Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if you buy actual books?

166 replies

Wriggler79 · 13/03/2017 19:36

I'm having a debate with DP. I have been driving past an independent book shop each week. It has been closed for some time, and books have been piled in the window. I last bought books from there 15 years ago.
Today there was a skip outside the shop. It looked as if it was full of books. I have had a shitty week, and for some reason this was the last straw. It made me sad. I had a strop about it. I posted about it on Facebook, which was quite therapeutic in itself as I had to reason that I couldn't have rescued and cuddled ALL the books, and would have looked an idiot digging through them on a main road.
But what has puzzled me is the number of people telling me "people don't buy books any more". I haven't seen this to be true. As far as I know, books are sold as much as they ever have been in my lifetime. I know two people who own a Kindle, and only one uses theirs; the other person gave up on the idea and their device is in a drawer somewhere.
Just wondering what general experience/opinion on this is.

OP posts:
BonnyScotland · 13/03/2017 20:27

I buy books and I own a kindle for travelling x

SuperFlyHigh · 13/03/2017 20:31

Yes I do buy books but trying to cut down as have too many really. Have a kindle (present) not keen on it.

Cantgetmyoldnameback · 13/03/2017 20:32

I buy real books, love the feel and smell of a big fat book.

I spend so much time looking at screens during the day and also on my iPad in the evenings, it's lovely to have a break and read a real book. That's why I can't see myself getting a kindle or similar anytime soon.

SparrowandNightingale · 13/03/2017 20:34

My very small house is crammed with books. Bookcases are so over stuffed I have had to be really strict. I tend to only buy special editions and books as gifts now but I work for the library service so I'm spoilt. Always have a pile at home, a book or two at work plus audiobooks and a couple of ebooks too. Not coming home with sale books is so hard.
Yes please do use your local library we love to see people come in borrowing lots of the lovely books but please take care of them so we can lend them out to others too.

TheresHensInTheSkirting · 13/03/2017 20:34

I buy books and use a kindle and use the kindle app on my phone.
More times than I care to mention I have found myself tapping the page of a paperback, expecting it to turn the page Hmm
Also, on a couple of occasions I've bought the kindle edition of the paperback I'm reading as I couldn't sleep but didn't want the lamp to wake dh Blush

Original poster
Wriggler79 · 13/03/2017 20:35

I only keep 30-40 actual books permanently; mostly ones from my childhood. I get rid of, and sometimes re-buy and reread others, to and from charity shops. So they benefit both ways which is good I guess.
Speaking of childhood books; one I really loved and no longer have is Phoebe and the hot water bottles. Just looked it up, and found it was banned by the fire brigade for encouraging children to put fires out with hot water bottles! Paperback version goes for £80 on ebay. Gutted. My youngest DD would have loved that book.

OP posts:
Adelie0404 · 13/03/2017 20:35

I buy books and my 13 year old loves to get them for presents. She is determined to read her way through the school library. She just gave me a list of 20 or so for her birthday! I'll try the library catalogues and go second hand to get her top selection.
So books are so not dead!

rightsofwomen · 13/03/2017 20:38

I last bought a new book in June when I had a book voucher.
I have bought some in charity shops since then but mainly buy for my kindle. I have been bought books (both new and second hand) and we have real books in our book club.

Unicorn81 · 13/03/2017 20:39

I buy paperbacks as well as on Kobo. I actually prefer paperbacks but the tablet is easier to hold and read in bed. Why wouldnt they donate rather than skip, thats shocking

MeerkatOnMyWall · 13/03/2017 20:39

I buy books and get some from the library. DM and I book swap. Ones I won't read again I take to the charity shop and I always have a look in there just in case there's one I want.

I'd have been in the skip tbh (no shame). DF works in a school and the library was having a clear out. So DH asked if he could bring some home and he brought 3 boxes that we all went through to see if there was anything we wanted. I couldn't believe some of the books being cleared out - Life of Pi, Number one ladies detective agency etc etc.

Apparently it was because all the books were going on kindles. Made zero difference to the literacy levels in the school.

