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Original poster

Read on Kindle, am I crazy to buy a hard copy now?!

30 replies

scarecrow22 · 09/07/2014 23:00

Okay, only book lovers might understand this. I've read half a dozen or so books on my Kindle, and though I find the lack of a cover and weight etc disorientating, I love it.

Recently though I finished As Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving and feel excited I have found a new author to bury myself in and slightly obsess about. A rare quality book on so many levels. But I really miss having it on my book shelves - I want to look at it and reminisce, to have it provoke conversations, even to leaf into it occasionally, maybe lend it one day. Would it be ridiculous to buy a copy, or would you understand :)

For the record I've been pretty happy not to have hard copies of the others as I reason they'd have gone to charity in a few years. It's just because this book felt special to my reading life....

OP posts:
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MuttonCadet · 14/07/2014 17:48

I loved the world according to garp.

Original poster
scarecrow22 · 14/07/2014 17:46

Thanks Roker - I might take you up on that suggestion. I feel so excited to have found such a quality new author: part if me wants to go to bed for a month and read them all, and part of me wants to savour a book a year! I'm a bit intimidated by Cider House a Rules and Garp - they are so famous I'm not sure I can live up to them as a reader? Or maybe I'm worried they'll disappoint? I had no expectations of Owen Meany so might stick to marginally less well known titles. Coward that I am.

Do you like Robertson Davies? A newish friend and I were talking books and it turned out Davies was one of my favourite authors (sadly had read them all 20yo) and Irving hers - and then I discovered Irving loved RD, so we swapped recommendations. We're regrouping next week with a bottle of wine to compare notes!

I digress....

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LeMousquetaireAnonyme · 14/07/2014 09:17

Anyone read the more recent ones? I don't think I have read anything from him past 2000. Are they good?

Rinkydinkypink · 13/07/2014 22:39

I do this. I love my kindle but love books especially really good ones! Cider House Rules is one of my favourites, read it lots.

Rokerwriter · 13/07/2014 22:35

What is the audio version like? I don't think I want to hear someone else's version of Owen's voice but people here seem to think highly of it. Now I'm intrigued

Rokerwriter · 13/07/2014 22:32

Especially if it's A Prayer For Owen Meany. My favourite book. ,ay I suggest The Hotel New Hampshire next, if you're just getting to John Irving - you lucky thing

Trills · 13/07/2014 22:32

I sometimes buy hard copies of books that I really want to be able to lend out to people

RufusTheReindeer · 13/07/2014 22:28

I love that book, it's the only one of his that I've kept

I have masses of books on my shelves (not as many as some on here Grin)

But I quite often buy a copy on kindle and vice versa

Original poster
scarecrow22 · 13/07/2014 22:21

I'm liking the Irving love in :)
Oddly normally when I love an author I have a great friend I'm confident will love them too. This is the first time in adult memory (we've been friends since teenagers and now in our 40s) that I'm not confident.... Makes him curious to me

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GrowlLikeMargeSimpson · 13/07/2014 20:04

Like Sparklypants, I've bought quite a few of my favourites on Kindle when I've already had in them in paperback for years. I can always access my Kindle books so it's nice to know that I can dive straight into a comfort-read if I want too.

I'm not sure if I would go the other way, but that's because I've got so used to reading on the Kindle now that a real book seems like a bit of an effort in comparison.

LeMousquetaireAnonyme · 13/07/2014 20:03

Oh! I used to love Irvin. I never read one in English though.
Add to list!
You are definitely not crazy though OP, you need a hard copy!

I travel everywhere with the 3 musketeers

UptoapointLordCopper · 13/07/2014 19:55

I have borrowed books from the library and then bought my own copies...

shouldbeelsewhere · 13/07/2014 15:09

The audiobook of A Prayer for Owen Meaney is ace. I loved it.

If you liked Irving, I've read two others of his - The Cider House Rules and The World According to Garp. Both were good and I'd recommend but I think The Cider House Rules was slightly better.

antimatter · 11/07/2014 21:45

just add an Audible or CD recording of that book and it would be bliss :)

Original poster
scarecrow22 · 11/07/2014 20:48

:) sparkly at the reverse play - I understand though. The more time I spend on the kindle the more I almost miss having favourite titles there to keep me company

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Original poster
scarecrow22 · 11/07/2014 20:46

MrFrankly I thought that would be a good way to do it too - secondhand. It was only a few years ago I could afford new books anyway so is an old and pleasurable habit rooting in second hand bookshops for a mental list of titles.

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Original poster
scarecrow22 · 11/07/2014 20:44

I'm loving all these messages from bibliophiles :)
I must come to the adult fiction bit more often
Thank you all

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Sparklypants · 11/07/2014 09:01

I also do it the other way round. I have some books that are so special to me that I also get the ebook version of it so I can have it in my ebook library. Grin

iklboo · 10/07/2014 21:20

Not at all. I'm getting a kindle in a couple of weeks but there's something about an actual physical book that I find so comforting & pleasurable. I can see myself doing this.

HovePaul · 10/07/2014 21:14

I buy hardcopies of most of the books i get on kindle, it drives my wife crazy! Do it! :)

MrFranklyShankly · 10/07/2014 20:12

Yep same here OP, I do this all the time! If a book comes out that I've been waiting on then I'll buy on kindle for the fact I can get it right away and if I love it then I usually wait for a bit and get it in a second hand book store so i can put it on my book case and see it!!!!

Original poster
scarecrow22 · 09/07/2014 23:09

you wonderful women. Thank you. I'm reassured.

I actually find it harder reading paper books now, but mostly because I have v young children and Kindle keeps the place better when I fall asleep reading every night

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ObfusKate · 09/07/2014 23:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
scarecrow22 · 09/07/2014 23:07

x post Swedish. Thank you too. Just what I wanted to hear. My husband thinks I'm mad, bit he doesn't read. (Don't ask, I'd say it was a mistake except he's lovely in so many other ways Smile )

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drinkyourmilk · 09/07/2014 23:06

Not at all weird. In fact I've bought hard copies of books whilst still reading them on the Kindle.
I went hard core and ditched most of my books when I got my kindle and regret it so much now.