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