Reading habits - CrimeSpace2024-03-28T18:25:59Zhttps://crimespace.ning.com/forum/topics/reading-habits?id=537324%3ATopic%3A165981&feed=yes&xn_auth=noI read about a dozen books at…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-11-22:537324:Comment:1678342008-11-22T04:28:19.678ZDawn M. Kravagnahttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/DawnMarieKravagna
I read about a dozen books at a time, get several from the library each month, and listen to a lot of books on tape. It takes me 35 to 45 minutes to get to work each way, so I have lots of time to listen. It helps a lot when I'm stuck in traffic or don't want to listen to the commercials on the radio. I also like to read cheap paperbacks when I'm soaking in the tub, so I certainly don't want to be holding onto an electrical book and worry about getting it wet. I also get tired of staring at the…
I read about a dozen books at a time, get several from the library each month, and listen to a lot of books on tape. It takes me 35 to 45 minutes to get to work each way, so I have lots of time to listen. It helps a lot when I'm stuck in traffic or don't want to listen to the commercials on the radio. I also like to read cheap paperbacks when I'm soaking in the tub, so I certainly don't want to be holding onto an electrical book and worry about getting it wet. I also get tired of staring at the computer all day long, so don't like to read online books. I also like to read to relax at night before bed, so I prefer the large print books as it's easier on my eyes. I did try to listen to "Phantom of the Opera" as a MP3 book, but the headphones kept falling out of my ears when I was doing my house chores, so I wasn't too keen on it. And I don't think women should have their ears full of noise when walking around in public (at least the ones who consider their safety). So, I think the new media supplements the old, not totally replaces it. At least in my opinion. Besides, I don't see that the new electronic books can display pictures yet (that I've seen demoed). And there will always be a place for that lovely coffeetable or art instruction book. That's my opinion, anyway. I plan to go to the bookstore Tuesday and purchase two books as Christmas gifts: A nice book with beautiful pictures for my cousin and a book for my old high school friend who is expecting a hardcover of some type each year. Dawn PS. Despite readership being down, there's always the big exception, such as "Twilight" and "Harry Potter" and "The DaVinci Code". We just have to keep trying to write the very best books we can. Right. I also love my filled…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-11-14:537324:Comment:1663672008-11-14T14:37:15.055ZI. J. Parkerhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Ingpark
Right. I also love my filled bookshelves and keep buying more for mor books.<br />
<br />
But the idea above of offering inexpensive e-book versions of a new author to establish his/her following sounds like a better way of marketing than sending out hardcover novels without any promotion whatsoever.
Right. I also love my filled bookshelves and keep buying more for mor books.<br />
<br />
But the idea above of offering inexpensive e-book versions of a new author to establish his/her following sounds like a better way of marketing than sending out hardcover novels without any promotion whatsoever. Thats why publishers keep rep…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-11-14:537324:Comment:1663482008-11-14T12:07:50.573ZJames McKennahttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JameMcKenna
Thats why publishers keep repeating the same few authors and seldem give new guys a look in, they won't take a chance on poor sales. I think if readers could get a e-book preview of new authors befor buying a book, then the closed world of publishing could afford to opean up, especialy with POD books.
Thats why publishers keep repeating the same few authors and seldem give new guys a look in, they won't take a chance on poor sales. I think if readers could get a e-book preview of new authors befor buying a book, then the closed world of publishing could afford to opean up, especialy with POD books. E-books are the way forward f…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-11-14:537324:Comment:1663452008-11-14T11:56:45.484ZJames McKennahttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JameMcKenna
E-books are the way forward for any work you do not wish to keep. Myself I like books on shelves. As for time, there will never be enough and the problem stays forever.
E-books are the way forward for any work you do not wish to keep. Myself I like books on shelves. As for time, there will never be enough and the problem stays forever. A few points before I go back…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-11-14:537324:Comment:1663352008-11-14T09:11:38.562ZBobhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Bob24
A few points before I go back to my NaNo project.<br />
<br />
I personally enjoy the paper book and will not change.<br />
<br />
I do a fair amount of beta reading. This forces the use of the computer. My soar eyes, stiff neck, tender elbow and abused mouse finger will testify to the weakness of the medium.
