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Post by tillystar on Jan 6, 2010 10:04:58 GMT
Bixa asked this on another thread but I thought it may be worthy of a thrad of its own as there are so many different ways - libraries and buying but bookclubs, swapping with particular friend etc... I am too disorganised for a library. I do belong and it was great when I was off work for a year but since I went back I just end up with huge fines I work right by one of the biggest and most beautiful bookshops in London and they seem to run a constnt 3 for the price of 2 offer and I try to restrain myself but usually end up in there taking up their offer once a month... We have a charity shop near us also that has a big book section and sells used paperbacks and kdis books for about 50p and so I stock up in there when I see anything good and usually put it back when I have finished. Lastly, we have a book shelf in a communal area in our flats that someone put up and people use it to put old books they have finished with on there and take others. I have found some really good reads on there, but sometimes people do use it to get rid of ther old crap no one wants. Oh one more! I post on a parenting website where everyone is UK based and there are a few people who enjoy similiar books and we often post books to each other! Its great getting a book in the post! So how do you get yours?
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Post by bjd on Jan 6, 2010 10:46:19 GMT
I really miss having a good municipal library where I can get books in English. I do go to the library to get books in French and sometimes read in translation, but the suburb I live in is quite small, so the choice of books is not always great -- at least for me.
If I buy books, it's either on-line from amazon (often the used books) or bookdepository.co.uk because they deliver for free. We have tons of books at home and I really shouldn't buy more. Another problem with buying on-line is that you can't flip through the book to see if you would actually like it before buying. In Paris I used to go to Brentano's, but they closed last year. When I go to Canada, I always stop in bookstores too. I have an English friend here who reads, so we lend each other books, but I still tend to buy too many.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2010 11:59:11 GMT
Our library system here in NOLA is deplorable (which I expound upon in the Public Libraries thread here). I do try my best and support as much as I can,however,the branch in my immediate neighborhood is on a list of libraries to be closed this year.
The vast majority of my books come from used book stores which we have a couple of very good ones to choose from. I also try and support the independent book sellers here in town before going the Barnes &Noble or Borders route.I have only purchased one book from Amazon and that was under great duress as I couldn't find it elsewhere.
New York thrift stores have some of the best used book sections I have ever seen. The summer resort area where my mother lives in particular,has incredible bargains right after the Labor Day holiday,as all the wealthy summer residents donate their books to the various charity thrift stores of choice. I generally visit right after Labor Day and make quite a haul.
Another source is the well trained by now, relative and or friend who in a quandary as to what to give me for a gift for my birthday or Christmas,give me gift certificates to area book stores.
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Post by traveler63 on Jan 6, 2010 22:22:57 GMT
I get my books from the library. I peruse the various on line sellers, such as Amazon, etc and they always have a coming soon tab and that is what I use to find out what books are being published. Then I go to our library website and put the books I want to read on reserve. I can do this with any kind of book, audiobook (which I download to my MP3 player) music, etc. The library notifies me on line and I go pick up what I have reserved. I just recently found a new site for books and you can search by author. It will tell you what they will be releasing and when . Here is the site; www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/
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Post by Deleted on Jan 6, 2010 22:55:10 GMT
Absolutely the only shopping I did today with my free time in London was to go to Foyles on Charing Cross Road and buy some books. I so rarely get a chance to browse in a huge English language bookstore. And I like to judge a book by its cover.
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Post by lola on Jan 6, 2010 23:10:56 GMT
We are fortunate to have a good library system, with additional wide selection of movies, books on tape, and CD's. You can request a book from elsewhere in the system and have it delivered to your own local library, and also use your card to get City of St. Louis borrowing privileges.
The main downtown Central Public Library was designed by Cass Gilbert in 1912, has mosaics and stained glass. The art room is a gem, both architecturally and in selection. Hannah and I plan to go down there tomorrow and look at their art photography books. As in any big city downtown library, there are always a few malodorous men there to keep warm and nap in their chairs.
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Post by tillystar on Jan 7, 2010 11:58:24 GMT
Oh K - I wish I'd known we could have had a browse together, I work so close and love it there. It also reminds me, I once was interviewed by the eccentric Queen Mother of Foyles en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christina_Foyle and Mr Star worked there for a year. Absolutely crazy times, at the time we said one day we should write a book about the place. I must do a post on the mad world that was Foyles in the late 90s, before it was taken over and modernised by Ms Foyle's slightly more sane and business savvy nephew. Malodorous - lovely word. I have to try and slip it into conversation today ;D
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Post by bjd on Jan 7, 2010 12:30:35 GMT
Wow, Foyle's still exists? I hate to think how long ago I went there -- but I was 19 and it was my first trip abroad. I still remember it as being a great bookstore.
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Post by lola on Jan 7, 2010 14:50:36 GMT
Tillystar, I'd love to post you a book or two. However, I think the only parenting book I own is a gift volume of Dr. Spock. Our shelves overflow, somehow, despite my cheapskate approach to book-buying.
