Ebook Buying Addicts' Support Thread - Page 277

pdurrant · 02-07-2017, 02:58 AM

One book by a favourite author and one book that sounds really interesting. A week in and two purchases. I'll have to be careful for the rest of the month.

I've resolved that I *must* make the 'sounds really interesting' book my next read, so that I remember that books I buy are actually to be read!

DrNefario · 02-07-2017, 08:23 AM

I've started keeping track of my "conversion rate" - how many of the books I'm buying I am actually reading.

Last year I managed about 30%, and about half of those were library loans, which have a built-in time limit. This year I have so far read 1 of the 17 books I have gained, and am in the middle of a second. The one I have read was a novella, and a freebie at that. The one I am now reading is my Prime lending library loan, which has a pseudo-deadline (I get one loan a calendar month, which means I need to finish this one before the end of February or I lose my February loan. Not that I know what to borrow for February.) That's not really a great record, although it is early days.

pdurrant · 02-07-2017, 08:46 AM

I'm pleased to say that of the ten books I've acquired so far this year (five bought, five freebies), I've already read six of them, with a seventh underway.

But I'm not doing so well in reading my 2008 purchases. Perhaps if I stop making 2017 purchases I'll have time to get to them!

issybird · 02-07-2017, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrNefario

I've started keeping track of my "conversion rate" - how many of the books I'm buying I am actually reading.

Last year I managed about 30%, and about half of those were library loans, which have a built-in time limit. This year I have so far read 1 of the 17 books I have gained, and am in the middle of a second. The one I have read was a novella, and a freebie at that. The one I am now reading is my Prime lending library loan, which has a pseudo-deadline (I get one loan a calendar month, which means I need to finish this one before the end of February or I lose my February loan. Not that I know what to borrow for February.) That's not really a great record, although it is early days.

This was one of my besetting problems in the pbook days. I'd buy the books I really wanted to read and borrow the books I kinda wanted to read from the library. And then the library books became the top priority. I'm much better now, but things still trip me up, like the monthly KOLL book. I'm usually not all that interested in whatever I've found to borrow, but the exploding nature of it adds a false allure.

I forgot to borrow my January book, though, and I'll let February go until month's end and maybe I'll forget again.

I'm trying not to buy any books at all, but I am doing a similar tracking of my conversion rate from last year. I hope to have read a reasonable percentage of them by the end of this year.

issybird · 02-07-2017, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

I'm pleased to say that of the ten books I've acquired so far this year (five bought, five freebies), I've already read six of them, with a seventh underway.

But I'm not doing so well in reading my 2008 purchases. Perhaps if I stop making 2017 purchases I'll have time to get to them!

I'm focusing on reading last year's books, as I figure they've retained more of the lustre of the new shiny. The further back I go, the more the "what was I thinking?" element kicks in.

Rev. Bob · 02-07-2017, 10:00 AM

I've been pondering whether or not to buy the current StoryBundle, as it's got three books (two basic, one bonus) that are on my wishlist. Since I have the first book in the series - also part of the bundle - I started reading it yesterday to see what I thought.

One thing I noticed very quickly was that there was a mistake on the very first page. So far, I've read the prologue and first two chapters, and there are some really annoying proofreading issues. However, looking at the preview on the StoryBundle site, it looks like at least some of those have been fixed.

I might end up buying in at the basic level to get the updated text and the first two sequels, simply because the time I'd spend fixing the book (and my frustration at the need to do so) has value. I'll probably read a bit further before committing to that, just to be safe, but so far I like the style and am interested to see what happens next.

As for book four in the series... I can always keep it on my wishlist and get it later. That's cheaper than paying for the bonus tier. However - tricksy SB! - the two "newsletter freebies" also have sequels in the bonus tier. That's definitely a factor to consider, but not without sampling the free ones first. (And the clock is ticking!)

DrNefario · 02-07-2017, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by issybird

This was one of my besetting problems in the pbook days. I'd buy the books I really wanted to read and borrow the books I kinda wanted to read from the library. And then the library books became the top priority. I'm much better now, but things still trip me up, like the monthly KOLL book. I'm usually not all that interested in whatever I've found to borrow, but the exploding nature of it adds a false allure.

