I find it interesting that so many people think ereaders are the death of "real books." Am I the only one who loves both? Honestly, I buy many eBooks of books I already own. If I have an ARC, I tend to buy the eBook when it releases. I've mentioned this before, but I'm really picky about my books. I love for them to stay like-new. I cannot bend pages, highlighting is never allowed, and please don't break the spine! I don't lend many books... Ebooks allow me to have the best of both worlds. I can highlight, mark pages, and keep quotes saved. When writing my reviews if I'm looking something up, I find it easier to flip through a hard copy.
While I love "real books" I love the feel of the pages, the smell of a good book; ultimately I fall in love with the words. I see my "real books" as a collection. I don't see myself never buying hard copies. If I've read a book and really enjoyed it, I will buy a hard copy to store on my shelves.
My dream is to have publishers offer a free eBook with the purchase of a hard copy. Similar to a digital copy when you buy a dvd or bluray. That would be great for me. It would also encourage people to buy hardcover books, in my opinion.
What are your thoughts? Do you buy eBooks of books you own? or hard copies of books you own?
I love both. But I don't buy them in more than one format.
ReplyDeleteMy husband on the other hand, for years didn't read. But his Kindle on his iPod has him reading again. It makes me happy just to see him reading so I don't care what media he uses.
I just recently got my ereader and I use it for out of print, old or hard to find books that I can get on Project Gutenberg and other sites for free. So far that is all I have used it for. But I have lots of great books I might otherwise not get around to reading on it.
ReplyDeleteI love both ebooks and print books. I don't think print books will go away for a very long time (if ever) so I think you really can have it both ways. Sometimes I've bought both formats when I only have the ARC (either an e-ARC or digital ARC), after all, if I really love the book I want to support the author and publisher. If the price is right, I'll buy a digital backup for a book on my "keeper shelf."
ReplyDeleteI work at a company that publishes books for the school and library market and they have started offering bundles with print and digital versions of a book. I'd love to have this option available for the books I read especially if it was a reasonable price. Or a higher-priced collectible quality hardcover with ebook included.
I prefer a paper book, but am okay with it if other people read ebooks. I do think ebooks are hurting bookstores, though.
ReplyDeleteI prefer reading hardcover books and like you I like to keep them in pristine condition. I do own a Kindle though and I love it. It is so nice to want to read a book, order it from Amazon, and there it is on your Kindle.
ReplyDeleteI don't have an e-reader, and have no plans to get one. I really don't like reading for any length of time on my computer as I have eye issues, so I don't think an e-reader is in my future.
ReplyDeleteMy husband, on the other hand, is addicted to his Kindle. He reads everything on it: books, his daily newspapers, and his magazine subscriptions.
I don't
sorry, the rest of the comment got left off..
ReplyDeleteI don't think that e-publishing is a bad thing, whatever makes people read is a good thing to me, though I guess I can see how it negatively affects brick and mortar bookstores.
By the way, I sent you an e-mail recently that may have gotten caught in your spam filter. Would you mind checking when you have a moment? Thanks
Beth
I haven't bought an ereader yet, I have one saved in my Amazon shopping cart and picked one up to look at at Wal-Mart today, but I have so many books that I've already bought and not read that I feel like I need to read them first before buying something that will be giving me even more reading options. I see myself getting one eventually, but not today.
