Any "real" book lovers out there? (Not ebooks..)

[Andrew Maule]

Hello,

Just curious how many book lovers we have on the WF? I'm not a *huge* fan of the traditional paper back/hard cover books, but I prefer them over an ebook most of the time. I don't devour books though or anything... anyways, looking for a few people who are book lovers to test drive one of my sites and provide feed back, won't post the link here so I'll just contact you via PM if this sounds like something you're interested in. Thanks everyone!

Andrew

[Tina Golden]

I devour books. I read several books each week as I read very fast compared to most.

I'd love to look over what you have going.

Tina

[samstephens]

I'm a huge book fan - 99% fiction, though.

cheers
Sam

[Ken Strong]

I owned a used book store for a few years.

[DogScout]

I can read a 500 page book in an afternoon. Only when I am at the pool though. Otherwise I am just too busy :S

[JennyBizz]

Me! I love books and have been writing book reviews for a while now. I'd love to see what you're working on.

[Tina Golden]

And they say people don't have the attention span to read an email bigger than 300 words...lol.

Tina

[Andrew Maule]

PMs sent! Thanks a ton!

[dljmktg1]

Read all the time.

Sometimes it's good to get away from the computer, put my feet up and get lost in a book.

Dan

[Kirahster]

I am a book lover. I read as much as possible!

[Elmer Hurlstone]

Reading is the most fun you can have while wearing clothes.

We have more books than we do shelves...

Elmer

[Colin Palfrey]

Looks like everyone likes books, and me to.

I have well over a thousand, and have read them all.
Maybe I should get out more

Colin

[CDarklock]

Originally Posted by TMG Enterprises

And they say people don't have the attention span to read an email bigger than 300 words...lol.

The other day, my girlfriend just suddenly freaked out and grabbed the last book I read off the dresser, so she could check the page count.

Then she ranted at me for almost an hour about reading a 280 page book in one sitting, and who the hell does that? Nobody, that's who. Nobody just sits down and reads a 280 page book all at once. And in less than two hours? What the hell?

It had been bothering her for days. We both read a lot, but she sits down and reads twenty or thirty pages very slowly, then stops. She'll do that several times a day. Me, I'll sit down every few days, pull out a book, and just hammer through it all at once.

Different people have different reading habits, and many of them simply don't comprehend how anyone can have different ones. But when you're working with the mass market, you need to hit the lowest common denominator.

[Stephen Chua]

I read about a book every 1-2 weeks. Can't read faster than that.

Think have to start learning speed reading.

stephen

[Kay King]

I've been reading books since age 3 - and read several a week. My Grandfather introduced me to a library when I entered school and as we walked through the stacks of books he told me "there are worlds in here" - and I've visited most of them by now. I have a bad habit of starting a book at 10 pm and finishing it sometime before the sun comes up - time flies when I'm reading a good book.

I like real books I can hold in my hand and carry with me and dislike reading books online. If I buy an ebook with print disabled, it's a refund waiting to happen.

Because I'm a voracious reader, I have an aversion to products only offered as videos - they are too slow for me as I can read the text much faster.

kay

[snazzy]

I read between 7 & 10 books a week, more when on holidays.

Maybe I should read less and work more:-)

[DanielleS]

I should have been a librarian. I would have loved to have spent my life surrounded by books.

There is a different book open in just about every room of my house, and I am in the middle of reading all of them.

I cannot sit down to eat without something to read.

Dani

[Dan C. Rinnert]

Originally Posted by Elmer Hurlstone

We have more books than we do shelves...

Ditto. And I have more books than I have places to put shelves.

[Tinkerbell]

I LOVE BOOKS!

Did I say that loudly enough? lol. I have a ton of books, and yeah, I can read 400-600 pages in one sitting.

Tina

[Lynette Crase]

Yeah, I love books. I am always buying books and the
library is my favourite place to be. Fiction and non fiction,
doesn't matter. As long as it sounds interesting on the
cover I'll read it.

[Colin Palfrey]

Loved the site.
I found books I'd written in places Id forgotten I'd put them. lol

[Andrew Maule]

Thanks Colin !

[nicholasb]

I love paper books, I even print out my ebooks.

I love marking them up and taking notes on them.

the only books I read are business and marketing related though. not a big fan of fiction.

[ahlexis]

Originally Posted by Kay King

. . . I have a bad habit of starting a book at 10 pm and finishing it sometime before the sun comes up - time flies when I'm reading a good book.

kay

Tell me about it!

But the funny thing is, I will never forget the first time I listened to an audio book. It was by Tom Clancy. My daughter and I were driving from Los Angeles to Phoenix following her dad who was in an 18-wheeler (working), and she was about six or seven at the time. I wondered how on earth I would deal with the travel time and keep from going crazy before I decided on the audio book. Put the book in, and we both had a fun time listening to it.

