SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion
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Where do you get your books from?
Yeah there are heaps of CUBs. Most of the mine workers from my home town are CUBs. Most of the district are Bogans actually.....Another Aussie TV show is Upper Middle Bogan. That’s more the CUB life whereas Housos is more the unemployment benefit, housing commission side of things.
Jacqueline wrote: "Bogan is Australian and New Zealand slang for a person whose speech, clothing, attitude and behaviour are considered unrefined or unsophisticated. Depending on the context, the term can be pejorati..."sounds like a redneck or a hillbilly in the US
John, thank you!We're retiring and exploring the country more slowly and deeply. Gonna live in Rolla MO for a couple of years, exploring from there, then move on further east.
Saving a copy of your post to my folder. :)
To a certain degree yes CBR and also no. We do have rednecks here. They’re more the idiots who are racist and homophobic and vote One Nation (small party in our Parliament). Disclaimer.....not all one nation voters are like this. Just like not all National, Liberal and Labor voters are like the ones mentioned below. We also have hillbillies sort of. They vote National because apparently they look after the people in the country (but they’re in bed with the right wing conservatives who look after themselves and big business so who knows).
Bogans are more in a town or city environment. Usually in the poorer areas and a lot are welfare recipients but not all. The CUBs live in new subdivisions in McMansions on very small lots. They mostly vote Labor (the left socialist party). The CUB next door just got home. Expensive Holden Ute, JetSki, very loud Aussie rock playing in the car. A lot of bogans have pit bulls and Staffies but this guy has a Labradoodle. Weird choice for a bogan but maybe someone is allergic to dog hair...
(In suburban communities, McMansion is a pejorative term for a large "mass-produced" dwelling, constructed with low-quality materials and craftsmanship, using a mishmash of architectural symbols to invoke connotations of wealth or taste, executed via poorly thought-out exterior and interior design.
An example of a McWord, "McMansion" associates the generic quality of these luxury homes with that of mass-produced fast food by evoking the McDonald's restaurant chain.)
McMansion is also used in the US and Hillbilly refers to regional poor white trash who live in the hills in the south and southeast of the US (Appalachia)
Yeah poor white trash sort of covers some of them but they are still different to your hillbillies. I suppose you could say “same dog, different leg”. Except not all bogans are poor. Or white. Or trash. Contrary to the definition some of us are comfortably well off, educated and rather useful members of society.
Oh, and don't forget good old Dunedoo! Our kids always got the massive giggles when we went there. "Need to go to the dunny in Dunedoo!"
Can’t forget Dunedoo lol (pronounced “Dunny do” for those playing along). They were going to put a big dunny in the Main Street on the Highway. They ended up just putting one of those automated youn beaut systems in. Fancy dunnies in Dunedoo.
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Actually Allison I get a lot of my books about 97 km west of Dunedoo lol 😝
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I know I've said it a couple times, but I'm still so happy that my librarians are awesome. I have several times picked something up that made them remark on the title or cover, and then we'd spend a few minutes chatting about the overall concept that would end up in a rush to the computer to put a book on hold for all of them or their families.
Most recently, I asked why they hadn't gotten Revenant Gun yet, as they had the other two in the series. They did a quick search (must figure out what they use for book-finding resources, it sounds like it'd be awesome for Anna and me!) and upon seeing that they hadn't realized it was out and no one had it on their "to buy" list, they added it for me!!
Everyone, take care of your library books and thank your librarians, I am pretty sure they are all a little magical.
Allison wrote: "Everyone, take care of your library books and thank your librarians, I am pretty sure they are all a little magical."I started donating regularly to my library a few years back, in thanks for all the books I've gotten and the times they've ordered stuff for me.
I'm actually going to a "Solstice Soirée" at the main branch tonight, so I'll finally actually see the inside in person.
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I started donating regularly to my library a few years back, ..."
