First: NEWS! Which isn't new news, but I'm still thinking about it.
Literary god Jonathan Franzen decided that ebooks are horrible and immoral and paper books have a tangible longevity that is superior to digital.
Yeah, whatever. Here's my question: I think there needs to be a term for book format prejudice, and it works both ways. There are snide comments made about paper by ebook lovers, and equally snide Franzenesque comments about digital from those who prefer paper. Folks who like audiobooks also report snide comments, so there has to be a term to sum them all up, one that's as inclusive and descriptive as possible. I mean, do people grouse about large-print books being for all those amoral people who can't see the .8 font size of a mass market paperback? It's ridiculous.
Theresa Romain suggested Bookotry, a pastiche of “book” and “bigotry.” I also like Book Bigot.
Heather Ponzer suggested Printist, and comments like Franzens would then be labeled Printentious.
Llmysticowl suggested Biblioformist.
Maggie Robinson suggested Page Rage, which also works. And Tina suggests Biblio-biased.
What do you think? What would be a good term for the cross-format prejudice?
Second: ebooks on sale! I've linked to a SB review when possible. My suggestion: buy books 1 and 2 of Julia Spencer-Fleming's series on sale because they are SO worth the experience. There's a strong romantic thread through all of them, and the build-up is addictive reading.
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In the Bleak Midwinter (#1 in series) by Julia Spencer-Fleming * $2.99 * A | BN | K | S
SB Grade: A– (Look, I couldn't recommend this series unless I assault you with a book. It's amazing.) -
A Fountain Filled with Blood (#2 in series) by Julia Spencer-Fleming * $2.99 * A | BN | K | S
SB Grade: B - This is Not a Game by Walter Jon Williams * $2.99 * A | BN | K | S
- The Borrowers by Mary Norton * $1.99 * A | BN | K | S
- Dangerous Race by Dee J. Adams * $1.99 * A | BN | K | S
- Nightwalker (Dark Days) by Jocelynn Drake * $0.99 * A | BN | K | S
- In My Heart by Melody Thomas * $0.99 * A | BN | K | S
- The Scent of Shadows (Sign of the Zodiac, Book 1) by Vicki Pettersson * $0.99 * A | BN | K | S
- Dark Time (Mortal Path) by Dakota Banks * $0.99 * A | BN | K | S
- My Heart May Be Broken, But My Hair Still Looks Great by Dixie Cash * $0.99 * A | BN | K | S
- Still in My Heart by Kathryn Smith * $0.99 * A | BN | K | S
- To Love a Thief by Julie Ann Long * $0.99 * A | BN | K | S
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Lucien's Fall by Barbara Samuel * $4.99 * A | BN | K | S
SB Grade: B+ (*Free for Amazon Prime Members to borrow) - Master of Paradise by Virginia Henley * $0.00 * A | BN | K | S
- Home By Morning by Alexis Harrington * $0.00 * A | BN | K | S
- Sings of a Wicked Duke by Sophie Jordan * $3.99 * A | BN | K | S
- A Duke's Night of Sin by Kathryn Caskie * $2.99 * A | BN | K | S
- Once Upon a Winter's Eve Novella by Tessa Dare * $0.79 * A | BN | K | S
- The Other Guy's Bride by Connie Brockway * $0.00 * A | BN | K | S
- Mad About the Duke by Elizabeth Boyle * $2.99 * A | BN | K | S
- Never Dare a Duke by Gayle Callen * $1.99 * A | BN | K | S
- Northern Exposure: Compass Brothers Book 1 by Mari Carr and Jayne Rylon * $2.62 * A | BN | K | S
- Trouble at the Wedding: Abandoned at the Altar by Laura Lee Guhrke * $4.99 * A | BN | K | S
- Lady of the Storm (Elven Lords) by Kathryne Kennedy * $1.79 * A | BN | K | S
- Fire Lord's Lover (Elven Lords) by Kathryne Kennedy * $1.79 * A | BN | K | S
- God Bless Your, Mr. Rosewater by Kurt Vonnegut * $2.99 * A | BN | K | S
- Infinity: Chronicles of Nick by Sherrilyn Kenyon * $2.99 * A | BN | K | S
- Blood Song by Cat Adams * $0.00 * A | BN | K | S
- Lady of Hay by Barbara Erskine * $2.99 * A | BN | K | S
- Death, Taxes, and a French Manicure by Diane Kelly * $2.99 * A | BN | K | S
- Cheri on Top by Susan Donovan * $2.99 * A | BN | K | S
ETA: I am a big doofus – I forgot the EIKAL Sale!
- Everything I Know about Love, I Learned from Romance Novels by Sarah Wendell * $2.99 * A | BN | K | S
But wait: I found a few more non-book sales that might be Relevant to Your Interests.
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Save up to 25% off Godiva at BN.com
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Bargain Books — Save up to 80% at BN.com
– There are some hardcover Nora Roberts novels in the “romance” section of their bargain page, along with:
- $18.00 (10% off) seven Jane Austen novels in one decorative leatherbound volume.
Aside: on a different forum I watched a fellow who not only hated trade-size paperbacks over mass-market, but was unhappy that there wasn’t a standard mass-market size and that they could differ by as much as half a centimeter in height (he was from the UK).
It spoiled the look of the bookshelf you see, if the top line made the books all zig-zaggy.
Issues? Pfft. Bloody newsstand, more like.
It sounds crazy to organize books by size, but I know a lot of people who do, because when you have a small space and a lot of books, you’re really forced to consider making some custom shelves, and then it’s amazing how many more books you can fit in the same space if they’re grouped by size. My visual memory is so bad that I would never find anything, so I’m very grateful my tiny, craptastic apartment has 14 foot ceilings.
