Do you ever read printed books

[Aenea]

I've read this in several threads recently...like the one asking what books you wanted to throw against a wall. So it is not directed only at you.

Huh? I never posted in that thread and I was only answering the question. I don't understand the hostility.

[Lursa (aka 9MMare)]

Huh? I never posted in that thread and I was only answering the question. I don't understand the hostility.

Sorry. I did write that it wasnt just aimed at you, esp since you said you didnt want to throw books away (but, have you?).

Your post was just one more of several lately that brought up throwing away books. Which, again, I cant understand at all.

[Sherlock]

For the time being - yes - because I have a stack of paperbacks and some hardbacks in the TBR shelves.  I do NOT, however, enjoy reading them anymore.

It's been a long struggle transitioning....I love the covers and the tactile experience of paper books, but nothing matches the sheer convenience of my Kindle.  I've been trying to read a paper book then an ebook and another paper one and so on, just to move the paper ones on.  It's getting harder and harder, though, because I've noticed that when I read a paper book I get muscle aches across my shoulders and a corresponding headache up my neck and left temple.  Doesn't happen when I read on my K2 so it's the proverbial no-brainer.  To that end I've been fairly agressively sorting out the paperbacks that I don't have a burning desire to read and donating them to the library for their sale (which is where some of them came from originally  ).  Dropped 7 stuffed grocery bags off at the library this morning, which leaves me with 50 paperbacks and 14 hardbacks still to read....maybe.

[Guardian]

I read much more printed books than digital. i.e.: I won't read Iain M. Banks books on e-reader, just in print. I have most of his books on my shelf.

[Ann in Arlington]

All the books I read are printed.  Some are printed on paper.  Some are printed in eInk on my Kindle.

[Tony Richards]

All the books I read are printed.  Some are printed on paper.  Some are printed in eInk on my Kindle.

Like it!

[DDark]

I prefer reading books in print. I'm one of those few weirdos who likes to smell my books.    If it's a book I don't plan to read again, I usually resell it to the Half Price bookstore, or give it away. I only keep the books I love and will read again. I know a few people who hoard every book they've ever bought, and their house has become a library.

Of course, I remember how much I loved my parents record albums. There was something so cool about the art on them, feeling it in your hand, that doesn't match up to plugging in a song on your MP3.

Plus, if a meteor ever crashes into the earth and we lose all power, I will have my paperbacks to keep me company in my cave.

[Phyllis Lily Jules]

It's funny, I was so against eBooks until I got a Kindle. The thing is, when the screen is so small like that, plus so clear and easy on the eyes, I am totally immersed in the story. I think just seeing the paragraph I'm on, plus only the one coming up, I'm not unconsciously scanning ahead, thus pulling me out of the story. I've read more in the three months of getting the Kindle than I have for several years. And I love adapting the text for my eyes, not the average eyes.

So I'll read the few print books I have left to read, and will be strictly eBooks from now on. I'm not sure I'll buy another print book ever. Strange how that is, as I've had thousands of them over all these years, and have loved them sitting on my library shelves. But things change.

[MichelleR]

I don't throw books away in the normal course of things, but before my Kindle -- which can be stuck in a Ziplock -- a few books perished in the bathtub.

For the most part, I keep them, donate them, or give them away.

Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk

[Aenea]

Sorry. I did write that it wasnt just aimed at you, esp since you said you didnt want to throw books away (but, have you?).

Your post was just one more of several lately that brought up throwing away books. Which, again, I cant understand at all.

It's okay. No, I haven't thrown any away. I've had ereaders for as long as I can remember (long before the Kindle came out). I just have very little space in my living area and I wouldn't have anywhere to store them. The nice thing about the newer ereaders is that you can store so much on them. The older ones were pretty limited.

[Jon Olson]

A book is a book is a book. Why would anyone herself based on format?

[Jorja Tabu]

I'm an equal opportunity hoarder--I love used books, and I have will probably drag my crates of books into the grave with me; my kindle is loaded to the gills too.  I think this might be the way of the future for those of us who just can't give up the feel of the printed page!

[sandrasstories]

I love printed books. They are my favourite. But I know in the near future I'll have to get used to reading electronic copies. The world is heading that way, regardless of what anyone prefers. They're already replacing textbooks for ipads in schools now. It's only a matter of time before the printed word will be a thing of the past. It's good for the trees, but I will miss the feel of turning pages.

[Angela Kay Austin]

I love books, regardless of their format.  But, I do have preferences for certain genres or authors.  Right now, I'm reading Jack Kennedy by Chris Matthews and I'm reading it in hardcover.  

