eReader Part V - Edgar Sawtelle

The eReader experience is better than I expected. I did not think that I would enjoy reading off of "another" computer screen. However, the Sony device with eInk technology is more pleasant than I expected. Every computer or cell phone I have ever used has been backlit - which after time always tires out my eyes. Not true with the eReader. Although not quite the quality of true paper and ink it is really good! Navigating through the menus is simple, largely because there is not much on the device. Some might want all sorts of bells and whistles on an eReader, I do not. I've always like the simple stand alone book and thus moving to this device I am not looking for a replacement for my iPod or PDA (although the Sony does play Mp3s). I am not even looking for a dictionary or web access. I equate the user interface with a great Garmin GPS - no frills - but it gets you where you want to go. I love where Sony placed the two page turners - one on the right side of the device and one on a circular button in the lower left hand corner. This makes reading easy in both standard styles perfect. For the one-handed Mass Market paperback style you use the lower left and for the two-handed traditional hardcover style you click to the next page with the right button. Pages change very quickly with a slight blurring of the eInk - this blurring change gets tiring after more than an hour of straight reading but the same happens to me after an hour of straight reading on normal pages. Because the eReader is so much lighter than the hardcover version of Edgar Sawtelle the nod has to go to the Sony for novels of this length. I read longer because there is so little involved in holding the book or changing the pages. I also love that you can change the font size up or down - I find I love reading in almost large print. I read fairly fast, but the bigger size, despite having to change pages more frequently, make me even quicker. The one other control is a bookmark function that allows you to virtually turn down the page. Having multiple bookmarks in a novel or in various novels allows you to read multiple books at once and also allows another reader to read the same book. These functions are the same as a book with multiple paper markers - but nice just the same. But enough about the eReader - the beauty of this experience still goes almost totally to this great novel. From the moment I began I was hooked. This moving story about a mute boy and the dogs that his family breeds catches the reader with beautifully structured sentences, poignant, sparse description, and characters that you can't wait to learn about. It is hard to believe this is a debut novel - a masterpiece and one of the best novels I've read in the last couple of years. Buy it and read it in whatever format you like, but don't delay, it's that great! I think regardless of eReader or regular book format I would have finished this book quickly - but the experience of a great book and the eReader made for a good start to this device's review. I've written enough for the night, but next time we'll go into the first negative experience with the eReader...