The Attachment to (e)Books

jaxx6166 · 09-02-2010, 08:27 PM

Anyone else have returner's remorse? I find myself almost emotionally attached to some of my books and eReaders.

Today, I went to the used bookstore and traded in about 12 paperbacks and managed to get five more for the 12, with a $25- credit in "SF/F" and $10 credit in "General"

And now I'm kind of feeling bummed that I traded them all in. I mean, with the exception of maybe three, the rest I had really no attachment to, except memories.

Among that collection were my Hyperion books. They were the first paperbacks I bought when Amazon first came out *before eBooks!*

Little things like that.

And, in previous threads, we had been discussing the new Sony Readers and I debated trading in my 700 for the $43 credit (which apparently they give you a +50 for) so I could get the new 6" Reader Touch Edition. But, today was my little brother's birthday. And I decided to give him my 700 instead.

He seems to be happy with it. But, it's like waving goodbye to a longtime friend. I've had it since I snuck it into the house when it came out. I had to get DDR3 to mask my Sony purchase, that was the only way to make the G/F happy...

He also managed to get the eBooks that I no longer want on any of my eDevices. So, it's kind of like I gave him my paperback collection on top of it. Plus, the bugger got a bunch of my hardbacks that I don't have storage for anymore.

And now I'm sad. But, they can't stay in the storage unit any more, and I don't have the space for them...I know he'll get some joy out of them.

It's kind of like watching your only child go off to college.

Anyone else notice any sort of (un)healthy attachment to books or eBooks?
WoW. I need a drink

SensualPoet · 09-02-2010, 08:55 PM

I moved recently and donated some physical books to book sale. Got zippo for them but the charity gets something. Then I realised some "helper" in my move took the WRONG box of books to the sale. Grrrrrrrr! But, hey, they're gone now. I got over it pretty quickly when I realised that, at around 50 books a year, I'll be lucky to get through another 1500 books before they wheel me out the door as well -- and I could fill my Kindle with that number of interesting reads in a matter of minutes.

So, I'm not sad ... and start to eye those other books in the den and wondering if they need a bit of shove, too.

jgaiser · 09-02-2010, 08:59 PM

When I got my Graphite DX, I sold my Kindle 2 to a young lady at work.

I love my DX, but when she brings the Kindle to work, I just want to pick it up and check it out.

Yes, you're not alone.

Lady Fitzgerald · 09-03-2010, 04:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaxx6166

...Anyone else notice any sort of (un)healthy attachment to books or eBooks?
WoW. I need a drink

Hi! My name is Jeannie and I'm a bookaholic.

I don't if I would be willing to call it unhealthy but I definitely have an attachment to my books. There are series I had planned on finishing but I lost track of where I was in them because of work or stretches when I couldn't afford to buy them but now that I'm retired the only obstacle was knowing what I had and where it was since I didn't have room to store them anywhere except in boxes. E-book readers and calibre have been the solution to those problems and the one looming before me (moving into smaller quarters in a year or two) that could have meant giving up my books andthere was NO WAY I WOULD GIVE UP MY BOOKS! I'm scanning them to my computer, organizing and managing them with calibre. Still, once I finish scanning a batch, it kinda hurts to bin them even though I've essentially destroyed them by cutting off the spines. I'm still sitting on the CDs I've ripped even though I'm confident the copies I made are safe. Mayhap it will get easier after I destroy and toss the first batch.

Sweetpea · 09-03-2010, 04:49 AM

I could not part from my pbooks! I've moved twice now because I ran out of space (ok, there were other reasons, but book space was one of the reason at least!)...

Clancy_s · 09-03-2010, 06:47 AM

Isn't everyone attached to their (e)books? It's the norm amongst my family and friends, yes.

phenomshel · 09-03-2010, 04:43 PM

I'm in the "never throw anything away" camp. Once a pbook is on my shelf, it's probably there until it disintegrates from old age, and once an ebook is on my computer or reader, it will be there (and backed up) until I'm no longer around to do so. There have been a very few exceptions, but as a general rule, once I have it, it stays with me.

Latinandgreek · 09-03-2010, 05:04 PM

I have an unhealthy attachment to my books, and only very rarely gift a book that I have owned to someone (usually only if I have two copies of a book that is not a favourite of mine). I still mourn the loss of books that I have let people borrow and have not received back, years later.

theducks · 09-03-2010, 07:44 PM

Books, Cats.
Everything else is negotiable

jaxx6166 · 09-03-2010, 08:25 PM

Glad I'm not alone

Some of them were poorly planned gifts that I had received. Seriously, who buys ME chicklit mystery?

