Wife misses back cover. What do I do?

TonyGamble · 01-06-2015, 05:41 AM

As I am the more computerate person I do all the book buying. Most times I buy books I think my wife will enjoy but I make the odd mistake.

With paper books she always chooses her next read by looking at the back cover.

She will really miss this now we are migrating to e books. My understanding is that the back cover is not included with any e book.

Has anyone else met the problem and found a solution?

Tony

GERGE · 01-06-2015, 06:22 AM

Book Description section on Amazon or whatever is the new back cover. There are even reviews in Amazon.

burnafterreading · 01-06-2015, 06:22 AM

(puts on flame suit)
look at the back of your wife. tell her that now that you're seeing the back of your [most recent] wife, you have a good idea on what your next wife should look like. get said new wife.

no back covers, but most sites kind of replace that with the recommendations - either more by the same author or others that are highly rated in the same genre by different authors. it's very likely more dynamic and tailored than what paper books had.

there's also sites like Goodreads which can recommend next reads based on what you've read and liked in the past (and you can pre-populate using the paper books you've read before the internet was even invented). normally the site needs you to have read-and-rated 20 books, so that's a quick way to get to that number.

Terisa de morgan · 01-06-2015, 06:26 AM

At some ebooks you find books by the same author, the same publisher... not the back cover, more like the last pages of a book where there're more books introduced.

Billi · 01-06-2015, 06:28 AM

Must be an American thing. In Germany, back covers of paper books are used to give some description of the actual book or the author and not to advertise other (similar) books.

BWinmill · 01-06-2015, 07:22 AM

If she likes to read the description of the book after purchasing it, some ereading software (and, I believe, ereaders) have the option to do so. It isn't the back cover per se, but it is the closest analog that I can think of.

mrscoach · 01-06-2015, 07:24 AM

It depends if she is looking at the inside or outside of the back cover. If she is looking at the inside then the above suggestions above are accurate. If you mean she reads the blurb on the back, then she can do as you did and read the description of each book. The how depends on what she reads on because each app/reader has a different procedure on how to do it.
My question is why you pick out her books and she doesn't. If it is a case of her not having control of spending habits (I knew a couple once where she couldn't spend anything but cash because she truly couldn't control herself) then couldn't she read the descriptions before purchase then you pull the trigger once she makes her choice? I wonder because I also knew a couple where he controlled her by controlling her spending, all spending.

DiapDealer · 01-06-2015, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billi

Must be an American thing. In Germany, back covers of paper books are used to give some description of the actual book or the author and not to advertise other (similar) books.

Inside or outside; I don't remember getting any new recommendations from the back cover of a book. Typically, a description and some blurbs were on the back, and 'About the Author' was on the inside-back.

'Also By' is helpful, but that's usually in the front (and is still often included with the ebook).

I'd be interested in seeing what form these back cover recommendations took.

TonyGamble · 01-06-2015, 08:59 AM

Thanks folk, but we are not quite there yet.

"Why doesn't she read the description on Amazon?"

For the same reason that she doesn't pick the choices to download. She regards computers as a waste of (her) time - just as emails being a poor substitute for a chat on the phone. YES - I know that is wrong. But I am more interested in having a quiet and happy life than educating one more Brit about the joys of technology.

Yes, an author is a good guide but if you have just read one adventure story set in Scotland it may not be the right time to read one from another author but also based in Scotland. Or a way of avoiding something totally out of style from a normally well liked author.

In the UK the norm is to put some form of descriptive blurb on he back. I say that for those who think we may run ads on the back.

"If she likes to read the description of the book after purchasing it, some ereading software (and, I believe, ereaders) have the option to do so."

Any pointers, please?

And, yes, I use the Goodreads and Amazon blurbs - but have yet to find a way to port and link them to the books I uy.

Tony

Terisa de morgan · 01-06-2015, 09:08 AM

I suspect that you're asking for a way your wife to look at your library, read the back-burb of a book and knows if it's similar to the last one she has read, am I right?

If I'm wrong stop here.