I normally take on books by sitting and reading as long as I can before putting it down if it's a good book (unless I nod off to sleep, that is!). But the experience of having a non-stop book (even though it was audio...I was cheating, I guess you could say) was a first for her, and she really liked it. She said that it was way better than going to a movie!

Lately I've been telling all my friends they should read this book:

Amazon.com: Identity Theft, Inc.: A Wild Ride...


It's an eye-opening true story that reads like a movie! Written by the only identity thief who has never been caught, it tells of how ID theft is done and provides major ideas on how it can be prevented by understanding how the crime is committed. A lot like Frank Abagnale's Catch Me If You Can, but Mr. Abagnale was eventually caught.

[Jenga]

Huge fan of comic books and manga (if you consider them "real" books). I'm also a big fan of sci-fi and fantasy. Oh and printed books beat ebooks hands down. I prefer to recline and hold what I'm reading rather than bend forward towards my computer monitor.

[maggie2]

I love books...all kinds, both paper books and ebooks. I always have 4 or 5 books on the go. I read some from one and then read some from another book. I probably read 4 or 5 books a week. Mostly non-fiction.

I'd love to look at your site and give you some feedback.

[mikemcmillan]

I'd be glad to help out Andrew if you still need anyone, but you seem to have many takers. Good!

My books are a lot like my videos. I read and watch my favorites a hundred times--really! I only read nonfiction (except Atlas Shrugged, and Ayn's fiction is turning into nonfiction right before my eyes): politics, history, religion, cryptography, math. But I know I've read many dozen books at least a dozen times. I seem to find something new in each one every time I read it.

[GT]

Hi, Andrew:

I'm a dedicated book reader. I have a book on the go at all times, although I seldom sit down and read for long stretches. Just a bit during meal times, at bed time and the odd time when I'm trapped in my car waiting for something to happen.

Two years ago, I set a goal to read one book a week for the full year, January to December. After achieving that goal, I relaxed a bit and no longer force the time frame on each book.

I enjoy all genres. I'll typically read a fiction, then a sci-fi, then back to fiction - alternating each time. Sometimes I'll throw in a non-fiction.

GT

[kislany]

I'm a hardcore bookmoocher (bookmooch.com) and have accumulated through trading at least 2000 books (fiction and non-fiction) in the 3 years I've been a member of it. I wish I had enough time to read all those books though...

[Aljiro]

I absolutely love reading "real" books specially web design and graphics related books.

[Elmer Hurlstone]

Because, in part, of the books I read as a youngster I've been wholly self-employed since 1992.

From novels, "T-Model Tommy", "Bulldozer" and "Blueberry Mountain", by Stephen W. Meader Stephen W. Meader - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia and, later, several by Horatio Alger, Horatio Alger, Jr. - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, I came to believe in myself and my abilities.

Throughout life I've gone to libraries (starting with every Wednesday evening on the way to prayer meeting with mom and dad, as a child) and bookstores.

In tenth grade I discovered "Elmer Wheeler", of "Don't sell the steak; Sell the SIZZLE" fame, in the school library.

Books, to a large degree, have contributed to making me what I am.

Originally Posted by Kay King

I have a bad habit of starting a book at 10 pm and finishing it sometime before the sun comes up - time flies when I'm reading a good book.
kay

Kay,

Been there, done that and have several tee-shirts...


Elmer

[Nathan Alexander]

Oh man do I feel like I'm in the right thread!

I love reading. How can you not just love the soft "crack" of the binding as you open the heavy tome that you just placed on your lap? The smell of the paper and swich/crack of the pages turning?

Ah yes, all of course with a light blanket in a squashy arm-chair by the fire and a nice hot cup of hot chocolate as you enjoy the light snowfall outside the window overlooking the white-carpeted marsh in your backyard.

Ok, so I love this time of year. Ahhh, books....

I usually have to rotate a few depending on mood, but there's always a stack by my feet. (Right now? Robert Jordan.)

I'm curious as to your site by the way. Just say "books" and you get our attention (the book lovers here) pretty fast!

[Istvan Horvath]

I have learned to read even before I went to school... and became an avid reader. When I started reading a good book, I forgot about homework, studying, chores. Practically, I forgot about everything. So, there was a time when my parents were punishing me - by not letting me read for a few days! Wow, that was tough

Later I used to own a couple of thousand books but with so many moving around the world I had to donate most of them to NGOs, friends etc.

I still love to read, I just stopped carrying around tons of books when moving across continents

[808glass]

I wish I could read more. Big fan of Ben Mezrich right now. His books are best summed up by "inspirational true stories of abnormal roads to success".

[MichaelHiles]

2-3 books a week. Approaching 2000 in my personal library.

[LilBlackDress]

I grew up without a TV in Europe and read really fast..like pages at a time.

I love books and am a top book reviewer at Amazon.

