Yesterday, my iPad told me I had an update for the Kindle app. I glanced over the notes and let ‘er rip because, well, why not? Today, I saw this article on GalleyCat, “Kindle Books Get Twitter & Facebook Support.” This didn’t change my mind about using Kindle, but it did get me to wondering if Amazon (and some of the other eBook vendors) don’t quite get what reading is for dedicated readers.
I’ve been seeing a lot of articles lately talking about GoodReads and other social networks arranged around books. GoodReads is apparently the most successful right now, because it provides a place for readers to talk about books. But Amazon and Kindle seem to be trying to bring the social part right into the act of reading. But for me, and for other readers I suspect, the act of reading itself is about getting inside the text, about disappearing into another world for a while. It’s not about finding good quotes or thrilling passages to tweet or post to Facebook.