Oh that sounds lovely!! I hope you have a great time :)
Loving the hair Colleen 😊 Mine is sort of purple at the moment. I use an indigo shampoo that makes it purple. Well it’s supposed to be a very faint mauve but I do it over a few days and it comes out a lovely purple. Today was day one hehe It doesn’t take everywhere to start with so I have to keep at it and then it doesn’t fade out for a couple of weeks. Makes me happy and my hubby encourages me to do whatever makes me happy. Including having purple hair at fancy functions for his work lolGotta love librarians Allison. The nice one on duty last time I was in there left a note for the head librarian to order a book for me. The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin. Not a sci-fi but it is about 4 kids who are told by some old gypsy type lady the exact day they’re going to die. They didn’t believe her though. At first... Basically the question is how would you live your life if you knew exactly when you were going to die. So yeah it’s your basic contemporary fiction type book. I’ve been reading a lot of those lately. Not something I would have done before Goodreads which of course harks back to that other thread on being a better reader.
Jacqueline wrote: "Loving the hair Colleen 😊 Mine is sort of purple at the moment. I use an indigo shampoo that makes it purple. Well it’s supposed to be a very faint mauve but I do it over a few days and it comes ou..."Thanks. :)
I've had various shades of purple hair for several years now. When I first did it I thought my work would freak, but they were actually ok with it, so I've been keeping it.
I use Elumen dye for dark hair. I used to bleach it first and use a much brighter color, but I like this darker color because I don't have to bleach it first.
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Thanks, Allison. I hope so, too. ^_^
John wrote: "And St. Louis has a ton of options; The Book House, Dunaway Books, Main St Books, Patten Books, Subterranean Books, etc... There is a lot of good BBQ there as well, but I liked Pappy's."I was going to pop in and suggest Book House (born in STL and lived there for 35 years before moving to CA), but John has it covered and then some! I'd nearly forgotten Subterranean; will have to pay them a visit next time I'm visiting the ol' home town.
Seconded that Missouri barbecue, whether KC or St. Louis style, is well worth tracking down.
My hair is salt and pepper. Lots of grey through it so the purple holds pretty well. The people in our small town have a giggle at me but as my travel cup says “be the reason someone smiles today”. I like my other one as well “be a flamingo in a flock of pigeons”. The last two places didn’t worry about purple hair but this one....yeah not many people with coloured hair here and none who are in their 50s and are in the public eye or work where people can see them. Can’t say I’ve even seen many kids with coloured hair either. Except of course the obligatory blondes and older women who have either fake red hair or dark brown because they don’t want to look old. That library solstice thing sounds like it could be fun. It’s the winter solstice here.
I’m heading back up to the Farm again today which means that I can go to my favourite bookshops with my saved money and buy some new books again :)
Allison wrote: "*Ahem* So, where have you been getting books from? :)"🤣🤣🤣
I buy most of mine online now, but I am a sucker for books at conventions.
Another Australian *waves*I reached a point where I had to ... downsize my paper books. Due to ongoing health problems. I had four overflowing bookcases, it was rather ridiculous. I am now totally Kindle, with the exception of textbooks.
Julieanne wrote: "Another Australian *waves*I reached a point where I had to ... downsize my paper books. Due to ongoing health problems. I had four overflowing bookcases, it was rather ridiculous. I am now totall..."
*waves back*
We have five overflowing bookcases, not to mention the hundreds on my Kindle...
Today I got a book (Gemina by Aime Kaufman and Jay Kristoff) from Collins bookshop in Armidale. It was damaged a little bit so the nice man gave me 30% off.
I bought my last 40 from awesomebooks. They are used, but so cheap (and since i live in Portugal it is difficult to find cheap English books here). Unfortunately, do not have space in the shelves for them. And i'm stocked for the next 6 months.
