Do friends buy you p-books?

BookCat · 07-31-2010, 10:53 PM

It was my birthday a short while ago and I have a friend who just won't "get" e-readers, even though I've recommended that she try one. She's an avid reader herself and reads exactly the style of book given away by Baen.

Her argument is: she likes the feel of "real" books!
Okay, it's her prerogative. However, she knows how anti p-book I've become and I've told her over and over till she must be bored, that I can get any classic written in English if the author died over 50/70 years ago.

BUT SHE BUYS ME BOOKS!!!

How do you avoid hurting someone's feelings? She bought me, among other things, some Penguin Classics for my birthday, several of which I have on my reader or could easily download from MobileRead or ManyBooks. I smiled and thanked her and said nice things about the ones which are still in copyright; I know she had the best intentions.

But I've got floor to ceiling bookcases and bags of unread paperbacks!!

Now I have more.

Does anyone else have this particular difficulty, maybe with old aunts who don't understand these "new fangled things" so kindly buy you even more paperbacks? How do you deal with the problem? Smile and look happy? Or do you have some magic formula for getting the message across without hurting feelings?

ardeegee · 07-31-2010, 11:53 PM

Find out what her favorite older bands are. Buy her a few 8-tracks from Ebay.

emonti8384 · 08-01-2010, 12:07 AM

I don't have any friends that read but the boyfriend buys me gift cards or gets me store credit when it's a gifting holiday.

I would explain to her that you've been thinking about her gifts and while u appreciate the gesture there are other ways to kinda sorta give you a book. Let her know she can buy you a gift card from target/wal-mart/best buy for ur sony and if she has a title she's like u to buy with it to let u know. Then I would donate the books (since u already have them)to a library or to another avid reader you know that doesn't mind having a thousand books, lol.

It might hurt her feelings but I don't belive in sacrificing the way to feel to save face. If u don't say anything can u live with the feeling u have right now everytime she buys u something u know annoys the hell out of you?

If she STILL isn't getting it and u know she has a computer send a couple ebooks to her and say "hey, thought u'd want to check these out they're great!" and see what she says.

simplyparticular · 08-01-2010, 12:16 AM

I've received a few p-books from friends. If I can, I return them to the local store for a store credit (which usually gets used on children's books or cookbooks) and buy the e-book. If it is a p-book title only, then it gets added to the pile next to my bed. And it stays there. I've got 12 books that get dusted every once in a while.

LDBoblo · 08-01-2010, 12:30 AM

Nope. I buy my own paper books. I buy them for other people too from time to time.

Lastblade · 08-01-2010, 02:28 AM

Anyway you can ask her to get you gift certificates to stores where you can redeem ebooks?

June · 08-01-2010, 02:59 AM

I have a few friends that know I'm an avid reader, and they kept buying me paper books - even though I told them several times that I haven't read paper books since I got my 505... I then told them I'd already read/have 'all' the books in the genres I read that are available as paper books locally. So when I got paper books next time, I said I'd already read/have it, and repeated the explanation, adding that I'm able to get the book the day it's released electronically while the local bookstores get them after a few days. They finally got it - at least I didn't get paper books last time...

banjobama · 08-01-2010, 03:07 AM

If I was in this situation, I wouldn't say anything. She obviously doesn't get it. In the future just ask for gift cards or tell her the specific books you want that you will actually read. It's not worth making a big stand over, in my opinion. After all, she's giving you a gift, not trying to piss you off on purpose.

You could donate the paper books to the library if you want to get rid of them.

neilmarr · 08-01-2010, 04:10 AM

About a month after I got my first reader, I wiped all my treebook wishlists. My family are all in other countries and hitting, say, Amazon was an easy fix for birthdays and Christmas. It backfired, of course. Now they don't buy me anything. I'll only lay hands on a treebook these days if there's absolutely no electronical alternative. Cheers. Neil

Sweetpea · 08-01-2010, 05:36 AM

It's more common here to give a gift card (book gift cards). The only pbooks I got were "specialty" books, which wouldn't show very well on ereaders anyway.

BookCat · 08-01-2010, 05:40 PM

Thanks everyone. June and banjobama, I think I'm in between you in what I should do as she's easily hurt. I know her boyfriend well and he's more understanding of technology. I might have a word with him, see if he can get the message across for me as she might be less offended than if I say anything.

