[leebase]

Recently I've tried reading a handful or two of Amazon publishing books. Military Sci-Fi and thrillers....two of my favorite genres. I've paid anywhere from $1 for a seven book series to $4.99. So far I have yet to be disappointed. Then again, I admit to being easily entertained.

However...I've been thinking about the value of these books verses the value of reading a book from James Patterson, Orson Scott Card, David Weber, Lee Child, John Ringo....the Mil Sci-Fi and Thriller writers I pay $14.99 a book for when I buy them "just released" (which I do for my favorite series).

The Amazon books really don't compare. They are an entertaining read when judged by themselves, but they are nowhere near the quality of the books from my favorite authors. Then again, they aren't priced at $14.99.

I don't read nearly as many books a year as many of you do. I'm typically in the 25 or so....this year I'm at 27 already due to reading so many of those Amazon books that are much shorter than my usual fare.

So the question in my mind...is...do I continue reading the cheap books, or do I find more from big name authors. Is my limitation money, or is it time?

For example, I just finished reading "Pushing Brilliance" by Tim Tigner. A really good read. If you like Ludlum you might well like Tigner. But no, compared head to head, any Ludlum book has been much better. Any Jason Bourne book. Any Tom Clancey (even the ones written by Mark Greeney). Any James Patterson. And yet I did enjoy the Tim Tigner book.

I also recently read my first Mitch Rapp book by Vince Flynn. Again, major publisher, top selling writer....same type of book, but much better than the Tim Tigner. IMHO.

I'm 54, still working and nowhere close to being retired. Money sometimes gets tight....but most the time I don't even notice a $14.99 purchase. For years I paid that monthly for my audible subscription. Now I have so many purchased that I killed my account until I read what I've already paid for.

I've been an avid reader (compared to society for sure, perhaps not so much compared here) my whole life. I'm caught up on all my favorite authors and favorite series. I've dabbled in the cheap books from Amazon and find them enjoyable.

But...given a finite life that has less time ahead than I've already lived...why read Tim Tigner when I haven't read all of the much better writers out there? I have plenty of David Baldacci that I haven't read, Jeffrey Deaver, Vince Flynn....others that sell so well, they can command the $14.99 new ebook price? Particularly their back list which isn't selling for $14.99 anyway.

And when I'm broke or money is tight, I already have about five years worth of these cheap Amazon author's books already purchased (I've been a sucker for emails and FB campaigns).