Let's burn eBooks!

[Tom S. Figueiredo]

I've noticed that many blogs do not review an eBook that do not have a printed version. Why exactly these blogs follow this guideline? Why a book that was born digital does not have the same status as a printed book? Some say they like the physical book. But I think there are other reasons. So I would like to hear an honest opinion of the book reviewers. Thanks!


Tom S. Figueiredo
author of I remember my circus [an eBook that was not born digital :) ]
wordsforchildren.com 

[Tom S. Figueiredo]

That is it. You bring us a fair reason not to review ebooks. Thank you, Grace!


Tom S. Figueiredo
author of I remember my circus [an eBook that was not born digital :) ]
wordsforchildren.com  

[Jennifer Kitchens]

Well, I'm sort of in that category.  My personal policy is that if there is a printed version, I want a print version.  If its only a e-book, then I will read an e-version.  My personal reasons is that I do not have an e-reader and reading on my computer is a long process since I don't have a computer I can read on all the time.  My e-book list gets extremely long and I feel that it's unfair to the only-e-book books to have to wait for print books to be read in e-format.  Does that make sense?  I have nothing wrong with e-books, but until I can afford an e-reader, I can't read them very quickly or easily and I don't want to bog down my list by not being able to get through it fast enough.

 

There are some who just dislike the medium.  I admit, I'm not a huge fan of it myself (but I know many of my readers who prefer it) and that may contribute to their lack of wanting to read them.

 

I hope this helps you get some insight from a reviewer.  

[Victorine Lieske]

I think reviewers should be able to set whatever rules they want. If they don't like ebooks, they shouldn't have to accept ebooks. If I were a reviewer, I would prefer an ebook. If someone sent me a physical book it would be last on my list because I carry my Kindle around everywhere and read whenever I get a chance.

 

Now, it is a lot easier and cheaper for me to send an ebook to a reviewer, so I do seek out reviewers who like ebooks, but I have sent out a fair number of paper copies too.

 

As for self-published, yeah, you get some that aren't edited, but as more and more authors turn down big NY publishers to self-publish we'll probably see more reviewers opening up to self-published books. And when I query a reviewer, I do mention that I turned down a deal with Avon (Harper Collins) to self-publish because of the royalties. And I also mention my book is professionally edited. That seems to help. But in the end I respect the reviewers choice to take on whatever they want.

[Tom S. Figueiredo]

I also have noticed that some reviewers just do not like the medium, as you said. Yes, there is no problem with this, because, first of all, reading is something we do for pleasure. Thanks, Jennifer!

 

Tom S. Figueiredo
author of I remember my circus [an eBook that was not born digital :) ]
wordsforchildren.com 

[James K Bowers]

It does seem quite strange that ebooks don't get the same treatment, particularly since blogs themselves are electronic, not a physically printed form..  I can't speak for others, but I only review books in printed form.  Why?  It has nothing at all to do with "status"; I just don't read entire books in electronic form because I've found it to be too much of a strain on my vision. Given the choice, I do prefer the look, feel, and smell of a "real" book.

[Lulu]

I'm one of the eBook haters (check out the spiel at the top of my blog: www.whatbookshouldireadtoday.com).  The fact that print media is leaving us makes me extremely sad.  Book covers and the feel of a book (and seeing what strangers read on the subway or in the park) is a pretty special thing in our culture.  Furthermore, eReaders might not be better for the environment, even if they don't use trees - the manufacturing process uses a lot of dangerous chemicals that leech out into soil and water.  Even if trees are often used excessively, they're also a renewable resource when grown and harvested responsibly.

[Ashley Wiederhold]

I agree! I have also found that paperbacks are often cheaper than their ebook counterparts when you buy online, so why pay hundreds for an ereader that I will probably break? My paperbacks have withstood everything I've thrown at them, from trudging through thunderstorms to spilling hot chocolate, things that no ereader would have made it through.

[Tom S. Figueiredo]

Well, I read your post "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye"... and since you call yourself an EBOOK HATER, you should experience the pleasure of saying goodbye to eBooks. You cannot burn them, but you can delete them one by one! Thanks for your open-hearted opinion, Lulu.

 

Tom S. Figueiredo
author of I remember my circus [an eBook that was not born digital :) ]
wordsforchildren.com 

[Coral Russell]

I'm at alchemyofscrawl.wordpress.com and I focus on Indie/self-pubbed book reviews. I have not been disappointed by the quality at all. Also I PREFER eBooks to pBooks (end up just giving them away anyways).

 

I noticed other book blogs are not the same and it's a shame, but since I'm backed up to July 2012 on book reviews, I must be doing something right! :-)

[rogier caprino]

ebooks r awsume

love printed books 2 but don't live in the us, so shippin a review book all the way 2 south america is pricey, that why i mostly accept  ebooks, saves the author a lot of money and i get the book immeadiadly 

[Dana Burgess]

I don't read e-books because I don't have an e-reader and sitting in front of my computer to read an entire book would be ridiculously uncomfortable (and my kids would rebell because they wouldn't be able to use it while I'm on it.) It's not that I have anything against e-books.

[Liz @ CBLS]

I am all about the eBook.  All three of my blogs (book blog, review blog, virtual tour blog) are dedicated to ONLY eBooks.