Friday 28 October 2011

Reading or Writing?

I was trying to decide which of two ideas to blog about today. First, I thought I'd share my latest writing dilemma, trying to write 250 words on a set theme, but then I saw an article online and thought I'd prefer to chat about the idea discussed.

So the 250 word issue will be Monday's post.

The article that caught my attention was 'I’m not ashamed of what’s loaded on my e-reader – are you?' by  in The Telegraph online, book section.

Now this appears to have come about from a survey- though who compiled it isn't mentioned, so judge it how you will.

" Meanwhile, a quarter of us are too embarrassed to admit to owning the e-books we are actually reading – mainly thrillers, mysteries and fantasy."

I find that admission surprising as the people I know with e-readers wouldn't be embarrassed to admit owning such books in digital form. So perhaps the people who answered the survey were high-brow types whose usual (admitted) reading matter is literary fiction...

It's understandable that sales of erotica in e-book form would have increased. In the view of some of the population, anyone seen reading erotica (with their revealing covers) might be considered disgraceful- to put it politely. While many readers and writers know that it is a popular genre, and if you want to buy it and read it then, fine, no problem.

There are likely to be quite a few classics that have been downloaded for free, Charles Dickens, Jane Austen and the Brontes among them. I know I have quite a few classics on my e-reader.

Here is a small  selection of e-books I have on my pocket reader currently- I have more in my reader library that I've read and taken off my reader, so I only have the ones on there that I'm reading, or have yet to read.

  • Around the World in 80 Days - Jules Verne.
  • The Count of Monte Cristo- Alexander Dumas (I read this as a teenager, along with The Three Musketeers).
  • Delight and Desire- Joanne Maitland.
  • Diamonds and Pearls- assorted writers (brilliant book).
  • Four in Hand- Stephanie Laurens (a favourite, always makes me smile when I read it).
  • Georgette Heyer's Regency World- Jennifer Kloester (I have a book copy too).
  • Innocent Courtesan to Adventurer's Bride- Louise Allen.
  • Loves Me, Loves Me Not-Romantic Novelists' Association (another must have).
  • The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy- Douglas Adams (I've actually finished it now).
  • Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell-Susanna Clarke.
  • The Uncommon Reader- Alan Bennet.
  • The Unlacing of Miss Leigh-Diane Gaston.
You get the idea. I won't bore you with all the current 71 books...:-)

So what books have you got on your e-reader? Are there any on your e-reader that you would not want to admit to owning? (If there are, you don't have to tell all.)

Now I'm off to browse some e-books by a couple of authors I haven't read before...
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8 comments:

Teresa Ashby said...

I don't have an e-reader, but I have bought e-books to read on my PC and thinking about it, I probably would be too embarrassed to reveal what some of them are (I got them for research purposes!)

71 books though - imagine all the space you've saved on bookshelves, not to mention all the trees :-)

Carolb said...

Yes, research purpose books are not always the type anyone might want to reveal...:-)
But you make a good point about reading e-books on your computer, Teresa. A writer friend uses his mobile phone to read them too.

At least with the books on my reader I don't have my husband saying 'not more books!'.
I'd not thought about the trees aspect, but yes that's a lot of trees when you think about it.

Helen Baggott said...

Don't have an e-reader either. I certainly wouldn't want to read a book on my PC.

Only book we've both read is the Diamonds and Pearls collection. Some good stories there, but the typos were a terrible distraction.

Rosemary Gemmell said...

E-books are great for downloading books we might only want to read once but not keep. I have a great selection of genres I might not have bought in print (but no erotica!). And I wouldn't mind anyone seeing my choice.

Rosemary Gemmell said...

Meant to say I have Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell in print - huge volume, so ebook would easier! I enjoyed it although a friend couldn't even get into it.

Patsy said...

I don't have an e-reader but I don't feel embarrassesd about the real books I read.

Avril said...

Just got Julian Barnes on my Kindle for the ridiculous price of £3.99. Also Losing Jonathan by Robert and Linda Waxler (I met them once) a heart rending story of the loss of their first son age 26 to heroin (But definitely not misery in any way - highly recommend it - it is very moving). I've got some Anais Nin - erotica, plenty of Charles Dickens and of course of my own novel which I recently put on Kindle and love to see it there among the other novels. Someone who bought it recently told me they got a Jane Austen download at the same time. Wow! I love books but I'm a big e-reader fan too.

Carolb said...

Baggy, typos always manage to get into books, but I think they are more noticable on an e-reader.

You're right Rosemary, e-readers are great for those books you want to read but wouldn't keep to read again.
I am having difficulty getting into the Jonathan Strange and Nr Norrell book too.

Thanks for commenting Patsy.

Congratulations on your Kindle novel, Avril, hope it sells well.
I do think e-readers are a good platform for books that might have had difficulty getting a publisher for a paper version because of their length or subject matter.
Thanks for sharing some of your e-book choices.