[Zeddicus]

I love to read, mainly fiction, I've always got my head in a book (not literally).

There's something about having a real book in my hands that ebooks just can't deliver. Even though I would consider the Sony e-reader to allow me to travel lighter, I would still have the need to own the real thing.

Two of my prize possessions are complete leather bound sets of Dickens and The Encyclopedia Britannica, both from 1911 which have been handed down to me.

I'd like to be able to help out if you still require more feedback.

I've just had the 12th book in the Wheel of Time series delivered (any more fans out there?) It's taken 19 years to get this far and there's still two more books to come.

[melanied]

I am a total Bookaholic, I am always reading at least 5 books at one time. I am on the 6 books at a time plan from BooksFree, which is like the Netflix of audio books. That's right, ladies and gents, I pay $70 a month instead of $30 because 3 books at a time will just never be enough for me, when you take transit back and forth into account.

Before IM, I DREAMED of a life where I could read while I worked, and now I have it.

Also, fellow bookaholics on this thread might enjoy this blog post I did back in 2005 entitled "You Know You're a Bookaholic When..."

You Know You’re a Bookaholic When… | MelaniedeJonge.com

[12holger34]

Of course I love to read real books. In the moment I read the exiting book from Pat Mesiti. "How to have a Millionaire mindset." Is is fun and helps you to find yourself.
I can only recommend this book.

Cheers
NZchecker

[Kevin McNally]

Originally Posted by 808glass

I wish I could read more. Big fan of Ben Mezrich right now. His books are best summed up by "inspirational true stories of abnormal roads to success".

Love his books, I am currently reading the google story and the autobiography of Ranulph Fiennes.

For those in the UK I like this site Read It Swap It | The UK's Free Book Swap Shop! | The Library

[Kevin Riley]

Ask my Amazon account how much I love books. I even let those with PayPal woes buy my home study courses via a Amazon Gift Certificate. And, I soon spend those.

Next project: More bookshelves.

Books can be read anywhere. It's a bitch when you drop your laptop in the bathtub. It's a bother lugging it to the park. And nearly impossible to read a book on your laptop while standing on a crowded train.

A pocketbook fits my cargo pockets perfectly, and is always handy for a read.

[Elmer Hurlstone]

Melanie,

Thanks for the blog post.

You ask how much somebody reads, and use that amount as serious judge of their character.

I didn't think anyone, other than myself, may have done that...

Classic:

You tell yourself that you’ll go to bed after you read just five more pages…over and over again until you find you’ve read about 200 pages and the sun is coming up.

And, your point is... ?

You forget to eat or pee, because the book you are reading is so interesting!

Excuse me, I really, really, really have to leave now...

Elmer

[Lady_T]

Oh yeah! I'm addicted and so are my kids.

They'd rather spend a couple hours at
Barnes and Noble or the Library than
play video games and watch TV.

Before bed the three of us each have
a book were trying to finish up so we
can get on to the next one.

For me - fiction or nonfiction both work.
My daughter is in to mysteries and my
boy - well if it has anything to do with
cars, trains or bumblebees he's happy!

Reading a good novel is my most favorite
thing...it's nice to get lost in the words...

[Fraserb]

I love reading when I get the chance. I used to read more when I travelled to work by train. Kids have sort of got in the way, but read when I can.

Fraser
:-)

[Kevin AKA Hubcap]

I love non-fiction books because I love learning about new things and fiction just to get lost in another world.

I've read scores of the Star Wars series, Robert Heinlein, Orson Scott Card, Jeffrey Deaver as well as a host of other authors in a variety of different genres (I'm not just a sci-fi nut).

How do you fellow book lovers feel about the Amazon Kindle? I've never used one but IMO you give up what's great about a physical book-the portability. You can drop a book, throw it in a bag leave it in the car and not worry about it...it will be fine.

The Kindle is just one more piece of electronic gear to worry about ( I say this now but who knows once I try it I might be hooked)

Kevin

[Andrew Maule]

It's a bit expensive for what it does, you should look at B&N's nook, it's only about $250.. compared to Amazon's $300-$400+

[AlexKei]

I am definitely a "Book Eater". I love books.

In the recent years, I got used to read eBooks from my Screen. But it depends on my mood of the day.

when I want to relax and "forget" about my normal life, I read fiction books. But 90% of the time I read non-fiction, technical books.

cheers!

Alex.

[Nightengale]

Add me to the list of bookaholics. I LOVE books! And I totally agree that no e-book or audio book can compare to a real, ink-and-paper book -- ever.

Ever since I learned to read in 1st and 2nd grade, well...it was all downhill from there. I'd read a book before doing anything else, including chores. And like many here, I'm a fast reader and it doesn't take me long to devour an entire book. 1-2 days, usually.

