Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die discussion

Although I resisted because I love actual books, I recently got a Kobo and am working my way through the 100 classics that came preloaded. I just noticed that they're having a facebook contest to win a free one. If you "like" the Kobo facebook page between today and Friday, you could walk away with an ereader or a $200 egift card! http://on.fb.me/fgyFET

I too use an ereader. I have a Sony PRS 300 (the one sold at Wal-Mart). I have no interest in upgrading, though. I don't like the idea of always being connected to the internet while I read. Sure, it might come in handy to instantly download new books, but it's just not my cup of tea. It keeps me from spending too much.

I got a Kindle last September and I absolutely love it. I still get regular books as gifts and enjoy them too, but the books I purchase are all on my Kindle. I went on a month-long trip in October and it was a lifesaver, allowing me to carry a little thing around and not a bunch of heavy books.

I don't have a dedicated eReader, but I have reader programs on my iPhone. I still prefer "tree-ware" but like that I am never without a book, thanks to my phone. I've downloaded lots of classics from the Gutenberg Project.

I am currently against ereaders... They just don't feel the same and they don't look too great on your bookshelf. I like to feel & smell my books, turn the pages, I think its all part of the experience of reading.

"tree-ware" -- cute! I hadn't heard that one before.

I have a Kindle and love it. I'm knee-deep in physical books at my house and it had really gotten out of control. I've always read a lot, but the Kindle makes buying and carrying books so effortless that I think I went through around 150 books last year!

Sadly, a pretty big chunk of the 1001 must-reads are not yet available as eBooks.

I have a kindle as well and love it. I use the Gutenberg Project as well to get the classics. I still do enjoy 'real' books though and these are still what I read the most. On the kindle, I find myself mostly getting classics for free and books I otherwise would have gotten from the library ...

I have a Sony PRS-600, the one with the touch screen, and I love it. Before I got one I didn't know whether or not I would like have an ereader as opposed to a real book or not. But as it turns out I actually prefer the ereader. I love being able to increase the size of the words, and I have too many books at home taking up too much space and with ebooks I don't have to worry about adding to them.

Rachael (Rachelle) wrote: "I am currently against ereaders... They just don't feel the same and they don't look too great on your bookshelf. I like to feel & smell my books, turn the pages, I think its all part of the experi..."

I love real books and still buy them - in fact, after doing a major pare-down to try and get our books to fit on the bookshelves we have (we didn't succeed), I then wanted to go to the bookstore that evening. An ereader will never replace real books in my life.

That being said, there are lots of books that I know I'm only going to read once that I don't need to own, and it's SO wonderful to travel with a whole library in a space that's smaller than a deck of cards. I regard the two as complimentary, not competitive.

Cathy wrote: ""tree-ware" -- cute! I hadn't heard that one before..."

Thanks; I thought it up on the spot. It's unfortunate that so many of the 1001 are tough to come by in e-form.

i got a kindle2 when they first came out. And i love it! i use it every day. It's one of my best purchases to date. I know, some people will act like you are trying to say that books are obsolete because you carry or read off of an e-reader. i'm not even going to go near that conversation. portability. that's where it's at. It is harder to "lend" a book; but i figure once all of you come around ... i'll have thousands on my virtual shelf.

I have a kindle. Got it for xmas so the latest model, whichever that is. I absolutely love it. I still love proper books too but living with my folks and being very restricted to space, I needed a solution until I can have my own library! Its great I can take it anywhere with me too and read one of a multiple selection of books just depending on the mood I'm in.

Rachael (Rachelle) wrote: "I am currently against ereaders... They just don't feel the same and they don't look too great on your bookshelf. I like to feel & smell my books, turn the pages, I think its all part of the experi..."

But you must admit there are advantages to an ereader, for example when traveling. As I get older I like being able to read in bed without a big heavy hardback and I'm sure the ability to change font size will come into play sometime as well. (I'm currently reading Under the Dome and that's a heavy book!

I haven't tried downloading books from the library yet, which could be another advantage when it's icy and cold out.

I still can't pass up good deals on used books, and still have books on reserve at the library, but I think over time the ereader will be at least 50% of my reading. (My husband travels for work, and I go with him, so I do travel 10-20 weeks a year.)

Cathy wrote: "Sadly, a pretty big chunk of the 1001 must-reads are not yet available as eBooks...."

I recently purchased a nook & have found quite a few 1001-list ebooks for free. I am starting with the oldest & working my way to the present, but so far out of the oldest 100 books, I have found 70 free ebooks. Try using inkmesh to search for specific titles.

The older books are the ones you're most likely to find, since they're in public domain -- it's the mid-20th Century that gets sparse, and the foreign titles.

Since early December I have one, an oyo. A brand that comes with one of the larger Dutch bookstore chains. Got it as a present, and though I thought I'd sure miss the paper I was about to get one. I gave my partner one for present a couple of months earlier, and he was enthusiast. I beat him on enthusiasm, even when his one (ProMedia, with a SiPix screen) has a better letter quality and turns faster.
My clip-on bed-reading light proves more practical on the e-book reader than on a pocket edition.
Already in a month's time I'm hooked; at last started reading some of the 1001 that where on my paper must-/wishlist, but not on my shelves. I thoroughly disliked reading e-books on a computer screen, but the reader reads like a dream. It saves costs for larger housing too, by the way.

