Read by Theme discussion

Do you use a Kindle/Nook/iPad/ereader or do you stick completely to good old regular books? Maybe both? I do both.

I ask because I have some friends that are transitioning all their books to digital while others think ereaders are the downfall of modern society.

I love my Kindle so much I even knitted a little case for it. At the same time, nothing beats the heft and scent of a $1 thrift store book. My favorite place is still the library.

For my birthday last year my husband bought me a PlayBook. It has made life so much easier. I read most of my books on the e-reader app and when I find a book I love; I buy it.

I just recently bought a Nook Color and love it. I don't have a large collection of books on it yet but I'm working on it. I love the shorts you can download for $.99 or free:)

I also have discovered several great used book stores in the area and enjoy filling my book shelves with "real" books.

I also love my library card that allows me to try new genres and authors. I don't think I could actually afford my book addiction, so my library card saves my life. My library also has a growing collection of ebooks that can be borrowed.

I have been dying to try the library e-books but I don't think my library offers them. :(

Daniela wrote: "I have been dying to try the library e-books but I don't think my library offers them. :("

Mine just started offering them recently - it's fairly new for them and they don't have a huge selection but it's growing. It is one of the reasons I bought the Nook. I really like the convenience when I can find a title I want to read in an ebook.

I don't have an actual ereader (definitely not in the financial position of getting one right now), and my iPod isn't exactly optimized for reading ebooks, though I tried it (only managed to strain my eyes). So it's library books and used books for me. But I have a really great thing going with used books; three of the semi-local libraries have a "bag of used books for $2" deal (was $1 until this year), so I end up getting near-new textbooks and obscure 80/90's YA/MG stuff that can be incredibly hard to find elsewhere for a few cents per book.

Daniela wrote: "I have been dying to try the library e-books but I don't think my library offers them. :("

My local library doesn't have a collection of their own (as far as I know), but they have partnered with an online ebook library. But again, no ereader besides my computer, so I haven't made much use of it yet.

Before I got my Kindle I had the application for my laptop, and I have to say that reading on the computer is downright terrible.

The computer is difficult to read on. With my Nook color I can adjust the brightness of the screen which is one issue. It is easier to hold by far than a laptop also.

Amara - it is a shame that they are still so expensive but they seem to be going down in price. My son helped me buy mine for Mother's Day or I probably wouldn't have one now.

Caren ~ the misfit geek wrote: "Amara - it is a shame that they are still so expensive but they seem to be going down in price. My son helped me buy mine for Mother's Day or I probably wouldn't have one now."

I've considered saving up for one, and I've been asked for a few years now if it's something I would want as a birthday present (especially last year for my 18th), but I've been focusing more on the other things that need replacing. (I tend to keep gadgets way longer than they're really supposed to last, but in the past few years, everything's seemed to break down at the same time.)

I couldn't live without my ereader anymore... While nothing beats the good old feeling of holding a book in your hands, the ereader is just sooo much more convenient. I have it everywhere with me so I can read whenever the opportunity comes up. And I don't have to worry about finishing a book and be left without anything to do. There's always a book waiting for me on my Kobo!! =)

My ultimate favorite books, I will keep buying the printed version. Especially if they are part of a series that I own the previous books.

Nothing beats the smell of a new book. :)

I have worked in a library for over 11 years. I love my job and my library. I have owned a Kindle for several years. My husband and daughters have them. My co-workers all have them. We all continue to read print books, as well as ebooks. My library will be joining a consortium of ebooks this summer. We do not believe that our jobs are in jeopardy anytime soon. To us, it's just more ways to get people reading. :D

Audio-book is something I have never considered, I'm not sure why though... Maybe I just don't know what to expect from them.

I have a Nook tablet and enjoy it, although I do prefer the hard copies, however. That's the fun of the library or shopping at tag sales for books!

One of the features of the NT is the ability to change the colors on the screen - using "Night" (white font on black) is great for night reading, especially. Sometimes I'll use the Sepia during the day (brown font on cream). I prefer reading larger books on the Nook, and downloading from Overdrive is a convenience, too.

I'm a kindle touch convert. It fits in my back jeans pocket and the battery lasts; I can read it outside in the sun, and mine currently has over 1000 books (haven't counted in months) and it's not even close to being half full.

I agree Suzanne regarding the old-fashioned method. I love the smell of pages ... and the softness of the page. LOL. Seriously. But the next best thing ... and frankly my primary delivery mode for my book addiction is my "looks like an actual printed page" kindle.

I can dig audio-books for driving or going to sleepy time. But that's it for that medium.

