To Kindle or to handle

[figjam1]

I'm finding that not going into bookstores and browsing isn't doing much good for my reading selections.

The act of physically touching a book must activate something in the brain (like chocolate or an orgasm does) that stimulates the reading.

But the books I want aren't in stores.

So I might have to kindle them.

What are your thoughts?

[snkysally]

I have been reading most books on my ipad lately (via the Kindle app). Luckily, the book threads we all keep going help me with suggestions.
But I miss going to browse in bookstores. And I miss cheaper used books.
And I miss holding a book. And I often stop reading and start checking my email or my facebook or some other nonsense because I get distracted on the iPad.

So I like the convenience of kindle reading, but I really miss bound books.

[canayangel]

i imagine it's the same where you are, but the bookstores and second hand bookstores are disappearing. My friend has a wonderful, small, neighbourhood bookstore, and she finally is giving up, trying to sell, or will simply close down the business. I am just starting to use my kobo, but i was reading on my phone. Books are now 'worthless' at garage sales. If you put them out front of the house for free, they will dissappears, but it's mostly just the oldies that are still reading the real thing.

[owlet]

Jan 9, 2013 17:53:35 GMT -5 canayangel said:

i imagine it's the same where you are, but the bookstores and second hand bookstores are disappearing. My friend has a wonderful, small, neighbourhood bookstore, and she finally is giving up, trying to sell, or will simply close down the business. I am just starting to use my kobo, but i was reading on my phone. Books are now 'worthless' at garage sales. If you put them out front of the house for free, they will dissappears, but it's mostly just the oldies that are still reading the real thing.

That is so sad. I can't adjust to electronic reading, I love paperbacks (specifically), the way they feel and the concrete anticipation of a good read.

[figjam1]

I just ordered 2 books, second hand, through Amazon and not to my Kindle.

I guess I was spoiled at previous jobs, having great book stores a block away.

[figjam1]

And...

I was talking to someone about a series we're both reading and he mentioned that there are all these maps in the books. Maps I missed, because I read them on the Kindle.

Books can't die. We can't let them.

[Liiisa]

I decided that I would split my reading in 3 - 1/3 on the e-reader, 1/3 from independent bookstores, and 1/3 from the library. Because while I love the convenience of the e-reader, I can't stand the thought of good stores like Politics & Prose here in DC or McNally- Jackson in NYC going under. What I do is I buy things that are over 300 pp on the e-reader (since it's a pain to lug long books on the bus), buy new things that are under 300 pp or unavailable anywhere else at the bookstore, and take out everything else from the library.

Oh, and of course if I'm traveling, I stock up on books in the e-reader.

[gertieshirtypants]

I still love my actual books. Haven't moved across to an e-reader yet. I love having a completely overstuffed bookshelf!

[wapsyisuppose]

I love proper books but they are clogging up my lock up space. The Kindle holds a billion books and I dont have to use them as boat ballast.

[romily]

I love my library - even though it's small, they move book stock around with other libraries, and I really enjoy browsing there. And I often pick up books I might not look at otherwise, because I can try them out without spending money...

I would say when at home 95% of what I read is library, the rest is stuff I bought/presents.

We still have a nice independant bookshop locally, but I try to keep my book collection down - there are authors though whose books I buy, maybe because it's the last in a series, or I just know I want to read it again and again...

Whereas many other books I might see at an airport bookshop and then order via the library.

I only read on my kindle when I am travelling, but then exclusively - I am not planning to take a single book on my three week upcoming trip, besides the guidebook.

[HalcyonDaze]

I browse my books online.

Every month or so I do a search for the new fiction titles at my library, and go through that, with amazon and good reads open in other tabs. Anything that sounds good, I reserve to read. Then I read some book review blogs and get more ideas, plus the reviews in the paper.

The majority of what I read is from the library. Clipper did offer to buy me a kindle for Christmas, but I looked into it and found the e-reader system my library uses is NOT compatible with a Kindle. As I don't want to end up buying more books than usual ( a cost issue, not a space issue this time) I've decided to wait til the next overseas trip for a kindle.

Other than that, I do make sure I buy most of LC's books from the fantastic Children's Bookshop near us (reminds me I need to go and get them to order a book in for me) and will buy books for us from online stores that are much, much cheaper.

[Liiisa]

Jan 10, 2013 5:51:20 GMT -5 HalcyonDaze said:

Clipper did offer to buy me a kindle for Christmas, but I looked into it and found the e-reader system my library uses is NOT compatible with a Kindle.

Yup, this is why I boughht a Nook instead, because I'd intended to get library books and books from the indie bookstore with it rather than being committed to Amazon. But I really like the browsing aspect of a real store/library, so I decided not to bother with the multistep hassle of getting that content onto the nook.

I'm not even bringing a guidebook on my upcoming trip! - I'm scanning the pertinent sections onto my iPad.

[ozziegiraffe]

I downloaded Kindle to my laptop the other day, in order to download free book a friend recommended. Haven't read it yet. Bought a real book yesterday, when in a shopping centre with a real bookshop, even though I didn't plan to.
I can't read on the laptop in bed, so I am still reading real books.

[itsasmallworld1]

I love both ways, either 3D books which I cherish and kindle which allows me to get books not yet available here, and cheaper sometimes than what they charge here for 3D books inEnglish.
I got so used to reading in the Kindle that my only worry is what if they ever delete all the books I bought?
Will I have those books forever as the 3D ones?
those are my main concerns.

[shilgia]

I agree with you about the browsing. It somehow seems easier with physical books -- easier to get a sense of what the book will be like and how much you will enjoy it.

Kindles have real benefits, too, though. What Liiisa says makes sense to me: big books on the kindle, small books on paper. What I (somewhat unconsciously) do is kindle when traveling, paper books otherwise.

[Webs]

It's also the ability to open a book to a random page and read a bit to see if the writing grabs me.

[Liiisa]

That's really true, Webs - my practice is to look at page 56, and if that page is intriguing I'll read the book.

[HalcyonDaze]

I keep on forgetting the page 56 test

[Liiisa]

That's ok, I keep forgetting that I've already mentioned it!

[weeg]

As a newbie kindle owner, I have a question. Are they any good for guidebooks? I love guidebooks. And I like to have a decent map.

Did I mention I'm going on holiday, to one of the most historic cities in the world?