These days, I rarely read fiction anymore. I read non-fiction, mostly business books (LOVE LOVE LOVE John C. Maxwell's leadership books, particularly his latest: "Put Your Dream to the Test") and more recently books on Christian apologetics and politics. (I just finished "Epicenter 2.0: Why the Current Rumblings in the Middle East Will Change Your Future." EXCELLENT book and a natural followup to the riveting and blockbuster "Left Behind" fiction series. And yes, I own almost the entire "Left Behind" series. Fabulous stuff.)

There's SO much to read out there, it's impossible to even scratch the surface. I'm particularly interested in books on theology, philosophy, politics, etc. I absolutely love to learn new things and I blame my love of reading for that.

However, I do find myself on overload a lot these days. There's so much to read that I cram as many books in as I possibly can and I think I find myself losing a little of the enjoyment of just reading a good book. And I think I need to start reading fiction a little bit more -- partly for the love of a good story and partly for the creative inspiration. Good stories provide something intangible, but as someone else mentioned, they're incredibly valuable since they shape who you are (shades of "Think and Grow Rich").

Some of the awesome books I read in childhood (which I LOVED):

1. Little House on the Prairie series -- Laura Ingalls Wilder

2. A Wrinkle in Time -- Madeline L'Engle (this book was so different and so strange, but it made such an impact and I remember it to this day)

3. The Great Brain series -- John D. Fitzgerald (This is a hilarious and charming series of books set in 1870's small-town Utah. Little brother John D. looks up to big brother, 10-year-old Tom D. aka "The Great Brain" -- also known as a 10-year-old con man. :P I HIGHLY recommend the ENTIRE series.)

4. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe -- C.S. Lewis. This book is also different and strange, but a FABULOUS story which just captured my imagination. Strangely, I never got into the rest of the series too much though.

(As an aside, along the lines of "A Wrinkle in Time" and "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe", I also liked the movie "The Neverending Story.")

In my teens, I was introduced to the Zion Chronicles and Zion Covenant series, some of the best historical fiction EVER. Totally engrossing! The Zion Chronicles tells the story of the Jews streaming into Palestine after the Holocaust and their struggle to become a nation in 1948. The Zion Covenant tells their story (with a slightly different cast of characters) right BEFORE WWII as darkness settles over Europe and Hitler gears up his war machine.

Husband-and-wife team Brock and Bodie Theone wrote each series together. Brock has a history degree and the level of detail and historical accuracy is just incredible. They were out of print for a while but are now back in print. When I first read them, I didn't appreciate the level of accuracy, but later learned that those books have actually been used to teach those periods of history! I read some of their other books, but none caught my interest like the Zion Chronicles and Zion Covenant series.

Bodie Theone wrote for John Wayne (if I remember correctly) and she knows how to write action scenes. I simply cannot recommend this series highly enough. If you get a chance to read them, do it!

Another book I loved was called "Papa's Wife" -- a slightly fictionalized biography of the author's parents' lives. It tells the story of a young Swedish woman's determination to hook the most eligible bachelor preacher who's determined to remain a bachelor. Well, Mama wins and becomes Papa's wife. They have eight (yes, 8!) kids and move to America. The story has so much warmth and charm, but alas, it's out of print.

Other books I read which I've loved and own are "Not Without My Daughter" and the "Princess" trilogy, the autobiographical stories of one of Saudi Arabia's royal princesses. (The books are 1) "Princess" 2) "Princess Sultana's Daughters" and 3) "Princess Sultana's Circle." I highly recommend these books too.)

I've read hundreds of books over the years, but these books are some of the best and most memorable that I've ever read. And like a lot of people, I've read John Grisham, Brad Melzner, Dan Brown, etc. I really hate reading a bad book so I often find it hard to settle on a good fiction book. (I love a good story, but I detest the silly romance novels in the supermarket and I DON'T like Danielle Steel or Nora Roberts.)

So if anyone has any suggestions for me (based on what I've said here) I'd love to hear them. I have a B&N gift card just waiting to be spent. I actually went into B&N the other day and walked out with nothing because I couldn't find anything good enough. (Although I contemplated re-starting my collection of the Zion Chronicles books again. I only owned part of the series anyway and now I'm down to just one with very yellowed pages.) A trashy paperback novel is fine if it's from the library. But I'm rather picky about what I buy for my personal library. But like others here my collection has grown and I simply don't have enough shelf space. I've got books stacked up all around my house.

And if you have a spare Amazon.com gift certificate sitting around, I'd love to have it.

I LOVE books!

Michelle

[yommys01]

I love reading "real books". I guess I would never still be an IMer if not for the books I have read - I read only motivational books though.

[mrmatt]

I love books. Got several that I am reading at all times. Currently my favorite is Ayn Rand "Atlas Shrugged" which I have been reading to my baby girl at bed time while mom feeds her. This book is a whopper at over 1100 pages.

I would be interested in looking at what you got cooking.