Worse than choosing from a Chinese restaurant menu!

susieqt · 10-17-2010, 11:31 AM

Well I know I am indecisive when it comes to choosing food - at least that's what my other half tells me...

I did not anticipate that this propensity for indecision would follow me into the realms of e-book choosing. Now that my lovely little Kindle has arrived I swiftly chose some free books that I had read many times just to see how they would translate into e-ink. Little Women and What Katy Did were swiftly followed by Sons and Lovers, Tess of the D'Urbervilles and most of Oscar Wilde's writing. I demolished the shorter books quickly - sobbed along with the story of the Happy Prince - dipped into the longer books, and then found myself contemplating a PURCHASE. Credit card at the ready, off I went to Amazon.

Dilemma! Should I buy a book that I already had? Should I replace only paperbacks or should I aim to replace both paperbacks and hardbacks. Should I try new authors and new genres? Should I stick with those I knew I would enjoy - after all few books are very very cheap?

Eventually I came up with an answer that worked for me on the basis that I should buy books that I don't yet have.

1. Head to fantastic fiction website and generate some nice lists
2. Generate some random numbers
3. Check those numbers against lists (choosing 1st books in series where relevant)
4. Head off to Amazon to check out which are available in Kindle format
5. Download samples
6. Reject those that don't hook me or that I already have read
7. Create collection of 'Possible Purchases'
8. Buy one, read and enjoy!

So welcome to my Kindle - Stephen Baxter, Flood - I am really enjoying it so far.

Anyone else this hopeless at choosing?

susie

SeaBookGuy · 10-17-2010, 12:13 PM

Being a Libra, choosing much of anything can be agonizing at times for me!

I haven't had a reader long, and mostly use it for library books, but one criterion I use for purchase is "length" - the bigger the print book, the better a candidate for an e-book. It's not all that comfortable holding a single book that weighs more than the e-reader itself!

kacir · 10-17-2010, 12:30 PM

Have you read Terry Pratchett?

susieqt · 10-17-2010, 01:46 PM

No, I haven't read any Terry Pratchett - the books have never really attracted me (though OH and I enjoyed a recent tv adaptation of the one about a post office).

Would a first-time reader be advised to start at the first book, or jump in somewhere else?

susie

susieqt · 10-17-2010, 01:50 PM

Our library doesn't do e-books yet - only one library in whole of Scotland doing them at the moment.

I like your idea of choosing the big books to read on an e-reader though! I ike sci-fi and fantasy and some of those are pretty chunky.

Presumably if it doesn't say how long a book is on the description you can judge it by the size of the file? (I am a Kindle user)

susie

ATDrake · 10-17-2010, 02:05 PM

File size can be a tricky and unreliable indicator of length. If someone hasn't cleaned up the source before it gets converted, or put in a lot of images ("spacers" between sections or little pictures at the heads of chapters, etc.), that can make the file look deceptively large.

Best thing to with Kindle books is get a sample, note the number of locations, and multiply by 10 to get the actual length. Amazon's DTP automatically sets the sample size at 10% of the book, unless the publisher submits some sort of separate .mobi formatted sample to them, I've heard.

susieqt · 10-17-2010, 02:06 PM

That's really helpful information ATDrake, thank you

kacir · 10-17-2010, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by susieqt

Would a first-time reader be advised to start at the first book, or jump in somewhere else?

There are several threads here dedicated to the reading order of the books and to which book should a first-time reader choose.
There were many excellent suggestions ;-). Almost as many as the number of Discworld novels.

A good overview of TP books is here:
http://www.lspace.org/books/reading-order-guides/

Many people say that while the Colo[u]r of magic is an excellent book, there are even better books that should be used to attract attention of a potential Doscworld fan. We just can't agree which one is the best.

I personally have read the first few books in random order. After I have read one of his books that I was able to borrow I decided that I want to read ALL his books. Well, I haven't, because after reading "Johny, only you can save the world" - his experiment with writing SciFi I have decided that I will skip the reminder of his "Johny" series.
I have read all his Discworld novels, except the newest one, but it is very high on my To Be Read list. Most of his books I have read more than once.

