What a pleasure to be READING with my Kindle, to be reading so effortlessly. It’s a perfect book to break in this device. Greg Mortenson is an unusual guy and from the opening pages of this nonfiction account, I am engrossed in his step-by-step adventure in his unexpected life’s work to build as many schools as he can in the villages of Pakistan Afghanistan to educate the population, especially the young women. I talked about this book yesterday as we were hosting family and as I raved about Greg’s work I was greeted with a more cynical response, “sure, train more suicide bombers.” It took a minute to digest and then I countered with passion.
“No, just the opposite. Instead of bombing them, offer them books and hope and civilization. Educate their women, build bridges.” Silence. That was music to my ears.

Such an interesting guy from missionary parents who took their young children to Tanzania. spontaneously to work with the natives. Greg’s father saw the need for a hospital in his areas and devoted himself to its creation. The apple doesn’t fall far. And there Greg began his passion for climbing, with his father. His mom, also a passionate person, gives birth to a disabled child and Greg devotes a good deal of his life supporting a life for her of normalcy until her abrupt death in her 20’s. That sets Greg off on a tribute climb at K2, right near the first village in Pakistan to get his school. Everything about this book has movie written all over it. Perfect selection to break in my Kindle. Perfect.

So I’ve had my stand-alone reading device for a few weeks and today was my big bonding day.  I had it with me in the doctor’s office, at my Toyota dealership and as my hair was dyed, highlighted, washed and cut for three hours at  Salon Elyse.  Now I’ve had my Kindle with me before, but today was the day I broke it in.  It’s just my process. I often ache for something new, it arrives, I get it all powered up and then it waits for me to really dive in with it, get jiggy with it.  Today it was all about me and my Kindle.

I have one book downloaded, Three Cups of Tea.  I thought that would be a perfect book to begin my journey.  A man lands in a small village in Pakistan, the first American ever seen and what do the villagers want from him, a school for their girls.

I read those first few chapters, like I’ve never read before- swiftly, economically, without distraction from too many words on the page.  I used the dictionary feature for words I could guess at but why not know precisely.   What a pleasure!  I found myself clicking from page to page with ease and while I am not using the largest font size,  fewer words on a page makes it easier to really see the words on the page and enjoy them.  I am so into this book.

My protagonist is a mountain climber and while I have a fear of heights I  loved sharing his early treking.   Now I am with him as he makes his mark as a teacher.  What a wonderful journey we are sharing.

Yes, this device is expensive($400)and yes, I know it will get cheaper, but while I didn’t need to be the first on my block to own an Iphone, I did need this Kindle.  I am a reader and reading is something new with a Kindle.  Jeff Bezos, are you reading this?  Bravo!!!! Your three years of work on this stand-alone reading device has paid off for me.  Thanks.