Crime, Mysteries & Thrillers discussion

According to a recent article in Digital Book World more than half of Americans now read eBooks.

That's not to say they use that format exclusively, or even how many books they read, but it does suggest that eReaders have gained more traction than had been reported elsewhere.

I know that in my case I have progressed to being almost exclusively an eBook reader although I still spend a bit of time each day listening to audio books, a sure fire way to fall asleep ;-)

I own far more paper books than eBooks, but they now tend to languish on the shelf while I work my way through several different eBooks concurrently. How about yourselves - which format do you favor and why?

For me it's convenience: the built in dictionary, instant refresh on when a character was introduced, the ability to jump out to the Internet to learn a bit more about anything puzzling and having as many books as I like with me always.

I also prefer reading a ebook now. I love the built in dictionary, keeping lots of bookmarks, and being able to hilite, but most of all, I love that fact that I do not have to deal with hardcopy books once they have been read. Don't get me wrong, I still read hardcopy books when I cannot get it as an ebook, if I win it as a giveaway, or if I go to a library sale, but I much prefer not having to figure out what to do with a hardcopy book after I have read it.

Ilene

I read both. If I can't find a hard copy of something I want to read, I will look for it as an ebook. I have a hard time choosing which ebook to read, as they are just small covers and in alphabetical order.

I have my hard copy books stacked in order of what to read next. Most of what I read is for a bookclub, but the extra time I have, it is what I most want to read, or what is due at the library next (most often the deciding factor).

I read both but I still prefer paper by a small margin. There are some series I collect so I always buy them in paper format.

Where e-books shine in my opinion is the availability of books that have been out of print for years (like many of Ed McBain's early 87th Precinct series). And through e-book bargain sites like Bookbub.com, I've tried several authors I never heard of and never would have bought in paper and found some very good ones. How often do you find traditional booksellers offering 'new' books for free or 99 cents.

Then there's the plus of always having a book to read (even if it's one you've read) on your e-reader.

I own ereader, however my preference is paper books. I love the feel and smell of crispy paper. My ereader is for traveling. I am one of those people who do not shop online. I receive free books from Amazon which works for me.

With you Sheila; like low price and free ebooks but prefer the book in my hand when reading. I do practice with my ereader to get more comfortable with reading one but nothing will beat the crisp turning of pages.

I read both,the e reader is very convenient if you travel, but I will always prefer a real paper book, you can't replace the feeling of turning a page and holding the book in your hands. I find the e readers are harder on the eyes, I can't read as long as I do on a paperback.
I love my books!

Malina wrote: "I read both,the e reader is very convenient if you travel, but I will always prefer a real paper book, you can't replace the feeling of turning a page and holding the book in your hands. I find the..."

I couldn't agree more Malina. There is nothing like a real book.

I read paper books for many of the reasons mentioned above: the feel of the paper, the smell of the book, watching the bookmark progress through the pages to the end, and more.

But I suffer the same problem as many of the "younger" generation in reverse - I can't concentrate well enough to read on a screen!! I can barely stand to read emails if they are very long and I newspaper articles online had better get to the point in one line or I'm outta there!

Anyone else have this problem?

I have a program for reading ebooks on my laptop, Kindle for PC, from Amazon. It allows me to read ebooks.

However, I still prefer a hard copy. Give me a book any day. The ebook reader is handy for some things, but, it doesn't have the look and feel of having a book in my hands.

Of course, since I read on my laptop, it wouldn't be the same as handling most ebook readers. I understand that and know that I'm just getting started with ebook reading. Still, I doubt that I'll prefer it to a hard copy anytime in the near future.

I use the library, so, while it is cheaper, I probably don't have the depth of selection that I have with paper books, but, so far, I've had many books that I could read in either format. And, some that I only had the ebook format for an option. Of course, there are a lot of books that aren't in ebook format, but, I've been pleased with the options that I've had, so far.

I resisted my kindle for an awfully long time as I wanted a book to be a book- but..... Now I love it. The advantages I have found are:
1. Lightweight so I usually have it with me in my handbag
2. Syncs to my phone so I can read even when I don't have it and then it will update
3. Built in dictionary
4. The biggie- instant access to a newly purchased book as it downloads in seconds

However lately I have been craving the feel of a book and so have been reading a few and enjoying it.

I like passing my books on too which isn't possible with my kindle- it's sad to see book shops diminishing too!!

