With e-readers, it's easier than ever before to have books instantly. Plus, beloved writers can put out short stories and novellas for free or lower prices and tide readers over until new books come out. New writers unable to get an agent/publisher or unwilling to make crucial changes can also reach out to readers and be successful these days.
Having instant access to thousands of books at one's fingertips in such a lightweight format is amazing. For every pro, there are definitely embarrassing cons, though.
A lot of families share books and don't want to buy two copies. This leads to a mishmash of books on a nook. Right now, I'm embarrassed to bring my nook to work because it shows up that the most recent purchase is FIFTY SHADES OF GREY, which isn't something I plan to read, especially since I don't condone writers who re-work and sell disguised fanfiction. I don't want to explain to everyone why this shows up on my nook's homepage. Sadly, there's a lot of smut on my nook. It was easier to hide on the original nook if I hung out in My Documents and not My Library. The new Simple Touch, however, throws everything together!
I did purchase novellas by Rae Carson (Author of the amazing THE GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS) and Sarah J. Maas (Author of the upcoming THRONE OF GLASS, releasing in August, with a review to come soon) today, but it's not enough to wipe out the recent additions. I'm just glad there are no children on the account, because that kind of thing is hard to hide. I wish there was a way to toggle and only see my books, because the combined library is crazy huge.
I'm also a little annoyed that my new nook Simple Touch only allows for 240 mbs of non-BN content when my old original nook didn't do so and newer tablet nooks let you adjust the way your content is distributed. The last update is over 100 mbs, which counts as "non-BN content" even though it IS BN content. For most people, this isn't a deal breaker. As a reviewer, it's annoying that I can't have more than 30 review books on my nook without getting a memory card. This is a mix of "keeper copies," and expiring review copies from Netgalley, Edelweiss, etc. I don't want to put things that expire on a memory card. If it's a "keeper," I don't want it to get lost on a card.
In this way, I do miss my original nook. At the same time, it's soooooooo light! I will never be able to hold a heavy book again. Last year when I reviewed PROGENY by R.T. Kaelin, the book was about a thousand pages and super heavy. It takes up a lot of space on my shelf, too. Maybe it's just me, but when a book is heavy, I can't read in as comfortable a position and it takes longer to read a book...or feels like it does! I am a little jealous that newer e-ink readers have their own lighting system now, but I'm still holding out for color e-ink, so this isn't a deal breaker for me!
Overall, despite the cons, there are so many pros that I love my nook. It doesn't take the place of my physical books, which you all know I'm still buying due to my weekly blogs despite having had a nook for two years now. I have to have matching authors/series/etc. in hardcover/paperback/ebook/etc. If Sarah J. Maas had come out with THRONE OF GLASS last year and the novellas last year, I'd have a physical copy of the book. Next month, I'm planning to start the series as an e-book purchase, and this is perhaps the first time I've bought a book at the $9.99+ price point. I still like my real books, but seldom buy Big 5-published titles on my nook unless there's an awesome sale. It's mostly for buying free books, indie books, classics, and free samples (my half of the account, at least...). So things are slowly beginning to change! I'm definitely an OCD packrat who wants a library like Belle and Beast's someday, though...!
What are your thoughts on the e-reading craze?
Having instant access to thousands of books at one's fingertips in such a lightweight format is amazing. For every pro, there are definitely embarrassing cons, though.
A lot of families share books and don't want to buy two copies. This leads to a mishmash of books on a nook. Right now, I'm embarrassed to bring my nook to work because it shows up that the most recent purchase is FIFTY SHADES OF GREY, which isn't something I plan to read, especially since I don't condone writers who re-work and sell disguised fanfiction. I don't want to explain to everyone why this shows up on my nook's homepage. Sadly, there's a lot of smut on my nook. It was easier to hide on the original nook if I hung out in My Documents and not My Library. The new Simple Touch, however, throws everything together!
I did purchase novellas by Rae Carson (Author of the amazing THE GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS) and Sarah J. Maas (Author of the upcoming THRONE OF GLASS, releasing in August, with a review to come soon) today, but it's not enough to wipe out the recent additions. I'm just glad there are no children on the account, because that kind of thing is hard to hide. I wish there was a way to toggle and only see my books, because the combined library is crazy huge.
I'm also a little annoyed that my new nook Simple Touch only allows for 240 mbs of non-BN content when my old original nook didn't do so and newer tablet nooks let you adjust the way your content is distributed. The last update is over 100 mbs, which counts as "non-BN content" even though it IS BN content. For most people, this isn't a deal breaker. As a reviewer, it's annoying that I can't have more than 30 review books on my nook without getting a memory card. This is a mix of "keeper copies," and expiring review copies from Netgalley, Edelweiss, etc. I don't want to put things that expire on a memory card. If it's a "keeper," I don't want it to get lost on a card.
In this way, I do miss my original nook. At the same time, it's soooooooo light! I will never be able to hold a heavy book again. Last year when I reviewed PROGENY by R.T. Kaelin, the book was about a thousand pages and super heavy. It takes up a lot of space on my shelf, too. Maybe it's just me, but when a book is heavy, I can't read in as comfortable a position and it takes longer to read a book...or feels like it does! I am a little jealous that newer e-ink readers have their own lighting system now, but I'm still holding out for color e-ink, so this isn't a deal breaker for me!
Overall, despite the cons, there are so many pros that I love my nook. It doesn't take the place of my physical books, which you all know I'm still buying due to my weekly blogs despite having had a nook for two years now. I have to have matching authors/series/etc. in hardcover/paperback/ebook/etc. If Sarah J. Maas had come out with THRONE OF GLASS last year and the novellas last year, I'd have a physical copy of the book. Next month, I'm planning to start the series as an e-book purchase, and this is perhaps the first time I've bought a book at the $9.99+ price point. I still like my real books, but seldom buy Big 5-published titles on my nook unless there's an awesome sale. It's mostly for buying free books, indie books, classics, and free samples (my half of the account, at least...). So things are slowly beginning to change! I'm definitely an OCD packrat who wants a library like Belle and Beast's someday, though...!
What are your thoughts on the e-reading craze?