Oh, Franzen. If he’s so well-read and committed to the furthering of literature, why does he keep writing mediocre, self-indulgent twaddle? Shouldn’t he, with his perfect taste, know better?
I actually got my nook so I could access all the obscure out of print ‘serious’ books that are available for free on Project Gutenberg. I also prefer print, but I don’t see how that makes ebooks any less genius. There are so many occasions for snobbery, and I would have completely missed this one.
I love printed books; I always have. Something resonates every time I read an author who points out the qualities of printed works versus other formats. Bujold has innumerable scenes in the library at Vorkosigan House. One of her characters, a former city guard, ruminates on the fact that he never had a domestic violence investigation anywhere where such books were abundant.
I just read that scene last week on my computer in html format. The book it’s from is on a shelf, but I was at the computer so…
I have a thumb drive containing just over 1300 eBooks, in a key chain carrying pouch. It goes where I go. Imagine if I tried to carry the books instead. That doesn’t mean I wouldn’t want to own the books for when I’m comfortably home.
I enjoy books. Period. Each format has its advantages and disadvantages, like virtually everything else in life. One great thing about ereaders that’s often overlooked is their accessibility to the visually impaired. I think most of the Bitchery would agree that it would be awful to be limited to titles available in large print. When one friend who’s a voracious reader developed macular degeneration, she read all of the large print books in our library in one month. Now she has a Kindle, and has recovered the joy of reading.
The issues of access and conservation are important—for works produced in all media.
Some of us make our living from print books, a little hard to sell ebooks in a used book store.. so I think you can understand if we are a little snarky when it comes to ebooks. I really have no problem with them in general, just that they killing my business. I think that anything that encourages someone to read is a good thing, but I truly believe that nothing compares to a paper book.
Actually, I think this is a really interesting point you are raising. My recently widowed father-in-law announced to me that he wants to start reading, though he has no idea what kind of books he likes. He has macular degeneration and terrible hearing, so no audiobooks.
I can only find (overpriced) James Patterson large-print books to buy for him! Not to slight Patterson, but some variety would be nice! Same problem with the library.
If I could teach my F-I-L to use an e-reader, it would save me a lot of grief. Unfortunately, he’s not computer literate in anyway and can’t figure e-readers out. But for future generations who are computer literate, e-readers might make a big difference.
Can’t I just be biliterary. I love my kindle and I love my library.
I can, sort of, sympathize with that view point. It took me forever to pick up one of those slightly taller mmpb because I thought they looked awkward, they cost more, and they’d stick up taller than other books in the same series.
They actually seem easier to read, so I’ll just hate the extra $2 price tag. I still don’t like the height difference, but my collection has wonkier bits.
I second the request to be biliterary. My personal library numbers in excess of 2500 volumes, which is why I bought a 3 bedroom house! My Kindle is a recent acquisition but I love it for its ease of use and portability. Since I’m a rereader some old favourites that I own in print have also been purchased in digital so I always have something to read.
I’m also looking forward to being able to travel without having to find room in my suitcase for half a dozen books plus whatever additional volumes I acquire in my travels!
I read both paper and e books and love a good audiobook from time to time. I LOVE stories in all formats. What I find so ironic about Franzen’s comment, “I think, for serious readers, a sense of permanence has always been part of the experience. Everything else in your life is fluid, but here is this text that doesn’t change.” is that I buy e-books for their permanence.
Paper books are just paper. He says you can spill a glass of water on them and they’ll still work? They’re PAPER. If I drop my hardcover in the bath it’s ruined. That is not permanent. If I drop my Nook in the tub, my Nook is ruined, but all the books I have stored in a cloud are still there just waiting to be called into service.
He says it “feels” like it can be changed and rearranged. But, that doesn’t mean it can. His reasons are all illusions.
I hate the snobbery. I used to order my ebooks through my local indie store, but every other Facebook and blog post was trashing ebook readers. Now, I just download from B&N.
Hi Sarah!!
I love all of the suggestions!! I usually just call ‘those people’, Format Snobs. Lucky for me, I love both formats. They both have their pros and cons… well, no cons really, unless the writing/story itself stinks…
Anyway, ‘Forsnobs’ might work, or ‘Snobats’?
biblioidiotry?
JL—About a yr ago, I gave my 87-yo mother a Kindle DX (the big one) and made the font really big. I have to order her books for her (as gifts) and then download them for her, but she can handle it from there. She had almost had to give up reading due to vision probs and difficulty handling the actual books, but now reads up a storm. This might really be worth pursuing for your FIL.
Interesting. I was regarded as anti-social as a child because I would rather read than gather around the television. Low tech reading was an isolated act—watching high tech (then) television was social.
I find that e-books are good in certain circumstances—extensive travelling, for instance, and I’m finding that they’re nice when you don’t want people to see the covers of what you’re reading. : P Some books are only available in e-format, or the cost of a hardcopy is unreasonable (“Mister Mistress 2”, I’m looking at you—it was $70 not long ago but the Kindle verson was $6.95). I think the important thing is to be willing to flexible in the format you read, even if you prefer one over the other. I prefer real paperbacks to e-books, but Alex Beecroft? Yeah, I’ll read her books in e-format. That Kindle is really a conspiracy. I bought 16 ebooks the other day for my “Kindle for PC”. I don’t EVEN want to know what the total came to. : P Self control, I don’t has it. Not when it comes to books, anyway.