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Post by tillystar on Jan 7, 2010 17:08:50 GMT
Ah thanks for the thought Lola! We don't just swap parenting books, in fact we never do! The site initially started as a parenting site for a load of us whose babies were due at the same time and talked about our littlies all the time, like the first few months all we could talk about was how to get the little noisy bundles to sleep and eat like good babies are supposed to But 2 years on the poor things are almost forgotten apart from the rare "Help my evil genius will only eat baked beans dipped in yoghurt" post and we talk more general nonsense and swap books of all sorts!
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Post by livaco on Jan 7, 2010 17:38:58 GMT
I get most of my books from the library nowadays. My local library is pretty good and I can order books from other libraries. Often it takes a long time when I request a brand new book especially if it is very popular, but I don't mind. I just go on the waiting list and read other books in the meantime. It's mostly a matter of space; I have so many books I don't have room for many more!
Books I do buy, however, are the ones that we use for a book club that I am a member of. For some reason I like to own those, and I just put them on the shelf wherever I can find space. (The only book club book in the last few years that I didn't buy was, coincidentally, Affluenza -- I got that from the library.) Books that I do buy I get from Amazon usually (secondhand).
There are quite a few books that can be read online. I found 1984 online recently, and there are many more on Project Guttenburg, mainly older books. I could see how that would be a cost effective way to read that wouldn't use up shelf space, but it's not for me. I like to actually hold a book in my hands, and take it where I want.
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Post by lola on Jan 7, 2010 21:28:29 GMT
Hmmm. Baked beans dipped in yoghurt. Sounds worth a shot.
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Post by suzanneschuelke on Jan 27, 2010 1:59:30 GMT
I read pretty much non-stop and for the last two years have had a Kindle. I pretty much buy books for Kindle. It somewhat influences my reading (I read free books that I might not have read). However, when I don't purchase things because of the price; I remember that I almost never purchased hardcovers. I really enjoy the Kindle and traveling with 1500 books (I do dip into old ones frequently).
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Post by bixaorellana on Jan 27, 2010 2:51:36 GMT
Oh -- happy to hear from a committed reader who has a Kindle. In early days of the Port there was a discussion about it, but I don't think anyone who actually owned one participated.
I get my books either from the library, or from a friend who won't use a library, so buys lots of books. The vast majority come from the library, though. I absolutely, completely, thoroughly LOVE libraries. They always feel to me like a kid's dream of finding a treasure cave. I have read continuously ever since the moment I learned how, but have never been a person who needs to own fiction books. The thrill of not knowing what I'm going to find is always fresh & keen, and I have no idea how many now-beloved books were found by browsing in a library.
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Post by Rob on Feb 5, 2010 21:23:38 GMT
I also have a Kindle. I bought the smaller of the 2 sizes and love it so far.
Buying books online from Amazon is almost seamless... just a matter of a couple of buttons and the book downloads wirelessly and your account is debited or your credit card on file is used.
The first book I bought was "Super Freakanomics" for 11.95 US. Here in Canada it retailed in hardcover for 34.95 at the time so I find the digital books a good bargain.
You can also find thousands of free books online from places such as Project Guttenberg and as the Kindle reads PDF files there's an endless supply of reading material.
My main source books made of paper is eBay these days. And living in Canada as I do I buy mostly from UK sellers. Why? I find many US based sellers want $12 or more to mail a used book that cost 3 dollars! UK sellers have much better postage terms.
Rob
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Post by Deleted on Feb 5, 2010 21:29:55 GMT
But (I'm sure a lot of us want to know) is a Kindle a satisfying reading experience or would you prefer to touch paper and turn pages?
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Post by Rob on Feb 6, 2010 18:47:07 GMT
I was prepared to NOT like the Kindle but decided to give it a try.
I like it very much... I have the smaller of the 2 sizes and find it enjoyable to read. I am going to buy a silicon skin for it though as I do find it a bit slippery and it would be easy to drop.
The screen is not brightly lit and I have found I can read for hours without it bothering my eyes.
Is it as satisfying as holding an old fashioned paper and cardboard book? No. I'll continue to buy real books. But this thing is really handy and a real money saver for buying newer releases. For travel it will be great.
One thing many people might not be aware of is that when you buy a book at the Amazon Kindle store a copy is held there for you in case you should lose or break your Kindle. So should you drop and break your device you can redownload your library.
Rob
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Post by bixaorellana on Feb 6, 2010 20:53:38 GMT
... as the Kindle reads PDF files ... One of the things I most hate to read is any PDF file, as they seem to so easily jump to the wrong page. Is it more comfortable reading them on Kindle than on the computer?
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Post by Rob on Feb 10, 2010 0:25:36 GMT
PDF on a Kindle... for me, yes, they do seem to scroll better than on a computer. That bugs me too.
