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Hi folks.
I've mentioned this publication before. . .great info on new books coming out and, basically, everything 'book'.
Except. . . .e-books. I previously wrote to them asking if they'd do an issue on e-books and e-book readers. Not there yet, but in the Editor's letter of the Jan/Feb 2009 issue, he did discuss e-readers, specifically mentioning the Kindle. He didn't seem very enthused, however, so I wrote the following letter. (I wish I could link to the the Editor Letter but it's not yet on the website.) Anyway, here's what I said.
Dear Sir:
I read your letter in the Jan/Feb issue with great interest. I have had my Kindle for about 6 months and I love it. That's not to say I'm going to abandon the many many volumes of paper books I have on my shelves. But most of the new books I buy will probably be for the Kindle.
One thing really caught my eye. You said
"Serendipity is curtailed as well: I've discovered so many interesting books as I was making my way to the far end of the bookstore. Those pleasant surprises seem harder to come by with a digital experience."
I disagree. Now, I love bookstores. . .and will never pass one by even though I now have my Kindle. Usually I buy something, too. It is true that the 'browsing for books' experience is different, but there is an equal degree of serendipity, I feel.
I am one of the moderators on KindleBoards.com, a national web community of book and Kindle lovers. We talk about our Kindles, about the accessories we by for our Kindles, and, mostly, about the books we are reading, have read, or want to read. Members have recommended books in all genres and I've given many of them a try, even when it wasn't something I normally read. I probably would not have found them by browsing in a bookstore, because they'd likely have been shelved in a section I wouldn't normally visit. But the discussions and Book Klubs (_K_lubs because we require that the books be available for Kindle) have encouraged me to try genres and authors I never would have before.
We also talk with each other about non-mainstream authors we've discovered who do good work, but whose books are not likely to be found in a physical book store because they're not with one of the big publishers. We even have several of these authors as members and one of our Klubs will be "reading with the author" where we'll discuss the books and also be able to learn what the writer was thinking/feeling/envisioning as he or she wrote it.
In short, I agree with your conclusion that physical bookstores will always exist in some form. But I also think there's plenty of room for e-books. Many who buy e-books of favorite authors also want the physical books to display on their shelves and lend to friends. Early readers were expensive and didn't give a good experience. But the next generation, like the Kindle, provide a reading experience easily on par with curling up with a good book. In addition, some of our KindleBoard members report that because of disabilities, they find reading on the Kindle easier than reading a paper book. So they're reading more. . .and buying more books!
I love Bookmarks and usually find something in your pages that I want to try. I've talked it up on KindleBoards. You should come by and check us out. . .
So I just wanted to share. Do check out their website: www.bookmarksmagazine.com. Subscribe, if you like. . .and then ask them to talk about e-books!
Ann
I've mentioned this publication before. . .great info on new books coming out and, basically, everything 'book'.
Except. . . .e-books. I previously wrote to them asking if they'd do an issue on e-books and e-book readers. Not there yet, but in the Editor's letter of the Jan/Feb 2009 issue, he did discuss e-readers, specifically mentioning the Kindle. He didn't seem very enthused, however, so I wrote the following letter. (I wish I could link to the the Editor Letter but it's not yet on the website.) Anyway, here's what I said.
Dear Sir:
I read your letter in the Jan/Feb issue with great interest. I have had my Kindle for about 6 months and I love it. That's not to say I'm going to abandon the many many volumes of paper books I have on my shelves. But most of the new books I buy will probably be for the Kindle.
One thing really caught my eye. You said
"Serendipity is curtailed as well: I've discovered so many interesting books as I was making my way to the far end of the bookstore. Those pleasant surprises seem harder to come by with a digital experience."
I disagree. Now, I love bookstores. . .and will never pass one by even though I now have my Kindle. Usually I buy something, too. It is true that the 'browsing for books' experience is different, but there is an equal degree of serendipity, I feel.
I am one of the moderators on KindleBoards.com, a national web community of book and Kindle lovers. We talk about our Kindles, about the accessories we by for our Kindles, and, mostly, about the books we are reading, have read, or want to read. Members have recommended books in all genres and I've given many of them a try, even when it wasn't something I normally read. I probably would not have found them by browsing in a bookstore, because they'd likely have been shelved in a section I wouldn't normally visit. But the discussions and Book Klubs (_K_lubs because we require that the books be available for Kindle) have encouraged me to try genres and authors I never would have before.
We also talk with each other about non-mainstream authors we've discovered who do good work, but whose books are not likely to be found in a physical book store because they're not with one of the big publishers. We even have several of these authors as members and one of our Klubs will be "reading with the author" where we'll discuss the books and also be able to learn what the writer was thinking/feeling/envisioning as he or she wrote it.
In short, I agree with your conclusion that physical bookstores will always exist in some form. But I also think there's plenty of room for e-books. Many who buy e-books of favorite authors also want the physical books to display on their shelves and lend to friends. Early readers were expensive and didn't give a good experience. But the next generation, like the Kindle, provide a reading experience easily on par with curling up with a good book. In addition, some of our KindleBoard members report that because of disabilities, they find reading on the Kindle easier than reading a paper book. So they're reading more. . .and buying more books!
I love Bookmarks and usually find something in your pages that I want to try. I've talked it up on KindleBoards. You should come by and check us out. . .
So I just wanted to share. Do check out their website: www.bookmarksmagazine.com. Subscribe, if you like. . .and then ask them to talk about e-books!
Ann
