Ebook Buying Addicts' Support Thread

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by Fbone

Can some kind of Amazon lending post be permitted on MR?

Amazon lending is US-only, as far as I know, and it's also just one loan per book. I have a vague memory that some website set up to facilitate Kindle loans got into trouble with Amazon.


Oh - and I have to admit that I haven't deleted the discarded books from calibre. They're just not in my TBR list any more. I like having a full record of my purchases too much to actually delete them.

[Rev. Bob]

I've had the week off, and I count as a significant accomplishment that I crossed two books off of my "to finish" list. One's a nonfiction work of political analysis that was just so depressing that I kept avoiding it, and the other's a fixed-format EPUB3 that I had loaded on my iPad, but it seems I'm always doing other things with that device. Anyway, I took the iPad with me to a doctor's appointment and made significant headway in the waiting room, so I finished it off when I got home.

I'm still technically reading two books at once, but now I'm actually reading both instead of letting one languish. Until, that is, I pop in the first disc of House of Cards, Season Four and set the printed word aside for a little while...

[freeking6L]

Originally Posted by Rev. Bob

I've had the week off, and I count as a significant accomplishment that I crossed two books off of my "to finish" list. One's a nonfiction work of political analysis that was just so depressing that I kept avoiding it, and the other's a fixed-format EPUB3 that I had loaded on my iPad, but it seems I'm always doing other things with that device. Anyway, I took the iPad with me to a doctor's appointment and made significant headway in the waiting room, so I finished it off when I got home.

I'm still technically reading two books at once, but now I'm actually reading both instead of letting one languish. Until, that is, I pop in the first disc of House of Cards, Season Four and set the printed word aside for a little while...

really significant accomplishment that is good and nice it is the best alternative for us.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Amazon lending is US-only, as far as I know, and it's also just one loan per book. I have a vague memory that some website set up to facilitate Kindle loans got into trouble with Amazon.

AFAIK there were several such websites.

I tried at least two of them, but I guess they weren't very popular since I was unable to get the things I asked for.

They may still be around for all I know.

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Amazon lending is US-only, as far as I know, and it's also just one loan per book. I have a vague memory that some website set up to facilitate Kindle loans got into trouble with Amazon.

A Google search pulls up lendle and booklending.

[LadyKate]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

I'm addicted to pedantry.

Appendix C DSM-IV Criteria for Substance Dependence

"A maladaptive pattern of substance use, leading to clinically significant impairment or distress, as manifested by three (or more) of the following, occurring at any time in the same 12‐month period (emphasis ours):

1. Tolerance, as defined by either of the following:
   • A need for markedly increased amounts of the substance to achieve intoxication or desired effect
     or
   • Markedly diminished effect with continued use of the same amount of the substance
2. Withdrawal, as manifested by either of the following:
   • The characteristic withdrawal syndrome for the substance
     or
   • The same (or a closely related) substance is taken to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms
3. The substance is often taken in larger amounts or over a longer period than was intended
4. There is a persistent desire or unsuccessful efforts to cut down or control substance use
5. A great deal of time is spent on activities necessary to obtain the substance (e.g., visiting multiple doctors or driving long distances), use the substance (e.g., chain‐smoking), or recover from its effects
6. Important social, occupational, or recreational activities are given up or reduced because of substance use
7. The substance use is continued despite knowledge of having a persistent physical or psychological problem that is likely to have been caused or exacerbated by the substance (e.g., current cocaine use despite recognition of cocaine‐induced depression, or continued drinking despite recognition that an ulcer was made worse by alcohol consumption)

"

I don't see anything about the substance being illegal or hard to obtain.

Dictionary definition of addiction

Simple Definition of addiction

: a strong and harmful need to regularly have something (such as a drug) or do something (such as gamble)

: an unusually great interest in something or a need to do or have something

The ebook addicts are addicted in the second way. An unusually great interest in something or a need to do or have something.

No one would suggest that ebook addicts need treatment unless their addiction started to harmfully affect themselves or others as would happen if they bought every book they wanted, putting themselves and their families in financial difficulty.

Just because their addiction is not really harmful to anyone, including themselves and because ebooks unlike physical books don't end up with the addict having to have their "hoard" cleared out (boy I remember the days of having boxes of books piled all along one wall of a bedroom from floor to ceiling) it does not preclude it from being an addiction.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by CRussel

Arrgghhh. I was having a really bad week, and I just succumbed to Retail Therapy and bought the new Oasis. I know I don't need a new Kindle, but I _wanted it_. And no, I don't really have buyer's remorse, but I do feel like I let down the side a bit and succumbed to my (undoubted) addiction.

Why did you downgrade when you have a Voyage?

[CRussel]

Well, having now had it in my hands for few days, I can quite definitely say that you're wrong, Jon. For me, it is ergonomically a definite improvement. Which was what I was hoping for.

[Alohamora]

Originally Posted by Katsunami

I knew issybird was right before she even registered on this forum.

That is, I never bothered with freebies, except if it's a (first) book in a series of a well known author (edit: which I already read, or intend to start reading)... but I only have two of those Getting something only because it's free is just hoarding

At least hoarded ebooks take up no real space.

The deal I've made with myself is I will not buy any more books until I've made a dent in my unread paid pile. Freebies are fair game, iff the blurb sounds like something I'd enjoy and it has some good reviews.

The freebies may sit around mostly un-read until I retire in 5 years and I'm ok with that.

[samosa]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

See #5.
Not necessarily illegal but restricted. Example by laws on cigarettes, alcohol and most prescription drugs.

how about restricted by our purchasing power?

[Tarana]

I did really well - no purchases for the past month! Yay!

Issy, I agree, realizing that your tastes have changed really affects whether to get rid of a book or not. I'd still hold on to those you PAID for and just tag them. You never know - you may suddenly return to mysteries as it did interest you greatly at one time. I have the same issue with horror and romance.

Buying old favorites: since I know I'm not a rereader, I only buy old favorites if I'm going to start reading it immediately - they are never TBRs. I only buy old favorites if my library doesn't offer them. Again, because I'm mostly not a rereader and I know this about myself. I do get it though...ebooks can be taken off sale and then you are stuck. Generally, this has been more of a problem with audiobooks, but I've had the odd ebook suddenly become unavailable and then I berate myself for not getting it at the time.

[pdurrant]

Congratulations! You should celebrate with the current 90% off code at Kobo....

I've just bought a couple of books I wanted using the current 75% and 90% single-use coupons.

(After all, we don't buy at other times to be able to take advantage of great offers like these!)

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by Fbone

Still pretending I don't have 5647 TBR titles. None purchased in June.

Now up to 5768 titles in my TBR list. I did purchase two books with the recent Kobo promos.

[PurpleStar]

Oh crap, I bought more ebooks. But it was Brandon Sanderson (Alctraz and the evil ibrarians) And they were $2.99 each. (regular price $10.99) Been wanting that series forever. What else was I supposed to do? LOL

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by PurpleStar

Oh crap, I bought more ebooks. But it was Brandon Sanderson (Alctraz and the evil ibrarians) And they were $2.99 each. (regular price $10.99) Been wanting that series forever. What else was I supposed to do? LOL

That was a good buy. A series you really wanted by an author you like, on a 70%+ discount.

It's to be able to buy such offers that we try to practise restraint at other times.