Vaginal Fantasy Book Club discussion

After seeing this article from The Wall Street Journal about ebook-only erotica titles, "Books Women Read When No One Can See the Cover", and seeing comments scattered throughout the discussion threads here, I've wondered what everyone's personal preference is: physical, paper books or ebooks on a device?

I personally read whatever kind of copy of the book I can get my hands on, paper or ebook.

Also, any thoughts on the article's topic, ebook-only titles for privacy/shame reasons?

This is just my personal style and opinion. I don't care who sees what I'm reading. They don't know me, and if they are going to judge me by my book cover then shame on them. I read in any form I can get the book in, hardcover, paperback, e-book...I love to read.

Paper! I love print media.

I read eBook only, but not for the reasons in that article. A reader is just so much more convenient. Paper won't fit in my purse and with paper I have to decide way ahead of time what I want to read in order to have it with me. On my Kindle I can change my mind and read any of the hundreds of my books in my library whenever I feel like it, no matter where I am.

The only paper I buy these days is hardcovers from authors where I already have part of a series. I don't read those, they just sit on the shelf looking pretty. I will buy an eCopy to actually read in a case like that case.

I'm with Coral... The convenience just can't be overlooked. I carry my Kindle EVERYWHERE and will whip it out whenever I have a spare moment (even while standing outside waiting for the postal lady to finish loading the mailboxes).

Though I will admit that while I proudly read many Harlequin books with racy covers before my kindle, I have probably ventured even further into erotica b/c while I'm not ashamed, I don't handle attention well and don't want people looking at me. *shrugs*

Call me old-fashioned, but I like not to depend too much on technology with these sorts of things.. If I had all my books on a kindle and it broke, I would suddenly be without any books (though I'm not familiar with the kindle, so I don't know if there's a way to recover lost books again). When I have my books in paper at least I know they're there, and that they won't just vanish overnight due to some fault on the kindle, but maybe that's just me being a bit paranoid... As for book covers I really don't mind that other people see what I read. Most people don't care anyways.
Also, books look so lovely on a shelf :b

I really don't have a preference. I read things on my kindle mostly, because for me it's easier and cheaper to get books that way as opposed to buying or borrowing the physical copy.

I do miss looking at old-school sci-fi/fantasy covers though, they usually told so much about what you were gonna read. But with the horrible trend of white-washing covers or ignoring what actually happens in the book, I find I don’t care anymore.

I don't care who knows what I'm reading. But I think most people on goodreads would feel that way--we're already putting it out there!

I love reading ebooks, though. It's something I never thought I'd say for nostalgia reasons, but it really did make a big difference in my life.

Your books on the Kindle exist on an archive at Amazon. If your Kindle breaks, you get a new Kindle (or get it fixed), register it to your account, and all your books are still available to you. You can also read your Kindle books on your smart phone, iPad, or PC. I think I've got four or five devices that contain my Kindle library on them at the moment. I mostly read Kindle books on my iPad these days. And I'm definitely an ebook reader. It's lightweight, easier to turn pages, easier to prop up, and with my iPad, I can read with the lights off. (I don't know why I like that so much, maybe it just reminds me of childhood and holding a flashlight under the covers.)

Luna wrote: "Call me old-fashioned, but I like not to depend too much on technology with these sorts of things.. If I had all my books on a kindle and it broke, I would suddenly be without any books (though I'm..."

I'm not sure about the other readers, but with the Kindle anything you've bought you can download again whenever you want, as many times as you want. In the event that your Kindle breaks you can take up reading the same book in roughly the same place when you get a replacement, assuming you synched up recently. Nothing is gone or lost in the event of tragedy, just so you know. :)

They also really don't break all that easily. We've owned three different ones in the last four years and I've had to call tech support only twice and neither issue was something that resulted in me not being able to read--once my software update kept failing and once the power button was sticky out of the box.

I have a Kindle, but I still prefer paper books. It just fells better, but the fact that thousands of books can be loaded onto a kindle is convenient. However lately when I've been buying a book, its been paper.

Coral wrote: "I'm not sure about other readers, but with the Kindle anything you've bought you can download again whenever you want, as many times as you want."

Sarah wrote: "Your books on the Kindle exist on an archive at Amazon. If your Kindle breaks, you get a new Kindle (or get it fixed), register it to your account, and all your books are still available to you."

Ah I see, that IS quite smart, and I do see how it's so much easier with an kindle.. but i dunno. I guess I'm going to miss holding an actual book in my hands when I read and being able to write notes in my books (I tend to do that), so I think I'm going to stick with paper anyways.

