SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

I can't just skip over a word if I don't know it. I have to look it up and find out the definition. How about you???

I look things up, although I haven't seen my actual printed dictionary since I moved. It's still in a box somewhere. I use the dictionary in my Kindle for immediate lookups, or go to dictionary.com if I'm reading a dead tree book.

Mike wrote: "I can't just skip over a word if I don't know it. I have to look it up and find out the definition. How about you???"

a great way to improve your vocab.

I often read with a small pocket dictionary at hand incase I am unsure of a definition and so not sure of what is meant in certain contexts but I gave up looking up words I wasn't sure of and just went with the flow while reading 'Perdido street station by China Mieville'. There are just too many and it would take me even longer to read it so I plan on re-reading it and then looking up the words to see things in more depth.

I like to lookup a word I'm not familiar with, even if context gives me the gist. I read all the definitions and the etymology so I absorb all the nuances.

That's why I include a glossary and pronunciation guide in the back of all my titles. Readers seem to appreciate this feature, esp. in the fantasy genre.

My Sony Reader has a dictionary. Very useful. :-)

I used to not bother unless it was something that I needed to look up to understand the sentence properly. Most of them I could guess from context if I didn't know the word already. For example, if I'm reading an Austen book and she's talking about a specific type of coach, I don't look it up. It's a coach; that's good enough.

But since I got my Kindle I look up all of that stuff since it takes me half a second to put the cursor by the word and read the definition that pops up. I feel so much more knowledgeable about old stage coaches and weaponry and medieval and renaissance articles of clothing and devices than I did before. ;)

Jenny wrote: "I used to not bother unless it was something that I needed to look up to understand the sentence properly. Most of them I could guess from context if I didn't know the word already. For example, if..."

It is even easier with a Sony Reader's touchscreen. :P

lol I don't like the Sonys. :)
What dictionary does it have though? I know Nooks have Webster and Kindles have the Oxford (which I prefer).

I usually know the meaning of the word through the context as well. If I'm not sure, I write down the word on my bookmark (that's what they're for!) for looking up later. (Though usually words clarify themselves). More common is notes of things to look up on wikipedia!

Jenny wrote: "lol I don't like the Sonys. :)
What dictionary does it have though? I know Nooks have Webster and Kindles have the Oxford (which I prefer)."

My Sony Reader Touch PRS-600 has 3 dictionaries, including an Oxford and a "New Oxford".

Why don't you like the Sonys? The only thing I wish they might have is internet/Wi-fi, but the purpose is to read, not use it to browse the internet (and I can easily use my PC to find books).

Short answer is that I don't like the software, the store, the glare of the screen, or the absence of wireless (I don't want to have to hook my ereader up to the PC every time I want a book, especially if I'm outdoors/on vacation/travelling.). Also, Amazon's customer service is exceptional in every way, and I like to give my business to companies who go out of their way to make their customers happy, especially when they're American companies. :)

But anyhow, ereader dictionary convenience definitely improves vocab.

I often wish for a dictionary while reading, but I won't go in to the other room to get it, because that would interrupt my reading!

I'm finding the dictionary in the Kindle to be very useful. Before reading on the Kindle I never spent the time, but since it's built in to the reader now I look up words all the time.

If I can't figure it out from context, I'll look it up. Since I usually read on the train, that means texting "define " to Google.

I do not tend to use a dictionary when I am reading. I am not sure whether it is luck or my vocabulary that means I rarely feel the need to refer

i generally tend to look up on the dictionary in the initial pages of the book, to make sure that i am some how involved in the book... after that the book grips me too drastically to drift away to look up and break the flow. i just try to figure out what would be the meaning of the word based on the context. If not then i would look up on the dictionary

I use a dictionary while I read, since I have my Kindle I use it alot.

I never use a dictionary while reading. It interrupts my flow. If I have to stop and look up a word, I lose the momentum of the story. I have to say that I really hate it when I writer sounds like he's using a thesaurus instead of saying things in plain English.

That said, I'm now reading Kraken on my Nook and I've had to look up 4 or 5 words just because they're not part of typical American English or even normally part of British novels I read. I could have gotten along without looking them up, but the built-in dictionary made it easy.

Sandi wrote: "I never use a dictionary while reading. It interrupts my flow. If I have to stop and look up a word, I lose the momentum of the story. I have to say that I really hate it when I writer sounds like he's using a thesaurus instead of saying things in plain English..."

I agree completely with this.

I use a dictionary when I read because I like to understand what I read. (And I don't understand alot of words I read in my books)

I used to use a dictionary, but now use my iPad. I not only look up a word I dont know, but explore some words and concepts. Having the entire Wikipedia at hand without being connected to the net is a big plus. I also like to explore the etymology of real and made up words. I also do this when watching movies. Last nite, I just had to find out how 'sticky toffee pudding' was made ;-)

At times, but usually it interrupts my reading flow too much, so I can't be bothered. Unless it's something that without knowing I completely lose the train of thought in the story, I'll just make something up for it (:p) and go back later.