I just.... can't.

Chi Cygni · 05-24-2012, 10:26 AM

Have been in lurking mode for a while here. Anyway here goes. I've read 18 books this year (many fat thick books of 500 pages or over hence the big page count). While visiting my home country (I'm a permanent expat) I saw a book I always wanted to re-read and own. It is "Agony and Ecstasy" by Irving Stone; beautifully written, something you don't want to put down. I read it only once, years ago and it took my breath away. So, there it is, hard cover, I can afford it, I buy it, I drag it on the plane... and put it on the shelf. It is a size of a brick. It is paper. It is not comfortable to hold. Or carry around on the metro. And it sits there. I opened it twice only to say "well, later". It is not available as ebook (in my language at least) or I would have read it already a month ago.

What has happened to me??? I am permanently damaged or what? Would and did read paper when deprived of ereader but now... I just can't. I seem to suffer from inexplicable reluctance to printed books.

Other paper gems that are sitting there are "Memoirs of a Geisha" by Arthur Golden (read as ebook in English, would prefer in my tribal language, but you know, it's paper), then "Woman from the Dunes" (or how you translate it) by Abe Kobo, and a non-gem but paper chewing gum for the brain which happens to be Bridget Jones diary, part II. Didn't touch them with a stick yet.

Anyone?

andyh2000 · 05-24-2012, 10:48 AM

All I can say is "Bridget Jones diary, part II" - don't touch it with a stick, whether it's an ebook or paper book. It's awful. I loved the first one though (it's possible I'm actually a girl...)

More on topic, I hate reading paper books now. How are you supposed to eat with one hand and read with the other?

Andrew

Rob Lister · 05-24-2012, 10:53 AM

I no longer have to read into the gutter. So now I much prefer not to.

And book-cramp-hand is no longer an issue either.

J. Strnad · 05-24-2012, 11:27 AM

Yes, I have paper books sitting around that I just can't bring myself to pick up, even though I'm interested.

Maybe after the Apocalypse, when we're hurled back to the stone age technologically, I'll get back into paper books.

heySkippy · 05-24-2012, 11:27 AM

The last dead tree book I bought (The Art Of Racing In The Rain) is still sitting on the shelf unread almost 2 years later. I've heard it's a great read, maybe I should buy the ebook so I'll finally read it.

GreenMonkey · 05-24-2012, 11:29 AM

I have no problems with hardcovers at home, but generally don't take them outside of the house any more.

LovesMacs · 05-24-2012, 11:54 AM

Ever since switching to ebooks, I rarely choose to read paper books. Those rare times are usually because I want to read something that isn't available in electronic format, or something that doesn't satisfactorily translate to electronic format. Books with facing page translations, large format/picture books, and travel books come to mind.

DreamWriter · 05-24-2012, 12:12 PM

I am also reluctant to read paper books now that I've been spoiled by Kindle. It's such a pain to keep the darn things propped open while reading! I find that e-ink is easier on my eyes too, especially since I can adjust font size.

ucfgrad93 · 05-24-2012, 12:49 PM

I don't buy physical books for pleasure reading any longer. If it is not available on my Kindle, then I find something else to read. About a third to half of the books I have had to read for my graduate degree have been available on my Kindle. Obviously, I buy the physical books for my classes.

estelle58 · 05-24-2012, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreamWriter

I am also reluctant to read paper books now that I've been spoiled by Kindle. It's such a pain to keep the darn things propped open while reading! I find that e-ink is easier on my eyes too, especially since I can adjust font size.

Same here but I use Kobo devices

wodin · 05-24-2012, 01:12 PM

When my wife used to drag me out to Border's or B&N to pursue her knitting magazines, I would generally find myself seeking out their comfy chairs and hauling out my reader.

What me browse the stacks, not a chance. There be dead trees there!

crich70 · 05-24-2012, 01:19 PM

"The Agony and the Ecstasy" by Irving Stone hmmm. That's a book I haven't heard of in a while. I read it years ago in a Reader's Digest edition I think. It would be great if it were to come out in a Kindle version at some point.

Latinandgreek · 05-24-2012, 01:24 PM

I don't read paper books any more unless I can't find an ebook version. I do like to visit the library and bookstore to thumb through the paper versions to see if an ebook is worth getting; I'll sometimes 'sample' a paper book from the library before buying it.

Penforhire · 05-24-2012, 01:30 PM

My beloved two-volume OED collects dust these days. Between built-in dictionaries and near-instant Google/Yahoo definition searches I'm afraid those paper volumes are destined to just look pretty on the shelf.

Latinandgreek · 05-24-2012, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Penforhire

My beloved two-volume OED collects dust these days. Between built-in dictionaries and near-instant Google/Yahoo definition searches I'm afraid those paper volumes are destined to just look pretty on the shelf.

My Greek Lexicon (Liddell and Scott) and my Lewis and Short Latin Dictionary cost me around $300. The apps for them that I found the other day, which contain the digital versions of the dictionaries and are easily searchable? $4 each!

I just bought the paper version (2nd ed) of the Oxford Latin Dictionary. There is no app version of it yet, otherwise I would have saved my money. I have to admit that I sometimes prefer the paper versions of dictionaries when working at home, but the digital versions are extremely convenient when I am out and about, not to mention often economical.

