Hardback versus (or plus) ebook

[craftycat]

I just finished UTD. GREAT READ! I bought it in hardback. When I saw the humongous size of the thing, I thought I'd put it on my bookshelf and read it on ebook. Then I learned the ebook would not be released till <?> Christmas. GRRR. I still thought I'd wait... but could not resist.

I have carpal tunnel and cannot hold the book. So I put it on a pillow in my lap and gobbled it up - Started Sunday evening, finished this morning. Stephen says his editor forces him to keep the pedal to the metal - well, she sure succeeded this time. He did. That book just rips along.

My cat's nose is out of joint, though, he is low on laptime now.

I still plan to get the ebook, for the next time I read it. I buy hardbacks because I read and reread books. My walls are lined with bookshelves. I buy ebooks because I want to read books anywhere, anytime, and I read fast, can't carry enough books with me. I also buy audiobooks to sew by, and may end up with this one in all 3 formats. It won't be the first book I have in 3 formats and won't be the last, either.

I'm always sorry to read posts by folks who absolutely refuse to buy a pbook, since it is that kind of comment that has the publishers reluctant to get into ebooks. There are reasons for all 3 book formats. I wish the ebook had come out at the same time as the hardback, but I can see the point of view that has it out later (but not as late as a paperback, thank you). Maybe if publishers really got behind ebooks, they'd think about losing the DRM. The only problem I have with ebooks is the idea that if I upgrade my ereader, I can't read the ebooks I already bought on the new one. That is kind of like saying if I move to a bigger house, I need to buy all my 1200+ pbooks again.

At any rate, the ebook is out soon, I already have the pbook, and it is available in audio as well. That is good. I just need to make it up with my cat!

[wally wonder]

lady up the street from me has this metal frame she sets on the kitchen table. she puts here books on that to read. i think it even holds the book open for her. she's a retired librarian. has a german shepherd, spastic, lots of flowers in her yard. maybe you could find one of those metal thingys--sorry, don't know who makes them or what their carbon footprint might be, but they can't be that hard to track down. lookin for a spoon rack, myself. might make it, the rack.