Through the looking glass

Father’s Day brought me a shiny new iPad, and I have to say, I love this thing. Granted, I’m a total Mac geek from waaaay back, so I’m a bit biased. (My first Mac was a ginormous Mac II, circa 1988, complete with grayscale monitor).

The keyboard is functional for emails and web stuff (don’t expect me to pen any novels on this thing). And the multi-media capabilities are as expected—videos, YouTube, music, games, etc—they all sizzle.

Then there’s the whole eBook “thing.” The jury is still out for me on this one. The iBook interface is sweet, but the online store doesn’t sell books from the largest publisher of printed matter in the English language—namely, Random House, my publisher. So, if you’re looking for HOTEL on your iPad, there’s no love. (Contract negotiations are ongoing).

The screen seems a bit bright for pleasure reading, and a nice cozy paperback doesn’t suffer from glare when read poolside. But, as the philosopher Dylan once said, “The times they are a changin’.”

Even before the iPad landed on my doorstep, my 12-year-old, unbeknownst to me, downloaded an eReader app to her iPod Touch and plowed through a few books. When I finally took notice, she had that, “Duh—where have you been,” look about her.

Can’t we just freeze technology for a few years to let me catch up?

Comments

[Colleen]

Bill is loving his iPad as well and I too have downloaded an eReader app to my iTouch. I figure both will be lovely for the upcoming epic journey. I do still enjoy an actual book, but I will be happy not to lug a dozen or so with us on our trip.

[Kristan]

Andy is having an affair with his iPad, and the only reason I don't mind is because it can't have his kids. :P

My big complaint is that I don't think the iBookstore makes it easy to "browse" books. Basically it feels to me like it's there to sell the already-bestsellers. That said, I expect them to improve it over time, so I'm not overly concerned. Like you said, they don't even have a complete library yet.

I do love reading on the iPad vs. on my iTouch, though. (When Andy lets me. :P)

[Derek]

I've always been a PC guy, but I'm beginning to suspect that the iPad might be a kind of gateway Mac for me. It's an addictive little device.

I agree with Kristan about the difficulty of browsing the iBookstore--it's pretty opaque as storefronts go. Thankfully, there's also a nice Kindle app for the iPad where you *can* get Hotel in eBook form.

[Francesca]

Hi Jamie,
I'm from Milan, Italy.
I've just read "Hotel" (in Italian "Il gusto proibito dello zenzero"...) and I loved it!
I'm very curious about your next novel, I'll be the first to read it (when it'll be translated in italian, because, as you can read, my English is quite bad...).
I hope you'll come to Milan during your next book tour!
Bye!
Francesca

[Jamie]

Hi Francesca, I would love love love to visit Italy on a book tour. You never know... :)

[Jamie]

So far the iPad just gets better and better with each new app. Very impressive. The bookstore is clunky for sure. The interface, while pretty, does a pretty lame job as a venue for browsing...no competition with a real bookstore for that kind of experience, but they do make up for it with convenience. I like the reading interface...which is sooo much better than the Kindle or the Nook. BUT, the screen is terribly bright for pleasure reading...IMO...

[DanaB]

I've yet to venture into much e-reading of novels beyond a few paragraphs on ye olde desktop before I dash off to the library or bookstore for a copy. I love technology in many ways, just haven't ventured there just yet.

My two book clubs both chose 'Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet' for this month's read. I really enjoyed it and can't wait to discuss it with them. Thanks for such a good story!

~~

[Jamie]

I'm with you Dana. I downloaded the new David Sedaris book, but still haven't found the time or mental capacity to actually read it on my iPad. Too many analog books calling my name. And I'm not sold on the iPad as a device for reading. The screen still seems too bright, the device is heavier than my wife's Nook...

(And please give my best to your book clubs!)

[Bobby]

I am surprised by how much I love my iPad! I had not anticipated such. Some suggestions are to read iBooks in sepia to reduce glare, great improvement. Also, there are free apps for Barnes and Noble eReader and Kindle for iPad that greatly increase access to books.