This could be a polarizing slice, and I don’t consider myself a polarizing individual. At the risk of sparking debate, I want to share with you that I love my Kindle. Two years ago, my daughter-in-law convinced me to give the Kindle Paperwhite a chance. I had my doubts and felt that reading on a Kindle might somehow make me a traitor to the books that had been dear friends my entire life.

I loved the way books felt in my hands. I loved the scent of their pages. I loved visiting the library and combing through the shelves. I especially loved the notice on my phone when a hold was ready for pickup. How could a Kindle compete?

My daughter-in-law was convincing. While I peered over her shoulder, she opened the Libby app, searched for a title, “borrowed” the book, tapped “Read with Kindle,” opened her Kindle and….voila! Caught up in the moment, I ordered my Kindle immediately after her demonstration. When it arrived a couple days later, I was thrilled that setup was easy.

I soon learned that my heart could love the Kindle and still love traditional books. The Kindle is waterproof, eliminating fears of damage in the bath, at the pool, or on the beach. The Kindle boasts “anti-glare technology,” and I can attest that this is true! While the selection of large-print books in our library is limited, I can control the font size on my Kindle (a game changer these days)! This miraculous little device fits snugly in my crossbody bag, always opens to the correct page, and provides the perfect amount of backlighting while reading in bed with the lights out.

This month marks my Kindle’s second birthday; so this post is my gift! While books will always be my first literary love; the Kindle Paperwhite has found a place in my story-loving heart.