My big issue with kindle tho is that my nephew would like one- he is a relatively keen reader and i buy his books to encourage it- but I'm not in agreement with e-reader tablets which have other functions like gaming and internet as I want him to read!!! I'm also unsure that he would manage charging it so that it was never without charge- a book doesn't run out of charge!!! Lol

I was given my first eReader almost five years ago and am now exclusively reading eBooks and listening to audiobooks when I can't use my hands to read. I never imagined I'd convert as I only read hardcovers or trade paperbacks in the past. Now, holding a book to read is awkward as I seem to have physically adapted to the spineless eReaders.

No need to rehash the benefits of the eReader as all have done so eloquently above. The conveniences over time just outweighed my love of the physical book.

I do need to speak more about audiobooks, though. Listening while driving was always pleasurable (especially long road trips) but after my husband gifted me with a set of wireless headphones this Christmas, I discovered new motivations for completing those mundane household chores with vigor. Now I love cleaning the house and cooking as they represent more reading opportunities via audiobooks. Seems the only time I'm not reading is when I'm sleeping:)

I still love looking at my physical bookshelves but I haven't bought one in three years. I get about half of my books from the library but it's the digital resource.

Practicality. I live in Ecuador where English print books are hard to come by and are expensive. The convenience of downloading an ebook is unequaled. It's like having a two story library in my hands.
Nat Goodale - Author of VACATIONLAND

I neither have nor want an e-reader. I know e-readers are practical for people who travel so they don't have to load their suitcases with books but I don't travel.

For me it's paper books all the way, I love the feel and smell of a book. I love turning the pages and everything else about reading a book. I won't get an e--reader until it's impossible to buy books and I'm done reading all the books in my TBR mountains.

DianeAlice wrote: "...And if you buy secondhand or get from the library would you really want to sniff them?!"
Alice, that's a telling point & one I forgot to make ;-) I couldn't afford to buy all of the books I want to read so I check out quite a few from the library. However, all too often they smelled like a stale ashtray. Being able to download an ebook from the library solved that little annoyance.

I'm an exclusive ereader. In fact I have given most of my books away to ppl I know would enjoy them. I only kept back a few favorites. My favorite features of ebooks are the ability to read 24hrs & have all my books accessible whenever I want them. Has anyone else been so caught up in reading their ebook they try to turn the page w/o thinking? I just wonder that w/ the increased use of the ereader, do ppl give up on books that aren't that good too quickly?

Olivia wrote: "I neither have nor want an e-reader. I know e-readers are practical for people who travel so they don't have to load their suitcases with books but I don't travel.

For me it's paper books all the ..."

I'm with you, Olivia! It's kind of fun to see those "mountains" stack up, isn't it? On an e-reader, you don't have the satisfaction of watching those mountains come and go.

DianeAlice wrote: "The font in books is too small for me. I like being able to enlarge it on my kindle, so much more comfortable. Plus I haven't got room to store loads of books and I don't sniff them haha so the sm..."
I've always sniffed books, and when I was young and lived in a smaller area than I do now, I could pretty much tell you exactly where the book came from - the particular store (in those days, most of the paperbacks were sold through drugstores and "dime" stores). I've never had the experience of a library book smelling like ashtrays. In fact, most of them smell sweetly of library - there IS a particular smell that comes from all the libraries I've been associated with. And now that I'm in an area with an absolutely fantastic library system - King County Washington - I can get interlibrary loans from various colleges from here to, at the farthest so far, Iowa. And college libraries have their own smell. Ah, it's a bit like Proust's madeleine.....

Wonder what will happen to the library in those old mansions like in old movies. Ebooks would give an entirely different slant on "Professor Plum did it in the library with a hatchet."

I prefer to read Ebooks. I have a nook and my husband bought me a paperwhite kindle (which I love).

However, I still read paper books because of books that I had prior to eReaders and because I also read Library books.

My reasons that I like eBooks are because I can search the book easily when I've forgotten a point, I can highlight a passage and quickly find it, they are cheaper and my favorite is that I'm not killing trees.

A downside though is that I can't pass on the book to someone else to read (though I'm sure this is a benefit to publishers).

I like all reading formats. Kindle for capacity, portability, and the vocabulary builder imbedded. Hard copy for the unique smell of a new book....
And audio for the car so I can read in traffic.
Ebooks are fast becoming the preferred method for story ingestion.

The two formats are complementary and not in conflict. I buy print books, I borrow print books from the library, I download e-books. All have their value and their uses. E-books are encouraging more and more people to write and that can only be a good thing as self-expression is a vital human need. The more people read the better.