I do both, and I have a lot of both. (I got an iPad for Christmas, and it is perhaps my favorite piece of technology ever. Oddly, the Kindle "looks like paper" format - my dad has one - is hell on my eyes.) Can't handle audio books though, because they never read fast enough, or sound like I think they should. It's just weird to me, somehow.

Oddly, some sort of peculiar self-segregation is going on with my books (like that vid where the books all cavort - non-pornily - in the night at a bookshop, if you've never seen it I'll link it) where a lot of my sort of super quick couple hour reads - current YA, romance, some sci-fantasy - end up in my possession as ebooks, while books related to my fields of study, hobbies, and assorted longer reads and non-fiction end up in actual paper. Of course, that isn't a hard and fast rule, and if I really love a series I *have to* have it in both paper and electronic forms. I love the convenience of the ebooks, but nothing beats the high of a turned page or a random discovery in a dusty corner.

I have a Kindle, and it's great especially for travelling, but there's something about the smell of a new (or used) book, the weight of it in your hands, the sound of the pages as you turn them, and the ability to flip back or forward (yes I know you can do that on a Kindle too but it's not at all the same!) Although both are reading, they are two entirely different experiences!

A friend loaned me her Kindle so I could try it out to help me decide whether or not to get one. I love it! I think that I will always have loads of physical books, but I like the thought of being able to replace some with electronic versions so as to cut down on clutter. As for audio books, I have driven across the country several times and found that audio books helped keep me awake on the long drives.

Rooks wrote: "(like that vid where the books all cavort - non-pornily - in the night at a bookshop, if you've never seen it I'll link it)"

I suspect I'm not familiar with what you're referring to, but it made me think of this movie. And holy crap, I love that movie; we watched this so much in elementary school (and come to think of it, I have no idea why...)

The description of the movie you watched in elementary school reminds me of the book The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon--at least the idea of the boundaries between reality and fantasy being erased through the medium of a book. But I guess I'm off topic in this section--sorry!

Carol wrote: "But I guess I'm off topic in this section--sorry!"

Quite alright; we are in the "Off Topic" folder after all. ;)

But that's interesting about The Shadow of the Wind! I shelved it after seeing it in The Ultimate Teen Book Guide, but your comment made me review its description again, and I'm thinking I just might bump it up on my to-read list.

Amara wrote: "I suspect I'm not familiar with what you're referring to, but it made me think of this movie. And holy crap, I love that movie; we watched this so much in elementary school (and come to think of it, I have no idea why...) "

Oh hey, I saw that movie in school as a kid as well, oddly enough (but only the one time, I think)! But no, I'm not, I'm talking about this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKVcQn...

Rooks wrote: "Oh hey, I saw that movie in school as a kid as well, oddly enough (but only the one time, I think)!"

We watched it about once a year for some reason in the library. (Maybe the librarians ran out of library-related lessons?)

But that video pretty awesome. (And yup, I hadn't seen it before.) Certainly a nice advertisement for the bookstore where they filmed; a stop-motion video like that, especially since they obviously put a lot of effort into it, would catch my interest far more favorably than any commercial ever could.

Amara wrote: "We watched it about once a year for some reason in the library. (Maybe the librarians ran out of library-related lessons?)[...] stop-motion video like that, especially since they obviously put a lot of effort into it, would catch my interest far more favorably than any commercial ever could.
"

Huh. I'm trying to think of any movie I saw more than once in school - perhaps Clash of the Titans? (Which would be pretty peculiar, when you think about it.) Perhaps some Shakespeare? Now if you ask me what books I got assigned more than once, that would be easy! :D I should probably start a thread on it.

They folks who did it actually aren't formally associated with that bookstore, if I recall correctly; they got started doing a video on reorganizing a bookshelf, and I think subsequently knew someone and got the bookstore to agree, but had to do it over multiple nights (making sure that everything was put back after each evening's shoot before start of business the next day).

Although I love my DTBs, my main preference has actually become the Kindle. I love the convenience of having several hundred books in a small space in my purse, and I've discovered a lot of authors I quite possibly wouldn't have otherwise. I have the basic $79, so it's not too fancy, which is absolutely fine.

They are still on the spendy side, I agree. I actually got mine using Amazon gift cards I'd earned through Swagbucks and other websites. Best "freebie" ever. :) If anyone is interested in the sites I've had luck with, just let me know. That said, I'm not after referrals, so please don't worry that I'm going to try to recruit anybody for anything. I just like to share a good thing when I've had luck with it. :)

Hilary wrote: "I actually got mine using Amazon gift cards I'd earned through Swagbucks and other websites. Best "freebie" ever. :)"

I'm actually on Swagbucks, too, as a matter of fact, though I haven't been there much in a while. Maybe that's how I should be saving up for my Kindle...? lol

What is Swagbucks?

