Ebook Buying Addicts' Support Thread

[Rev. Bob]

Originally Posted by Russell Brooks

The hardcover I'm reading now was a gift. But the last few physical books I've purchased were graphic comics. I'm stuck on Justice League and Superman.

I picked up the second Skullkickers Treasure Trove along with The Oatmeal's latest book, and I'm getting the Superior Spider-Man trades as they come out. I've been looking at the Buffy Season 9 trades, as I liked Season 8, but I haven't taken that plunge yet. I'm also waiting for the third Empowered hardback, but I think that's a year or so off. (Oddly, I do pick up the Empowered one-shots digitally, on my iPad mini.)

[Gazella]

In June I decided that I should stop my ebook shopping spree as it was going out of hand. I'm sure you all know how that's like. It's been five months now since I last purchased an ebook and I'm glad I managed to do that. I thought it best if I read and decrease my to be read pile instead of buying and ending up with a great deal of books that will be hard to finish. It's going great so far. I've checked off a lot of books from my list that I've managed to read in the five months with out buying a single ebook. But also in this past five months, my wish list has gotten bigger! Now since I have only a couple of books left to read, this means I'll be going back to buying ebooks soon!

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by Gazella

In June I decided that I should stop my ebook shopping spree as it was going out of hand. I'm sure you all know how that's like. It's been five months now since I last purchased an ebook and I'm glad I managed to do that. I thought it best if I read and decrease my to be read pile instead of buying and ending up with a great deal of books that will be hard to finish. It's going great so far. I've checked off a lot of books from my list that I've managed to read in the five months with out buying a single ebook. But also in this past five months, my wish list has gotten bigger! Now since I have only a couple of books left to read, this means I'll be going back to buying ebooks soon!

Congratulations! So you just need to remember only to buy if it's either something you must read now (e.g. latest book in series by favourite author, of book club selection), or else it's on sale at a good discount. By having some books (say three months worth) in your TBR pile, you can wait for good offers to come up, and so reduce your ebook spend while still getting the books you want.

[Gazella]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Congratulations! So you just need to remember only to buy if it's either something you must read now (e.g. latest book in series by favourite author, of book club selection), or else it's on sale at a good discount. By having some books (say three months worth) in your TBR pile, you can wait for good offers to come up, and so reduce your ebook spend while still getting the books you want.

Thank you, pdurrant! I'll definitely be keeping this in mind.

[Russell Brooks]

Originally Posted by Rev. Bob

I picked up the second Skullkickers Treasure Trove along with The Oatmeal's latest book, and I'm getting the Superior Spider-Man trades as they come out. I've been looking at the Buffy Season 9 trades, as I liked Season 8, but I haven't taken that plunge yet. I'm also waiting for the third Empowered hardback, but I think that's a year or so off. (Oddly, I do pick up the Empowered one-shots digitally, on my iPad mini.)

I've never read graphic novels in eBook format yet.

[Tarana]

It's the 'good sales' that are killing me right now, in both ebook and audiobook. I wish I could do ebooks by gift card like I do Itunes. I removed my credit card from Itunes and replaced with a gift card. When it runs out of money, no more itunes purchases until I buy a gift card. Really helped me reign in that spending. Unfortunately, I don't have the same options with ebooks. If you run out of gift card, they just go to your credit card which you can't unlink. You'd be amazed (well, probably nobody on this thread would be) how quickly $1.99 and $2.99 purchases add up!

[susaz]

Buying ebooks is one addiction that is hard to buff off. I stick to lists (I love classic SF, and use several lists before buying anything).
Sometimes buying your fav author can be dissapointing. Not all books are created equal. Still, lists and everything, I've ammased a huge collection, both in paper and electronic. What about lending libraries?

[susaz]

Originally Posted by Gazella

In June I decided that I should stop my ebook shopping spree as it was going out of hand. I'm sure you all know how that's like. It's been five months now since I last purchased an ebook and I'm glad I managed to do that. I thought it best if I read and decrease my to be read pile instead of buying and ending up with a great deal of books that will be hard to finish. It's going great so far. I've checked off a lot of books from my list that I've managed to read in the five months with out buying a single ebook. But also in this past five months, my wish list has gotten bigger! Now since I have only a couple of books left to read, this means I'll be going back to buying ebooks soon!

What is that? Evernote list? I keep lists myself, not to pile up unread books. BUY WHAT YOU'LL BE READING NOW... Steer away from offers. Again, lending libraries are great! I wish we had something like that here in Buenos Aires!

[PurpleStar]

Confession time. I broke down and bought the December Baen bundle. I wanted at least a couple of the books. I will probably buy the other bundles too. Hey, at least they're nice DRM-Free books, so I'm supporting a good cause and it's a good deal.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by PurpleStar

Confession time. I broke down and bought the December Baen bundle. I wanted at least a couple of the books. I will probably buy the other bundles too. Hey, at least they're nice DRM-Free books, so I'm supporting a good cause and it's a good deal.

The Baen Bundles are good deals, and probably won't come around again, as the deal is only available before the ebooks are released. I do buy the bundle every month, which is why I can't see myself going months without a purchase. But I am trying to not buy anything except my magazine subscriptions (Analog, Asimov's, F&SF, Grantville Gazette) and the Baen Bundle from now on. Well, unless there's an offer I can't refuse of course.

But no more this month! That's the aim, anyway.

[pdurrant]

Eight days without an ebook purchase. Only 20 to go!

[Gazella]

Originally Posted by susaz

What is that? Evernote list? I keep lists myself, not to pile up unread books. BUY WHAT YOU'LL BE READING NOW... Steer away from offers. Again, lending libraries are great! I wish we had something like that here in Buenos Aires!

That's Google Keep. I like to use a checklist to keep track of all the books I have and then check off the ones I read.

[Tarana]

I was going through Pdurrant's prior year listings of books (excellent by the way!) and realized that it would be hopeless for me to keep up that level of reading. Yet, I'm accumulating as many books (and audiobooks). I must have 10 Baen Bundles and have read maybe 2 of the books in each so far. Here I thought it was just audiobooks that had become a problem. Oh well.

BTW, I do get stuff from the library. Most of my series start that way. As you read (or listen) and reach the end, it can be months before you can get the last 2 or 3, so I tend to buy them rather than wait too long. Then other books get set to the side.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by Tarana

[…] it would be hopeless for me to keep up that level of reading. Yet, I'm accumulating as many books (and audiobooks).

It is probably best, from an economic point of view, to make a selection of books you're going to actually read before buying them rather than after.

That is, of course, one of the purposes of this thread. To help us all to keep our purchases only to books that we really do intend to read, and that we're pretty sure we'll really enjoy.

As regular members will have noticed, I'm much better at preaching than at practising. Calibre shows I've bought 208 books this year, (although my listing here has 207).

Still, that's why I created this thread. And, BTW, I've done much better this month: FIFTEEN days without an ebook purchase!

[gabby98]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

As regular members will have noticed, I'm much better at preaching than at practising.

I think we all have that affliction and not just with books...I have been telling my daughter for quite some time that she no longer needs a new tablet (after her other malfunctioned) because she has a phablet (monster of a phone), yet I just a bought, what I am determined to call it, burner phone type 7inch tablet for myself, knowing full well I have a phone and 10 inch tablet already.