Sometimes, I love to sit back with a book instead of my Kindle.

[KateEllison]

I rarely purchase print books, but I borrow them from the library all the time. I mostly buy books for my Kindle. Right now the ratio is 65% print, 35% digital as far as my reading material goes. But that's mostly because I have a bunch of stuff from the library I'm reading.

[seanday]

I definitely still read paper books (especially since there is a stack of unread ones staring at me), but when I go shopping for a new book, I look for the Kindle version first. Now that many libraries are lending Kindle versions, it is getting even more slanted toward Ebooks.

[Math]

Interesting most have answered as though the question was 'do you ever read printed novels'

If that was the question then I could quite easily give up the printed paperback. But there'll always be a real sense of pleasure looking through a large coffee-table glossy book, or a book that you really get the most out of when you can see a two-page spread.

Then again, it is an obvious assumption - as, for me, even an iPad is a poor substitute for a really large dimensioned book

It used to be a book is a book - but (interestingly) I expect that kindle has categorised books in the way of being suitable for e-readers or not.

For every printed book to be replaced effectively enough for me - either publishers or technology will have to change a lot more.

Sorry to be pedantic 

[Jen Black]

Reading on Kindle is new for me, and I still forget to bookmark and then have trouble finding the correct page again. The habit will form eventually, but I'll always read printed books and keep the ones I know I'll read again. It's so much easier to flip forward and backwards, check character lists and stuff in a printed book. And Footnotes, if it's non-fiction. Libraries need everyone's support. You know the old adage that you never know what you've got until it's not there anymore? I hope we'll never wake up and discover how much we relied on libraries but they've all turned into supermarkets or something.

[Jorja Tabu]

So, how many people here have certain authors that they have to have in print (just from reading the replies, that's what it seems like--certain books by certain authors are mentioned as being must-haves in print)?  What is it about that particular book/author that makes you want to have a physical copy?


I have lots of reference books that I like to stick post-its in, lots of older copies of sentimental value, and any book with beautiful artwork I like to keep a separate copy of, but I'm not author specific.  Just curious!

[Beth Balmanno]

Both forms happily coexist in my house.  My kids still prefer paper format so we visit the library often (and frequently hit our 100 max checkout limit) and look forward to yard sales and thrift store finds.  My eldest has come around a bit on the e-book format (she has the app on her iTouch) so she has grudgingly started to experiment with reading on that.

("Hey, mom -- I can read wherever I am and not have to lug all these books around!" -- Hayley.  "Wow.  Really?  Gee."  -- me, with just a touch of I-told-you-so sarcasm)

I still prefer to buy print versions of non-fiction books but most of my fiction is now read on my Kindle.

[ciscokid]

I read both. I have gotten some really good freebies and discounted kindle books.....and I read a lot of those. I try to keep in mind the best sellers that I want to read, then I go to a local bookstore that sells old library books. Most of those are best sellers from the last year or so and I can pick them up at a heavily discounted price.  I just have to try to have the patience to wait until the bookstore has the books I want.  The other day I picked up Janet Evanovich's Smokin' Seventeen, Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks, The Passage by Justin Cronin, and The Heaven Trilogy by Ted Decker.....for $12...all hardback library books, all in good shape.  The same books for the kindle would have cost me over $40.

[Lursa (aka 9MMare)]

Interesting most have answered as though the question was 'do you ever read printed novels'

If that was the question then I could quite easily give up the printed paperback. But there'll always be a real sense of pleasure looking through a large coffee-table glossy book, or a book that you really get the most out of when you can see a two-page spread.

Then again, it is an obvious assumption - as, for me, even an iPad is a poor substitute for a really large dimensioned book

It used to be a book is a book - but (interestingly) I expect that kindle has categorised books in the way of being suitable for e-readers or not.

For every printed book to be replaced effectively enough for me - either publishers or technology will have to change a lot more.

I mentioned that I still buy quite a few non-fiction books in hard copy....more specifically I want to maintain my little 'boutique' epidemiology library in hard copy. But in general for practical and personal considerations...practical being that photos, charts, maps, etc are better in hard copy....I like having hard copies of some non-fiction. I also think it's easier to use them for reference when looking for information.

[JimC1946]

I read 2-3 printed books a year, but only when the books are not available for the Kindle. For me, that's mostly older history books, especially military history.

[romac]

I've maybe read 2 or 3 print books since I bought my k2 years ago, and I don't think any of those were purchased....all borrowed.

[LadyHawk]

I love my Kindle. 



But my bookshelf house my prized book. Mostly collections and series from certain authors. Book that I have read dozens of times and will continue reading.