Caren ~ the misfit geek wrote: "What is Swagbucks?"

Quoth Wikipedia: "Swagbucks.com is a Los Angeles based online rewards program. It enables users to earn virtual currency and real life rewards for their everyday web activity. As of November 2011, Swagbucks.com is ranked by Alexa Internet as one of the top 100 most visited websites in the United States and top 550 most trafficked websites globally."

(Link to the site.)

I'm actually on Swagbucks, too, as a matter of fact, though I haven't been there much in a while."

I'm not on there much anymore, either. I used to watch the videos a lot, but I got pretty burned out. I prefer Bing Rewards now, because they're guaranteed points for every search (up to 15 credits a day).

Hilary wrote: "I prefer Bing Rewards now, because they're guaranteed points for every search (up to 15 credits a day)."

Haven't checked out Bing Rewards yet. I'll have to rectify that. ;)

I'm 100% for real books. I love the smell of a new book, the feel of it your hands, being able to cram even more into my already packed bookcase.

I don't own an e-reader, and have no real desire to buy one. I have a few book apps on my phone - iBooks, Classicly... but I rarely use them. It's only on the rare occassion that I don't have a real book with me. So many people tell me how much they love their e-readers but I'm just not buying into it.

Oh Vikki, you have no idea how I can relate to what you just said. I was just like you a couple of years ago... I didn't want ANYTHING to do with ereaders. But then... Magically, I won a Kobo at work. My first thinking was 'what the hell I'm going to do with this'. And then just like that, I got hooked. For me, it's the convenience the ereader gives me. It's light, it fits in my purse, it goes EVERYWHERE with me.

I'm telling you, I think once you try it, you get hooked!! ;)

Vikki wrote: "I'm 100% for real books. I love the smell of a new book, the feel of it your hands, being able to cram even more into my already packed bookcase.

I don't own an e-reader, and have no real desir..."

The thing with ereaders for me is that I'm not a "book buyer". Even at cheaper prices for Kindle books versus new physical books, I don't think I'll ever be the kind of person who goes out and buys new books. I don't have the money for it, and now I'm so entrenched in the habit of getting used books dirt cheap, I don't expect to ever break it. Libraries and used books are really my "thing" now. ;)

So if I had an ereader, I suspect its use would be limited to free classics and Overdrive books. So while I would like to have one (because free classics), I definitely wouldn't be using it for what most people do, you know?

I love both. I don't think anything can beat the real thing and the satisfaction of closing a book when you finish, or being able to physically see how far you are and eyeball a "maybe halfway through?" guess; however, my little pink eReader is so convenient for travelling and getting books just a little cheaper. I read so fast I'd always have to fill half my suitcase and a carry on full of books which was both space-consuming and heavy. So I have grown to love being able to carry 1000+ books in my bag no problem. My only fear is that it will run out of battery on me at a crucial moment, but what's life without a little risk ;)

I wanted a Kindle originally because I would fall asleep while reading with a 1000-page tome on my face and every night would lose my page (after it fell off of my face). The magical little device more than streamlines bedtime reading and prevents the injury of a several pound hardcover book smacking you in the head while nodding off.
Plus, like Amara said, free classics.

I promise, I am totally not trying to convert anyone to the e-reader world. I completely understand sticking with books.

LOL Daniela, I can totally relate to that too!! But honestly, if I could, I'd buy myself the ereader for every skeptics out there!! :P

One of my favorite things about my Kindle is discovering new authors. I'm currently reading The Red Church by Scott Nicholson. I found it in the free book thread on the Amazon forums one day, and am really enjoying it. I would likely never have heard of Scott Nicholson before I got my e-reader.

Marie-Claude wrote: "But honestly, if I could, I'd buy myself the ereader for every skeptics out there!!"

And honestly, I would accept that gift! ;)

Hilary wrote: "I found it in the free book thread on the Amazon forums one day, and am really enjoying it."

Link to the thread, please? :) I don't have an ereader yet, but I still like to get Kindle books while they're free for A) the far distant future when I have an ereader or B) when I'm in a good enough mood to not mind reading them on the PC app.

I find that I enjoy both equally. There are books that I have discovered that I have to read in printed form and others I have to read on the ereader (I have the kindle touch). It just greatly depends on the book and having the ereader gives me the option of what is best for that book.

