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Original poster

Can anyone tell me about kindles?

63 replies

Foodtheif · 27/12/2019 17:04

I got one for Christmas and know nothing about them. I spend a lot of time hanging around clubs for my child so it will come in handy but I’m not too sure on it. I’ve noticed some free books and downloaded a couple. Can anyone recommend any free books? Also feels weird buying books for it when you don’t get something physical for your money 😂

OP posts:
GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 27/12/2019 18:03

I still read ‘proper’ books, mostly from charity shops, but I do love my Kindle - esp. if I want to read in bed without disturbing dh with the bedside light.
First one I had was so useful when going away with a friend for a week - hand baggage only! - normally I’d want at least 4 books for a week away, but just took the Kindle instead.

I like classics, which are often free or sod all for the complete works, though I do read plenty of contemporary novels, too.
Plus they’re great for the sort of ‘doorstop’ books, which I never used to read, since far too heavy and awkward to read in bed.
Have since read several of those on the Kindle.
Also you can adjust the font, so no more of the tiny print, which you still get sometimes,
.

minionsrule · 27/12/2019 18:07

I've just got one for xmas as well.... still getting used to it but read my first book already! It wasn't a huge book mind

Original poster
Foodtheif · 27/12/2019 18:07

See I’m
Not sure about it. I love the idea of it but think I will end up spending more on books than I used to. How do you find the very cheap books? I think the books I like all seem to be around the £4 mark and I can buy them 2nd hand for £1 each.

OP posts:
Original poster
Foodtheif · 27/12/2019 18:08

@minionsrule which book did you read? Was it a good one? I’ve read a free one already which was ok. It was called ‘her hidden past’.

OP posts:
Original poster
Foodtheif · 27/12/2019 18:10

@Namethecat thanks. I’m not sure I can download apps on mine but will have a play around on it tonight and see.

OP posts:
savethecat · 27/12/2019 18:10

I used to return my kindle books all the time but I have noticed they have changed the settings and know when you have read the book.

chrispenrallt1 · 27/12/2019 18:14

Love my Kindle. No bothering my o h if I’m reading at night, no heavy books to carry and and if you have to wait anywhere, out comes the kindle. Best thing I ever bought, ( paper White) with the built in light.

exWifebeginsAgainat46 · 27/12/2019 18:27

i’ve got about 500 books kicking about on mine and in the cloud. i highly recommend signing up to BookBub, which emails you cheapo suggestions a couple of times a week. you can set it to the sort of thing you like and it makes recommendations.

there is without a doubt a gigantic amount of shit available for kindle, but once you get into the swing of it it’s a joy. i’m currently loading mine for an upcoming surgery which will mean a week in hospital. easy reads because, you know, morphine, but it will definitely pass the time.

sushinelove · 27/12/2019 18:29

I add books I want to my "list" then keep an eye on the price. Something might start off at £8.99 when it's a new release but quite often there will be a day where they drop the price to get it up the bestseller chart. Also go on the kindle bestsellers and you can see the top 100 paid and free, filter by genre and find ones you like.

Dixiegirl77 · 27/12/2019 18:29

Sign up to book shark, they email each day with list of free books etc,also kindle unlimited is good,you pay a fee but you can have up to 10 books at a time to read.

Original poster
Foodtheif · 27/12/2019 18:33

Looks like I’ve got a lot of playing to do later. I’ve seen an option where it says buy for £x or read for nothing. I assume this is a sign up and ore pay thing?

OP posts:
MarySidney · 27/12/2019 18:43

One of the features I like is that you can download a free sample of a book to see if you like the writing style. I find it quite a good way of finding new authors.

As pp have said, Amazon will email you with details of special offers. Also, if you do a search for a specific genre, you can sort the results in various ways, including by price.

jayritchie · 27/12/2019 18:46

Love my kindle! Lots of classics available for free as noted above. Great for carrying around.

sadeyedladyofthelowlands63 · 27/12/2019 18:46

BookBub is another good site that will email you daily deals of free/cheap books. You can pick the categories of books that you are interested in. It's free to register.

I was a late convert to Kindle but I love mine now. I still read "proper" books but it's brilliant for reading in bed and my bus commute. It also means I can take several books on holiday without weighing down the suitcase!

Ihavethefinalsleigh · 27/12/2019 18:48

I love my Kindle. I read a lot, especially on holiday and it's great having plenty of books to read without having to take actual books with you.

Otterseatpuffinsdontthey · 27/12/2019 18:49

q

bridgetreilly · 27/12/2019 19:19

@Namethecat, you can't install apps on kindles. I think you're talking about the Kindle Fire, which is a completely different thing from the Kindle e-reader. (and I still don't know why Amazon gave it the same name).

bridgetreilly · 27/12/2019 19:21

I’ve seen an option where it says buy for £x or read for nothing. I assume this is a sign up and ore pay thing?

Yeah, that's Kindle unlimited. It's a monthly subscription. I don't like the way it works so I don't use it at all, but some people find it a good option.

nocutsnobuttsnococonuts · 27/12/2019 20:09

when I got my kindle I bought a disc from eBay with thousands of books on - cost about £5. I downloaded calibre on my laptop then transferred the authors I liked over onto my kindle.

I also add lots of books to my wishlist, Amazon notifies me when they are on offer. plus pre-order as soon as it comes available means cheaper price on release. I've never paid more than £6 for a new release this way.

Dixiegirl77 · 27/12/2019 22:47

The £0 option is for kindle unlimited,its £7.99 a month,if new it's free for 1st month,you can also buy 6/12 months which works out cheaper.
Not all books are on KU but there are tons on books on there.
As for someone saying they use to return books all the time,that's stealing and taking money away from authors,many arent with a huge publisher and rely on that money.

Itsjustmee · 27/12/2019 22:54

I have the kindle App on my iPad /iPhone
I’m a massive reader and there are some very good authors and some absolute shit ones
I have the kindle unlimited for 7.99 a month and I do get my money’s worth as I'm always reading

Genzeee · 27/12/2019 22:57

Love my kindle. Wouldn’t be without it

LittleCandle · 27/12/2019 23:03

I carry my kindle to work so that my actual books don't get damaged in my handbag. I prefer a real book, but have copies of some of my favourites on the kindle, as I tend to have to replace the real books more often than my bank balance can tolerate! I also have books that I read less frequently on the kindle so that I don't have to have copies taking up precious space. It is also ideal for a plane journey. Just remember to load the book (open it) when you get it so you don't have to rely on finding free wifi nearby if you finish one book and want to start another.

bridgetreilly · 28/12/2019 02:12

As for someone saying they use to return books all the time,that's stealing and taking money away from authors,many arent with a huge publisher and rely on that money.

It is not stealing to return a book bought in error, or one which is misrepresented on the listing page, or one so strewn with errors that you would never have bought it if you'd been able to skim through it. It is perfectly legal and Amazon provides a simple way to do it.

It is stealing to return books after reading, and treat Amazon as a library service. But that has nothing to do with who wrote or published the book: it's just as much stealing from a bestselling author as one who's lucky to sell ten copies a month.

Gingerkittykat · 28/12/2019 02:35

free book charts

I've found Kindle Unlimited (currently free for 3 months) and Prime choices are mainly trash and not worth having.

I look on the daily deals and also the monthly deals and get a lot of books that way.

I don't mind spending more for the occasional book but on the whole I don't spend more than £1.99 on a book.

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