I prefer paper books, because they're versatile and I can take them everywhere - I have a Kindle also but can't take it to work, etc because it would probably get stolen. (I don't work in a great area.) If I traveled more I would probably use the Kindle more - it's been fabulous on planes & trains.
I definitely can't read anything for a long time on a backlit screen. So I stick with the original eink Kindle.
When I buy a copy of a book that I want to keep, though, I always get the paper version. For some reason (perhaps decades of owning computers that have crashed & been updated) I feel like Kindle books are more etherial than paper. Who knows if the technology will be supported 20 or 30 years from now, whereas I have paper books that are much much older than that.

Luna wrote: "Call me old-fashioned, but I like not to depend too much on technology with these sorts of things.. If I had all my books on a kindle and it broke, I would suddenly be without any books (though I'm..."

If you purchased your books via Amazon, they should be archived on your Amazon account. Otherwise, I guess simple computer backup would be best.

I just got a Kindle for Christmas. So far, I absolutely love it. It's extremely convenient. However, I still like my paper book collection. I guess I'll just have to see how my taste progresses. I think there will always be series, or specific books on want in print.

I usually read on my iPod. but if I can get it on paper from the library and not actually have to buy it that is all the better.

I prefer paper although I do read ebooks on my Kindle. I like the exposure to indie and HTF authors and the inexpensive goodies available in ebook, but at the end of the day, I am a paper book girl.

Luna wrote: and being able to write notes in my books (I tend to do that),

I've never written a note in a paper book, but I write notes on ebooks all the time, I think because they're so easy to delete when I want to get rid of them. I like to put a note on the first page of a book to remind me what I thought of it. (I read a lot and sometimes I don't remember whether I've read a book or not, usually when it didn't really appeal to me after I started.)

Sarah wrote: "Luna wrote: and being able to write notes in my books (I tend to do that),

I've never written a note in a paper book, but I write notes on ebooks all the time, I think because they're so easy to ..."

Very clever!

I love reading a 'proper' paper book, nothing beats the smell and feel of a new book. But, like Coral, I love my Kindle for convenience. The ability to change my mind and read something else in a moment's notice when I'm out and about is a godsend. The best thing though is I can purchase books before their release date here in Australia at a significantly cheaper price. It has meant that I have been able to read more.

I love both and feel Kindle has only expanded my horizons. As for being able to read more guilty pleasure stuff because the Kindle disguises it...nah. Not much of a factor for me. I embarrass myself daily so I gave up trying a long time ago.

I prefer My Sony ereader, it allows me to adjust the font type and size to suit my eyes. If I was forced to read a paper book I'd have to break out the reading glasses.

Jaime the Wizzard wrote: "I do miss looking at old-school sci-fi/fantasy covers though, they usually told so much about what you were gonna read."

I love some of the covers. I set my Sony to show the book cover whenever it goes to sleep or is shutdown.

For me, it depends on whether I will value the book. I'm gradually progressing into buying more books on my ereader, but I will always buy print books for the series I love enough to display.

My husband bought me an eReader a few years ago and it's handy for taking books on vacation - especially with the cost of overweight luggage these days. But mostly, I get my books from the library and prefer paper - good thing since they have a significantly larger catalogue of paper copies. I am finding more and more resources only available digitally and I'm good with that.

I also have an eReader app on my phone for emergency reading when I have no book handy or just finished the one in my purse. The app is also ridiculously handy on a crowded bus - one hand, turn pages with a touch of my thumb!

I wish that when I bought a copy of a book on amazon or other site that I would have the option of getting a digital copy (like a kindle version). I would love that even if I had to pay a dollar or two more. I will not buy a book twice at full price. That is just silly to me. I mean, I am already buying the print version of the book! come on!

Caitlin wrote: "For me, it depends on whether I will value the book. I'm gradually progressing into buying more books on my ereader, but I will always buy print books for the series I love enough to display."

I completely agree. I like to display the books I love but I want to be able to read them more than once without completely destroying them. There is a lot of value in ebooks but sometimes print is just the way to go. I want the best of both worlds!! and for a reasonable price!

Jessica wrote: "I wish that when I bought a copy of a book on amazon or other site that I would have the option of getting a digital copy (like a kindle version). I would love that even if I had to pay a dollar or..."

That is a great idea! I don't know if this would ever actually happen though.

Maybe if they did that people would not pirate books as much. It would also be a good way to introduce multimedia literature to those that have not tried ebooks. I live in a small town and I very rarely see anyone with a kindle or other ereader.

