Vaginal Fantasy Book Club discussion

I love love love my Nook. I am completely enamored of being able to carry around tons of books and not take up more space than a pad of paper. I also love that I can get all the classic books I want for free. I have tons of older household manuals and cookbooks from the 16th Century on up to the 1920's, all on my Nook. I might be able to find paper copies, but they'd cost me a ton. Most of them I can't find in paper format. I also love the feel of paper books. For me, it comes down to access. I love having my books around, in whatever form.

My husband bought me a Kindle for my birthday over a year ago. I was originally unsure how much I would like it because I love books.. I've always been one who liked the feel and smell of them.

I have to say I'm a convert...

First, I'm a voracious reader. I read an average of 6 books a week and we have an entire room that is covered in floor to ceiling bookshelves that are completely full. Now my Kindle currently has the over 300 books on it that I've read in the last year. It's definitely been a space saver.

In addition, I've come to like the convenience of the ereader. The book is always at the last page I read when I turn it on.

I got a Kindle because I like E Ink technology. It really is so much easier on the eyes than reading on a computer. No glare and I have a case with a built in light for the times I want to read without adequate ambient light.

I miss being able to donate my books to the library and I still buy actual paper copies of several types of books... anything where I need color illustrations or photos.

My library has offered both e-book and paper copies of many of the books. To be perfect honest, referring back to the OP, for the things I read for the Vaginal Fantasy Hangout I do tend to try to get them for Kindle. I work in academia and would get very strange looks reading some of them. That said, if I can get them for free in a paper version or have to pay for the Kindle, I'll read the paper version anyway, no questions asked.

Regina wrote: "I'm a graphic designer for a children's publisher(I do mostly teen/YA novels, especially teen romances), so the whole idea of buying books on e versus print because of the cover makes me feel like ..."

E-books are for grown-ups. :D Well, not really, but imo children need a different reading experience to adults, and actually I think that's more important *after* they're fairly fluent at decoding (phonic decoding is a huge issue in UK education atm; let's not go there!). Pictures and text work in harmony to help deliver meaning and all sorts of nuances you can't get from simple text. Given the current state of e-ink technology, it's just not suitable for little ones and that's why my house is exploding with picture books :)

I think it's also true of text books/non-fiction, to a large degree - most photos, tables and graphs simply don't work on a little Kindle screen, and LCDs are generally uncomfortable to read for long periods.

I've said it before, but possibly not here - eBooks are the death of the cheap airport paperback, but there'll always be room on paper for anything that requires more than plain text. I think it's a good thing in terms of paper usage and wastage, really.

Up until I became visually impaired, I loved the feeling of books, the texture, weight and feel of paper is magical. With my remaining vision I'm limited to either ebooks or audio. Don't get me wrong I love the digital ability to increase the font size, flip to white on black and store various books on one device and without this i wouldn't be able to read full stop. But I still miss holding a book.

Jen wrote: "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 ..."

Got my MLIS last August! In case you're feeling the need to get nerdy in that particular way..

In general, I prefer paper books for the physical interaction; but since getting an Android phone I do read ebooks on it too... I guess I'm close to 50/50, though I definitely prefer to get a paper book if I'm going to pay money for it, fortunately my library has a good ebook selection.. and if a cover is particularly bad (I don't mind if someone knows I'm reading romance.... but HELLO HERE'S MY WAXEN MAN CHEST is sometimes a bit much for me..)

I've quickly become an avid e-reader, because in the last year I have moved 3 times and hauling all my books (and future books) was becoming far too much of a hassle for my poor back. I still enjoy paper books, and always will, but with the e-reader it turns into a matter of saving money and space.

E-books at work so it's not so obvious and paper at home.

I absolutely LOVE paperback/hardcover books. The smell, how they feel in my hand, everything. If I love a book enough as an ebook, I will eventually get the physical copy of the book! I used to read a lot on my iPhone using my iBooks app, but that became frustrating after awhile because of the tiny screen. Then, I went back to carrying around books in my purse and after beating up a few books in my purse and resulting to having to purchase a bigger purse... I broke down and bought a Kindle Keyboard. I am absolutely in love with it! So many books at my fingertips, lightweight, no glare in the sunlight (unlike my phone), greener for the earth... Everything about it is simply wonderful. Even though I enjoy having my (physical) books to look at on my bookshelves, I thoroughly enjoy my Kindle!