A few points before I go back to my NaNo project.<br />
<br />
I personally enjoy the paper book and will not change.<br />
<br />
I do a fair amount of beta reading. This forces the use of the computer. My soar eyes, stiff neck, tender elbow and abused mouse finger will testify to the weakness of the medium. Technology has enabled me to…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-11-14:537324:Comment:1662762008-11-14T00:02:28.146ZDave Diamanteshttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/DaveDiamantes
Technology has enabled me to listen to a new recorded book each week while I'm in the car. I download the mp3s from the library (Overdrive media format) . I bought a Cybook ereader (after doing a lot of research about Sony and Kindle). I've bought some really fun ebooks that probably never would have been published had epublishing not evolved. Richard Curtis wrote a good piece on the traditional publishing business model and how it affects what we read. It's here :…
Technology has enabled me to listen to a new recorded book each week while I'm in the car. I download the mp3s from the library (Overdrive media format) . I bought a Cybook ereader (after doing a lot of research about Sony and Kindle). I've bought some really fun ebooks that probably never would have been published had epublishing not evolved. Richard Curtis wrote a good piece on the traditional publishing business model and how it affects what we read. It's here : <a href="http://www.bksp.org/content/view/34/2/">http://www.bksp.org/content/view/34/2/</a><br />
<br />
The fact that books are 100% returnable by bookstores, and publishers pay shipping both ways really does limit the number of new books and new authors we get to see. So I think epublishing and some of the new small publishers that combine epublishing and small print runs are a good thing. That said there is nothing like a new paperback at the beach... Okay, this is interesting. Th…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-11-13:537324:Comment:1661562008-11-13T14:02:24.362ZJohn McFetridgehttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JohnMcF
Okay, this is interesting. The convenience of an e-reader and more choices.<br />
<br />
Like most people here I have a TBR pile, though mine is more of a TBR list and certainly when it comes to books I've never had a shortage of choices - small press, large press, old books, new books, there've always been a wide variety of books (I do have to rely on translation as I can only read in english and French). More choices would be great. So far the internet has been a good tool in making me aware of more…
Okay, this is interesting. The convenience of an e-reader and more choices.<br />
<br />
Like most people here I have a TBR pile, though mine is more of a TBR list and certainly when it comes to books I've never had a shortage of choices - small press, large press, old books, new books, there've always been a wide variety of books (I do have to rely on translation as I can only read in english and French). More choices would be great. So far the internet has been a good tool in making me aware of more books, and when I get my e-reader it'll be a good tool to deliver those books as well.<br />
<br />
It looks like there'll still be need for filters, look how many people complain about all the 'crap' being published. The large amount of books being published that just aren't for me doesn't bother me and I suppose it will be possible that those filters will be online conversations - I've discovered a lot of good books here at Crimespace and on other blogs like Detectives Beyond Borders and International Noir (and, most of my reading isn't crime fiction, so I've found good stuff in other forums, too).<br />
<br />
Still, those filters have all pointed me to books published by traditional publishers. Maybe it's still early days, but I agree with Donna, a lot of publishing is working just fine.<br />
<br />
I keep hoping something will happen in the movies and TV to increase choices for <b>me</b>, but I have finally accepted the fact that I am just not the right demographic to be served by them. There was a time I could watch 3-4 shows a week and see a movie a month in theatres, but those days are gone. But that's just my tastes.<br />
<br />
And it's true, I do get a lot of news from newspapers and magazines. There are a few good online sites, but man, you have to wade through a lot of shit to get to it. I guess if the only criterion…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-11-13:537324:Comment:1661052008-11-13T03:59:56.158ZJohn Dishonhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/whiteskwirl
I guess if the only criterion you use to judge if things have changed is the amount of time you have to read, then no, nothing will change. But you've answered your own question above that. All those different ways to learn about new books and to have access to new books is a change, and while it may or may not change the amount of time you read, it might change what you read, because you will have access to a broader range of works by a broader ranger of authors and more ways to filter out the…
