Our Shared Shelf discussion

7550 views
Questions/Ideas/Ask the Mods > What to do if you cannot afford to buy a book a month?

Comments Showing 101-144 of 144 (144 new)    post a comment »
1 3 next »
dateUp arrow    newest »

message 101: by Haruhi (new)

Haruhi | 1 comments Do you guys have any ideas about foreign countries? I live in a place where English isn't the main language, and libraries can't/won't buy much books in English because only a minority will be able to read them. Also, because of the shipping costs, it's VERY rare to see English books on sale, and they're VERY expensive too.
Is there a tablet or desktop app/program that is sure to have at least most of the books we'll read this year?


message 102: by Bebe (Sarah) (new)

Bebe (Sarah) Brechner (bebesarah) | 3 comments Why do you think libraries won't have these books? In the USA, public libraries should have these works, and if they don't, they are usually connected with an Interlibrary Loan program where the library will borrow the book for you from another public or academic library. Usually that is free. I'm a USA librarian, and this is true information. I use my library all the time and the ILL for free. Some libraries may have an ILL fee, but it is much less than buying the book.
Also, you can get on www.worldcat.org, a shared catalog, and put in your location to find out where a book may be located (in ant type of library).


message 103: by Bebe (Sarah) (new)

Bebe (Sarah) Brechner (bebesarah) | 3 comments My comment was for USA people, as indicated. Most my my friends who are huge readers never even think about their local library!

But I have a suggestion for those who are not in the USA or their library has a wait list:

If anyone buys these books on Amazon as a Kindle ebook, they can allow one person at a time to "borrow" that book and you don't have to have a Kindle to receive the loaned book. And other book e-formats can be shared. For how to do this with Amazon, there is a YouTube video:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MTEteHa...

Another tip for USA library card holders who are frustrated with long wait lists for popular books: see if the book is available in other formats - audiobook, ebook, or even Large Print.


message 104: by Jennifer (new)

Jennifer Saunders | 12 comments Does anyone in Sydney, Australia know anywhere to get books like this for cheap?? Thanks :)


message 105: by Megan (new)

Megan (meganblmsm) | 6 comments Hey guys!

I have the problem that the books are only available for ordering, but it will take at least a week (I'm from the Netherlands)!
So for the future, maybe books can be posted way before we have to read them? I am really bummed out because I won't be able to join the discussion for the first book in time (delivery time and uni) ):

Anyone else have this problem?


message 106: by Camille (new)

Camille | 42 comments Hi!
Many of us have this problem. I have already seen this kind of questions in 3 or 4 topics. They will probably give us the tittle in last week of the month. :)


message 107: by Mellyflue (new)

Mellyflue | 32 comments I live in Paris (so, I'm very sorry for my english), and I really would like to participate ! But, this book is not in University's librairies, and not in Paris librairies !

It's so expensive in euro, and, if I want to read in the paper book, I have to wait for 2-3 weeks x)

So... Have you any idea ?


message 108: by Kaits (new)

Kaits | 1 comments Typically you can find used books on eBay and great prices!


message 109: by Mellyflue (new)

Mellyflue | 32 comments Hi Alessia !
I love to read e-book version, but I have to paie 23€ (the paper version cost 27€)... And, for a student, it's expensive ^^'
For the audiobook, it's a good idea, but I'm effraid to not understand all !!

But thank you for your ideas !


message 110: by Jennifer (new)

Jennifer Terry You and friends can share the cost. If you buy it on your kindle, you can read it and then let a friend borrow it.


message 111: by Esther (new)

Esther Half.com is a pretty affordable website.


message 112: by Bia Giopato (new)

Bia Giopato | 1 comments Kindle users can borrow digitally, I guess. Or you could get like 3 friends to share the experience and each would buy only 4 books. However you'd have to read them in a week...!


message 113: by Ailbhe (new)

Ailbhe | 5 comments Pirah wrote: "What book has been suggested for this month ?"
My life on the road, by gloria steinem


message 114: by Taísa ✨ (new)

Taísa ✨ Well, I'm a brazilian reader and there isn't a copy of the first book in Portuguese, so, how should I read it?


message 115: by Sandra (new)

Sandra Gonzalez There's always the library. I heard that if they don't carry a particular book, they will order it for you.


