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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:
StupidSlimyGit · 14/03/2017 04:36

I've managed to buy a six book set and the final book to a different set this week. Was having a bad week and just walking into waterstones is so calming, searching the shelves is even better, running my fingers over the unbroken spines till I find one to pull out. I sound like a book perv I have my cookery, cross stitch and crochet books on my tablet, as well as most of my classics (too many of them so I just have my favourites as proper books) but I think for reading proper novels you need a proper book. The smell, the feel of the paper, the way they look all lined up and pretty on the bookshelves. I have more than I can count.

Dp actually said the other day that if he won the lottery he'd make me a library to live in Grin

hellokittymania · 14/03/2017 05:18

I am a big book worm and I am always buying books in what ever language I can read . I also am not choosy about where I buy them . I do have a severe visual impairment though and ever since I bought my iPad a few months ago I have been taking advantage of iBooks . I also work in a rural area in Vietnam and travel quite frequently . Since access to books are limited when I am in Vietnam I love iBooks since I can buy them anytime I want . My luggage is also a lot lighter when I travel Ha ha ha .

r0tringLover · 14/03/2017 05:51

I buy either second hand books from charity shops (giving most away after reading) or really special books where I don't mind paying a premium such as the one pictured last week.

DH and I both have kindles. He uses his for reading professional articles and I mine as I can read 3-4 books in a good week. We have large digital collections.

I think people with large collections of books are often doing it for vanity's sake. Most don't re-read them: they want the opportunity to show off.

To ask if you buy actual books?
To ask if you buy actual books?
aquashiv · 14/03/2017 06:05

I've loads of books but also have a kindle. Which the kids use to read from. So rarely do we buy books or cds.

Meowstro · 14/03/2017 06:15

I buy books but I've noticed they have gone up bucket loads in price. I don't think it's the fault of the e-reader as I have one and still prefer books, I believe any book lover is probably the same. What's sad is I think there is partially a decline in people reading for the love of it and also the rise of online retailers - even major book store chains seem empty when I go past at peak times.

SabineUndine · 14/03/2017 06:47

I buy books. Wouldn't dream of getting a Kindle. How soulless ebooks are.

abeandhalo · 14/03/2017 06:53

I didn't think I'd like reading on an ereader but my Dad gave me his old Kindle a couple of years ago & now I exclusively read on that. My entire family only read on ereaders now, none of us buy books.

And I was a book reviews editor for years, my house was FULL of books, but I've gradually pared it down so much I only have 3x shelves now. I like the look of a house full of books of course but if I'm not going to read them it seems silly to keep them.

The only exception is that I do buy and adore cook books & other non-fic books, & I still buy these as gifts.

sashh · 14/03/2017 06:55

Books for reading I get on my kindle. Cookery and text books I buy, they are not the same otherwise.

PatSajack · 14/03/2017 07:53

Who says you can't read a kindle in the bath?? I do it at least 3 times a week!

I'm still reading through the stash of books I bought over the years, but I rarely buy a new paper book. I vastly prefer the reading experience on the kindle.

I just love being able to read in bed while my DH is sleeping, without having to turn on any kind of light, and then drifting off to sleep without turning anything off. Plus my kindle is smaller and lighter than most novels. It reads beautifully in the sun and stays charged for days and days. Just so much more convenient than lugging around a book, having to hold it open to a specific spot, and then always finishing it at the worst possible time when I don't have something new on hand. I'm a huge reader but I don't have nostalgia for books themselves. My kids have lots of books but that's completely different.

SleepFreeZone · 14/03/2017 07:56

I buy books!

Applebite · 14/03/2017 07:58

Hundreds of them! DP hates it, esp now DD likes to try and pull them off the shelves. I must buy 15-20 books a month on average.

I heard that amazon were opening a hard copy book shop in Seattle and that Waterstones' value has bounced right back up - I think people enjoy a tangible book.

PatSajack · 14/03/2017 07:59

Oh please, Sabine. What does that even mean? I read for the content of the text, not the paper it's printed on. Some might even say it's "soulless" to keep destroying trees to produce books when there is a perfectly good alternative.

BrownAjah · 14/03/2017 08:00

Yes I buy books! Love 'em. Have way too many so making more of an effort to use the library now too to read older stuff.

Books are objects in themselves. I love looking at old, scribbled on, beaten up books that show the people reading them. No kindles here!

GrumpyOldBag · 14/03/2017 08:08

People still buy books. I do.

The reason your local independent book shop has gone out of business is probably because most people buy them on Amazon.

fruityb · 14/03/2017 08:09

I do! I love new books!

Gah81 · 14/03/2017 08:13

Buy books, have a house full of books and constantly need to build more bookshelves. I will re-read favourite books and my very favourites are on the shelf next to my bed - it's comforting seeing and having them there.

I do make an effort to buy from independent book shops but Amazon is so cheap and there's free next day delivery...

MumBod · 14/03/2017 08:15

I have a bookshop. People still love and buy books.

Theyhaveallbeenused2 · 14/03/2017 08:15

On much prefer a real book. Love the feeling and smell of them. Would not entertain a kindle.. usually buy from charity shops unless I feel flush or trying to make the ten pounds limit for free delivery on Amazon.

MumBod · 14/03/2017 08:16

And many shops offer free next day delivery. Mine does. Give your local indie a chance Smile

MumBod · 14/03/2017 08:16

Without a ten pounds limit, too.

I'll shut up now Wink

Oblomov17 · 14/03/2017 08:24

No, I rarely buy. Borrow them from the library. No kindle or reading device. Have enough problems remembering to keep my phone charged!!

fruityb · 14/03/2017 08:26

I read advance copies of books from NetGalley so I have a kindle - and I probably 50/50 read books with pages and books on there regardless. If I finish a book I can get the next one then and there if I really want it!

ShatnersWig · 14/03/2017 08:29

Don't own a kindle, only buy books.

Pacha11 · 14/03/2017 16:30

I don't buy any other books.

StarlingMurderation · 14/03/2017 16:39

I buy loads of books - in Waterstones, in independent bookshops, from Amazon, for the iTunes store... I don't get chance to read them and my house is full to the brim, we keep having to buy more bookshelves!