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I used to have a deep and meaningful relationship with my books -- the old-fashioned kind you can touch and smell and cradle in your hands.

I liked to flip to the end of a novel to sneak a peek and ruin the element of surprise, dog-ear pages, lend books to friends and lug them around in my oversize purse.

As a student, I liked to complain that my backpack weighed more than a third-grader, write notes in the margins of my books and doodle designs over the pictures.

And as a lifelong bibliophile, I have been known to read three or more books at a time, but there are hazards: lost bookmarks, frayed covers and tattered spines, books loaned to friends who "forget" to return them.

All that has changed since Kindle came into my life.

Kindle is an electronic reading device whose digital "pages" simulate real paper. It is used to read e-books and other digital media.

I received a Kindle 2 as a birthday gift in the spring. It's still hard not to use the word "book" when referring to well, er, books, even when they are really digital images on a screen. Are they called stories on Kindle? Titles? I'm not really sure yet.

Kindle bests

The best parts of using Kindle:

I'm able to read in bed without a cramped neck or back. I can go through airport security without having to hoist a 30-pound bag onto the conveyor belt or risk an embarrassing scramble to squeeze it into one of those plastic bins.

I can read multiple books at the same time and not worry about where I left off. I can make endless notes in the virtual margins and create virtual dog-ears or bookmarks. I can spark conversations with random people who ask me questions about my Kindle.

I also feel uber-trendy, ecofriendly and technologically advanced when I carry my Kindle. Although I'm a bit behind since the new Kindle DX has arrived, I still envision myself as a member of a computer club that's not just for geeks and techies.

That said, I've explored only a few of the bells and whistles Kindle offers. And I admit I bypassed the instructions altogether.

I just want to read.

I don't need to upload MP3s, Microsoft Word documents or audio books. I did order one audio book but didn't really like having it read to me. And I have used the Oxford Dictionary (the standard for looking up words on Kindle) and browsed Wikipedia for reference points. Those features are cool, but I still rarely use them.

As I said, I just want to read.

I like switching between the hundreds of titles that I've obtained during the past six months. Every day I click on titles I think I might like and, like magic (well, through the wireless Whispernet), they appear on the home page in less than a minute.

After you register the Kindle at Amazon.com, an account is created for you. Amazon files away your major credit or debit card so future purchases online or through the Kindle are seamless.

By searching on Amazon.com or from the Kindle's home page, you can browse titles, conduct searches and receive book recommendations based on previous purchases. With one click or press of a button, you have a new book to read.

Another advantage Kindle offers is that you don't need your computer to browse and buy. The magical Whispernet connection takes care of that for you. If your cell phone works in an area, it's pretty safe to assume that your Kindle will, too.

A few complaints

For all of its conveniences, Kindle does have some drawbacks.

When I'm not reading, I'm a professional cook who tests recipes at home. Earlier this year, I was fortunate enough to snap up "The Cook's Illustrated How-to-Cook Library" for free and headed straight to the kitchen to experiment.

Cooking and Kindle do not go hand in hand -- i.e., flour and sugar gets between the keys and on the screen.

So, I'll just stick to regular, printed books when it comes to the kitchen.

Otherwise, I don't foresee my Kindle going into the lost-technology pile with my pager, PalmPilot and Walkman disc player anytime soon. It's a keeper.

Contact editorial assistant Nicolette Miller-Ka at 273-7074 or nicolette.miller-ka@news-record.com