Thescreamofthebutterfly | 1 comments You can do an inter-library loan.

Also as I understand it, the Kindle app will allow users (uncertain as to whether or not you have to be a prime member or not) one free book a month.


message 117: by Brandy (new)

Brandy Cross (missbcross) Locovilly wrote: "I live in Germany and our libraries mostly dont have any english books, and i guess i cannot request it there. So the only option is to buy 12 books a year."

Book Depository has very affordable English books (usually 20-30% discounted) and they ship worldwide for free!


message 118: by Neroli (new)

Neroli | 1 comments In South Africa, where I live, books are taxed as luxury items making them largely inaccessible to the majority of South Africans. Many local school library initiatives and alternative publishing NGOs are emerging to fill the gap and are doing amazing work (see Equal Education and Fundza Literacy Trust among others), but unfortunately this is still not enough. In a country where gender-based violence rates are among the highest in the world and illiteracy is still widespread, I wish that programmes like this one would be available in schools across the country to foster reading and feminist debates among young people. I also hope that this reading list will include feminist perspectives from various contexts, as we need to understand that feminism is not homogeneous or universal and is experienced, understood and practised in a multitude of ways across time and space.


message 119: by Amanda (new)

Amanda I've been using abebooks.com for a few years now; people can buy used books for under $10.


message 120: by Emily Ingrid (new)

Emily Ingrid  (emilyingrid) | 2 comments I apologize if this has already been suggested, but Better World Books is the first place I go when I need to purchase a book online if I can't find it in my local bookstore. Books are donated from all over the United States, so every book is affordable and in great, gently-used condition. Because books are donated, they are saved from being thrown in landfills, and BWB partners with libraries across the country to promote literacy and education. Plus, FREE SHIPPING!

http://www.betterworldbooks.com/


message 121: by James (new)

James I hate feminist but Just so people think I'm not a total ass on this site If you go to http://www.audiobooks.com/ and sign up for a free 30 day trial you can download this book for free. just cancel after and you will not be charged.


message 122: by Marcos (new)

Marcos | 40 comments James if you don't like feminism don't read our messages. Are you here only for say you hate feminism?


message 123: by James (new)

James Marcos wrote: "James if you don't like feminism don't read our messages. Are you here only for say you hate feminism?"

No, to open up a dialogue about equality.


message 124: by Jessica Noel (new)

Jessica Noel | 3 comments If you're in North America, paperbackswap.com might be useful. It's pretty easy to navigate -- you post books you don't want anymore, someone requests them, and you mail the books off to them. Then you get a credit for that book, which you can use to request a book from someone else. You have to pay for the shipping of the book, which is generally only a couple of dollars if you ship media mail, but otherwise the rest of the service is free.

PBS isn't always helpful if you're looking for newer books (as people are less likely to list those right away), but depending on Emma's reading list (i.e., if we read any books that aren't quite as recent as Steinem's) you might find what you're looking for there.


message 125: by xenu01 (new)

xenu01 James wrote: "Marcos wrote: "James if you don't like feminism don't read our messages. Are you here only for say you hate feminism?"

No, to open up a dialogue about equality."


That dialogue was opened over 150 years ago in Seneca Falls, NY. It's called feminism.


message 126: by Cheryl (new)

Cheryl | 1 comments A slower option would be if you have a B & N Nook like I do, go to a Barnes & Noble store and read any book for free for an hour. Everyday at least until payday when you can afford it.


message 127: by Camille (new)

Camille | 42 comments James wrote: "I hate feminist but Just so people think I'm not a total ass on this site If you go to http://www.audiobooks.com/ and sign up for a free 30 day trial you can download this book for free. just cance..."

