid anything for about 20-25, maybe. I have 300 in my Smashwords library, most of which I got during Read an Ebook Week for free.

I have bought a few off Kobo when the price was right, usually under 1.00 with a coupon. I got a book the other day for 9 cents! because I had a 10 dollar off coupon for Kobo.

Most of the books I buy through BN are by way of gift cards through Mypoints. When I buy on Amazon, it is because I have credits in Amazonpayments through my MTurk account.

There are tons of books I want to read, but they are at the 10.00 or more price point for an ebook, and I will not pay that. If I cannot borrow those from my public library, then I just don’t get to read them, because none of them are lendable titles.

My initial interest in the device had already been piqued by various articles, but I got a big case of want when a co-worker showed me hers. As soon as the black ones came out, that same friend got one along with a cover with a light that gets its juice from the reader. This gal makes me covet. Then, “the evil genius of Amazon” starts playing with Fire. Then comes the piling on by Amazon evangelists like yourself, tempting me as you do with talk of Prime and KOLL.

You really do make their evil case for them quite nicely. The only hole I see in it is the screen. Kindle really has something in the e-ink screen. Reading with my Kindle in sunlight or other glaring light is so pleasant, while I’ve seen people with iPads and other devices struggle. Isn’t the surface of the Fire screen like glossy like iPad rather than matte like the earlier Kindles?

You’re not the only evangelist. Evil or not, these guys know how to run a company, Four months after getting my Kindle, we went on vacation in Tybee Island, Georgia. When we shuttled to our rental car, I allowed the driver to put my backpack in back with the luggage. He apparently shoved it in a manner that damaged my Kindle screen. When I settled in for some reading late that night, the upper half of the screen was blank. Imagine it … my first vacation with a Kindle melting away before my eyes. I went to the Amazon site on my laptop and sent a message to their callback folks. The called me in less than an hour and after listening to my story, they told me that I’d have a new Kindle the next afternoon. They spoke the truth. All I had to do was return the broken device back using the post-paid sticker they provided. I’m a believer.

That being said, the Prime membership was nice when I bought a large tv from Amazon, paid just $3.99 extra and it was delivered the next day! My kids will be excited to find out what Santa is bringing this year.

Yes, I love the Evil named Amazon!

Thank you Shayne Parkinson for this amazing saga.

Ruatane is set in a part of New Zealand called the Bay of Plenty. The Bay is roughly halfway down the eastern side of the North Island, and is a place of clear skies and endless beaches. I grew up in the Bay of Plenty, though it’s many years since I lived there. Ruatane itself is my own invention, but it’s influenced by the little town where I grew up, Opotiki. These days Opotiki is a five-six hour drive from Auckland, taking things gently.