I forgot to borrow my January book, though, and I'll let February go until month's end and maybe I'll forget again.

Yes, reading inferior KOLL books ahead of much better books I already own is definitely a problem for me. There are some KOLL books I want to read, but they're often pretty long and I'd rather not have to make time for them now. I've been trying to find some short story collections or novellas I can borrow - something I can read without interfering with my main book - so I don't feel like I'm wasting one of my Prime perks.

Bizarrely, though, I am quite happy to ignore the Kindle First freebies almost every month. (Partly because I know they'll always be available from the KOLL.)

CRussel · 02-07-2017, 11:53 AM

I'm getting completely disaffected with pretty much all "free" books, and will let my KU subscription expire when it comes up. Frankly, my reading time is too precious to waste it on bad books.

pdurrant · 02-07-2017, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CRussel

I'm getting completely disaffected with pretty much all "free" books, and will let my KU subscription expire when it comes up. Frankly, my reading time is too precious to waste it on bad books.

I'm tending towards this too. Although the chance of finding another wonderful series or author is still a temptation.

astrangerhere · 02-07-2017, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

I'm tending towards this too. Although the chance of finding another wonderful series or author is still a temptation.

The only freebies I read are the ones that are out of copyright. I have too many things that I have paid actual dollars for to clutter my TBR with things that I didn't pay for. I understand the discovery aspect, but I try to let the internet do that for me. I'm too lazy I guess

CRussel · 02-07-2017, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdurrant

I'm tending towards this too. Although the chance of finding another wonderful series or author is still a temptation.

Ah, but then there will be bound to be someone here who tries the author and reports back.

I have found great books from independents. Nathan Lowell comes to mind. But they are few and far between. And I already don't have the time to read everything that I want to read.

Rev. Bob · 02-07-2017, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rev. Bob

I've been pondering whether or not to buy the current StoryBundle, as it's got three books (two basic, one bonus) that are on my wishlist. Since I have the first book in the series - also part of the bundle - I started reading it yesterday to see what I thought.

(sigh) I bit, but only at the basic level. Part of what tipped me over the edge is that the omnibus containing the three key books also contained some short stories that are not - to my knowledge - available elsewhere. In fact, the omnibus itself doesn't go up for general sale until next month, which poses a slight problem for adding it to my Goodreads collection.

As for the other three books I was eyeing on the bonus tier, Amazon currently has one of them in a one-dollar omnibus for a buck. Checking price history, this looks like a temporary price drop, so I took the plunge. I'm holding off on the other two because I can always get them later.

So, $6 total spent for a total of eleven novels in six files - which is less than I would've paid for the two novels I was primarily after, so it's a net win. I regard the other bundle books as possibly-interesting freebies that do me no harm by languishing in my to-process folder with some angry robots, open roads, and a handful of other StoryBundle newsletter freebies. I don't begrudge them a few megabytes on a terabyte drive.

CRussel · 02-07-2017, 08:00 PM

Bought the eARC of The Gathering Edge, the 20th book in the Liaden Universe. Which I don't regret, since it meets all my criteria, and I've already devoured it completely for the first pass. But it's being able to buy the occasional eARC like this, at an elevated price, that makes me really want to control my inappropriate binge buying of books that languish in my TBR for ages.

astrangerhere · 02-08-2017, 06:48 AM

I spent my first book dollars (that weren't gift cards) of the year last night when I dropped the subscription cost of The Strand Magazine.

pdurrant · 02-08-2017, 03:57 PM

One of Diana Wynne Jones' books that I haven't read is on offer for £0.99. That makes three books bought this month, and I still have two unread purchases from last month...

OTOH, I have now read all the freebies I picked up this year.

