I admit, E-books aren’t my favorite. I prefer the feel of a bound book in my hands. I like turning the crisp pages. I like the smell of books. I like having stacks of books, and arranging them on book shelves. I like going to bookstores, and libraries, browsing the shelves for a good book… I like to be able to hold a good book close to my heart once I finish it, and reflect on it–yes I do that, don’t look at me like I have several heads!
I can’t do any of those things with an E-book. 😦
You know what else you can’t do with most E-books? LEND THEM!
Which brings me to my point, did you know that some E-books aren’t lend-able?
Wha wha whatttt???!!!!
I’m noticing this trend in the E-books that I receive and review for authors–the only time I read E-books. Certainly, I understand that it is an absolute no no to lend an ARC (advanced readers copy), but an E-book?
What is the difference between lending an electronic copy verses a bound copy of a story? I just don’t get it!
I know what you are thinking, that there is a lend button on your E-Reader. Well, that may be so, but it is up to the publisher whether or not you can lend an E-book. Yes that’s right, the publisher decides what YOU can do once you purchase a book. It doesn’t solely belong to you, the reader.
I understand the author wanting to be compensated for their hard work. Really I do. However, some of the books that have been lended to me by friends and family I would’ve NEVER given a chance otherwise! Now, I find myself pining for these author’s latest releases, and catching up with all their previous work. So that loss of money from me borrowing the book ended up being a gain in the end when I went out and purchased MORE books!
Publishers, rethink your rules and regulations. You just may be hurting your authors in the end.
***This has been a Monday Musing of A Well Read Woman. 😉
A Well Read Woman 
I so agree. I have a Kindle that I got as a graduation present, and as an author, I am thankful that it’s another way to sell books. However, I SO prefer real books. I’ll download free books that I would not have read otherwise on my Kindle, but if it’s a book I really want to read, I go out and buy them. As a matter of fact, I loaned two of my books to my friend and she still has them…
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Thanks Jackie! It’s good to have an author’s opinion on this!
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Thanks! As a matter of fact, I had some leftover birthday money this afternoon, so I went out and bought the hardback version of “A Fault in Our Stars.” I’ve already read it, but the version I read is on my sister’s Kindle and I wanted my own version. If it’s a book I love and I know I will read over and over, I ALWAYS choose the book! 🙂
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Same here! As a matter of fact I will be purchasing the paperback version of Cemetery Tours soon so I can have it on my bookshelf! 🙂
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Yay!!! Thank you! 😀
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