I love printed books. Shelves filled with books just make me happy.
So yes, I love books. But I bought my Kindle a little over two years ago, and since that time, I hardly ever buy any actual "real" books. Because I love love love my Kindle. I love that it has so many books on it, that it's so small it fits in my purse, that I can make the font as big as I want when I'm tired and get bleary-eyed. And I have to admit, when the cover of a book is a bit embarrassing, I don't have to worry about it because no one can see it.
But I do miss buying printed books. I still have plenty of room on some of these shelves. In the last two years, I've bought over 500 books, but they're on my Kindle. So it feels like I haven't bought any books because I can't look around and see them on my shelves. What I've been doing lately is if I love a book I read on my Kindle, I will buy it in hardback. That feels a bit ridiculous, but I just miss printed books!
Posted by: Pam
I don't buy that many books, kindle or hardcopy. My library is my primary source of books (unless I attend a conference) because I don't have a lot of disposable income to spend on buying books. And I don't really want to buy a book unless I already read it andI loved it, or I am pretty darn sure I will love it. But I do want to own all my favorites in hardcopy eventually. And I think books make beautiful decorations :)
ReplyDeleteThe past year I've been getting a lot more books from the library, which is great, but sometimes I'm impatient and I can't wait for the library to get a copy or there are so many holds already so I just go ahead and buy it on my Kindle. ~Pam
DeleteOmg I love your bookshelves!! So pretty!! Nancy Drew was my favorite when I was younger!! But I totally understand what you mean. If I buy a Kindle book and love it, I will buy it in hardcover too. I just want to see it sitting prettily on my shelf. But I also only buy Kindle books when they are on sale. If it's not, I just buy it in hardcover because it's only like $5 more than the Kindle version and I would rather have the print version.
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteAnd yes, I get so many books on my Kindle for $1.99 or $2.99, which is great. But yeah, if you're paying almost what you would pay for the print version, I would rather have that (although I'm not a big paperback fan). It's just so easy to click that button and start reading it right then! ~Pam
I love my Kindle, but I rarely buy books for it. I use it almost solely for e-arcs. I do love carrying it around--especially to schools when I sub as I don't ever need to "prep" during the teacher's prep period. I still buy the books I loved in physical form. I rarely buy books I haven't read yet (either the arc or from the library), but I will if I find it at the used bookstore. I'm lucky to live in a city that has a number of awesome used bookstores. So, I'm with you. As much as I love my Kindle, there is just something about seeing the spines lined up on my overflowing shelves that I would never want to trade. Great post!
ReplyDeleteI remember reading something about Amazon making it super cheap to buy the book on your Kindle if you already have the print version, but it should really be the other way around (assuming I'm even remembering what I heard correctly). I click that button (instant gratification) and then if I love the book, I want it in hardback. ~Pam
DeleteI buy both! Sometimes I'll grab a kindle copy sometimes a physical copy. I've started buying physical copies of eBooks I've read too. I have a lot of physical copies of books to read and not much room sadly...
ReplyDeleteUnder The Mountain's STS
At least I'm not the only one that buys both…good to know!! ~Pam
DeleteI love printed books too. I still buy a ton but I also buy books for my Kindle. If I end up loving the Kindle book I will then go and buy a physical copy too. My Kindle is pretty much for eARCs and Amazon deals for like .99p or something. My bookshelves are all full and I have 15 storage boxes of books... so maybe I should stop buying them but I won't.
ReplyDeleteGlad to know I'm not the only one. Amazon does have great deals so I try to take advantage of those too. The last time I moved I gave a ton of books to a second-hand bookstore (they barely gave me any credit) and it was a little sad. At the time I didn't think I'd have room and now I do. I never even attempt to not buy books because I know it just wouldn't work. ~Pam
DeleteI still buy quite a few print copies of books. I just can't give them up and if it's a book I love and want to share with my family and friends then I have to get a copy. The Winner's Curse reminded me how much I love physical books. The smell and feel alone is just a completely different experience than reading on my Kindle, although I do love it too, like you. I have a collection of N.C. Wyeth illustrated classics that I will never part with and will re-read and love for years to come. :)
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, there's just something about holding a physical book that's different. The Winner's Curse is such a beautiful book, it's on my list to buy (already have it on my Kindle of course). I have quite a few leather-bound classics that I love. ~Pam
DeleteI know quite a few people who buy physical copies of books that they have read and loved on their e-readers. It makes sense to want to be able to hold the physical version in your hands.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first bought my Kobo, I was obsessed and for a few months, ebooks were all I was reading. But then I started to miss print books, like you.
So I went back to buying them. I go to my bookstores again, and I order online. And now I only use my Kobo and Kindle for books that are only available online or those from NG. So they're still really useful, but my one true love is paperbacks so I went back to them, haha :D
Seeing your Nancy Drew books make me want to retrieve mine! (I still have them, but in my room because there's, well, no room.) Nothing compares to print books, though I do want to get an e-reader eventually.
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