Seriously, you pay a few dollars more for a blu-ray movie and you get a dvd and a digital copy. No one expects you to buy the same movie in multiple formats for full price each!

I prefer paper books because I like the feel of them in my hands, but I'll use my ipad if I don't feel like going to the bookstore or library for something new.

I love my books. I love the feel and smell of them and the way they're neatly placed by author and date released on my shelves. Some of my books however, have questionable covers (i.e. Most of my Anita Blake series that have nothing to do with the book or it's story but everything to do with making someone think that I'm reading some steamy romance novel when in actuality I'm reading about the newest horrific murder scene she's being dragged through.) So I've switched to my Kindle which was given to me as a birthday gift last year. It's surprisingly light to have in my purse for having so many books in it. Overall the convenience of my Kindle is better than my need for the physical copies of the books. However, if I love that book dearly, I'll search for a cheap hardcover copy of that book to have on my shelves.

Lenore wrote: "I'm with Coral... The convenience just can't be overlooked. I carry my Kindle EVERYWHERE and will whip it out whenever I have a spare moment (even while standing outside waiting for the postal la..."

I'm so glad you said that, I carry my kindle everywhere too. Anytime, I'm in a long line, riding public transportation, or just waiting for someone... Is it possible to develop a co-dependency on an inanimate object? :)

I just love to read. Paper, Kindle, on my phone, whatever. If a book was written on cheese I'd read it.

I don't care about book covers or what assumptions people make about what I'm reading. I haven't actually read a lot of romance which is one of the reasons I joined this group. I need help deciding where to start, and I love to talk about books. So if someone were to give me "that look" when I whipped out my Kindle they'd have a good chance of being wrong. :)

I have two Kindles, (used to have three but gave one to the ex) and I usually have at least one of them with me at all times.

I'll read/listen in any convenient and inexpensive format. I don't care about aesthetics; I just want to read the words.

I do use covers for my paperbacks mostly because I'm shoving them in my purse a lot and they get a little worn. I started doing this after I treated a borrowed book shabbily. I felt so bad I went out and bought a new version to return to my kind friend who didn't deserve to have his book returned to him all beat up.

Plus, the covers have a built in bookmark, so that cuts down on my dog-earing habit.

No matter what, I always have a book on me: either my ereader, a paperback, or short story collections on my phone.

I will happily read in either format, but must admit that I read more and more on my Sony Reader. It's just so light and convenient, and I don't have to worry about the book getting damaged in my handbag. It's also lighter to carry around than a hardback book, and the minute I finish a book, I can start another one. It's an absolute life saver on long journeys, and it means I can read while standing up on a crowded bus or tram, something not so easy to do with a paperback or hardback book. If I really love a book, I will often end up buying it in paperback too, though, so I can lend it to all my friends who have not embraced e-readers yet.

I will read in either format but I have to say that I love my Nook. It is so much easier to carry and around and lighter depending on what book I am reading. Another bonus is that I have the first generation Nook so I has automatic 3G. I can download a new book from anywhere or just browse my already massive ebook library.

Cenadra wrote: I'm so glad you said that, I carry my kindle everywhere too. Anytime, I'm in a long line, riding public transportation, or just waiting for someone... Is it possible to develop a co-dependency on an inanimate object? :)

Yes...we should start a support group...

ps - I want a "Smut" kindle cover...sign me up when someone starts producing them...

I like both formats, but I enjoy paper books more. I don't know what it is... maybe the smell... or physically having the book in my hands. But due to living in an aparment I'm rather limited in space so out comes my iPad. If I really enjoy the book, I'll go out and buy a physical copy of it.

I really don't care if I get weird looks about what I am reading. I think, that person who is giving the weird looks deep down wants to read the same book.

i was reading "breaking dawn" on the bus station...the gazes people gave me were priceless.
But going back to the main topic, i look at the monitor's screen enough at college 9 computer science requires lots of hours spent in front of the pc) so my heart is still captive of paper books. Books should be smelled, touched...

I think it's interesting to see that most paper-lovers claim that either the smell or the touch is the factor that keeps them from reading ebooks...

to me it was very simple. i enjoy reading outside and since there's a river i can swim in in front of my flat there was never a choice, after all, how can i leave my ebook-reader behind when i go swimming? same with vacations. also, and that was maybe my main factor: a book can't run out of battery!

still, since going on vacation in february and seeing every tourist 60+ with either a kindle or an ipad, it got me thinking, maybe my generation has it backwards... or do we simply not read any more?

either way, i will probably buy an ebook reader eventually, but only if they start bringing them out in colours! i mean the casing, obviously.
at the latest i will buy it once my vision degrades from old age, because on the readers you can zoom in! hurray!

