In the beginning I was filling it up with stuff from the Gutenberg online library. Mostly philosophy, some poetry and a wide selection of classics. But that left me with no contemporary literature at all, and although I enjoy a classic novel just as much as the next guy, I also like to read new books. So I started going through the Kindle store with the intent of shopping lots of great books. Here's the kicker: They're not that cheap yet. Sometimes the difference between buying the paperback version or the Kindle E-book is as little as 3-4 dollars, and if you're willing to buy used books, the printed version might actually be far cheaper.
What then should be the reason to buy the digital version? The most often heard response is space. I've heard of people who've completely removed their physical book collections and replaced them with a kindle library. With more than 1500 books in my collection, this doesn't seem plausible. Or affordable. Then there's the whole question of illustrated books, art books, books on film and so on, they're not exactly designed for the E Ink technology. Of course there's the Kindle app in color and the Kindle Fire is another alternative.
The fact is that I love books. Not just reading them, but feeling them, leafing through them, smelling the ink and the paper. A company like McSweeney's publish books that no Kindle, color or not, would ever be able to do justice. What to do then? For the moment I've decided to only buy books on my Kindle that I don't find it absolutely necessary to put on my shelf. Books I would label entertainment. If something qualifies as great literature, I want it on my shelf. Another option I've considered is buying both, having the books on the shelf, and in the Kindle, but my economic situation right now won't allow it. I have to put a book in storage every time I buy a new one. All my shelves are overflowing and that doesn't seem fair to my girlfriend who also needs space in our apartment.
I feel stuck between the analog and the digital world. As if I have one foot in each, and I am therefore unable to move forward. I don't know if I'll ever be able to let go of my obsession with having art physically present, I've never bought music or films in digital forms either, but sooner or later I'll have to find a system for what I need physically, and what I can live with owning in a digital form.
...Or get a bigger apartment.