One of the things that I have noticed about the ereader for me is that I tend to get through the books faster on it than I do with the printed ones. It can take me 3 days to read a 400+ book, but on the ereader it can take me usually a day or a day and a half to read the exact same book. If I want a leisurely reader I stick with the printed version now, but if I want to get through a book pretty quickly for whatever reason I turn to the ebook version. I will always want both in my life though cause I enjoy turning physical pages and holding a book in my palms, however that being said I also obviously appreciate holding many books in one singular place since I am a book addict. Both are good for a reader cause I honestly don't care how you read as long as you are.

Eric wrote: "I find that I enjoy both equally. There are books that I have discovered that I have to read in printed form and others I have to read on the ereader (I have the kindle touch). It just greatly depe..."

Exactly! Just enjoy the book!

BTW, my Nook came in handy while waiting for the fireworks to begin the other night, which had a late start.

I'm a print girl. An electronics store just doesn't have the same smell or feel as a library or bookstore. If I'm on an extended journey, I'd probably appreciate an ereader, if only for the ease of transporting several books in the space of one.

Eric wrote: "...I honestly don't care how you read as long as you are."

I agree 100%.

Amara, I tried to edit my post, but I guess it didn't happen, for some reason. "The Red Church" is $2.99 now. On the Amazon forums, however, they have a weekly thread of freebies. Most are indie authors working on getting their names out there, and a lot of them have a lot of talent. I'll try to link to this week's thread.

I haven't put a link in one of these posts, so I'm not sure if I'll do it right, but here goes.

Free books and chat week of July 1, 2012

Hilary wrote: "Eric wrote: "...I honestly don't care how you read as long as you are."

I agree 100%.

Amara, I tried to edit my post, but I guess it didn't happen, for some reason. "The Red Church" is $2.99 now...."

Thanks, Hilary. :)

Recently I've been reading quite a few ebooks I borrowed from my local library's lending program on my mother's Kindle. Though I love the ease of getting books with the click of a button in the comfort of my home, I much prefer the feeling of a hardback (or paper back!) book in my head. I also have this thing where I like to 'see' my progress, flipping through pages to see how many more chapters I have till the end and dissapointment that another book has been finished and the magic (temporarily) lost until another book is picked up. That and I love seeing stacks of books around my room and carrying two or three in my bag wherever I go :)

I don't condemn e-readers, because I do like them. But I think for now I'll stick with 'borrowing' my mothers Kindle to read books on whenever I can't drive to the library to bring a stack home in my hands.

My number one guilty pleasure is Star Wars books. I buy them only at flea markets or thrift stores so I have a hodge-podge collection. It's all out of order, I've got fragments of trilogies, some hardcover with no dust jackets; basically it's a book-collector's nightmare.
A friend told me I'm crazy not to get them all on Kindle instead, but I love my patchwork collection. I can't bear to trade those all in and get boring old digital copies.

I love my Nook, it goes almost everywhere with me because it's convenient. I love being able to have a library in my purse without blowing out a shoulder and that really is why I bought one. I would go through books so fast while I commuted to/from school that I would be using up valuable backpack space with 2-3 recreational books.

I never did transition my collection to ebooks though, I only bought new books for the ereader. I like the smell and touch of a normal book and I still love stopping off at the library. Honestly, I think it made Harry Potter better holding the 500+ page volume and working my way through the pages. There was a real sense of accomplishment when I was done. But practicality won.

I love real books... the kind you can physically hold and page through; the kind that take up room when you tote them around (which I do all the time). The kind you need to get from the local bookstore or library. For travel this spring, I did buy a Nook and I have tried my daughter's Kindle.... and hated both. I found they're awkward, cold, and impersonal -- on my trip, I read less than I ever have. The Nook has been sitting over by my reading chair for a month now, untouched, and it will undoubtedly remain that way. It was a waste of money for me. I need real books in my hands!

I just love the feeling of holding a paper made book instead of a cold button pushing machine.

I love both; my Nook for the convenience and being able to have multiple books at the ready, but I am a long time library user as well. Most of my Nook books have been freebies.

I like the size and feel of a paperback. I have a Kindle. I bought it because having a library takes up so much space. It is so much neater to have everything together. I love the look of books on shelves but it just gets out of hand. Now when I buy something I don't have to worry about where to store it. I still have all my craft books. A Kindle just doesn't cut it for crafts (no pun intended). I bought a Kindle Fire. I like it just fine but I use it for everything else except reading. I thought I would get rid of my old Kindle but I like being able to read in daylight so I will keep it. I have the Amazon app for Kindle on my phone. That comes in handy when you get caught somewhere unexpectedly with nothing to do. And, of course, I still get books from the library. In fact most of my reading comes from the library.