02-07-2017, 10:00 AM	#4146
Rev. Bob Wizard Posts: 1,760 Karma: 9918418 Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Here on the perimeter, there are no stars Device: Kobo H2O, iPad mini 3, Kindle Touch	I've been pondering whether or not to buy the current StoryBundle, as it's got three books (two basic, one bonus) that are on my wishlist. Since I have the first book in the series - also part of the bundle - I started reading it yesterday to see what I thought. One thing I noticed very quickly was that there was a mistake on the very first page. So far, I've read the prologue and first two chapters, and there are some really annoying proofreading issues. However, looking at the preview on the StoryBundle site, it looks like at least some of those have been fixed. I might end up buying in at the basic level to get the updated text and the first two sequels, simply because the time I'd spend fixing the book (and my frustration at the need to do so) has value. I'll probably read a bit further before committing to that, just to be safe, but so far I like the style and am interested to see what happens next. As for book four in the series... I can always keep it on my wishlist and get it later. That's cheaper than paying for the bonus tier. However - tricksy SB! - the two "newsletter freebies" also have sequels in the bonus tier. That's definitely a factor to consider, but not without sampling the free ones first. (And the clock is ticking!) Last edited by Rev. Bob; 02-07-2017 at 10:03 AM.

02-08-2017, 06:48 AM	#4154
astrangerhere Professor of Law Posts: 3,640 Karma: 65925980 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Chapel Hill, NC Device: Kobo Elipsa, Kobo Libra H20, Kobo Aura One, KoboMini	Feb 8 - first book dollars of the year I spent my first book dollars (that weren't gift cards) of the year last night when I dropped the subscription cost of The Strand Magazine.

02-08-2017, 03:57 PM	#4155
pdurrant The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠 Posts: 71,511 Karma: 306214458 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Norfolk, England Device: Kindle Voyage	One of Diana Wynne Jones' books that I haven't read is on offer for £0.99. That makes three books bought this month, and I still have two unread purchases from last month... OTOH, I have now read all the freebies I picked up this year. Last edited by pdurrant; 02-08-2017 at 03:59 PM.

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02-07-2017, 02:58 AM	#4141
pdurrant The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠 Posts: 71,511 Karma: 306214458 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Norfolk, England Device: Kindle Voyage	One book by a favourite author and one book that sounds really interesting. A week in and two purchases. I'll have to be careful for the rest of the month. I've resolved that I must make the 'sounds really interesting' book my next read, so that I remember that books I buy are actually to be read!

02-07-2017, 08:23 AM	#4142
DrNefario Wizard Posts: 2,100 Karma: 11315768 Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: UK Device: Kindle, Kobo Touch, Nook SimpleTouch	I've started keeping track of my "conversion rate" - how many of the books I'm buying I am actually reading. Last year I managed about 30%, and about half of those were library loans, which have a built-in time limit. This year I have so far read 1 of the 17 books I have gained, and am in the middle of a second. The one I have read was a novella, and a freebie at that. The one I am now reading is my Prime lending library loan, which has a pseudo-deadline (I get one loan a calendar month, which means I need to finish this one before the end of February or I lose my February loan. Not that I know what to borrow for February.) That's not really a great record, although it is early days.

02-07-2017, 08:46 AM	#4143
pdurrant The Grand Mouse 高貴的老鼠 Posts: 71,511 Karma: 306214458 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Norfolk, England Device: Kindle Voyage	I'm pleased to say that of the ten books I've acquired so far this year (five bought, five freebies), I've already read six of them, with a seventh underway. But I'm not doing so well in reading my 2008 purchases. Perhaps if I stop making 2017 purchases I'll have time to get to them!

02-07-2017, 11:53 AM	#4148
CRussel (he/him/his) Posts: 12,161 Karma: 79742714 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sunshine Coast, BC Device: Oasis (Gen3),Paperwhite (Gen10), Voyage, Paperwhite(orig), Fire HD 8	I'm getting completely disaffected with pretty much all "free" books, and will let my KU subscription expire when it comes up. Frankly, my reading time is too precious to waste it on bad books.

02-07-2017, 08:00 PM	#4153
CRussel (he/him/his) Posts: 12,161 Karma: 79742714 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sunshine Coast, BC Device: Oasis (Gen3),Paperwhite (Gen10), Voyage, Paperwhite(orig), Fire HD 8	Bought the eARC of The Gathering Edge, the 20th book in the Liaden Universe. Which I don't regret, since it meets all my criteria, and I've already devoured it completely for the first pass. But it's being able to buy the occasional eARC like this, at an elevated price, that makes me really want to control my inappropriate binge buying of books that languish in my TBR for ages.

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