Sick of Amazon Kindle books without Page Numbers...

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Terisa de morgan

It isn't... if the time calculation is not right (as usual). But all of us have our methods and likings.

I find the time to be pretty accurate, myself. As you say, though, we all have our preferences. Fortunately the Kindle caters to mine .

[latepaul]

I find that the time left is accurate enough. Absolute accuracy doesn't matter so long as it gives me an idea of whether I've got a big bit (30 mins) or a little bit (5 mins) of the chapter left.

Last night for example I was reading a book that has a mix of chapter lengths. I was getting tired but each time I started a new chapter the time left show 2,3 or 4 minutes, so I carried on. I did this for a few chapters until I got to a new one where the time left was 10mins, bookmarked it and put it down.

[John F]

Originally Posted by radius

I'm curious where you developed the habit of wanting to know how much reading you have left to finish a chapter? I guess some other ereader device? (since paper books don't give you that information in a convenient way either)

People often mention wanting to know this but I have never understood why. When I run out of time, I just stop reading wherever I am in the book and take up from there later. It's not like you even need to insert a bookmark or anything with an ereader, it will keep track of that for you.

Is it really that much more satisfying to hit the end of the chapter before stopping?

I can't understand this. So you stop in the middle of a word? sentence?

My preference is to stop at some sort of scene break. A chapter is the most logical choice. A scene break between chapters is my next choice. Some sort of stopping point at the end of a paragraph that ends at the top of a page is next, for example, I don't like to stop in the middle of a lot of dialog.

I like to continue with the first new chapter that is on the current page.

[shalym]

Originally Posted by John F

I can't understand this. So you stop in the middle of a word? sentence?

My preference is to stop at some sort of scene break. A chapter is the most logical choice. A scene break between chapters is my next choice. Some sort of stopping point at the end of a chapter that ends at the top of a page is next, for example, I don't like to stop in the middle of a lot of dialog.

I like to continue with the first new chapter that is on the current page.

I stop wherever I am when I absolutely have to put the book down. I don't understand stopping at an arbitrary point--what do you do after you stop reading? Just sit and stare at the wall?

Every night, I read until I fall asleep. Literally. I've been doing this since I was a small child. One of the great things about e-readers is that I don't have to search for my page every morning when I wake up.

If I'm waiting for something, (doctor's office, public transportation, whatever) I read until I have to stop. How would the "stop at the end of the chapter" thing work? When I'm in a waiting room at the doctor's office, I never know how long it's going to take, so how would I know when to stop reading? I just read until the doctor is ready to see me, then I stop wherever I am.

Shari

[John F]

Originally Posted by shalym

I stop wherever I am when I absolutely have to put the book down. I don't understand stopping at an arbitrary point--what do you do after you stop reading? Just sit and stare at the wall?

Every night, I read until I fall asleep. Literally. I've been doing this since I was a small child. One of the great things about e-readers is that I don't have to search for my page every morning when I wake up.

If I'm waiting for something, (doctor's office, public transportation, whatever) I read until I have to stop. How would the "stop at the end of the chapter" thing work? When I'm in a waiting room at the doctor's office, I never know how long it's going to take, so how would I know when to stop reading? I just read until the doctor is ready to see me, then I stop wherever I am.

Shari

"Having to stop" is different then "choosing where to stop". For example, if I'm waiting at the dentist and they call my name on time (or within reason), I will stop immediatly, if they make me wait, I'll finish the paragraph (or next one if I'm close to a page break.

If I hear "dinner's ready", I'll finish the page and paragraph.

Using common sense and evaluating your situation usually works for me.

[AlanHK]

Originally Posted by radius

I'm curious where you developed the habit of wanting to know how much reading you have left to finish a chapter? I guess some other ereader device? (since paper books don't give you that information in a convenient way either)

Mark current page by holding in left hand. Use right hand to flick to next chapter. Or hold in right hand and use left to go back to TOC and note page nos.

Much faster than doing the equivalent in Kindle.

I just prefer to stop reading at a chapter break, though not always possible with long chapters.

But actually, some Android ebook apps do have progress lines much more informative. E.g., a line with your current place and marks for each chapter break.

Originally Posted by radius

Is it really that much more satisfying to hit the end of the chapter before stopping?

Yes. That's why chapters exist at all.

Originally Posted by shalym

I just read until the doctor is ready to see me, then I stop wherever I am.

Obviously, when I have to, I do that.
Stopping at a chapter end is a preference, not a compulsion.

[latepaul]

I must admit I never really read books unless I have some open-ended time. I used to. Back in the day I carried a paperback and would read it waiting for the bus etc. These days I'm more likely to use that time to read a forum like this, check twitter or listen to a podcast. I find reading in very small chunks, a few minutes here and there, to not be as satisfying.

[Deskisamess]

Originally Posted by John F

I can't understand this. So you stop in the middle of a word? sentence?

Sometimes, yes. I've never had the need to finish a chapter. I read before bed...when my eyes won't stop rolling, I put my Kobo down, and close my eyes. I pay no attention to where I am in a chapter or on a page.

[4691mls]

Originally Posted by John F

I can't understand this. So you stop in the middle of a word? sentence?

My preference is to stop at some sort of scene break. A chapter is the most logical choice. A scene break between chapters is my next choice. Some sort of stopping point at the end of a paragraph that ends at the top of a page is next, for example, I don't like to stop in the middle of a lot of dialog.

I like to continue with the first new chapter that is on the current page.

I agree - I prefer to stop where there's some kind of natural break in the story.
I have read a few books, though, where each chapter ended on a sort of mini cliffhanger, so in that case a chapter end might not be the best place to stop!

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by AlanHK

I just prefer to stop reading at a chapter break, though not always possible with long chapters.

Or those books where the author believed that the book should be one chapter. Robert Silverberg's Starborne for an example of one I recently ran into.

[John F]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Or those books where the author believed that the book should be one chapter. Robert Silverberg's Starborne for an example of one I recently ran into.

And Discworld. But with Discworld, there are usually a lot of well marked scene breaks.

[Lady Stardust]

Or Thomas Bernhard, who doesn't even have paragraphs, let alone chapters.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by DNSB

Or those books where the author believed that the book should be one chapter. Robert Silverberg's Starborne for an example of one I recently ran into.

I just picked up The Man Who Folded Himself and has no chapters. The publisher created it as one long flow which on some Readers won't work as it's too big.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I just picked up The Man Who Folded Himself and has no chapters. The publisher created it as one long flow which on some Readers won't work as it's too big.

Wow, that's an expensive ebook: £9.64 at Amazon! Did you find somewhere cheaper, Jon? One of my favourite books, but that really is a bit steep .

[salamanderjuice]

Seems like it's a non-agency book. You could use a Kobo discount code on it. Also it's only $10 on Amazon Canada(~6.20 pounds)