I swore I would never cheat on my books but I went and did it: I bought a Kindle Paperwhite.
Some interesting observations about my experience with Amazon:
- The shopping experience is seamless. I quickly compared the Kindles, picked one and checked out within 5 minutes. Bonus points for offering up 3 other products that go with the purchase – a quick check of the box and I had myself a matching yellow case!
- Campaign driving digital engagement. I downloaded the Amazon app, made my purchase and received $10 off.
- Quick delivery. Ordered Saturday morning, came the next day.
- Packaging was simple yet sophisticated. The packaging was sleek and wasn’t over the top, it fitted the size of the Kindle perfectly meaning bonus points for less waste.
- The Kindle itself has its pros and cons. I like the compact size, it’s easy to take notes and highlight as you read and it’s waterproof. I was a bit surprised (maybe I should have done more research?) at the 1990s screen quality but I guess this is a tablet and probably doesn’t have the computer power that a phone would. It’s ok though, I download my books off the Kindle app on my phone so I can browse in colour.
- Amazon’s marketing is driving me nuts!!! No, I don’t want Kindle unlimited for a discounted price of $9.99 for the 5th time but hey, I’ll take the offer of $0 for 3 months! They hassle their customers into submission. I mean, it works, I signed up!
And with that, here are my February reads:
Crossing the Ditch – James Castrission
Humans never cease to amaze me. Over dinner, scribbling on napkins, two mates come up with the brilliant idea of making the first ever kayak crossing from Australia to New Zealand. They spent years doing their due diligence, documenting every single risk and completing trial runs along the coast. There’s betrayal when a fellow kayaker embarks on an unsuccessful attempt to beat them across the ditch. There’s heartache when the kayak they’ve put their hearts and souls into is damaged on its first trial. And then there is the sheer adventure that 62 days out on the Tasman brings, testing their friendship and grit to the very end. Inspirational to say the least.
The Man From St. Petersburg – Ken Follett
Absolutely thrilling! In the first 100 pages I was unsure how this story was going to go, but I quickly found I couldn’t put it down. Set in 1914, Churchill convinces the Earl of Walden to negotiate an alliance with the Russians. In parallel it follows the stories of the Earl’s wife and daughter, as well as a Russian anarchist named Felix who is fixated on assassinating the Russian prince on English soil. I cannot put into words the twists and turns that leave you almost feeling sorry for Felix. You just have to read it for yourself!
Toujours Provence – Peter Mayle
When you can’t travel to France yourself, read Peter Mayle. The sequel to a year in Provence, Mayle continues his hilarious stories about the characters he meets and his experiences in the Lubéron. You’ll meet Monsieur X the truffle hunter; Boy the stray dog; a négociant (professional wine drinker!) and even the tourists who pop into Mayle’s place in the summer. I adore the way he describes his conversations and lunches with the French people, every meal right down to the last ingredient is carefully planned out and considered. Don’t forget to wear your stretchy pants!
Reading Challenge: 9 of 32 books
[…] might recall I bought a Kindle! and so it only seemed fitting to download “Invent and Wander“. The first half of the […]