Quote:
Originally Posted by queentess
Since ebooks are easily updated (unlike their pbook counterparts), I could see it taking the route that video game advertising has, where the ads are generally unobtrusive and can (reasonably) easily changed. For example, maybe the protagonist is drinking a Coke. But the next time you download the book, it has changed to a Pepsi. I would really date the books though... I've read some older Stephen King books where I have to look up what a product is because I've never heard of it. Some of the brands that were around in the 70s just aren't ubiquitous today.
From the article:
I'm ok with this. I can ignore it if I want to, just like I generally ignore the current pbook ads for additional books (unless I'm really looking for reading recommendations from a publisher...)
No. Just no. I read the free ebook version of a Doctorow book (I believe it was Little Brother) where each chapter started with an ad for a bookstore. It disrupted the flow of the book, jolting me out of the story every time. Now, as a free book, I'm forgiving of it. But if I pay for a book, there better not be ads interrupting the text.
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That's "For the Win" and they are part of the text of the book. I think they are Doctorow's way of trying to support physical book stores in the Digital Age. From reading his essay "Content" he's a believer in the coexistence of E and P books, especially given the advent of cheap POD and the "Espresso" machines. I found the blurbs for the independent stores to be very interesting (gives me ideas for places to visit should I travel to the cities where the stores are located), but my wife was somewhat put off like you were.
Luqman