I'm studying to be a librarian (I know, right?) so I love books. I love print books. I love to be surrounded by them and I love to see them on my bookshelves in my personal library, so I'm totally with Alexis on this. But, I also know that eBooks are "the future" and I completely understand the convenience. Personally, since I'm in grad school and cost is a consideration, I find print books to still be less expensive for me. I don't have enough money to buy an e-reader, so any reading I do of eBooks is on my computer or smartphone, and I'm not a fan (gives me a headache). As far as hiding covers, I work at a Christian university, so carrying around a book with a racy cover *might* get me in trouble. Usually, I don't really care about the cover art. Speaking of covers, though, does anyone else feel that some romance novel covers are stuck in the 80s?

I was originally like a lot of you, where I didn't want to switch to an e-reader because I loved the smell and feel of actual books. And I loved the idea of collecting all these books to line my bookshelves with when I got my own place. But I realized that I could put all my books and documents on it for college classes, instead of carrying around heavy books, and printing tons of documents (many of my class readings were PDFs, so I put them all on my Kindle). And I was also able to make notes and highlight important points in these readings for school, which came in handy for writing essays. I was sold, and asked for one for Christmas. It's safe to say I haven't looked back, since I got my Kindle. And now I read more than ever, especially after joining Goodreads, and realizing how many books I want to read!

Flora wrote: "either way, i will probably buy an ebook reader eventually, but only if they start bringing them out in colours! i mean the casing, obviously."

The Kobo ereader (from Chapters in Canada) does have different colours. You can choose from white, silver, black, baby blue and lilac.

Sony has one that comes in red as well.

“Books are the perfect entertainment: no commercials, no batteries, hours of enjoyment for each dollar spent. What I wonder is why everybody doesn't carry a book around for those inevitable dead spots in life.”
― Stephen King

this quote should explain why paper books are bether

I'm not trying to convert anyone, I promise, but I do like to debunk misinformation. I see so many people saying "paper books can't run out of batteries," but it's not like you're charging an eReader every day, or even every week. My Kindle only needs charging about once a month and I read every day. As long as you turn the wireless off (I keep mine off most of the time, just turn it on about once a week to get my new books) it lasts for many hours without charging. It's really not like most electronic devices where you're constantly looking for an outlet. In more than three years of constant use I think it's died at an inopportune time only once. We had a week-long blackout last fall and I kept reading the entire time with an attached reading light that I also would have needed for a paper book.

If you want to stick with paper that's great, just don't do it for reasons that aren't accurate. :)

Coral wrote: "I'm not trying to convert anyone, I promise, but I do like to debunk misinformation. I see so many people saying "paper books can't run out of batteries," but it's not like you're charging an eRead..."

i admit that the energy thing is not accurate but an ebook does not and never will bring up pleasant memories. Althgrough the downside is that to print a book a tree must fall, ebooks will never get through to me. i've spent the entire morning converting numbers into binary code so ( at least for the day) don't expect me to like ebooks

Ebooks are ok i guess, but i much prefer paper backs myself. Call me old school but i enjoy the feel of the book in my hands than clutching an electronic device any day

I seem to get better deals on ebooks than paper for books I am interested in reading. I am all about the cash monies. I read ebooks on my computer (or sometimes my phone) cause I do not have another handheld device. If I had to physically buy all the books I wanted to read...I would be living in a library...wait...that sounds awesome. nevermind.

I commute to and from work on the bus and the convenience of an e-reader is fantastic. I've noticed that most of my fellow bus riders also use e-readers, although I do see print books now and then. I don't have to worry about getting close to the end of a book because the next one is just a click away. Also, I get most of my e-books from the library (my library has a great collection), so I've found I spends less than I did before!

Hmm depends on what is cheaper. But one thing I love about the e-reader is people can't see what you're reading so you don't get asked any questions especially if the book is a bit embarrassing to have out in public.

Overal I do love the feel of paper though and I love flipping through the pages, the smell of the book and little things like that which you can't get with an e-reader as such.

That's d same way it is with me too Laura. D turning pages, d smell of d paper and just holding d book connects me to the story more than if i was reading it from a hand held device

I love both,but I'll buy whatevers cheapest.These days it tends to be the digital version of a book that I mostly buy unless its part of a series I'm collecting.I have to say,like a few others on here,I like the fact I can read books on my Sony reader that have embarressing covers on them without people knowing what Im reading.The one thing I dont like about readers is that I cant book stalk other people thanks to them :)

another good side of paper book is thatthey don't break if you accidentally drop them