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

[scarecrow22]

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....

I know what you mean, it is nice to have hard copies of special books

FWIW that is one of my favourite books ever and I have kept a copy of it too!

Oh definitely buy any you love; nothing wrong with that at all. Mind you I've bought hardbacks after completely forgetting I already had the kindle version. Anyway kindles will cease to be one day but you'll always have the book

Oh definitely buy any you love; nothing wrong with that at all. Mind you I've bought hardbacks after completely forgetting I already had the kindle version. Anyway kindles will cease to be one day but you'll always have the book

ooh Scouse glad to.have found you! which one (Irving) do you recommend next? I feel I should take a break but v tempted

out of interest what other modern/contemporary authors do you rate?

I do this too. I have my nook, which I absolutely love, but if I've read a book that I've fallen in love with, and want other people to read it, then I buy a hard copy of it.

I do think my nook has made me lazy though....I was reading a real book recently and I tried to turn the page by swiping my finger across the page! Also if it's a particularly hefty book I find my wrists getting tired. I don't recall ever noticing my wrists before the nook....

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.

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 )

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

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!!!!

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

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.

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.

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

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.

:) 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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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 )

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

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

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