I guess if the only criterion you use to judge if things have changed is the amount of time you have to read, then no, nothing will change. But you've answered your own question above that. All those different ways to learn about new books and to have access to new books is a change, and while it may or may not change the amount of time you read, it might change what you read, because you will have access to a broader range of works by a broader ranger of authors and more ways to filter out the content, be it through blog recommendations, Amazon reviews, other online reviews, online forums, or whatever.<br />
<br />
The music and film industries are already undergoing transformations. I have discovered a lot of new movies, music and TV shows from the internet, things I never would have known existed otherwise. Yet I don't have any more time in the day to watch or listen to those things, so nothing has changed for me? Hardly.<br />
<br />
But if you don't want to change your habits, I suppose there may not be a change. There are still people who get the majority of their news from newspapers. The number is getting smaller and smaller, but those people still exist, even though the news industry has changed a lot. So if you want, you can still get your books from library recommendations and filter out the content through Publishers Weekly, and other print review sources, and keep doing things the way you always have. There's nothing stopping you, and as long as there are still print books and bookstores to buy them in and libraries to check them out from, you won't have to notice the changes going on around you. However, the option is there to join the "internet culture" for lack of a better world, and to explore the new changes taking place. What those changes are exactly, we don't know yet, but I'm sure the internet will play a big role.<br />
<br />
So whether there will be a change, as a reader, is up to you. But you already answered what possible changes there could be. And I'm sure there are more possibilities that no one has thought of yet. It's interesting the way thes…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-11-13:537324:Comment:1660442008-11-13T01:08:28.908ZKaren from AustCrimehttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/austcrimefiction
It's interesting the way these discussions keep coming up. I do receive a lot of review books for free, but I keep up my end in the buying stakes along the way - there's rarely a month goes by that I don't purchase at least 2 or 3 books - sometimes up to 10 depends on where I am and how the budget looks I guess.<br />
<br />
But I don't own an electronic reader and I strongly doubt I ever will (although I did weaken a while ago and buy an MP3 player to listen to books whilst working in the garden - but I…
It's interesting the way these discussions keep coming up. I do receive a lot of review books for free, but I keep up my end in the buying stakes along the way - there's rarely a month goes by that I don't purchase at least 2 or 3 books - sometimes up to 10 depends on where I am and how the budget looks I guess.<br />
<br />
But I don't own an electronic reader and I strongly doubt I ever will (although I did weaken a while ago and buy an MP3 player to listen to books whilst working in the garden - but I never remember to keep it charged so that's been a dismal failure of a plan). I suppose I'm now officially too old to be bothered with an electronic reader - and I don't have much need for one. Paper books work just fine for all the places that I read in.<br />
<br />
I know the publishing industry is probably looking for ways to reinvent itself ... to be "more attractive" to the electronic savvy generation, but I personally think if they went back to seeking out good authors, mentoring authors, developing good editing, creating a quality product - rather than some of the appalling pap that they currently call "books" - they'd be a darn sight better off. i love books in their solid,…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2008-11-13:537324:Comment:1660372008-11-13T00:12:02.868ZJacqui Horwoodhttps://crimespace.ning.com/profile/JacquiHorwood
i love books in their solid, touchable form. I like picking them up and smelling the new, unturned pages. i buy less books than i used to when i was single, childless and mortgage-less and i've gone back to borrowing books at the library. our local library is great and has a lot of the more recent releases.<br />
<br />
I don't know enough about the publishing industry to really comment but i know that fiction writers will continue to suffer due to the preference by publishers for non-fiction. As you have…
i love books in their solid, touchable form. I like picking them up and smelling the new, unturned pages. i buy less books than i used to when i was single, childless and mortgage-less and i've gone back to borrowing books at the library. our local library is great and has a lot of the more recent releases.<br />
<br />
I don't know enough about the publishing industry to really comment but i know that fiction writers will continue to suffer due to the preference by publishers for non-fiction. As you have all commented, it's going to be harder and harder for new writers to make it. I really wish publishers had the time and resources for editors to nurture writers. Too many books that need a realy good edit are being published - both by new writers and established writers.