Why are some people so prejudiced against e-readers and believe that "real" books are the only thing to read!! She says things like: "I don't like the idea of reading from a computer" - I've tried to explain e-ink and shown her my 505; or: "oh, but there's nothing like a REAL book!". I've given up making a convert. I'll try to explain that the only books I prefer as p-books are reference books and in-copyright ones unavailable when I put a parrot on my shoulder

banjobama · 08-01-2010, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BookCat

Why are some people so prejudiced against e-readers and believe that "real" books are the only thing to read!! She says things like: "I don't like the idea of reading from a computer" - I've tried to explain e-ink and shown her my 505; or: "oh, but there's nothing like a REAL book!". I've given up making a convert. I'll try to explain that the only books I prefer as p-books are reference books and in-copyright ones unavailable when I put a parrot on my shoulder

I don't know! I encounter this a lot too. I remember when I first heard about ebook readers. It was in a really old article by Stephen King in Entertainment Weekly. He said he loved his Kindle and that stories were stories whether they be in a book, on a screen, or on an audiobook, and I feel the same way. If the book is good, you don't notice any more that it's on an ebook reader. But, people don't understand.

Jellby · 08-02-2010, 04:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BookCat

Why are some people so prejudiced against e-readers and believe that "real" books are the only thing to read!!

Some people just don't like new things, they'll rather stick with their good ol' whatever, and find excuses against new "versions"... at least until everyone else has upgraded.

Other people only like new things if they themselves "discover" them. Some new whatsit would be great if they show it to you, but it would be full of drawbacks and no good if it's you who show it to them.

Maggie Leung · 08-02-2010, 04:45 AM

People buy me whatever they like and I thank them. If I like it, I use it. If not, I donate it. I don't question people's gift choices. I often receive gift cards for bookstores, sometimes print books. They're usually art books, because people know I like art. Even then, I'm picky and don't keep what I don't like. I just don't mention it. I keep all my books in my book room, which few people ever see, so it's not as if they'll notice.

neilmarr · 08-02-2010, 04:50 AM

And the treebook lovers are not 'real' readers much of the time.

I plough through about half a million words a week. That's all well and good in physical, paper form ... if you're a millionaire and can dedicate the west wing of your mansion to library space. For common-or-garden 'readers' like us, there's no practical alternative to digital.

A book is its content, not its means of presentation.

Let's have a wee vote: Hands up all those who still regularly go to the theatre to see an author's ideas played out on the stage (is there anything more artificial?) Now, hands up all those who regularly watch a movie on the TV or at the cinema. Catch my drift?

Cheers. Neil

07-31-2010, 10:53 PM	#1
BookCat C L J Posts: 2,911 Karma: 21115458 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Birmingham UK Device: Sony e-reader 505, Kindle PW2, Kindle PW3, Kobo Libra2	Do friends buy you p-books? It was my birthday a short while ago and I have a friend who just won't "get" e-readers, even though I've recommended that she try one. She's an avid reader herself and reads exactly the style of book given away by Baen. Her argument is: she likes the feel of "real" books! Okay, it's her prerogative. However, she knows how anti p-book I've become and I've told her over and over till she must be bored, that I can get any classic written in English if the author died over 50/70 years ago. BUT SHE BUYS ME BOOKS!!! How do you avoid hurting someone's feelings? She bought me, among other things, some Penguin Classics for my birthday, several of which I have on my reader or could easily download from MobileRead or ManyBooks. I smiled and thanked her and said nice things about the ones which are still in copyright; I know she had the best intentions. But I've got floor to ceiling bookcases and bags of unread paperbacks!! Now I have more. Does anyone else have this particular difficulty, maybe with old aunts who don't understand these "new fangled things" so kindly buy you even more paperbacks? How do you deal with the problem? Smile and look happy? Or do you have some magic formula for getting the message across without hurting feelings?

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07-31-2010, 11:53 PM	#2
ardeegee Maratus speciosus butt Posts: 3,292 Karma: 1162698 Join Date: Sep 2009 Device: PRS-350	Find out what her favorite older bands are. Buy her a few 8-tracks from Ebay.

08-01-2010, 12:07 AM	#3
emonti8384 browneyedgurl Posts: 523 Karma: 356470 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Warren, OH Device: PRS-505/950x2, PRS-600 silver, Galaxy III purple, T2 black	I don't have any friends that read but the boyfriend buys me gift cards or gets me store credit when it's a gifting holiday. I would explain to her that you've been thinking about her gifts and while u appreciate the gesture there are other ways to kinda sorta give you a book. Let her know she can buy you a gift card from target/wal-mart/best buy for ur sony and if she has a title she's like u to buy with it to let u know. Then I would donate the books (since u already have them)to a library or to another avid reader you know that doesn't mind having a thousand books, lol. It might hurt her feelings but I don't belive in sacrificing the way to feel to save face. If u don't say anything can u live with the feeling u have right now everytime she buys u something u know annoys the hell out of you? If she STILL isn't getting it and u know she has a computer send a couple ebooks to her and say "hey, thought u'd want to check these out they're great!" and see what she says.

