Book sales

I love my local libraries and agree that they are about so much more than books nowdays. A few years ago, before I was online at home, I used to walk to our local library in Poole every day and use the computers to look for work and keep in contact with people on line. The library staff knew all the regulars and had a chat with everyone. For some people these were the only people they spoke to all day. The also checked on any of the older regulars if they didn't come in at thier regular time. Lovely people. I still frequent Poole and Bournemouth Libraries regularly and love seeing the range of people young and older accessing thier facilities.

You can't share Kindle books with your friends!!

HannahLoisLuke I don't think it was that the charity shop didn't welcome them but more that I overwhelmed them. I had spend a whole weekend listing them on Amazon and then after 6 months I removed most of them and took three big boxes to the shop. I think I made about £100 from Amazon and about a third of that was on two books which must have been rare. I don't know how businesses can sell their books for 1p + postage. It costs for packaging and what about their time? I purchased a book and got an email back asking me to be patient whilst he found it in the shop.

Love both books and my kindle ( which I read in bed as it's easier to hold). Really like the smell of a brand new book!

I love both but when I split with my ex and moved to a smaller house I went through all my hundreds of books and took loads to the Oxfam bookshop, just hung on to my favourites. A house isn't a home without books IMO.
So sad to hear that charity shops don't welcome them now.

What happened to that lovely scheme where you could leave a book you'd enjoyed on the table in a cafe or on a park bench with a note to do the same. There was a website where you could track the travels of your book as long as people logged the details online. Does the scheme still exist? Can't remember what it was called.

I support my local library now.

I read a novel on my kindle every night before going to sleep. The screen is so lovely and bright and clear, so much easier on the eyes. But having said that I love my books and have a large collection that I would love to re read at some point. I can't part with any of them, a bit attached. Not sure if that is healthy or not.

Room in my life for both. I like to take Kindle with me if I'm traveling. However it will never replace books.

Yorkshiregel you can link two kindle accounts, but that does mean that the other person can see everything you buy - free or paid for.

Another bonus for paper books is that you can take them to the charity shop once you have read them.

Catlover, I think you can share kindle books these days can't you? Maybe only if you have bought them but someone else could confirm.

I prefer a book. I do not like reading on a kindle, although I have got a tablet. I find it all very frustrating instead of relaxing. However there are bargains to be had so in the long run it is cheaper and also on holiday it is more convenient than taking a whole lot of books with you. I support my library because I have fond memories of getting an arm full of 'Green Fairy Book', Blue Fairy Book, and other books which I enjoyed and would not have been able to afford. I think a library these days provides so much more than just books. I encouraged all my children to use the library and they have done the same with their children.

I am a paperbook person...have never wanted a kindle...I don't even own a smartphone! I travel frequently and always take 3 books with me, no problem, I just pack less shoes and handbags! Indeed trees are replanted, just think if they weren't we'd have no toilet paper!

With coursework, I need a Kindle to get through the volumes of research papers I download so I am not stuck in front of a computer or laptop.

I like the e-books on Amazon, too as it gives first time indie authors the chance to get their work out there, although you can get most via Amazon's print on demand alternative if they are not with a publishing house.

On long haul flights, when Kindle gets low on battery, I always have a book to switch over to. I also use my Kindle for in-flight wifi.

I prefer proper books, but I do use my Kindle - very useful for reading during the night without disturbing Dh. Also, when on a hand baggage only trip for a week - no room for the books I would usually take.
I hardly ever buy anything new on it - mostly 0p classics. And I seem to recall getting the complete works of Anthony Trollope for a couple of £.
Most of my reading material (a lot!) comes from the library, but I do sometimes buy new, too.
Oh, another thing - I do find ithe Kindle very good for big fat doorstop books that are too heavy and awkward to read in bed.

Kindle every time. Perfect for garden,bath,travelling & beach & reading in bed at night is great as no need to have a light on so DH can sleep. Also saves taking all those heavy books in the suitcase on holiday so more room for shoes!!
Plus there are so many great books on offer at the touch of a button & with Kindle Unlimited I can get a constant supply of books for about £6 a month (I think it is that now).
I can save any book I want to keep for as long as I like it & I do like the ability to look up any word I haven't heard before just by touching it.

I can read on my phone & tablet too but I love my Kindle best!

DH likes to listen to his in the car on audio but I prefer music when I drive

Probably so many people are going back to books on trains is that most stations have a book table where you can swop your old nooks for ones you haven't read. DH & I swop Kindle books instead

Love my Kindle and hardly ever read paperbacks now as they hurt my hands trying to keep them open. I also lose my page when I nod off which you can't do on a Kindle.

Yes I love books. I like going on my computer too but for reading you can't beat a book. I don't think I could live without them.

I love my kindle and bought it originally because I can choose the text size and font, and also because my wrists were hurting holding up heavy books. I still buy books too, but I usually look to see which is the cheapest at the point of purchase. The only down side is that you can't share your kindle books.

I love books, love my Kindle also. But books work better for poetry and art of course.
The Kindle is great for reading in bed, I fall asleep in the dark and it switches itself off, it remembers the page I was on also. Although I need to make sure it is away from the edge of the bed, the noise it makes falling on the floor wakes me up.
If I read a really good book on Kindle I go out and buy the 'real' book.

The kids pointed out, that when I use my Kindle on the coach, people sitting behind me could use it as an eye test chart, I use the increase font faciity to the max!!! Ideal for travelling, hospital etc............but books, well you can't prop up the table leg on a Kindle, or swat something annoying, or press flowers, or hide love letters, find money put there for safe keeping and forgotten.

They have their place of course but really, nothing replaces a book.

I adore books, and we have shelves full of them. However, I prefer reading on my iPad, as I have an eyesight problem which makes things look too blurred in print. With the ipad I can increase or decrease the font size, and dim or brighten the lighting, so it's perfect. I choose a real book to read outside, though, as I can't see the screen in sunlight.

I use mine mostly as an editing tool - I send drafts to it and can actually see typos, missed spaces and suchlike without getting eyestrain.

Totally in agreement Madmartha. I too am joined at the hip to my two Kindles. Wonderful in everyway. I can get my emails, surf the net, read the Guardian and a French newspaper for free every morning, play a few puzzles to keep brain active, order a new book from my bed. Sends me to sleep and don't have to turn off bedside light, gets me back to sleep if I wake up.

I do have so many books and just haven't, even in a large house, got room for more. I do however buy all reference books, particularly art and cookery books in paper form and love them dearly. Kindles are for novels, of which I read about three a week.

We don't have to choose, - there is room for both in our lives. I absolutely love real books and nothing can ever replace them in my affections. But it's so useful to have a Kindle as well, for when travellling etc, or when we cannot get to the library.
I just want to add a word here in support of public libraries. I hope there will be no further closures.
They are often the life centre of a small community as well as enabling those who cannot afford to buy books the chance to read anything they want for free. Also these days, DVD's and CD's, for a small charge. And using their computers.
Three cheers for libraries.
(p.s. I've been a continuous member of the Devon Library Service for 74 years. Is this a record?)