Please look up threads that describe his works, like this one: Turn me into a Discworld Fan
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=49201
or https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26058

EDIT:
I have read about half of the Discworld novels in several languages in order how I was able to borrow, buy or beg them (in paper form). Then I started at the beginning and read them in in order they were written. See Wikipedia for Discworld.
Even Sir Terry does not recommend to start with the Colo[u]r of magic or The Light Fantastic. I personally found Small Gods, or Thief of time, or Interesting times particularly good. Other people recommend starting with Guards Guards or Mort or ... See ... You thought that when you choose Sir Terry Pratchett the choice would be easier than choosing from a Chinese restaurant menu! ;-)

MickeyC · 10-17-2010, 05:08 PM

I was walking into a restaurant in NYC once and noticed they had Chopped Suzy on the menu. Decided on Italian instead.

lene1949 · 10-17-2010, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cassidym

I was walking into a restaurant in NYC once and noticed they had Chopped Suzy on the menu. Decided on Italian instead.

I think I would have done that, too...

susieqt · 10-18-2010, 05:22 AM

Thanks Kacir - plenty of food for thought there - will give one of Sir T's books a whirl and see how I get on.

neilmarr · 10-18-2010, 06:29 AM

Which is the odd one out, Susie: 3, 6, 12, 24, 31, 48, 96?

31?

Nah 24. All the others come with boiled rice.

N

AlexBell · 10-19-2010, 03:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by susieqt

No, I haven't read any Terry Pratchett - the books have never really attracted me (though OH and I enjoyed a recent tv adaptation of the one about a post office).

Would a first-time reader be advised to start at the first book, or jump in somewhere else?

susie

I don't think it really matters - they are all self contained. It's probably better though to start with the more recent ones - like Going Postal and Making Money, which has the same protagonist.

His latest, and perhaps his last, is I shall wear Midnight, and I think it is superb.

Regards, Alex

JoelArnold · 10-19-2010, 02:58 PM

I just got my Kindle at the end of September, and you're right - so much to choose from. It's overwhelming. But in a good way!!

loopeylisie · 10-19-2010, 04:27 PM

i had a similar problem whem my bebook arrived. it took me a day to decide which book to start with. there are just too many to choose from. first one was a sookie stackhouse novel because i had to test buying a novel then i read the picture of dorian grey (which i thought was surprisingly male chauvinist) then i was on a roll... have now read too many books too quickly and think i have to learn to SSSSSSSSSSlow down ;-D as i am starting to get sleep deprived!

10-17-2010, 11:31 AM	#1
susieqt Member Posts: 12 Karma: 18 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Stirlingshire, Scotland Device: K3	Worse than choosing from a Chinese restaurant menu! Well I know I am indecisive when it comes to choosing food - at least that's what my other half tells me... I did not anticipate that this propensity for indecision would follow me into the realms of e-book choosing. Now that my lovely little Kindle has arrived I swiftly chose some free books that I had read many times just to see how they would translate into e-ink. Little Women and What Katy Did were swiftly followed by Sons and Lovers, Tess of the D'Urbervilles and most of Oscar Wilde's writing. I demolished the shorter books quickly - sobbed along with the story of the Happy Prince - dipped into the longer books, and then found myself contemplating a PURCHASE. Credit card at the ready, off I went to Amazon. Dilemma! Should I buy a book that I already had? Should I replace only paperbacks or should I aim to replace both paperbacks and hardbacks. Should I try new authors and new genres? Should I stick with those I knew I would enjoy - after all few books are very very cheap? Eventually I came up with an answer that worked for me on the basis that I should buy books that I don't yet have. 1. Head to fantastic fiction website and generate some nice lists 2. Generate some random numbers 3. Check those numbers against lists (choosing 1st books in series where relevant) 4. Head off to Amazon to check out which are available in Kindle format 5. Download samples 6. Reject those that don't hook me or that I already have read 7. Create collection of 'Possible Purchases' 8. Buy one, read and enjoy! So welcome to my Kindle - Stephen Baxter, Flood - I am really enjoying it so far. Anyone else this hopeless at choosing? susie

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10-17-2010, 12:13 PM	#2
SeaBookGuy Can one read too much? Posts: 2,029 Karma: 2487799 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Naples, FL Device: Kindle PW 3, Sony 350 and 650	Being a Libra, choosing much of anything can be agonizing at times for me! I haven't had a reader long, and mostly use it for library books, but one criterion I use for purchase is "length" - the bigger the print book, the better a candidate for an e-book. It's not all that comfortable holding a single book that weighs more than the e-reader itself!

