But because we’re living in a small condo now, I’m seriously considering doing ereading. Space is just at such a premium and I have to do regular sweeps of the place, boxing up books and taking them down to the bulging storage bin.

One of the things I appreciate about brick-n-mortar bookstores is their willingness to work with local authors. The Book Oasis in Stoneham is all set to offer signed copies of my book through their website. All I have to do is drive up and sign stock now and then.

Something I’d love to do is visit romance reading groups organized by bookstores, but I’m afraid New England isn’t most romance friendly area. Only 12% of the population will even admit to having read one! But in lieu of that, I’ve posted Reader discussion guides on my website in the hope of getting the conversation started. Everything’s more fun when you do it with a friend. Why not reading?

And I do a fair amount of buying them from amazon.com, but I think it still is nowhere near how much I buy in a store, and I tend to be in a bookstore once a month, which is alas, the most I can basically afford. LOL

But I finally figured out what device to get; I’ve been back and forth between mostly the Kindle (since I live on amazon.com when I’m online) and the Nook (since offline I live in B&N). . . but I realized no to both — when it’s time to trade in the old netbook (it’s only a year this month old, so that’s not here just yet), I’m going to look for a touchscreen/convertible version (only two makers thus far), so that way I can have all the major store software on there, instead of having dedicated ereaders that may not be able to read all types of files, and each individual store may not carry every book; plus the moment we were introduced to the iPad, when I was still thinking ereaders, I said, oh, really gotta wait now, because that will force the others to go color. A netbook is already there — plus, if I’m going to spend that much (regardless of the pricing war going on, they still cost pretty good hunks of change), I want to be able to do more than one thing on it, and with the netbook, I can have my internet, movies and music, and my very important games. Except for the iPad, you can’t do that with the others. So, for me, mission accomplished.

Just don’t want to actually *have* to use those reader programs for a while yet.

Lois, who might be in the age group they are targeting, but still wants me my paper.

Ref: bookstore
There’s a little indie bookstore not far from me that was converted from a 1920s movie theater. There are comfy chairs all over the place and the obligatory cat. The best part is that I can chat with the owner and she helps me look for new-to-me authors in the subgenres I like. You can’t get that at the big chains.

I buy a lot of print books online, but only because the bookstore is an hour’s drive over mountains, but I read exclusively print, and I make that trip to the bookstore as often as I can. I know a lot of it is psychological–I write all day on a computer and the screen equates with my job. When I want to relax, it’s got to be paper/print. Even on a Kindle, I’m feeling a need to edit everything I see, but I don’t have that same problem with print.

I’m not a Luddite by any stretch of the imagination, but I do love my print books–and looking at my loaded bookshelves makes me feel like a rich woman.

When it comes to ebooks, I like the immediate gratification of the instant download. But I work 8-10 hours a day on my laptop. I was a freelance editor for ten years. So, reading on the screen puts me into work mode. I don’t get to relax.

Further, ebooks aren’t quite as green as the spin would have everyone believe. Sure, they save paper and trees, but print books can be recycled. With all of the new technology, digital dumps are becoming a huge problem with old batteries, laptops, and monitors degrading or damaged and seeping things like lead, mercury, and cadmium into our ground water and the land itself, contaminating our food supply. These substances are toxic and cause a variety of health issues that can lead to death.

Then there’s the piracy issues and the value of an ebook that you cannot trade, sell, or lend. (Except with the Nook and you may lend it once.)But that’s a whole other box of cookies. *g*

Do I still by printed books? Yes. I love pre-ordering the books in the series I follow. But now I’ve found a whole new market place for books. I have found new authors that I like in the ebook world that I would have never know other wise and I have to say it is much more portable than real books.

I read on my ITouch. I know that’s not for everyone but I love it. It’s small, portable, and I can house a whole library with on problems. My ebooks travel with me where ever I go.

I think it’s great to have options and in a world of dwindling resources I think ebooks are a great option.

I got the Kindle app because some of my friends have books out that were only available in e-format. However, like you I really still prefer p- books, and I love a good bookstore, one with comfy chairs, knowledgable staff, and atmoshere. My all time favorite is the Tattered Cover in Denver.

Gail Hart