If I'm right, there're two methods:

It works with any reader. You add a jacket with calibre to any book you send to the ereader, and that jacket will include the summary. So, your wife only have to open the book, read the jacket and she'll see the blurb.
With a Kobo, you can add the metadata and she can see the details (long press over the cover / book) that include the jacket.

I'll show a photo of the second case later

HarryT · 01-06-2015, 09:17 AM

On the Kindle, there's an option to display the description of the book from the Kindle Store. Press and hold the book on the home screen, and select "Book Description" from the pop-up menu. It reads it from the Kindle Store, so you need to be connected to the Internet in order for it to work.

TonyGamble · 01-06-2015, 09:18 AM

Brilliant Theresa,

I use Calibre but can't see how I add the jacket. Can you give me a URL to the instructions please?

Tony

DiapDealer · 01-06-2015, 09:24 AM

My bad. I totally read that as; "chooses her next read by reading the back [of the just finished book]."

I think Terisa's got the best idea with using calibre to add a jacket (with a summary) to the ebook. You'll have to remember to download metadata (including a description/summary) before sending the books to a device, but it shouldn't be too difficult a workflow to get into the habit of doing.

HarryT · 01-06-2015, 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TonyGamble

Brilliant Theresa,

I use Calibre but can't see how I add the jacket. Can you give me a URL to the instructions please?

Tony

Convert the book, and on the "Structure Detection" page of the conversion dialog, check the "Insert metadata as page at start of book" checkbox.

Make sure you UNCHECK the box if you convert the book a second time, or you'll get a second (or third, or fourth...) copy of it.

TonyGamble · 01-06-2015, 09:46 AM

Thanks Folk,

That is brilliant. The metadata 'description' is what I was looking for.

Well done.

Tony

01-06-2015, 05:41 AM	#1
TonyGamble Groupie Posts: 159 Karma: 505924 Join Date: Aug 2012 Device: None	Wife misses back cover. What do I do? As I am the more computerate person I do all the book buying. Most times I buy books I think my wife will enjoy but I make the odd mistake. With paper books she always chooses her next read by looking at the back cover. She will really miss this now we are migrating to e books. My understanding is that the back cover is not included with any e book. Has anyone else met the problem and found a solution? Tony

01-06-2015, 09:08 AM	#10
Terisa de morgan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,636 Karma: 12595249 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Madrid, Spain Device: Kobo Clara/Aura One/Forma,XiaoMI 5, iPad, Huawei MediaPad, YotaPhone 2	I suspect that you're asking for a way your wife to look at your library, read the back-burb of a book and knows if it's similar to the last one she has read, am I right? If I'm wrong stop here. If I'm right, there're two methods: It works with any reader. You add a jacket with calibre to any book you send to the ereader, and that jacket will include the summary. So, your wife only have to open the book, read the jacket and she'll see the blurb. With a Kobo, you can add the metadata and she can see the details (long press over the cover / book) that include the jacket. I'll show a photo of the second case later Last edited by Terisa de morgan; 01-06-2015 at 12:49 PM.

01-06-2015, 09:17 AM	#11
HarryT eBook Enthusiast Posts: 85,547 Karma: 93383099 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: UK Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6	On the Kindle, there's an option to display the description of the book from the Kindle Store. Press and hold the book on the home screen, and select "Book Description" from the pop-up menu. It reads it from the Kindle Store, so you need to be connected to the Internet in order for it to work. Last edited by HarryT; 01-06-2015 at 09:22 AM.

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01-06-2015, 06:22 AM	#2
GERGE Guru Posts: 733 Karma: 5797160 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Istanbul Device: Kobo Libra	Book Description section on Amazon or whatever is the new back cover. There are even reviews in Amazon.