Books all the way for me!

FeliciaJollygoodfellow · 13/03/2017 20:41

I buy loads of books on Kindle, and some proper books - for example, I'm always going to buy the first printing of anything by Margaret Atwood. I also like cookery books.

I don't buy from charity shops because then I don't get exactly what I want and they languish on the shelf for ages before I send them back.

yomellamoHelly · 13/03/2017 20:41

Love "real" books and buy lots regularly. Ebooks just don't appeal. No idea why. Have tried them at times, but prefer the hard copy.

TheOnlyWayIsMN · 13/03/2017 20:42

Childrens books for Christmas/birthday and WBD, but no money to buy myself books really. DH buys kindle type ones and we all use the library.

Broken11Girl · 13/03/2017 20:43

I do. 2 for £7 in Tesco today. And charity shops.
Tried kobo on my tablet but didn't like it.
I would've rescued some of the books from the skip.

WhooooAmI24601 · 13/03/2017 20:45

I have a kindle that I use for holidays, hotels, reading in the car and any time it's difficult to pack books. I also have a pile on my bedside table that's constantly being added-to of real books. There's something soothing about a to-do-list of books to wade through.

The DCs often come shopping with me and in supermarkets won't ask for toys (they know I'm tight) but always ask for books. DH thinks it's loopy but to me books aren't treats, they're essentials like bread, milk and cereal.

Charley50 · 13/03/2017 20:45

I buy books around xmas, for presents and for me, and when I'm going on holiday, and occasionally at other times. I'm obsessed with the library and have read most of it, and I often swap books with certain friends. I've got a bookcase but only keep books I really love and cookbooks etc. Never wanted a Kindle, love the feel of paperback books too much, but I love reading MN on my phone rather than a bigger screen. It's cost.

user123346 · 13/03/2017 20:46

I love books , it's my weakness, and I will never stop buying them. I have a kindle app on my iPad but only buy an ebook if it's like £1.99 and I really want it. I don't have many of them. I prefer actual books.

Charley50 · 13/03/2017 20:47

Oh and I have always bought books for DS. He was really into reading until about aged 12. His school make them all have a reading book on the go every day though so he does still read fiction.

Pumpkintopf · 13/03/2017 20:47

I buy books all the time, and Ebooks on kindle for holidays.

CheeseQueen · 13/03/2017 20:52

I think I'd have cried if I'd have seen a skip full of books!! That's shameful! I love books, dh loves books, so do both kids - we have a house full of them and as a result not enough places to store them all Sad think I need to win the lottery so I can build my own library
People most definitely DO still buy books. We all still do here!

BattleaxeGalactica · 13/03/2017 20:55

I buy them but usually only second hand or borrow from the library where I can order them free.

It's quite noticeable that there are more and more recently published books becoming available after a few years when there were far fewer. I have thought for a while the Kindle revolution must be faltering.

TheInterruptingSheep · 13/03/2017 20:55

I'm another one that buys books regularly from the local charity shop.

I don't know anyone else who shares my love of books though, and whenever I used tell my friends about my latest purchase they'd look at me strange and ask why on earth I was buying books when I wasn't even going on holiday Confused

My 2 nearest libraries have closed down in the last couple of years which is a shame but no real surprise, but the charity shop always seems busy with fellow book lovers whenever I am in there.

Soubriquet · 13/03/2017 20:56

Yes I buy book. I don't like e-books

Nothing like a good book

BattleaxeGalactica · 13/03/2017 20:57

Oh and when I've read them I donate them to a local charity book sale. Great way to recycle Smile

OvO · 13/03/2017 21:01

I buy children's books and DH buys his books in 'real' format.

I never buy real books anymore - kindle all the way here. The world is very fuzzy to my old eyes so love changing the font to whatever suits me, I like reading giant sci-if books and now don't need to give myself wrist strain, plus I can download the next book in a series immediately so don't have to wait!

Won't ever go back to paper books. Except cook books - can't get on with kindle versions of those!