My Kindle Keeps the Best Secrets

As a mom, I spend a lot of time in waiting rooms, or recently in my car, while my spawns are at the doctor’s/dentist’s/orthodontist’s office, hair salon, dance studio, and probably 3 or 4 places I’m forgetting. I used to spend that time knitting, but over the past 18 months I’ve spent more of it reading. And since I’ve read romance novels exclusively since the pandemic started (you guessed it, 18 months ago), I’ve never been more relieved to have a Kindle to read on. Because apparently while I have no issues getting on-line and writing about the novels I love, or interacting in a group full of people who also read the novels I love, advertising what I’m reading to a roomful of people I don’t know (or even worse, that I do know within certain circumstances) is not high up on my to-do list right now. As secure as I have become in my pursuit to read all the hot, steamy, smexy (that’s smart & sexy) things, I haven’t yet achieved complete comfort in sharing it in public. Yet.

So of course now I’m wondering, did people have these hang-ups about reading romance novels before eReaders were a thing? And are more people reading romance novels now because it’s easier to hide what we’re reading when we’re out and about. Or even in our own living rooms. I know I wouldn't think twice about reading a Tom Clancy book in public (dance studio, school lobby, etc.), but a romantic suspense novel with a mancandy cover would definitely not be something I'd feel comfortable reading in those places.

In chatting online with a group of romance readers there was definitely an overwhelming tendency to read more romance novels in public when an e-reader was available. And most attributed that to the ability to hide the cover. Several said people were less likely to bother them or ask what they were reading when they were using an eReader. And, let’s face it, who really wants to stop reading to talk to someone they don’t know. Or quite often even someone we do know. A big part of the discussion centered around the nosy neighbor element to reading in public. You know, the person who comes up behind you, or leans over the arm of the chair to read over your shoulder. It can be funny when it’s a spouse or kid, embarrassing when it’s a coworker or your boss, and downright creepy when it’s some rando sitting next to you in the waiting room at the auto shop. In that case, that eReader can be a double edged sword. It’s not always as easy to slam the Kindle cover closed as it is to close a paperback. And if the nosy neighbor can’t see the cover, does that make them more or less curious about what you’re reading?

There is one main downfall to using my eReader in public: not recognizing other kindred spirits when out and about. I love that giddy feeling of fellowship when I see someone else reading a novel or author I love. And I’m probably missing out on some connections with other romance readers because they can’t see what I’m reading. But I think that risk is worth the reward because the other thing I’ve managed to avoid by using an eReader is book shaming while I’m reading around other people. It sucks that it still happens, but apparently people still think it’s okay to voice their judgmental opinions about what someone else is reading. And for some reason romance novels seem to bring out the judgiest of the judgies. If Judgie McJudgerson can’t see what I’m reading, they can’t make their opinion known. And if they ask, I have the option to either tell them or not. For all they know I could be reading, “How to Hide the Bodies of People Who Talk to you While You’re Reading.” And I will never be reluctant to tell them that is exactly what I’m reading if I don’t want them to know that I’m really reading Samantha Cole’s Leather and Lace or Topping the Alpha for the 5th time.

While I love the feel of a paperback in my hands, there’s definitely something to be said for the weird benefits of an eReader. For one, more books at once. Think about it. If you read 3-5 books a week (stop judging me, I don’t sleep much), and you go on vacation, those paperbacks get heavy. Really heavy. And I recently found out that the Kindle I have has a search feature (stop rolling your eyes, I said I’m new to this)! Can’t remember a character’s last name? Search. Can’t remember where something happened? Search. Can’t remember the exact wording of that awesome insult? Search. And it has a notes feature. And highlighting. I love a good well-worn paperback, but other than textbooks I used for classes, I can’t bring myself to write in a book. So when I found a really relevant or meaningful quote, it was a physical struggle between highlighting/underlining the physical page and writing it down on a random receipt and then losing it. Now, they’re all neatly highlighted in my Kindle in different colors depending on who said it, what the situation was, and how uniquely creative that insult really was (I’m looking at you, Master Ian).

And as my bookshelves are already overflowing with books collected over the years, my Kindle is definitely a lot better for my clutter habit. Don’t get me wrong, when I love a book, I buy it. The digital and the paperback version. Because there’s something really wonderful about owning the books I’ll read over and over. And a big goal of mine is getting all of my favorite books signed by their authors. And those copies will never be read- they’re special and precious, meant to be appreciated and valued, but not read. And fortunately, I don’t have to dog-ear or worry about spilling tea on my favorite paperbacks. Because my Kindle has me covered. And that works just fine for me.

Huh! I guess my reliance on my Kindle goes beyond not wanting people to see what I’m reading. But that’s still my favorite reason to have one. If you see me reading in public, please come ask me what I’m reading. Just make sure you have more than 30 seconds to chat, and don’t be surprised when I tell you pull up a chair. Because even though I may be hiding what I’m reading from the world, that doesn’t mean I won’t engage you in an extended conversation about my current or most recent reads.