ReplyDeleteSure I can read ebooks, if I get them. But to buy ebooks. No way, I love real books
ReplyDeleteI am an old school book a holic! lol I don't own a kindle or nook. And honestly have never seen any reason to. I LOVE the smell of a book store, the feel of the pages, the smell of the ink! I love them! lol But like you I am also picky, don't break the spine, don't brow beat the book and do not, I repeat DO NOT, dog ear the pages or write in it! lol The only reason I have been considering a nook or kindle is that the ebook version is sooo much cheaper! But I can definately say the downside to ebooks are that you can't get it autographed by the author! ;)
ReplyDeleteI definitely prefer actual books. I love the scent of a new book, the sound when cracking open the pages, the feel of it in my hands. But I would also love to have an ereader. I get a lot of review books in ebook form, through Netgalley and such, and a lot of ebooks are really cheap, like .99 cents cheap, so that's always an incentive. I like both, but I'll always own hard copies of books, I just love them so much more :)
ReplyDeleteI don't have an ereader, but I am considering one. My eight year old is asking for one for christmas. I think an ereader would be perfect for her...she loves to read and she is very into electronics. I never was sure how I felt about ereaders. I do love my real life books, but you make a good point...just because you have an ereader doesn't mean you love real books any less.
ReplyDeleteI don't buy duplicates, but I do love the marking and search features of the kindle. I'd never give up real books completely though (as is evident from my overflowing shelves).
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy both. Plus, it seems like ereaders have made reading "fashionable" again. I have to say, if it gets people reading, I am a fan.
ReplyDeleteI prefer actual books but ebooks are slowly growing on me. I think I would like them a whole lot better if I had an ereader to make reading easier and so that they were portable instead of having to read them on my laptop.
ReplyDeleteI enjoy both paper and ebooks. I really prefer a paper book if it is a book I want to keep. I find myself buying more paper books than ebooks. I will buy the ebook if it is on sale. I really miss the seeing the cover in color when I buy an ebook. Can you imagine reading The Night Circus without seeing that fabulous cover in color? There is also something about perusing a bookstore and finding that perfect book that I miss when shopping on my nook.
ReplyDeleteI love my Nook Color, my iPad, and a "real" book. Like you, I'm just in love with the words. I don't care in which form it comes from.
ReplyDeleteI am like you and will often buy multiple forms of a book that I love. I like to have the e-book version of a lot of the books I read, and also like to have a hardcover for keeping on my shelf and flipping back through. I actually have one book (The Lonely Polygamist) in Hardcover, e-book, paperback, and audio. I wouldn't do that with every book, but that one is a particular favorite. This was a very interesting question for you to have asked!
ReplyDeleteI was very, very resistant to e-readers... until my local Borders closed last February and I lost my favorite place to buy books. I got a Kindle, not expecting to use it very much, but ending up LOVING it. That whole instant gratification thing where you can get practically any book you want to read and start reading it in a few seconds without leaving the apartment? Awesome. Plus, its light weight is also very convenient for my commute where I often have to stand on a crowded train.
ReplyDeleteI still buy both paper copies of books, but when I do, I usually buy the digital version as well. I know it's not the most cost effective thing in the world, but I read the paper version at home and then read the Kindle version when I'm out and about or at work during lunchtime.
I live E dreams via you :)
ReplyDeleteOne day... IPAD!
I just *had* to have a Nook Color when they came out. Yeah, I could count on one hand how many books I've read on the darned thing. I don't necessarily regret getting my Nook, but I don't think I am ready to only read on my Nook. I'm just not there yet. I don't know, I think I may have jumped the gun on getting one (and of course it was a Christmas gift, so I feel terrible about not being head over heels for it). However, I do like that I can go shopping from the comfort of my own house and have the book instantly. That is a really wonderful thing. I'm just not entirely sold on the whole e-reader thing. I still prefer paper books. I like having the book in my hands and being able to feel and smell it. I just can't get that with an e-reader.
ReplyDeleteI read both ebooks and print editions. I don't think I have to choose one or the other. I love the perks of an ereader: change the font size, built-in dictionary, highlighting and notes. I also love going to the library and book browsing at Barnes and Noble, so both formats have a place in my world.
ReplyDeleteI think you hit the nail right on the head when you said that you'd prefer if the ebook was included with the purchase of the hardcover. I am totally in agreement here. I am one of those people that loves real books and e-books. Like you, I see my hardcovers/paperbacks as collections to display nicely in my bookcases and the ebook is my copy to add all my notes and bookmarks.
ReplyDelete