Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Books instead of kooks

Draculas My plan was to write about Christine O'Donnell and her bizarre comments concerning the First Amendment, but I wrote plenty on Facebook today, and I find that I'm feeling just way too mellow to write anymore about the perky little idiot tonight. I can only handle so much ignorance in a day, and it seems that I have reached my limit.

Instead, I'm going to write about books and e-readers. I'm fortunate to be friends on Facebook with one of my favorite authors, F. Paul Wilson. He writes the Repairman Jack novels (I just got the penultimate one!), one of my favorite characters in modern fiction, as well as many other excellent horror/science fiction novels. Today, he posted that his latest book, a collaboration with three other authors, was available for download. Draculas is on Amazon for a measly $2.99! You can't beat that with a stick—or a crucifix! I popped on over to Amazon, used one-click ordering, and badabing, badaboom, I've got the book.

I don't have an actual Kindle (yet!), but Amazon offers free Kindle downloads for PC and Mac. (Just go to the Kindle store, and look for 'free reading apps.') I honestly can't recall if I've written about it here before, so if I have, please pardon my redundancy. Until I can get an actual Kindle, this is a pretty nifty option, and you can sync your Kindle editions so that you have your books on all of them. There are millions of free books available, some through Amazon, others through Project Gutenberg and other digital book sites. It really is amazing what you can find on there, and I've already got a bunch waiting for me.

As amazing as the e-reader technology is, can it depose printed books? Most of the avid readers that I know love our hard copies...but most of us are also embracing the ease and convenience of the e-reader. After posting the link to the Kindle edition of his book, Mr. Wilson commented that the extras available with the Kindle version would never see the light of day in what he called "p-books." (I'm assuming that means printed books.) There are tons of extras included, like the emails that the four authors exchanged when discussing, planning, and writing the book. This is an amazing thing; I liken it to the evolution from VHS tapes to DVDs. The deleted scenes, alternate scenes, outtakes--all of those are easily accessible on DVD. Including large quantities of notes, discussions, and correspondence concerning a book would never happen with a traditionally published book. This really changes the game, and readers are the big winners here.

Books and DVDs There has been much speculation about what would happen to printed books, bookstores, and especially libraries, with the advent of e-readers. As someone who reads a lot of online content but still treasures holding a book in her hands (as you can probably guess from the bookshelves pictured here), I foresee a peaceful coexistence. If I'm sitting up at the table, it's easy to read online. If I want to relax on the couch or in bed while I read, I don't take the laptop; I have a book to hold in my hands...and eventually let drop as I doze off trying to read just one...more...paragraph. (To be honest, I always try to place my bookmark and set the book aside before I doze off. I don't want to harm the book.)

I read a really interesting article the other day about how libraries are coping with e-readers. Many thought that it spelled the demise of the public library. [climbing on soapbox] We must not let this happen. Libraries serve many functions beyond lending books. They provide access to computers for those who don't have them at home, they offer meeting rooms for community groups, they conduct reading groups for kids to encourage them to read.

They are one of our most precious treasures, and we must preserve them. (And oh yeah...they're a government program!) [climbing down from soapbox] Anyway, some libraries are purchasing and loaning out e-readers! I think this is a fantastic embrace of the technology, and a way to stay current. Libraries must go along with current trends and advances in technology if they want to remain viable, and I applaud them for doing so. (By the way, I remember using card catalogs. Does anyone else?)

It's a brave new world, people, and I welcome our e-book providing overlords. It will never take the place of what Mr. Wilson calls p-books, at least not for me, but it's a fine addition to my reading experience. I look forward to finding many classics and essays that I normally wouldn't have read. When it comes to reading, it’s not like the Highlander. There can be more than one.

14 comments:

  1. Hi Beth,
    I just got a Kindle a few weeks ago and love it. It's especially good for when I travel ... because you I can bring all these books with me on the road, and they take up less space than a single paperback. I thought I'd miss actual books, but I don't.
    Best,
    Marty

    ReplyDelete
  2. People I know with Kindles love them. Guess it's time to face the inevitable. SIGH :(

    ReplyDelete
  3. Libraries have such a great social significance. As quietly as it is, I think libraries are on the front lines of First Amendment rights and keep those who would segregate knowledge from being able to do so.

    I am sure that because of their function to the public, that libraries will find a way to co-exist with the new technology. The service and utility of libraries hopefully will demand that we keep the going.

    ReplyDelete
  4. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I've played with the kindles at Best Buy and Staples, and I love em..soon as I sell my graphic calculator on Ebay(bought for my math class but not allowed, and I can't return it)I want to pick one up-the good thing is that even without having a Kindle, you can download the Kindle App to your computer or iphone and read ebooks that way also-I'm going to check out your friends book as soon as I can, and read it for study breaks :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. I just read "The Last Rakosh"...pretty damn good writing, yet another author I'm going to have to keep reading for sure.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Excellent entry!!
    I do use Kindle on my laptop, but I have not purchased an e-reader. It is low down on my list of "wants" right now, and have too many "needs" ahead of it as well. I think you are right about e-books and books coexisting peacefully. I listen to a lot of books on my ipod, but that doesn't take the place of my hard library. I'm still purchasing and borrowing plenty of hard books, as well as enjoying the convenience of audio books when I'm traveling or working around the house, and the occasional e-book on my computer -- those especially come in handy when I know it's not a book I particularly want to own or when it's something I'm not sure I'll like.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I got a 3rd-hand Kindle recently and I haven't used it that much. It's tied into someone else's account so I have all of her books (including Sarah Palin's crappy one) on there. I think that you can't just download any free format thing on the Kindle; it has to be an Amazon purchase. A lot of classics and things out of copyright seem to be free though. I like the idea of having a few books in one thing when I travel, less to carry.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Agreed on having a real book to read, eventually having a kindle, and the need to keep our libraries.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love books and libraries but like you, I think that e-books and hard copies can peacefully co-exist. There is no substitute for the tacticle sensation and sense of anticipation of turning the page in a really good book. I think of e-books as a convenience, useful under some circumstances but no more a replacement for hodling a book in my hands than talking on the phone replaces sitting down with a good friend face-to-face for a nice chat.

    ReplyDelete
  11. There is a program called Calibre that can take formats of ebooks that didn't come from Amazon, covert them, then you drag and drop the newly converted file to the Kindle when it's hooked up to your computer and you're good to go. I want one, I will get one, but there is something about walking into a library or bookstore,smelling that book smell,and seeing all that knowledge and all those stories just waiting for me...

    ReplyDelete
  12. *Cringes* Yeah, some feedback from someone with her feet in the writer's pool...I don't plan on owning an e-reader. I need my p-books. As a future author, I'm well aware more than likely more and more books will be offered in this format. *Shrugs* What can I say it's perfectly fine to be dated as long as you understand, technology and the world moves forward and sooner or later - yes - you do have to move with it. (Hugs)Indigo

    ReplyDelete
  13. i would have a hard time reading a kindle but tony loves his and i am glad it gives him an affordable way to read. some of my kids at work use the 'read to me' function, so i can see where that could open up worlds for people with learning disabilities or visual issues.

    xxalainaxx

    ReplyDelete
  14. Libraries do serve many functions, especially in small towns and rural communities. I love ours. Eventually, I think e-books and libraries will find a happy middle ground to coexist. I can't wait to get an e-reader. I have my iPod Touch, which you can use as a reader, but honestly it is too small to really treat it as such. Maybe that just means my eyes are getting a little old.

    ReplyDelete

I'm funny how, I mean funny like I'm a clown, I amuse you?