Kindle - follow-up
In a follow-up to my previous post I feel I have to make a comment on something I heard on the News Quiz. Apparently the second-hand bookshops of Hay-on-Wye are still carrying on a Kill the Kindle campaign. And it all seems so venomous.
Now, as I mentioned earlier, a great many of the books on my shelves are second hand, which means, of course that I am in a way doing the authors out of their royalties. Do I feel guilty about it?
Well, yes, in a way, but then, the recycling of intellectual property is surely a valid and time-honoured an activity and keeps alive an artistic and intellectual tradition that might have been lost if left to the big booksellers. But I’ve mentioned that before.
In the e-reader we have a bit of both worlds. Out-of-print books can be resuscitated and put on Kindle. But the great news for living authors with ‘live’ books is that most people will fork out the stated price for what is, in effect a new edition, thereby delivering to the authors their well-earned piece of royalty. In fact, not only will I buy an e-book, but if I recommend a book to my husband or friends they will buy it too, instead of borrowing it from me.
I understand that it is in fact possible to lend and borrow e- books, but I haven’t gone into the process. I feel virtuous about spreading a bit of jam on an author’s crust. And I hope other readers will do the same for me. And so it will continue - as long as the prices don´t rise too high.
As it is, I am spending a great deal more on e-books than I used to spend on second-hand print copies. And I don’t mind. I’m pleased to be able to carry around a couple of thousand books in my small shoulder-bag.
I suppose there is only one anxiety. I have always felt I should be able to read and write in an air raid. In that contingency I presume I will have some difficulty with my Kindles. There is the cloud of course, but will it be accessible or will that cyberspatial bubble that is now the repository of our civilisation be as unreachable as heaven was to an unrepentant sinner?
Well, I presume looking for a key or code to that grail is a tad better than viewing the ashes of the respective libraries of Alexandria or Leuven.
Now, as I mentioned earlier, a great many of the books on my shelves are second hand, which means, of course that I am in a way doing the authors out of their royalties. Do I feel guilty about it?
Well, yes, in a way, but then, the recycling of intellectual property is surely a valid and time-honoured an activity and keeps alive an artistic and intellectual tradition that might have been lost if left to the big booksellers. But I’ve mentioned that before.
In the e-reader we have a bit of both worlds. Out-of-print books can be resuscitated and put on Kindle. But the great news for living authors with ‘live’ books is that most people will fork out the stated price for what is, in effect a new edition, thereby delivering to the authors their well-earned piece of royalty. In fact, not only will I buy an e-book, but if I recommend a book to my husband or friends they will buy it too, instead of borrowing it from me.
I understand that it is in fact possible to lend and borrow e- books, but I haven’t gone into the process. I feel virtuous about spreading a bit of jam on an author’s crust. And I hope other readers will do the same for me. And so it will continue - as long as the prices don´t rise too high.
As it is, I am spending a great deal more on e-books than I used to spend on second-hand print copies. And I don’t mind. I’m pleased to be able to carry around a couple of thousand books in my small shoulder-bag.
I suppose there is only one anxiety. I have always felt I should be able to read and write in an air raid. In that contingency I presume I will have some difficulty with my Kindles. There is the cloud of course, but will it be accessible or will that cyberspatial bubble that is now the repository of our civilisation be as unreachable as heaven was to an unrepentant sinner?
Well, I presume looking for a key or code to that grail is a tad better than viewing the ashes of the respective libraries of Alexandria or Leuven.
No comments have been added yet.
