pandigital novels are great for that, and so are the Cruz readers. If I HAD to pick one or the other, I would suggest the Cruz reader, because you can install kindle AND nook on it. pandigital, you can read epub (borders & barnes&noble) and pdf files, but no mobi/azw (amazon).

a lil more info (pros/cons):
pandigital:
+ VERY light weight
+ very slim. fits in my lil purse w/o a problem~
+ comes with a stylus that slides right up into the casing
+ very user-friendly
+ I can supply you with an assload of books, rofl

- tends to be easily broken :S I've managed to go through 3, though one of those times was a software screw up on THEIR end :\
- ...VERY light weight, can sometimes take flight when user is startled by a big ugly bug running across their foot:S

cruz:
+ more durable than pandigital
+ easier to get apps installed
+ very user friendly
+ can lock screen to keep lil ones &/or strangers out:P

- on the heavier side
- no stylus, and touch screen and be a pain in the ass to work with
- some apps that I could use on the novel wouldn't work/install on the cruz. said there wasn't enough space when there was PLENTY left over:\


both of them are good, but I'm gonna hope you find something that works for your nook, cause it'd suck for you to have to put out another $100+ :S

~Angel