Others were bought on ebay as a lot auction where I'd only wanted one or two bought ended up with 12

carld · 09-03-2010, 08:36 PM

I guess I'm alone. Once I got my Kindle my paper books went here, there, and everywhere. I don't often reread books, and the prospect of moving them all yet again filled me with dread. I couldn't get rid of them fast enough. Some were sold at auction, some went in the after-sale giveaway, and several boxes went to Goodwill, and I still have too many books.

Edit to add: I am not, however, getting rid of my Kindle 1.

J. Strnad · 09-03-2010, 11:12 PM

I love getting rid of stuff almost as much as I love getting new stuff, and sometimes more. I feel so unfreighted when I get rid of something. Even when stuff I love breaks, there's a catharsis to getting a little more stuff out of my life.

Come over sometime. I'll give you something. No, you don't get to choose.

Lady Fitzgerald · 09-04-2010, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J. Strnad

...Come over sometime. I'll give you something. No, you don't get to choose.

Thank you for the kind offer but I'm in the process of getting rid of a lifetime of accumulated stuff so methinks I'll pass.

speakingtohe · 09-05-2010, 02:18 AM

I am by nature a hoarder from a long line of hoarders.
10 years ago I became nomadic and gave everything away (Oh the pain)
Eight years later I was a 58 year old nomad with 25 totes of stuff travelling with me.
Down to two again but I doubt that will last.
Intervention anyone?
Helen

rebarnmom · 09-05-2010, 01:03 PM

Right now, I can't get enough "stuff" out of my home fast enough. I think I'm becoming a moderate minimalist, maybe because I've had most of my "stuff" in boxes for the last eight years. I've been selling things right and left, part of which is financially motivated. I haven't started selling or donating my books yet, but they are next. I'm sure I'll be keeping a select few for sentimental reasons or practical reasons, but if they are on my Reader, out they will go. I may have some remorse, but hard to say right now. I'll have the most remorse if we have to leave the barn

, I am more sentimentally attached to my home, but if we have to leave, I don't want to be moving boxes and boxes of books. I still LOVE the idea of having all of my library with me all the time, wherever I go!

09-02-2010, 08:27 PM	#1
jaxx6166 Wizard Posts: 1,222 Karma: 769316 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Eternal summer Device: 350, iPad, PW	The Attachment to (e)Books Anyone else have returner's remorse? I find myself almost emotionally attached to some of my books and eReaders. Today, I went to the used bookstore and traded in about 12 paperbacks and managed to get five more for the 12, with a $25- credit in "SF/F" and $10 credit in "General" And now I'm kind of feeling bummed that I traded them all in. I mean, with the exception of maybe three, the rest I had really no attachment to, except memories. Among that collection were my Hyperion books. They were the first paperbacks I bought when Amazon first came out before eBooks! Little things like that. And, in previous threads, we had been discussing the new Sony Readers and I debated trading in my 700 for the $43 credit (which apparently they give you a +50 for) so I could get the new 6" Reader Touch Edition. But, today was my little brother's birthday. And I decided to give him my 700 instead. He seems to be happy with it. But, it's like waving goodbye to a longtime friend. I've had it since I snuck it into the house when it came out. I had to get DDR3 to mask my Sony purchase, that was the only way to make the G/F happy... He also managed to get the eBooks that I no longer want on any of my eDevices. So, it's kind of like I gave him my paperback collection on top of it. Plus, the bugger got a bunch of my hardbacks that I don't have storage for anymore. And now I'm sad. But, they can't stay in the storage unit any more, and I don't have the space for them...I know he'll get some joy out of them. It's kind of like watching your only child go off to college. Anyone else notice any sort of (un)healthy attachment to books or eBooks? WoW. I need a drink

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Managing supporting attachment that comes with an eBook	jkcoder	Calibre	0	09-22-2010 06:35 PM
iPad Stanza mail attachment bug	Fotoman	Apple Devices	4	06-17-2010 07:29 PM

09-02-2010, 08:55 PM	#2
SensualPoet Wizard Posts: 2,302 Karma: 2607151 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Toronto Device: Kobo Aura HD, Kindle Paperwhite, Asus ZenPad 3, Kobo Glo	I moved recently and donated some physical books to book sale. Got zippo for them but the charity gets something. Then I realised some "helper" in my move took the WRONG box of books to the sale. Grrrrrrrr! But, hey, they're gone now. I got over it pretty quickly when I realised that, at around 50 books a year, I'll be lucky to get through another 1500 books before they wheel me out the door as well -- and I could fill my Kindle with that number of interesting reads in a matter of minutes. So, I'm not sad ... and start to eye those other books in the den and wondering if they need a bit of shove, too.