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Post by cristina on Feb 10, 2010 1:34:39 GMT
Although I do like technology, I like to turn pages even more, so I'm a Luddite when it comes to books. Besides, I am finding that download-able current titles aren't very much cheaper than paperbacks. I get my books from various sources. First source is borrowed or traded with friends, followed by purchased books and last by the library. The library would rank higher if I was more disciplined about returning books on time. I do belong to a book trading website which is sort of nice. I post my list of books that I am interested in, as well as books that I am willing to part with. I pay a small shipping charge for books that are sent to me and nothing to send books to others. The site is bookins.com for anyone (in the US, I think) who is interested. I think there are other similar websites too.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 10, 2010 10:18:42 GMT
Wow Cristina,had never heard of online book swap,what a fabulous idea.Many,many years ago a quasi recluse friend of mine living outside of Abiquiu,NM was doing something similar although, not quite so "formalized". I would worry about my returning on time however, or the books getting lost in the piles here. Would have to discipline myself yes,to take care to keep separate. Thanks for this,will seriously check it out.
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Post by spindrift on Feb 10, 2010 13:36:05 GMT
Tilly - are you referring to Daunts Bookshop in Marylebone High Street? I know it well and get caught in there if I'm in the area visiting Harley Street. It must have the most comprehensive selection of travel-related books of anywhere in London.
I occasionally use my local library but rarely find books that I want to read there. I am a great fan of Amazon. I have only failed to find two books online...I remember one was a huge tome on the chemistry of cooking. Maybe it's out of print.
Otherwise I use my local bookshops or charity shops.
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Post by tillystar on Feb 10, 2010 17:20:44 GMT
I work near the big Waterstones in Piccadilly now and thats the one that gets me, BUT I used to work near Daunts and I love it too! It has so many travel books and maps and ther is something about the light in there, its so peaceful. When I worked there that was the one that sucked me in at lunchtimes!
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Post by Kimby on Jul 18, 2010 18:00:50 GMT
They do discounted new books, have an extensive collection of books of local interest and authors, and best of all, sell paperbacks for half price and if you bring them back, give you half of that back (or credit it to your account for future purchases). I have yet to return a book, though.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 18, 2010 18:11:24 GMT
You might find this to be a strange idea, but in France it is illegal to discount books more than 5% (I'm talking about new books, of course, not used books). It is the 'Lang law' which was created by Mitterrand's minister of culture, with the objective being to save local bookstores from the hypermarkets and other mass sellers. And it worked. Most of the other European countries are jealous of the French law if they have not voted one themselves (too late in too many cases).
Naturally, the internet has changed things in recent years... But it really is nice to still have quite a few bookstores in all of the neighborhoods of Paris (and other cities, of course). Browsing in person can never be replaced by the internet.
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Post by bjd on Jul 19, 2010 9:34:29 GMT
The advantage of Lang's law was indeed the protection of bookstores. The disadvantage is that books that don't sell well are not allowed to be discounted more than 5% and therefore if they don't sell, the publisher has to pulp them instead of selling them off really cheaply.
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Post by bixaorellana on Sept 2, 2010 21:38:13 GMT
It must mean something that e-books and reading devices are repeatedly mentioned in a thread called "where do you get your books?" Here's the latest ~~ ... By the end of this year, 10.3 million people are expected to own e-readers in the United States, buying about 100 million e-books, the market research company Forrester predicts. This is up from 3.7 million e-readers and 30 million e-books sold last year.
... the publishing industry is paying close attention, trying to figure out how to market books to households that read in different ways.
A few publishers and bookstores are testing the bundling of print books with e-books at a discount. ... Meanwhile, Amazon.com is doing its best to convince print lovers that “reading on Kindle is nothing like reading on a computer screen.” Its Web site promises a display on which “text ‘pops’ from the page, creating a reading experience most similar to reading on printed paper” because it produces neither glare in a well-lighted spot nor a glow in the dark.
Sony, which introduced a new line of e-readers Wednesday, said they were smaller and lighter than before, with clearer text and touch screens, all to make them feel more like printed books.
... This straddle-the-line marketing underscores a deeper tension: the desire to keep the print business alive so as not to alienate a core market, while establishing a base for a future that publishers see as increasingly digital ... <-- click maroon text for full article
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Post by hwinpp on Sept 3, 2010 3:28:36 GMT
Absolutely the only shopping I did today with my free time in London was to go to Foyles on Charing Cross Road and buy some books. I so rarely get a chance to browse in a huge English language bookstore. And I like to judge a book by its cover. You also go to Foyles? I love that place, my mother loves that place. I think everybody does who's been there. When I still lived in Europe I used to order mainly from Amazon. Doesn't work here unfortunately, nothing arrives.
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Post by Deleted on Sept 3, 2010 8:57:52 GMT
The only bookstore in France that can really match it in my opinion is Le Furet du Nord in Lille, the largest bookstore in France. It has nooks and crannies everywhere with everything imaginable.
The name "Ferret of the North" was kept when the commerce was transformed from a furrier to a bookstore. Locally, ferrets were used to hunt rabbits (I must investigate this.).
Even though the chain of 10 stores was bought by the Lagardère group a number of years ago, the original name was kept once again instead of transforming it into yet another Virgin Megastore.
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