Buying an e-reader

[Epictetus]

I thought that I would dig up this old topic. I have a biography coming out next spring (modern person, not ancient) and I was surprised at how many people asked if the book would be available in an electronic version. Sometimes it was the first question that came out of their mouths.

So I started thinking about the kindle again, and my wife went ahead and got one. She suggested I buy an e-book and try it out, so I was going to get Stacy Schiff’s Cleopatra, a book I’ve wanted to read for a long time.

But all of a sudden I have run into a new problem. I can’t buy the e-book through the UK Amazon, as it is only for UK residents. I can’t buy the e-book through the US Amazon, because it hasn’t been released yet. I understand the “International” program is very restricted – I can only buy through the US. But I could buy the hard copy through either source. Have people run into problems regarding availability of the titles they want? After playing with my wife’s reader I started to warm to the idea of buying one for myself, but after this geography problem I’m having doubts again.