Value was the first word I thought of for V. And then the words to Barenaked Ladies "One Week" started running through my head.
"Hot like Wasabi when I bust rhymes, big like LeAnn Rimes, cause I'm all about value." Can't embed this video--but click here to link.
Yeah, that's going to get annoying mid-day. Not that I don't love BNL. I saw them in concert a bunch of years ago. Their early stuff is fantastic. But that's beside the point. :)
Value has been on my mind lately. Thinking about e-books at $.99 and $2.99. And hard cover books at $19.99 and higher. What is a book worth to you?
I don't own an e-reader, so I read a lot of library books. If I really like something, I'll buy the book. The last book I bought? Beth Revis' ACROSS THE UNIVERSE.
12 comments:
It depends on the book and why I want to read it. This past year, I've learned a lot about why certain books are priced as they are, and it depends a lot on publisher, the type of publishing used, and other factors.
I don't have a Kindle yet, so I still buy books. If I really, really want it, I'll buy the hardcover. But I prefer paperbacks because they are cheaper (and lighter). The last book I bought was The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan. Couldn't wait to read it. And I just bought Anita Laydon Miller's bargain ebook at 99 cents! There is a computer version so I can read it on my computer!
PS: Now that BNL song is running through my head!
I agree with Laura. How much I'll spend depends on the book. If I really love my Kindle version, sometimes I'll purchase a hardcopy for my bookshelves. And actually, because e-books are so cheap, I find myself bying more.
It's so easy to buy a book on an ereader, and you know that's on purpose. So I've found myself buying more books lately than borrowing. A book for sale for $.99 is just so easy, a dollar? why not? I probably lose that much in the washing machine!
This is such a good question, Kris. I think $.99 for a self-published story is a great deal and a wonderful way of getting your name out there. That said, there's a lot of value in reading the book my friends are all talking about - and that usually means shelling out big bucks for a book that's gone through the publishing mill.
It helps that I hate e-readers with a passion. Most of us spend 8-15 hours a day staring at a computer screen. Why read our books on one?
I still don't have an e-reader. I'm afraid to lose an e-reader.
In my logical world, an e-reader is a high-risk investment.
It's a $100-300 investment, and that one piece of equipment holds all your books licensed to that one piece of hardware.
Lose it, drop it in the toilet, sit on it, leave it in the airport or restaurant, STOLEN, and it's gone, all of it, all your books along with your hundred or three bucks for the reader itself, not to mention your music and movies and whatever else you downloaded.
But if it's a single paperback you bought 20% off for $8-12 bucks, and it falls into the swimming pool or gets splashed, no big whoop, buy another.
Choose your value.
Frankly, the up-front investment of an e-reader goes a long way towards offsetting the "discount" of a e-book. The break-even point for an e-book, mind you, is something on the order of 30-40 books, more if you buy discount books like I do, and incalculable if you use public libraries.
- Eric
I don't have an e-reader yet. I am angling to get the Nook for my birthday. :)
The last books I bought were Wither by Lauren DeStefano and The Dark and Hollow Places by Carrie Ryan, both hardcover.
I prefer paperback, because I carry them on the train and the lighter the better.
But to reference another BNL favorite, If I had a million dollars...I'd buy way more books than I could even read. I love having them around.
Great post! I'm a BNL fan myself. Best of luck with all thats going on with you!
Sarah Allen
(my creative writing blog)
No Kindle yet here either. I still buy mine from the bookstore or Ebay. I just bought Stephen King's The Dark Tower series Books 1 and 2.
Thanks so much everyone for commenting today--it's definitely an interesting topic. There's no e-reader in my near future, but so many people like theirs. It makes me think about it!
I too saw BNL (a few times) back in the day. And threw a huge tub of Mac and Cheese up on stage. Ahhh. Good times. :)
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