Experience with book subscription services

Mahira · 07-26-2023, 01:22 AM

Has anyone ever tried book subscription services, since i am looking for one. Also please share your experience if you have tried.

ZodWallop · 07-26-2023, 11:24 PM

Back when they were a viable concern, I belonged to the Leisure Horror book club. They sent me two mass market paperbacks a month. I didn't love evrything they published, but the editor, Don D’Auria had good taste. I still buy new books from authors I discovered through Leisure Horror.

Dr. Drib · 07-27-2023, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Back when they were a viable concern, I belonged to the Leisure Horror book club. They sent me two mass market paperbacks a month. I didn't love evrything they published, but the editor, Don D’Auria had good taste. I still buy new books from authors I discovered through Leisure Horror.

I was never a part of that, but I wish I had been. In fact, I don't recall WHY I never joined. I consider my inaction a major mistake...

JSWolf · 07-27-2023, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mahira

Has anyone ever tried book subscription services, since i am looking for one. Also please share your experience if you have tried.

I used to belong to The Science Fiction Books Club (aka SFBC). That was before eBooks. My experience was good.

ZodWallop · 07-28-2023, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

I was never a part of that, but I wish I had been. In fact, I don't recall WHY I never joined. I consider my inaction a major mistake...

I found that independently, I was invariably purchasing most of the books they released anyway, so it made sense to join.

Dr. Drib · 07-28-2023, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I used to belong to The Science Fiction Books Club (aka SFBC). That was before eBooks. My experience was good.

I was a part of that just before my teen years, and I have wonderful memories of being excited when my selections arrived.

That's how I initially became acquainted with Clifford D. Simak and Issac Asimov, and a host of other writers.

It was a great time to experience that 'sense of wonder'.

JSWolf · 07-28-2023, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

I was a part of that just before my teen years, and I have wonderful memories of being excited when my selections arrived.

That's how I initially became acquainted with Clifford D. Simak and Issac Asimov, and a host of other writers.

It was a great time to experience that 'sense of wonder'.

I agree. It was a good way to buy books you would never have thought of buying.

HLS · 08-08-2023, 01:10 PM

I have probably 2000 ebooks and maybe only read 400 of them so i don't have a need but the new KOBO plan looks sweet. I do not like kindle unlimited for the books seem to be mostly noname authors or indi and I tend to only read NYT best seller authors. Basically all the authors i like are not on kindle unlimited.

HLS · 08-08-2023, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Back when they were a viable concern, I belonged to the Leisure Horror book club. They sent me two mass market paperbacks a month. I didn't love evrything they published, but the editor, Don D’Auria had good taste. I still buy new books from authors I discovered through Leisure Horror.

I love horror. I can't find any info online about this program tho.

ZodWallop · 08-08-2023, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HLS

I love horror. I can't find any info online about this program tho.

I'm not surprised. They went defunct thirteen years ago. Here's the Wikipedia page for Leisure Books.

They helped resurrect Richard Laymon from obscurity and published stuff from Brian Keene, Simon Clark, Douglas Clegg, John Everson, Nate Kenyon, Edward Lee, Jack Ketchum, Deborah leBlanc, James A. Moore and Sarah Pinborough.

Paperbackstash · 08-11-2023, 10:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Back when they were a viable concern, I belonged to the Leisure Horror book club. They sent me two mass market paperbacks a month. I didn't love evrything they published, but the editor, Don D’Auria had good taste. I still buy new books from authors I discovered through Leisure Horror.

Unfortunately nothing has replaced that for me. I loved the service even if the quality wasn't up to par. Also the Hard Case Crime series - still a fan of the former, but I remember when they were announced and was excited to jump on that bandwagon

Paperbackstash · 08-11-2023, 10:26 AM

Most of the physical service now seems to be for book box deals. Some of them look fun, especially with the bookish items if that appeals to you (does to me), but the price is considerably higher than previous sub deals when it used to be a thing, and of course shipping is a factor since that's risen so much over the years. I don't sub to a monthly box despite sometimes it seeming like a fun idea. Some of the companies allow you to buy boxes that weren't sold out for sometimes a cheaper price, and without having to be a member, after a few months have passed

Angst · 08-18-2023, 11:04 AM

You can find an excellent selection of book boxes here. I am partial to the "Chocolate and a Book" variety. Most boxes are curated to your tastes, some more than others. The "used" boxes are quite affordable.

My main objection to curated books is that they always end up sending 1-2 books I have no interest in reading.

07-26-2023, 01:22 AM	#1
Mahira Junior Member Posts: 1 Karma: 10 Join Date: Jul 2023 Location: uk Device: Lenovo,windows11	Experience with book subscription services Has anyone ever tried book subscription services, since i am looking for one. Also please share your experience if you have tried.

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07-26-2023, 11:24 PM	#2
ZodWallop Gentleman and scholar Posts: 10,994 Karma: 108312789 Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Space City, Texas Device: Clara HD; Nook ST w/Glowlight, (2015) Glowlight Plus, Paperwhite 3	Back when they were a viable concern, I belonged to the Leisure Horror book club. They sent me two mass market paperbacks a month. I didn't love evrything they published, but the editor, Don D’Auria had good taste. I still buy new books from authors I discovered through Leisure Horror.

08-08-2023, 01:10 PM	#8
HLS Wizard Posts: 2,028 Karma: 15107670 Join Date: May 2017 Device: Sage, Scribe, Boox Note 2 Plus, iPad Pros and Samsungs S6,S7,S8	I have probably 2000 ebooks and maybe only read 400 of them so i don't have a need but the new KOBO plan looks sweet. I do not like kindle unlimited for the books seem to be mostly noname authors or indi and I tend to only read NYT best seller authors. Basically all the authors i like are not on kindle unlimited.

08-11-2023, 10:26 AM	#12
Paperbackstash Wizard Posts: 1,592 Karma: 20086276 Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Central Florida Device: Oasis 3, PW 3, 4, 5, Fire HD 2012, Fire HD 8 (8th Gen)	Most of the physical service now seems to be for book box deals. Some of them look fun, especially with the bookish items if that appeals to you (does to me), but the price is considerably higher than previous sub deals when it used to be a thing, and of course shipping is a factor since that's risen so much over the years. I don't sub to a monthly box despite sometimes it seeming like a fun idea. Some of the companies allow you to buy boxes that weren't sold out for sometimes a cheaper price, and without having to be a member, after a few months have passed

08-18-2023, 11:04 AM	#13
Angst Cannon Fodder Posts: 2,819 Karma: 50921712 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Probably a library Device: PRS-350, Kindle DX, Kindle Paperwhite	You can find an excellent selection of book boxes here. I am partial to the "Chocolate and a Book" variety. Most boxes are curated to your tastes, some more than others. The "used" boxes are quite affordable. My main objection to curated books is that they always end up sending 1-2 books I have no interest in reading.

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