05-24-2012, 10:26 AM	#1
Chi Cygni 秋子 permanently lurking Posts: 839 Karma: 6587575 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Europe Device: Oasis 3, Pocketbook Era	I just.... can't. Have been in lurking mode for a while here. Anyway here goes. I've read 18 books this year (many fat thick books of 500 pages or over hence the big page count). While visiting my home country (I'm a permanent expat) I saw a book I always wanted to re-read and own. It is "Agony and Ecstasy" by Irving Stone; beautifully written, something you don't want to put down. I read it only once, years ago and it took my breath away. So, there it is, hard cover, I can afford it, I buy it, I drag it on the plane... and put it on the shelf. It is a size of a brick. It is paper. It is not comfortable to hold. Or carry around on the metro. And it sits there. I opened it twice only to say "well, later". It is not available as ebook (in my language at least) or I would have read it already a month ago. What has happened to me??? I am permanently damaged or what? Would and did read paper when deprived of ereader but now... I just can't. I seem to suffer from inexplicable reluctance to printed books. Other paper gems that are sitting there are "Memoirs of a Geisha" by Arthur Golden (read as ebook in English, would prefer in my tribal language, but you know, it's paper), then "Woman from the Dunes" (or how you translate it) by Abe Kobo, and a non-gem but paper chewing gum for the brain which happens to be Bridget Jones diary, part II. Didn't touch them with a stick yet. Anyone? Last edited by Chi Cygni; 05-24-2012 at 05:14 PM.

05-24-2012, 10:48 AM	#2
andyh2000 Avid reader Posts: 825 Karma: 6377682 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: UK Device: Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 / Kindle Paperwhite	All I can say is "Bridget Jones diary, part II" - don't touch it with a stick, whether it's an ebook or paper book. It's awful. I loved the first one though (it's possible I'm actually a girl...) More on topic, I hate reading paper books now. How are you supposed to eat with one hand and read with the other? Andrew

05-24-2012, 10:53 AM	#3
Rob Lister Fanatic Posts: 532 Karma: 3293888 Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Virginia Device: Nook Simple Touch	I no longer have to read into the gutter. So now I much prefer not to. And book-cramp-hand is no longer an issue either.

05-24-2012, 11:27 AM	#4
J. Strnad Guru Posts: 915 Karma: 3537194 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Kobo, Kindle 3, Paperwhite	Yes, I have paper books sitting around that I just can't bring myself to pick up, even though I'm interested. Maybe after the Apocalypse, when we're hurled back to the stone age technologically, I'll get back into paper books.

05-24-2012, 11:27 AM	#5
heySkippy Groupie Posts: 182 Karma: 1316076 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Florida Device: iPad	The last dead tree book I bought (The Art Of Racing In The Rain) is still sitting on the shelf unread almost 2 years later. I've heard it's a great read, maybe I should buy the ebook so I'll finally read it.

05-24-2012, 11:29 AM	#6
GreenMonkey DRM hater Posts: 945 Karma: 2066176 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Michigan Device: Nook ST glow, Kindle Voyage	I have no problems with hardcovers at home, but generally don't take them outside of the house any more.

05-24-2012, 11:54 AM	#7
LovesMacs Fanatic Posts: 513 Karma: 2644386 Join Date: Apr 2012 Device: iPhone, Kindle Touch	Ever since switching to ebooks, I rarely choose to read paper books. Those rare times are usually because I want to read something that isn't available in electronic format, or something that doesn't satisfactorily translate to electronic format. Books with facing page translations, large format/picture books, and travel books come to mind.

05-24-2012, 12:12 PM	#8
DreamWriter Books are brain food. Posts: 2,950 Karma: 4836916 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: U.S. Device: Paperwhite · Fire HD6/HD8/HD10 · Galaxy Tab A7	I am also reluctant to read paper books now that I've been spoiled by Kindle. It's such a pain to keep the darn things propped open while reading! I find that e-ink is easier on my eyes too, especially since I can adjust font size.

05-24-2012, 12:49 PM	#9
ucfgrad93 Wizard Posts: 2,360 Karma: 9026681 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Colorado Device: Kindle Paperwhite 2nd Gen	I don't buy physical books for pleasure reading any longer. If it is not available on my Kindle, then I find something else to read. About a third to half of the books I have had to read for my graduate degree have been available on my Kindle. Obviously, I buy the physical books for my classes.

05-24-2012, 01:12 PM	#11
wodin Illiterate Posts: 10,279 Karma: 37848716 Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: The Sandwich Isles Device: Samsung Galaxy S10+, Microsoft Surface Pro	When my wife used to drag me out to Border's or B&N to pursue her knitting magazines, I would generally find myself seeking out their comfy chairs and hauling out my reader. What me browse the stacks, not a chance. There be dead trees there!

05-24-2012, 01:19 PM	#12
crich70 Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,305 Karma: 43993832 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Monroe Wisconsin Device: K3, Kindle Paperwhite, Calibre, and Mobipocket for Pc (netbook)	"The Agony and the Ecstasy" by Irving Stone hmmm. That's a book I haven't heard of in a while. I read it years ago in a Reader's Digest edition I think. It would be great if it were to come out in a Kindle version at some point.

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05-24-2012, 01:24 PM	#13
Latinandgreek Warrior Princess Posts: 5,038 Karma: 9724231 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: PRS-505; PRS-350, PRS-T1, iPad, Aura HD	I don't read paper books any more unless I can't find an ebook version. I do like to visit the library and bookstore to thumb through the paper versions to see if an ebook is worth getting; I'll sometimes 'sample' a paper book from the library before buying it.

05-24-2012, 01:30 PM	#14
Penforhire Wizard Posts: 2,230 Karma: 7145404 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern California Device: Kindle Voyage & iPhone 7+	My beloved two-volume OED collects dust these days. Between built-in dictionaries and near-instant Google/Yahoo definition searches I'm afraid those paper volumes are destined to just look pretty on the shelf.