It's just incomprehensible that so many books published these days still come in a paper edition only.

Cathy wrote: "The older books are the ones you're most likely to find, since they're in public domain -- it's the mid-20th Century that gets sparse, and the foreign titles."

Also, it's sometimes worth it to spend the money for a good translation of a foreign novel. I know that the P & V translation of War and Peace was worth the money. The translations that are in the public domain aren't as good.

I've currently got an e-reader on my cell phone, but I'm considering getting a Kindle or some other...

Felix wrote: "Just started the kindle recently and loving it."

Same here.

I have a nook. I like it as a device, but I have many pet peeves on how B&N markets it. Primarily, that ebooks will save you a lot of money and that the selection is huge. I suspect that the selection will continue to get larger -- I've seen a marked improvement in the six months I've owned mine. But the prices, if anything have gone up on ebooks. Unless, the nook is used primarily to read public domain books...or you are the type of person that has to read a book as soon as it is released in hardcover, ebooks aren't really going to save you much (many, many physical books can be purchased cheaper at B&N than their ebook price), which is ridiculous IMO.

I do like the device...I like dictionary look up. I like the bookmark feature...I like shelve organization feature (new)...I like the highlights/notes feature. I don't travel much, but I can see this as a HUGE advantage of the nook. This should be more prevalent in their marketing IMO. I like that I can take a break from my book and play some sudoku on my nook, too. ;)

I have had a kindle for a couple of years and am madly in love with it. Yes, the prices of books has gone up but they still have free books and cheaper ones to buy. And I still buy books for the experience, but I would be lost without my kindle.

Lisa wrote: "I'm a literary luddite and have no plans to change. There simply isn't any amount of convenience that can replace the experience of actual physical books. The weight, the smell, the sound they ma..."

Lisa, though I have a Kindle, I do agree with you. I prefer a real book over the Kindle.

I do love the dictionary feature though, as with some classics I tend to have to look up a lot of words. The Kindle is better than carrying around 2 overly large tomes. Ha ha!

My personal reason for the Kindle was the amount of free books it had. I live in a more...rural area, and the library isn't quite up to snuff, and the nearest major bookstore is 45 minutes away. Therefore a lot of titles were hard to find, especially the more classic books. On the Kindle a lot of them are free, so...it worked really well for me.

Anyways...
That was a really long, drawn-out response, but...

Ooh, the smacking people with books...wouldn't you worry about damaging the book? ha ha! Sorry, I could picture it in my head, and had all these off-the-wall questions pop into my head. You smack with paperback and hardback? I'd think HB would work better. Doesn't that mean you'd have to get in fairly close proximity? That might be dangerous. Or maybe she means family. My family members might break the book (hard heads).

Sorry. I'll go now. Ha ha!

I'm right there with Gini, the two forms are complimentary, not competitive. my super fave series I started buying in dead tree I will continue to buy in dead tree. but new stuff, especially where the price is similar or less in ebook form, I'll be buying that way.

I'm a book collector from the time I was a wee kiddo, and I also thought I'd miss the physical book experience. I was thoroughly wrong. I got my iPad about 9 or so months ago, and I far prefer reading on it. to add to the convenience of instant purchasing (people now know the only gifts I really want are amazon/iTunes/b&n cards to fuel my addiction), portability, and changing the font size, resting this little slice of aluminum & glass on my knee is infinitely kinder to my carpal tunnel than holding open even the lightest paperback.

I've just read my first book on my new kindle. Like anything new, you get used to this way of reading pretty quickly. It has many advantages such as being more compact and easier to transport - and it's much easier to read in bed! I do think that it has some way to go before it can be a truly viable reading alternative as I have found many books are not available and the look of the text is sometimes a little drab. I'm saving it to read books that, in the past, I would have bought, read then not really wanted to keep. I will definitely still be buying paperbacks/hardbacks for my favourites.

Michelle wrote: "... portability, and changing the font size, resting this little slice of aluminum & glass on my knee is infinitely kinder to my carpal tunnel than holding open even the lightest paperback. "
How true that is, and that proves each time reading in bed, reading on the bus or in the metro. I imagine myself this spring on a bench in the park, where I just brought a 'pile' of books, still uncertain which one would go with my mood.. Some of the readers, like mine, can get a nice protective cover that even has the touch of luxury binds.

But, passing your e-book reader will never give you the same sentiments viewing the binds, connected with you forever, as you have with even the ugliest worn out pocketbook on your bookshelves. I agree with Rachael there, though I combine the best of both worlds, like probably most of the e-readers-readers do..

I agree with the best of both worlds idea, I have an iPad and use both Kindle and iBooks, but I do love the "real" physical book, too. Though it's sure easier to find storage for one iPad as opposed to my thousands of books! :D

Got a Kindle for a Mother's Day present, and took to it right away! Did not expect to! Did not ask for one!