01-06-2015, 06:22 AM	#3
burnafterreading Groupie Posts: 192 Karma: 1237440 Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Ottawa, Canada Device: Kobo Glo, Arc7HD/10HD, smartphones	(puts on flame suit) look at the back of your wife. tell her that now that you're seeing the back of your [most recent] wife, you have a good idea on what your next wife should look like. get said new wife. no back covers, but most sites kind of replace that with the recommendations - either more by the same author or others that are highly rated in the same genre by different authors. it's very likely more dynamic and tailored than what paper books had. there's also sites like Goodreads which can recommend next reads based on what you've read and liked in the past (and you can pre-populate using the paper books you've read before the internet was even invented). normally the site needs you to have read-and-rated 20 books, so that's a quick way to get to that number.

01-06-2015, 06:26 AM	#4
Terisa de morgan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,636 Karma: 12595249 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Madrid, Spain Device: Kobo Clara/Aura One/Forma,XiaoMI 5, iPad, Huawei MediaPad, YotaPhone 2	At some ebooks you find books by the same author, the same publisher... not the back cover, more like the last pages of a book where there're more books introduced.

01-06-2015, 06:28 AM	#5
Billi Wizard Posts: 3,388 Karma: 14190103 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Berlin Device: Cybook, iRex, PB, Onyx	Must be an American thing. In Germany, back covers of paper books are used to give some description of the actual book or the author and not to advertise other (similar) books.

01-06-2015, 07:22 AM	#6
BWinmill Nameless Being	If she likes to read the description of the book after purchasing it, some ereading software (and, I believe, ereaders) have the option to do so. It isn't the back cover per se, but it is the closest analog that I can think of.

01-06-2015, 07:24 AM	#7
mrscoach Guru Posts: 767 Karma: 4837659 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: San Angelo Texas Device: Samsung Galaxy tab	It depends if she is looking at the inside or outside of the back cover. If she is looking at the inside then the above suggestions above are accurate. If you mean she reads the blurb on the back, then she can do as you did and read the description of each book. The how depends on what she reads on because each app/reader has a different procedure on how to do it. My question is why you pick out her books and she doesn't. If it is a case of her not having control of spending habits (I knew a couple once where she couldn't spend anything but cash because she truly couldn't control herself) then couldn't she read the descriptions before purchase then you pull the trigger once she makes her choice? I wonder because I also knew a couple where he controlled her by controlling her spending, all spending.

01-06-2015, 08:59 AM	#9
TonyGamble Groupie Posts: 159 Karma: 505924 Join Date: Aug 2012 Device: None	Thanks folk, but we are not quite there yet. "Why doesn't she read the description on Amazon?" For the same reason that she doesn't pick the choices to download. She regards computers as a waste of (her) time - just as emails being a poor substitute for a chat on the phone. YES - I know that is wrong. But I am more interested in having a quiet and happy life than educating one more Brit about the joys of technology. Yes, an author is a good guide but if you have just read one adventure story set in Scotland it may not be the right time to read one from another author but also based in Scotland. Or a way of avoiding something totally out of style from a normally well liked author. In the UK the norm is to put some form of descriptive blurb on he back. I say that for those who think we may run ads on the back. "If she likes to read the description of the book after purchasing it, some ereading software (and, I believe, ereaders) have the option to do so." Any pointers, please? And, yes, I use the Goodreads and Amazon blurbs - but have yet to find a way to port and link them to the books I uy. Tony

01-06-2015, 09:18 AM	#12
TonyGamble Groupie Posts: 159 Karma: 505924 Join Date: Aug 2012 Device: None	Brilliant Theresa, I use Calibre but can't see how I add the jacket. Can you give me a URL to the instructions please? Tony

01-06-2015, 09:24 AM	#13
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 28,585 Karma: 204624552 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	My bad. I totally read that as; "chooses her next read by reading the back [of the just finished book]." I think Terisa's got the best idea with using calibre to add a jacket (with a summary) to the ebook. You'll have to remember to download metadata (including a description/summary) before sending the books to a device, but it shouldn't be too difficult a workflow to get into the habit of doing.

01-06-2015, 09:46 AM	#15
TonyGamble Groupie Posts: 159 Karma: 505924 Join Date: Aug 2012 Device: None	Thanks Folk, That is brilliant. The metadata 'description' is what I was looking for. Well done. Tony

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