Don't think it's the good place to open the discusion but can you just say why? There only are feminists here, I think it can be interesting to see why others are not.


message 128: by Jen (new)

Jen | 4 comments Kobo has the ebook for $14.99. That's considerably less than the hardcover price. I belong to Bookbub, and they often have great deals which include free ebooks, though they haven't offered this one for free yet. If you live near a college or university, see if they offer library cards to non-students. A lot of those older feminist books were likely be in their stacks and wouldn't have huge waiting lists. Just a few ideas. :-)


message 129: by [deleted user] (new)

I live in Italy and this book is nowhere to be found, neither in large and usually stocked bookstores nor in libraries. I had to use the free credit that Audible gives you upon registration and now I am listening to the book. Not really my cup of tea, I prefer reading. Whatever.
If anyone is having this problem I suggest to go to Audible.com and use the free credit!
Hopefully the next book will be easier to find ^_^


message 130: by Espai (new)

Espai Or you can do the same thing as when you want to download a movie ;)


message 131: by Ana, Our Shared Shelf Moderator (new)

Ana PF | 746 comments Mod
The problem here is that for people out of English speaking countries, we are actually lucky if we get to have an English section in our library. I have not even tried to look for the book there because I simply know it won't ever be there. Therefore, any kind of initiative there is not really feasible. I mean, libraries are actually struggling already with supply in our mother tongues. This leads to us having to buy the book on Amazon, where prices for ebooks are often outrageously expensive in my humble opinion, or else as a second hand book. This latter option works sometimes, just not with books this new. And then of course, there's the downloading option, but we all know that it doesn't come free of moral conflict.


message 132: by Jo (new)

Jo Mandy wrote: "I'm surprised no one has mentioned Kindle Unlimited yet. It's $9.99 a month with a one month free trial and as of a month or two ago when I was last on it, Gloria Steinem's books were all available..."
Not any more. Some of her books aren't even in ebook format.


message 133: by Jo (new)

Jo Many of the online services mentioned are USA based and require a credit card to sign up - not available to many. As it was only published in October 2015, it may not have hit the second hand bookshops yet. However, if you are here, you're on the Internet. If you are on the internet, google the book title and 'pdf' - there are a number of online libraries that have this book and you can read for free, totally legally, online.


message 134: by Cu (new)

Cu Fokla There are plenty off pirates in the Internet. You can find many books there for free.


message 135: by Nikki (new)

Nikki If you can't afford to buy a single book, shouldn't not being able to participate in a book group be the least of your worries? Some of the comments here are pretty accusatory and I don't think that's very fair.


message 136: by Espai (new)

Espai About the "moral conflict", as long as I am a student, I pretty much don't care about it.


message 137: by Muhammad (new)

Muhammad Ahsen Tahiri (ahsentahiri) | 3 comments Download a torrent, read in a Kindle. Say no to worries now. :)


message 138: by Rina (new)

Rina Suzuki-Smith | 1 comments Libraries are amazing!


message 139: by Amy (new)

Amy | 1 comments Libraries! If you cant go to one in person then you can always borrow the book online. All you need a library card and you have free range to what they have in ebooks and audio books.


message 140: by Cora (new)

Cora bookmooch.com

is a site that allows you to easily SWAP BOOKS with others. It works on a point based system whereby just by putting books up you're able to request books off others.
The books are completely free for the receiver, you just pay the postage to send your books to others to build up your points.


message 141: by Amber (new)

Amber  | 2 comments Even if your library doesn't have the book, most of them do interlibrary loans. I live in a small, conservative town and have had no issues getting the books I want from the library. Also, if you have an eReader, many libraries do digital downloads as well.


message 142: by [deleted user] (new)

If your library doesn't have a title you need, you can also request that they buy it. If you tell them that it has been chosen for a very popular online book club, they may buy multiple copies. Talk to different librarians if the first one you talk to is not enthusiastic--and will maybe start a local group to support Our Shared Shelf. You will most likely find one to help you (in my admittedly biased experience as an American librarian).
Other ways to go: Amazon will also list inexpensive used copies and you can share books and costs with friends.


message 143: by Aglaea (new)

Aglaea | 987 comments Jennifer wrote: "You and friends can share the cost. If you buy it on your kindle, you can read it and then let a friend borrow it."

I've tried to find out how to lend my Kindle books to a friend locally (and vice versa). We are in Finland and have to buy the ebooks from the US Amazon as there is no local Amazon.

Does anyone know anything in regards to when Amazon might open up this functionality also to people outside of the US (or not using their local Amazon)? Not a single one of mine has the option in the settings to be lent for the time being.


message 144: by Gurleen (new)

Gurleen   | 1 comments u could search the book online in its pdf version and read. that's wht i do...


1 3 next »
back to top