09-02-2010, 08:59 PM	#3
jgaiser Omnivorous Posts: 3,283 Karma: 27978909 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Rural NW Oregon Device: Kindle Voyage, Kindle Fire HD, Kindle 3, KPW1	When I got my Graphite DX, I sold my Kindle 2 to a young lady at work. I love my DX, but when she brings the Kindle to work, I just want to pick it up and check it out. Yes, you're not alone.

09-03-2010, 04:49 AM	#5
Sweetpea Grand Sorcerer Posts: 9,707 Karma: 32763414 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Krewerd Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 4 Color; Samsung Galaxy Tab S6	I could not part from my pbooks! I've moved twice now because I ran out of space (ok, there were other reasons, but book space was one of the reason at least!)...

09-03-2010, 06:47 AM	#6
Clancy_s Zealot Posts: 133 Karma: 1010308 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Newcastle, NSW Device: Kobo Glo HD	Isn't everyone attached to their (e)books? It's the norm amongst my family and friends, yes.

09-03-2010, 04:43 PM	#7
phenomshel ZCD BombShel Posts: 4,793 Karma: 8293322 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: The Frozen North (aka Illinois, USA) Device: iPad, STB Kindle Oasis	I'm in the "never throw anything away" camp. Once a pbook is on my shelf, it's probably there until it disintegrates from old age, and once an ebook is on my computer or reader, it will be there (and backed up) until I'm no longer around to do so. There have been a very few exceptions, but as a general rule, once I have it, it stays with me.

09-03-2010, 05:04 PM	#8
Latinandgreek Warrior Princess Posts: 5,038 Karma: 9724231 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: PRS-505; PRS-350, PRS-T1, iPad, Aura HD	I have an unhealthy attachment to my books, and only very rarely gift a book that I have owned to someone (usually only if I have two copies of a book that is not a favourite of mine). I still mourn the loss of books that I have let people borrow and have not received back, years later.

09-03-2010, 07:44 PM	#9
theducks Well trained by Cats Posts: 31,047 Karma: 60358908 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: The Central Coast of California Device: Kobo Libra2,Kobo Aura2v1, K4NT(Fixed: New Bat.), Galaxy Tab A	Books, Cats. Everything else is negotiable

09-03-2010, 08:25 PM	#10
jaxx6166 Wizard Posts: 1,222 Karma: 769316 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Eternal summer Device: 350, iPad, PW	Glad I'm not alone Some of them were poorly planned gifts that I had received. Seriously, who buys ME chicklit mystery? Others were bought on ebay as a lot auction where I'd only wanted one or two bought ended up with 12

09-03-2010, 08:36 PM	#11
carld Wizard Posts: 2,698 Karma: 4748723 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	I guess I'm alone. Once I got my Kindle my paper books went here, there, and everywhere. I don't often reread books, and the prospect of moving them all yet again filled me with dread. I couldn't get rid of them fast enough. Some were sold at auction, some went in the after-sale giveaway, and several boxes went to Goodwill, and I still have too many books. Edit to add: I am not, however, getting rid of my Kindle 1.

09-03-2010, 11:12 PM	#12
J. Strnad Guru Posts: 915 Karma: 3537194 Join Date: Feb 2009 Device: Kobo, Kindle 3, Paperwhite	I love getting rid of stuff almost as much as I love getting new stuff, and sometimes more. I feel so unfreighted when I get rid of something. Even when stuff I love breaks, there's a catharsis to getting a little more stuff out of my life. Come over sometime. I'll give you something. No, you don't get to choose.

Advert

Advert

09-05-2010, 02:18 AM	#14
speakingtohe Wizard Posts: 4,812 Karma: 26912940 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: sony PRS-T1 and T3, Kobo Mini and Aura HD, Tablet	I am by nature a hoarder from a long line of hoarders. 10 years ago I became nomadic and gave everything away (Oh the pain) Eight years later I was a 58 year old nomad with 25 totes of stuff travelling with me. Down to two again but I doubt that will last. Intervention anyone? Helen

09-05-2010, 01:03 PM	#15
rebarnmom Wizard Posts: 1,289 Karma: 4525055 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: rural Illinois, USA Device: Sony PRS-700 (traded in), Sony PRS-650	Right now, I can't get enough "stuff" out of my home fast enough. I think I'm becoming a moderate minimalist, maybe because I've had most of my "stuff" in boxes for the last eight years. I've been selling things right and left, part of which is financially motivated. I haven't started selling or donating my books yet, but they are next. I'm sure I'll be keeping a select few for sentimental reasons or practical reasons, but if they are on my Reader, out they will go. I may have some remorse, but hard to say right now. I'll have the most remorse if we have to leave the barn , I am more sentimentally attached to my home, but if we have to leave, I don't want to be moving boxes and boxes of books. I still LOVE the idea of having all of my library with me all the time, wherever I go!