The Problems of the Future

[missroserose]

So there's a new book out I'd like to read.

I'm on a pretty tight budget this month.

I could pirate a copy, but given that [a] I'm not really in a socioeconomic position to justify depriving the author of royalties, and [b] I've got plenty of stuff to read in the interim, I'm okay with waiting to read it until I have enough money to purchase it outright.

Of course, that leads to the question of whether to purchase the paper version or Nook version. I've had one version or another of the Nook for years now, and while the e-reader is wonderfully convenient, I just plain prefer paper books. Plus it's nice to feel like I'm getting something physical in return for my cash.

On the other hand, the book is only out in hardcover, which makes it a little more difficult to tote around. And my bookshelves are, not to put too fine a point on it, full to bursting.

What's my point? I don't have one, really, other than that I'm indecisive. And that I realize that I'm a pretty lucky person just to have this set of problems. :)

Comments

[amanda_lodden.livejournal.com]

More and more, I'm finding that in order to decide what format to purchase a book in, I need to read the book first.

If I like it so much that I plan to lend it out, then it needs to be a physical book. Lending out eBooks is a pain in the butt, if you can do it at all.

If I plan to read it a second time, then... it depends on whether I plan to lend it out. If not, then an eBook is preferred, just to save myself some space.

If I want to make notes all over the place (generally for non-fiction books only), then eBooks are usually better.

The problem, of course, is that you find a lot of books just aren't worth the cover price when all is said and done. I desperately want a way to pay an author without purchasing their books, sort of a "Look, I read this... uh, let's call it 'at the library'... and I liked it, but not enough to cough up a full $10 for it. It's totally worth $5 though, and I want you to have that" donation button.