One thing I do miss about real books is how a book looks after I've had it for a number of years! My daughter asked me the other day, how did I mark the last page I read? I was a dogearer, a flipper, I would turn my books over & flatten them so the spine of the book would always look creased. If I loved a book you would know it. You would also know what was happening in my world if you looked at the front & back as I would take phone messages, jot down thoughts or shopping needs. You can't do that w/ an ereader. :( But as soon as they figure out a way to personalize them digitally, I'll be all over it!

I'm sure it's just a matter of time before you can digitally mark them Terri

Ron wrote: "Wonder what will happen to the library in those old mansions like in old movies. Ebooks would give an entirely different slant on "Professor Plum did it in the library with a hatchet.""

Probably those books will turn into investments someone keeps. Did you ever read John Dunning's Cliff Janeway books? He goes around and buys up old libraries. If nothing else, I'm sure they'll get put in a bunch of time capsules!!!!!!!

I wish I could enjoy e-books more, but I've downloaded several and have yet to read them. I simply love holding "real" books in hand and turning the pages. :) I think it's because I work as an editor, reading on the computer screen, so whenever I see a book in screen format, my mind wants to "improve" the text. Ack! I never have this problem with print books.

As an author, however, I LOVE that e-books exist. They get stories out to readers around the world--and the books cost less, so people can read more of them. Plus I've had several people tell me how great it is to be able to change the font & type size to make reading easier. It's great to have options!

I don't own an e-reader, but I have read e-books on my laptop and cellphone. I personally prefer hard copies. But I fear that the upcoming generation may not think so as the use of e-readers spread and hard copies are phased out...they will miss the thrill of going to a library or a bookshop stacked from floor to ceiling with books!

I think in the long run there will be space for both in the world.

Both have advantages and disadvantages and we've pretty much covered all of them.

There will always be die-hard 'real' book fans like many who posted here but there will also be those who believe e-readers are the only way to go (again like many who posted here).

I have to say I am a big fan of the e-reader. I can have hundreds of books with me wherever I go. Although my favorite will always be the physical book I cannot deny the convenience of the e-reader. I can take my i-books & my kindle books all on my i-pad & I still visit the library because they now do the e-books as well.

Quillracer wrote: "I think in the long run there will be space for both in the world.

Both have advantages and disadvantages and we've pretty much covered all of them.

There will always be die-hard 'real' book fans..."

I have a tendency to agree with this. Both have advantages and disadvantages.

Personally, I prefer the printed page, but, do have a lot of ebooks that I'm reading on my laptop. Love the font selection of ebooks. But for just comfortable reading, prefer the feel of the book in my hands that an ereader wouldn't provide.

While the font selection is a big help, my local library doesn't have the selection of choices that I get with printed books. But, even then, I prefer large print books since these tired old eyes seem to work better at that level. And, even there, the library doesn't have every book I want in large print, either.

So, large print vs font selection, I still don't get the best of both worlds. At least, not just right now. As my generation, and, more specifically, the generation right behind me, ages, large print will be more in vogue. I predate the baby-boomers here in America, but, my younger brother doesn't. So, that would make our sister, on the cusp between the two generations. The generations behind all three of us, will start wanting more of the ebook and it's inherent font selection. Times will change.

While I don't believe the printed page will become obsolete any time soon, it may very will eventually happen. But, for now, I prefer the printed page but still see where the e-page has it's place. For many others, it will be the other way around.

The high cost of print books relative to e-books has actually prompted me to go back to the library and start borrowing again, especially older books.
Some people object to e-books because they see many of them as lacking quality control as practiced by agents and publishers - but on the other hand, the direct connection between writer and reader means the market is deciding what's worth reading - and I like the democracy of that.
Main thing is to read and not stress over the format!

Absolutely D.A! Have you ever gotten so absorbed you find your reaching to the corner trying to change the page? I'm not sure if I still do it much, but when I 1st started using my ereader, my hubby would laugh when I would try!

I've reached a point where I won't even read a book if it's not on kindle. I'll find something else I want to read instead and check back later to see if it's come to kindle.

There are a few exceptions. I still prefer poetry in analog form as well as books that are heavy in detailed illustrations that I want to be able to examine in greater detail than my regular kindle allows.

DianeAlice wrote: "If you put your ereader in a cover it is just like holding a book."

And I have mine set to mimic page turns... that's how I try to recreate the holding a book experience.

Great discussions on how people rationalize about just following one format. It's all good. Keep reading.

If I am reading journal articles, things I need to learn and mark up I like paper better. I learn it better if its on paper. I seem to process it differently.