08-01-2010, 12:16 AM	#4
simplyparticular Guru Posts: 610 Karma: 1395952 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: New York Device: Oasis 3 & GlowLight 4	I've received a few p-books from friends. If I can, I return them to the local store for a store credit (which usually gets used on children's books or cookbooks) and buy the e-book. If it is a p-book title only, then it gets added to the pile next to my bed. And it stays there. I've got 12 books that get dusted every once in a while.

08-01-2010, 12:30 AM	#5
LDBoblo Wizard Posts: 1,385 Karma: 16056 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Asia Device: Kindle 3 WiFi, Sony PRS-505	Nope. I buy my own paper books. I buy them for other people too from time to time.

08-01-2010, 02:28 AM	#6
Lastblade Nookie are we Posts: 175 Karma: 496294 Join Date: May 2010 Location: NYC Device: Nooks with and without color	Anyway you can ask her to get you gift certificates to stores where you can redeem ebooks?

08-01-2010, 02:59 AM	#7
June Addict Posts: 306 Karma: 4508151 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Scandinavia Device: Kobo Libra, Oasis 1&2 and others	I have a few friends that know I'm an avid reader, and they kept buying me paper books - even though I told them several times that I haven't read paper books since I got my 505... I then told them I'd already read/have 'all' the books in the genres I read that are available as paper books locally. So when I got paper books next time, I said I'd already read/have it, and repeated the explanation, adding that I'm able to get the book the day it's released electronically while the local bookstores get them after a few days. They finally got it - at least I didn't get paper books last time...

08-01-2010, 03:07 AM	#8
banjobama Busy Read'n Posts: 980 Karma: 5039283 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Auburn, WA Device: Pocketbook Touch Lux 5	If I was in this situation, I wouldn't say anything. She obviously doesn't get it. In the future just ask for gift cards or tell her the specific books you want that you will actually read. It's not worth making a big stand over, in my opinion. After all, she's giving you a gift, not trying to piss you off on purpose. You could donate the paper books to the library if you want to get rid of them.

08-01-2010, 04:10 AM	#9
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,215 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	About a month after I got my first reader, I wiped all my treebook wishlists. My family are all in other countries and hitting, say, Amazon was an easy fix for birthdays and Christmas. It backfired, of course. Now they don't buy me anything. I'll only lay hands on a treebook these days if there's absolutely no electronical alternative. Cheers. Neil

08-01-2010, 05:36 AM	#10
Sweetpea Grand Sorcerer Posts: 9,707 Karma: 32763414 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Krewerd Device: Pocketbook Inkpad 4 Color; Samsung Galaxy Tab S6	It's more common here to give a gift card (book gift cards). The only pbooks I got were "specialty" books, which wouldn't show very well on ereaders anyway.

08-01-2010, 05:40 PM	#11
BookCat C L J Posts: 2,911 Karma: 21115458 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Birmingham UK Device: Sony e-reader 505, Kindle PW2, Kindle PW3, Kobo Libra2	Thanks everyone. June and banjobama, I think I'm in between you in what I should do as she's easily hurt. I know her boyfriend well and he's more understanding of technology. I might have a word with him, see if he can get the message across for me as she might be less offended than if I say anything. Why are some people so prejudiced against e-readers and believe that "real" books are the only thing to read!! She says things like: "I don't like the idea of reading from a computer" - I've tried to explain e-ink and shown her my 505; or: "oh, but there's nothing like a REAL book!". I've given up making a convert. I'll try to explain that the only books I prefer as p-books are reference books and in-copyright ones unavailable when I put a parrot on my shoulder

08-02-2010, 04:45 AM	#14
Maggie Leung Wizard Posts: 1,449 Karma: 58383 Join Date: Jul 2009 Device: Kindle, iPad	People buy me whatever they like and I thank them. If I like it, I use it. If not, I donate it. I don't question people's gift choices. I often receive gift cards for bookstores, sometimes print books. They're usually art books, because people know I like art. Even then, I'm picky and don't keep what I don't like. I just don't mention it. I keep all my books in my book room, which few people ever see, so it's not as if they'll notice.

08-02-2010, 04:50 AM	#15
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,215 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	And the treebook lovers are not 'real' readers much of the time. I plough through about half a million words a week. That's all well and good in physical, paper form ... if you're a millionaire and can dedicate the west wing of your mansion to library space. For common-or-garden 'readers' like us, there's no practical alternative to digital. A book is its content, not its means of presentation. Let's have a wee vote: Hands up all those who still regularly go to the theatre to see an author's ideas played out on the stage (is there anything more artificial?) Now, hands up all those who regularly watch a movie on the TV or at the cinema. Catch my drift? Cheers. Neil