I am, like, SO digital.

A couple of weeks ago, I went out to dinner with some friends who were visiting from New York who both have iPhones (as do I), and one of them mentioned that she doesn't read books much anymore (!!!) Not since she got a Kindle. I said, "Wow, you have a kindle? You really like it?" What I meant by that was "Are you serious? I can't imagine reading on a little screen instead of on the printed page, and why would someone pay $359 just to read a book, when you could buy a lot of books for the same price, or better yet, get 'em free at the library (unless you're like me and forget to return 'em in which case they are not free anymore)??"

It would have made a good blog entry, since it's something I don't get. Oh. Wait. This is it.

So anyhow, I went along with my life, rum-tum-tiddle-um-tum, continuing to marvel at the wonders of the iPhone and the gazillions of available apps (that's what people who are, like, SO digital call applications, which is all the little programs that make the iPhone do..well, everything). I love the thing. I'm not usually one to say that a small electronic device "changed my life" (well, with one possible exception), but in this case, I have got to say that it has done just that. I carry almost nothing with me anymore when I go out because, well, it's like Prego. It's in there.

And then. Then. I discovered something. I discovered that Kindle is a downloadable app (ooh, look at me talking like I'm technologically literate or something). A free downloadable app. Oh my god, the things I could buy by saving $359! (just kidding, just kidding).

Suddenly I started to think. And retract a little bit. Or a lot. Hmm. Maybe I judged the wee device too harshly. Maybe I spoke out of turn--after all, I've never really seen one in use. Maybe I judged a book by its cover. (har!)

It's free. I could download it, and check it out, just for fun. No muss, no fuss. If it's as stupid as I think it is, I could just delete with the press of one button, just like the other free apps that I decided I didn't really like. No big whoop.

I'm reading The Kindly Ones by Jonathan Littell. All 992 pages. Three pounds in hardcover.

It saves your place for you. Way cool.

I'm only doing this for you, you know. I thought you'd want to know.