I love the free classics available on the Internet and the dictionary function within the texts. I also am pleased that you can adjust the text size for an always optimal version for your eyes.

I'll still keep collecting great books and loving to own, hold and read them; but I've learned that an e-reader can be a nice addition to an ever-growing library in limited space!

I have an iPad and have some iBooks but tend to stick with the Kindle app and Amazon as the selection is so much better. I had gotten to the point that I was doing most of my reading on audiobooks so the e-book was a leap in the right direction.

I love the dictionary, the Wikipedia and Google search, the highlighter, and the notes. And I just simply don't have the shelf space for another physical book.

I tend to end up paying some amount for the classics because I like the introductions, footnotes, etc. of a good edition and I like a modern translation if the book is in a foreign language. Only translations as old as the book are likely to be in the public domain.

I use the Kindle and love it, reading about a quarter of my books on it.

I love my Kindle! I do still run out and buy a copy of a book if I get it on the kindle and then fall in love with it.

I have Kindle on my iPad, but I have yet to finish a book on it. I read real books because I am nervous to get my iPad stolen on public transportation...where I do most of my reading.

I have a Kindle and I use the Kindle app on my iPad. I would say I do about 50/50. I love cookbooks and they are no good at all for me on an e-reader. I usually read 2 or 3 books at a time so I usually have a physical book, a cookbook and a book on my Kindle. My favorite application for the Kindle is for travelling. It's great to load it up and that's all you need for the week and you know you won't run out of reading material!

Thanks to Kindle, Goodreads discussions and running out of space I have now added Audible and Netflix to my entertainment choices.

I watched The Forsyte Saga yesterday after listening to it on Librivox. Soames:(Damian Lewis)also Nicholas Brody in the Showtime series Homeland. Very well done.

Reading A dream of red mansions on my kindle after trying for weeks to track down a book copy. I also like the free classics available on the kindle.

I have used a Sony E-Reader once. It was an ok experience for reading a novel.

I have used my ipad to read a few books. In general, I prefer a printed book, but there are a few situations where reading an ebook is better. 1. When I am traveling and want to have lots of choices in small space. 2. When the ebook has enhanced features like extra photos or video. I am currently reading Rin Tin Tin this way, and the extras are really adding to my enjoyment of the story.

I have a Kindle 3 with the keyboard. I love it! I resisted going to an e-reader, but I was surprised by what a pleasant reading experience it provides. I made it through the Brothers Karamazov the week after I got the Kindle, even though I had attempted it long before and only made it halfway through...

I'm not sure how I ever functioned without my Kindle. Absolutely love it.

I have a NOOK Color. I really enjoy reading books on it, but I do prefer printed books.

I use a Kindle and love it. I use it about 40% of the time.

I have a Kindle App on my iPad and absolutely love it. That and iBooks have revolutionised the way I read. I read a lot anyway, but for some reason (it could be the back lighing on the ipad, I don't know) I read a lot faster in eBook format. I love to lie in bed in the dark reading and listening to music on my iPad. Still have physical books and make a point of getting a book out of the libary every 2 weeks to support the library service.

I just got the kindle touch and absolutely love it!

Just got a Kindle Fire and the power was out several times for quite a awhile. No problem with a kindle and the print is the size I need.

I have a Kindle and just got a Kindle Fire for Christmas... I totally love them, but I'm about half and half. I am usually reading one book on my Kindle and one real book. I cannot stay away from used books stores! If I don't really love the book, I will donate it to my local library. I am really loving the free classics on Amazon, plus it has a daily deal for $.99 and the site now does a "Lending Library" that allows you to borrow a Kindle book, but only if you have the Amazon Prime. IF you can't tell, I kind of love Amazon...

On my iPhone I have a few apps-a kindle, nook, kobo and ibooks. It comes in handy if I get stuck waiting somewhere and don't have a book with me. I also have a literati, which I haven't used in some time since I got my iPhone.

Aside from the sentimental bond one has with paper books, the Kindle is far superior.

Oh, how I love my Kindle, let me count the ways:

Portability
Instant dictionary
Notes in the margins
Highlights with ease
Still able to "fall into the book"
Turns many books into audio books
Ease of use for carpal tunnel or arthritis
Font changes for vision issues
Instant access to millions of books
Don't have to wait for paperback to save money

With effort I could continue.

I still read and love paper books. The Kindle has only enhanced my reading life. Is the Kindle a panacea for bibliophiles? No, there are times when only paper will do (i.e. bathtub - don't learn THAT lesson) But in raw comparison, the Kindle beats a paper book on every point but sentiment. Even then I would argue that those who have a Kindle feel very passionately about them.

Love my Kindle. Carrying my whole library in a small tablet has been a blessing. Just love it.

I still get my paper "fix" with books that are not available in the Kindle edition. But, as Jennifer says above, the Kindle is superior in many ways. I have a Kindle keyboard version.

I have just got a Kindle.

I didn't mean, above, that the Kindle is superior to other ereaders, I meant that it is superior to paper in many ways. I suspect the value of reading electronically is probably pretty much the same regardless of which reader you use.