I read both, actually. I prefer having a real book in my hands but the books I want to read isn't always available at the bookstore and often, I wouldn't have the money to buy all of them, just some. Ebooks are convenient especially when you can't wait to read a book that hasn't arrived at a bookstore near you. There are also many sites that allow you to download them online. And with the Android revolution, you can simply download an app to read any of those files like Cool Reader for epub among others. Downloading is also faster but I still prefer the paperbacks and the smell of old books in my shelves.

I have given up reading paperbacks and hardback. I just think the ereader is great. I can borrow books from the library when I want and the purchase is straight forward enought.

One the reason's I like them I running out of room to put the books I was reading so don't have that issue any more.

Also I find the ereader is very handy when on public transport as easy to stand and read with an ereader.

Garrett wrote: "Also I find the ereader is very handy when on public transport as easy to stand and read with an ereader."

Another advantage, yes. You can read one-handed and with most models the controls are mirrored, so you can use just your left or right hand.

DianeAlice wrote: "Another plus is the price of ebooks - so much cheaper. There are always free or nearly free books to be found. I wouldn't go back to ordinary books now, can't imagine not having my kindle. Since I..."

I have more than once reached out to turn on page on my Kindle Fire as if I was reading a paper copy. Old habits die hard.

Has anyone found you will read a book on your e-reader that you would not buy because of the cover? (50 shades of ....)

Running out of space to keep books and wanting to keep what you are reading a secret are two good reasons to read ebooks. How about wanting to save trees, and of course save money. Ebooks are generally cheaper it seems. The other day I got Frankenstein for free on Amazon.

Immediate availability is a great reason DianeAlice, especially in this instance.

Because e-books are easy to download and relatively cheap, the temptation is to overload yourself, then run out of time to read what you have. E-books therefore teach self-discipline!

Print books, of course. Nothing beats the smell of a paper book in your hands, and you don't have to worry about destroying your paperback by dropping it in the bathtub or in the wet sand, or if it gets lost or stolen.

Six years ago my house burned, and lost in the fire were the thousands of books I owned. Of course I planned to replace them, but then I started thinking of the dozens of boxes of books I've carted around when moving house over the years (from D.C. to Texas to California to Texas to Missouri) and decided I'd had enough. I love the thought of having my entire library on my ereader. No need to find shelf space. No need to cull books when I run out of room. I still read paper books, but when I buy, I buy digital.

Linda wrote: "I read paper books for many of the reasons mentioned above: the feel of the paper, the smell of the book, watching the bookmark progress through the pages to the end, and more.

But I suffer the sa..."

Linda, I just read an interesting article about the changes occurring in our brains as a result of our use of the internet. Seems we can no longer read longer articles or books because our attention spans have decreased. In addition, we have a difficult time focusing on what we do read, and do not retain information the way we used to. I wonder what effect that will have on reading in the long term. Will the book eventually disappear, leaving us with Cliff Notes versions?

Overton wrote: "Will the book eventually disappear, leaving us with Cliff Notes versions?"

If that happens, won't we then end up with Cliff Notes versions of the Cliff Notes versions? Or does it go on ad infinitum...

Hmm... perhaps that is the case for the majority but my attention span hasn't waned a bit since I started using the internet. It's more like gotten more patient. I love reading big books with long chapters, as long as the narration doesn't bore me. My attention span depends on what I'm reading. If I find the material boring, I read it fast. If I find it interesting, I read it thoroughly then read it again. Especially books. Cliff's notes version will never happen. Compared to the past, there are more writers at this day and age, all of them writing novels with at least 20 chapters and each chapter ranging from 5 to 20 pages more or less, depending on their writing style and genre. People are more interested in buying thicker books than thin.

DianeAlice wrote: "Well immediate availability is another good reason Guy as I just checked out your book Necropolis on Amazon kindle and it sounds really good! I love being able to discover an author new to me and ..."

I'm not sure about it being kinder to the trees. We're using electricity after all. Sure, paper-wise, we are saving more trees but electricity is generated mostly by fossil fuels and in order to get those we need to mine and in order to mine, we need to cut off trees, right? The requirement of more electricity could either balance out the paper we're not making from the trees we're not cutting off or overwhelm it instead. Well, that's what I think.

Hatsunekai wrote: "electricity is generated mostly by fossil fuels..."

Isn't more electricity, at least in the US, generated through moving water? And, nuclear plants generate a lot in many parts of the country. Now, lubricant is needed for moving parts, but, I don't think much electricity is being generated by fossil fuels anymore. At one time, a lot of coal was burned to generate electricity, but, is it still done that way anywhere anymore?