As for privacy reasons: I truly embarrass VERY easily. lol ;p I have never purchased a (physical) book with a 'ripped' guy on the front or anything like that. I am working towards it though! Perhaps one day ;)

I love my kindle, though my partner refers to it as "the death of books", however I still need certain books in paperback.
I have my favorite authors all in paperback.
I adore second hand book stores! The smell of old books and the chance of finding a absolute gem among the rubble is thrilling.
In an Ideal world I would own an extremely large library with every book I have ever read (good or bad) and every book I would ever want to read. The facts are though that I live in a smallish 2 bedroom townhouse and we just don't have the room, so I stick to my favorites and read the rest on the kindle.
I will always enter a bookstore (or comic book store ) though whenever I come across one.

I prefer paper books when I pick up cookery or crafting books, but apart from that the Kindle is much more practical for me. I've never really had the habit of smelling books so that side has never bothered me, and holding a book has always strained my wrist after a few hours. Plus when you fall asleep reading a Kindle it doesn't hurt when it falls on your head, a book does.

Probably living in a one bedroom flat for 4 years with my boyfriend and trying to find more space for our ever growing paper book collection may have also contributed to my love of the e reader.

This kind of makes me want to go back to paper...

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbi...

I really enjoy reading on my iPad Kindle app ... it used to be because I didn't have a huge clutter of books around the house because I read insanely fast ... now it is because of the ability to look things up and research things further when you come against something you haven't heard of before.

I LOVE reading a real book...but, I have run out of bookshelf space in my home! With my ereader I can buy cheap, and increase the font at night if my eyes are tired!

I had this very debate with a friend a few days ago, and he gave me ONE undeniably awesome reason for getting an eReader.

NO.1 Why eReaders are good: reading in bed, at night, when you have a sleeping partner next to you.

I love books. I love the smell. I love writing notes, highlighting, seeing the cover every time I pick it up, seeing my physical progress in the thickness of where my bookmark rests, having piles of them surround me in my office space. *happy sigh*

But that reading at night thing...I may ask for a simple tablet for Xmas, God help me and my million other gadgets.

Nancy-Elizabeth wrote: "I had this very debate with a friend a few days ago, and he gave me ONE undeniably awesome reason for getting an eReader.

NO.1 Why eReaders are good: reading in bed, at night, when you have a slee..."

I got the nook with glowlight (gift, but I got to choose which one I wanted) pretty much for that reason.

I'm debating getting on the tablet train when I have some spare cash to help writing as well as reading*, but in the mean time I use a little glow bookmark that is ridiculously bright. I complain that it doesn't focus on the page too well, my husband complains that it's directly in his face all the time. The one time I hate traditional books is in bed.

*Does anyone have an non ipad suggestion for a tablet that is a good e-reader (ie: good battery life, not too bright) AND can have some kind of app that syncs writing files between several computers and allows you to edit? My system right now is that I keep all my files as .docs in a dropbox folder, which syncs with my 3 computers (laptop, desktop, work machine) as well as my iPhone. When travelling, I review my writing on my iPhone and it drives me nuts that I can't make small edits to typos I catch because dropbox is "read only". I don't need anything for media playing or surfing though. Trying to keep it affordable.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I prefer print books but have so many, I could use them to build on an extension to my house! I just got a kindle and was directed to pixel of ink which has free ebooks and will probably fill up my kindle soon.
I guess I'm just addicted....to knowledge, to new ideas, to truth as well as fantasy. :) But I know nothing better than curling up with a nice, pleasant smelling book (I also have a 'fetish' for a certain type of paper in books...with the ragged edges at the end ??), a latte, a cat in my lap next to a warm fire in a comfy chair while it is drizzling outside. Sigh, happiness.

Becky wrote: " (I also have a 'fetish' for a certain type of paper in books...with the ragged edges at the end ??)"

The finish you referred to is called "deckled edges."

I mainly read on my kindle now because it is more convenient, plus I tend to rip pages... whoops.

I prefer the feel of a paper book, but with no book stores nearby I have to order on Amazon or stock up on books when we make the long drive into Thunder Bay to the used book store. The Kindle lets me order a book and start reading instantly. Maybe if I upgrade to the newer version I'll like it more.