10-17-2010, 12:30 PM	#3
kacir Wizard Posts: 3,463 Karma: 10684861 Join Date: May 2006 Device: PocketBook 360, before it was Sony Reader, cassiopeia A-20	Have you read Terry Pratchett?

10-17-2010, 01:46 PM	#4
susieqt Member Posts: 12 Karma: 18 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Stirlingshire, Scotland Device: K3	No, I haven't read any Terry Pratchett - the books have never really attracted me (though OH and I enjoyed a recent tv adaptation of the one about a post office). Would a first-time reader be advised to start at the first book, or jump in somewhere else? susie

10-17-2010, 01:50 PM	#5
susieqt Member Posts: 12 Karma: 18 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Stirlingshire, Scotland Device: K3	Our library doesn't do e-books yet - only one library in whole of Scotland doing them at the moment. I like your idea of choosing the big books to read on an e-reader though! I ike sci-fi and fantasy and some of those are pretty chunky. Presumably if it doesn't say how long a book is on the description you can judge it by the size of the file? (I am a Kindle user) susie

10-17-2010, 02:05 PM	#6
ATDrake Wizzard Posts: 11,517 Karma: 33048258 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Roundworld Device: Kindle 2 International, Sony PRS-T1, BlackBerry PlayBook, Acer Iconia	File size can be a tricky and unreliable indicator of length. If someone hasn't cleaned up the source before it gets converted, or put in a lot of images ("spacers" between sections or little pictures at the heads of chapters, etc.), that can make the file look deceptively large. Best thing to with Kindle books is get a sample, note the number of locations, and multiply by 10 to get the actual length. Amazon's DTP automatically sets the sample size at 10% of the book, unless the publisher submits some sort of separate .mobi formatted sample to them, I've heard.

10-17-2010, 02:06 PM	#7
susieqt Member Posts: 12 Karma: 18 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Stirlingshire, Scotland Device: K3	That's really helpful information ATDrake, thank you

10-17-2010, 05:08 PM	#9
MickeyC Grand Sorcerer Posts: 16,731 Karma: 12185114 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Florida Device: iPhone 6 plus, Sony T1, iPad 3	I was walking into a restaurant in NYC once and noticed they had Chopped Suzy on the menu. Decided on Italian instead.

10-18-2010, 05:22 AM	#11
susieqt Member Posts: 12 Karma: 18 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Stirlingshire, Scotland Device: K3	Thanks Kacir - plenty of food for thought there - will give one of Sir T's books a whirl and see how I get on.

10-18-2010, 06:29 AM	#12
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,215 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	Which is the odd one out, Susie: 3, 6, 12, 24, 31, 48, 96? 31? Nah 24. All the others come with boiled rice. N

10-19-2010, 02:58 PM	#14
JoelArnold Fanatic Posts: 544 Karma: 1036914 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Savage, MN Device: Kindle 3	I just got my Kindle at the end of September, and you're right - so much to choose from. It's overwhelming. But in a good way!!

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10-19-2010, 04:27 PM	#15
loopeylisie Enthusiast Posts: 30 Karma: 10 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Southampton, Hampshire. UK Device: none	i had a similar problem whem my bebook arrived. it took me a day to decide which book to start with. there are just too many to choose from. first one was a sookie stackhouse novel because i had to test buying a novel then i read the picture of dorian grey (which i thought was surprisingly male chauvinist) then i was on a roll... have now read too many books too quickly and think i have to learn to SSSSSSSSSSlow down ;-D as i am starting to get sleep deprived!