I purchased a Kindle e-reader from Amazon in October 2010. I thought it the greatest thing, but it didn't come with a cover - not even a small cloth bag. There is a range on the Amazon website (the Kindle is exclusive to Amazon - although they now sell them in PC World - so you won't easily find the product or accessories for it anywhere else) from pouches to leather covers, and they can be quite pricey. I have dropped my Kindle (on carpet) and it was fine, I have also spilt wasabi sauce on it and it has been fine. Nonetheless I was still worried that the screen could get scratched or damaged whilst lurking in the bottom of my handbag. Thus I dithered for a bit before asking for one of the leather covers for Christmas. Amazon offers two leather covers which are exclusive to them: a plain one for £29.99 and one with an integral reading light for a rather pricey £49.99. I don't tend to read anywhere that doesn't have good light, so I couldn't really justify the extra expense, plus I thought it could be heavier which, for me, dis-counts one of the key advantages of the Kindle itself - its lightness and portability. Thus I requested the £29.99 version "in any colour" for Christmas.

The boxed weight of the cover is advertised as 381g: The cover (like the Kindle itself) comes in its own unique packaging - its sits in a cardboard tray, within a flat cardboard box, you tear a printed strip off on one side and it opens up revealing your gorgeous cover inside. The dimensions are exactly that of the Kindle - there is no overhang. Pictorial instructions (called a User Guide, which makes it sound more complicated than necessary in my opinion) are included and worth checking as you will fit your Kindle into the cover much quicker than if you just try and latch it on yourself because you are too impatient, like me! The instructions are also on the website but basically there are two slightly different shaped hooks in the inside spine of the cover which attach to the relevant slots on the Kindle.

The cover is leather and smells of it (but not over-powering), with a kind of pebbled effect, looking not dissimilar to a leather diary or notebook. As I have said, it is the same size as the Kindle with a depth of 1.5cm. Weight wise, with the Kindle fixed in, it weighs approx 385g (The Kindle alone weighs 241g. ), so it is not quite double the weight, but still probably no heavier than the average paperback book. It comes in seven colours: black, burgundy red, steel blue, hot pink (the one I received), chocolate, burnt orange and apple green.

The cover is kept closed with a thick elastic strap that matches your chosen cover colour and has a matching branded leather tab. The strap sits neatly in a groove on the front of the cover. When you want to open the cover, you can just slide the strap off (it will just sit at the back) and open the cover like a conventional book and start reading. One thing I liked about my Kindle when I first bought it is that I could hold it in (any) one hand or sit with it propped up on my knees, without having to hold it open (as with a conventional book) and I am pleased that I can still do this. The front cover will fold right back, behind the Kindle, and be held there by the aforementioned elastic strap. Although it is thicker than the Kindle on its own (which is only 8.5mm), it is still compact and light enough to hold it in one hand comfortably, with enough manoeuvrability to still press the page turn button with my thumb so I don't need to put my glass of wine/piece of chocolate down. Alternatively the cover now gives me the option to hold my Kindle like I would a book, and I do this sometimes.

All in all I think this is a well designed and thought out product, made with quality materials. My hot pink cover looks smart as it lays on the coffee table or nestled in the detritus of my handbag. If you are considering a purchase I recommend proceeding, as although it is pricey, you are getting what you pay for in my opinion.