Filipe wrote: "I bought my last 40 from awesomebooks. They are used, but so cheap (and since i live in Portugal it is difficult to find cheap English books here). Unfortunately, do not have space in the shelves f..."That is what drove me to a Kindle finally - all the bookstores with English books had the same small selection even in paris
I found a lot of authors that allowed a free download of a kindle book, I realise this was to get you to buy the rest of the series, but at least you got a taste of what it would be like
I use the local library system's website to read online or read ebooks. I also check out hard copies because they are so much more comfortable to read (I only have my phone or my laptop to use) and I love the feel of a book. I shop in used book shops and in a small local bookstore.
When I have more income, if I ever do, I would like to buy more books and build up my home library again.
Heading to Argentina (on the way to Antarctica) next year, so I might just have to get some books from https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/e....
Donald I am so jealous! It would be wrong if you visited Argentina and didn’t stop there.
Now that looks like somewhere to get lost in :) And if you’re going there anyway.....
John wrote: "Where do you get a majority of the books you read from? Are you strictly a library check out person? Buy it new? Or do you hit up the used book stores and/or thrift shops? Do you keep your books/sh..."I get most books from UBSs and thrift stores, unless I get a gift card to the big chains.
I love libraries, but once I get my hands on a book, it's mine! I learned a long time ago that it's best if I just donate books or time to the library and not check anything out. The library police are real! LOL
I keep everything I buy, unless it is a duplicate. Currently I have 7 bookshelves that are completely full, with a half-shelf that is double-stacked. All my shelves were made to specification; to accommodate occasional double-stacking. :)
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Allison wrote: "Can you do, like, a live video from that part of your trip, Donald? Pictures of the rest will suffice, but, I'd like a tour, please, of the bookstore. ;-)"I'll try but I think these guys probably beat out anything that I'd put together, if only for the music - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMICP....
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I'll try but I think the..."
Iunno. They didn't once smell a book. They didn't even show me what the lower shelves or ceiling look like from where you sit on the ground with your book! I don't trust them.
The majority of my books are either bought on e-book or second hand. I should use my library more but I went through a stage of buying a lot of books and now I need to get through them before I can even consider taking things out from the library. My problem is that when I see a new book I feel compelled to buy it there and then lest I forget about it (my GR TBR shelf is a mess so I can't use that for help). I am trying to break away from my Amazon addiction because I know how bad they are for independent book shops. Recently I thought I had found a good alternative in Abebooks.com but I found out that they're owned by Amazon too! But Biblio.com sounds like a good alternative.
John wrote: "As you all know there have been some anniversary releases of The Lord of the Rings for the 50th and 60th anniversaries. Have not been impressed with the quality of these mass market print..."It is an unfortunate truth that when I first subscribed to the Folio Society about 15 years ago, the first book they sent me was an absolutely beautiful volume of T.E.White's ONCE AND FUTURE KING (1958) -- in which some of the pages were faint and not easy to read.
It did seem -- ironic -- that a merchant who based most of its "selling points" on physical quality would send me a copy that I had the right to return as defective. (I did keep it, ruefully). After all, Folio Society's books are reprints of copyrighted and previously-published works. About ninety percent of the time, any new Folio book can be bought much more cheaply through the regular book market, probably about half the price at retail for a hardcover and thirty percent or less for a quality paperback.
This year, after some years of inactivity, I asked Folio for a prospectus and received it shortly before my birthday. Alas, they seem to have eliminated the gift-with-membership type premiums (ooh! free books, almost) with a new membership. Given their prices today, I lost interest.
I must say though that the books are tough, usually English "wove" paper and German binding; thus, durable. Intelligent design. The interior artwork varies from one book to the next. I never again had an off-horse like that first ONCE AND FUTURE KING and the FS folks -- at least as of a few years ago -- could be phoned for free to London, but the best service came from respecting the UK time differential. I wouldn't warn anyone away from FS, and if books now have to be bought piecemeal, at least one can dip the toe in the water and not get too committed. But the prices are never cheap.
If you'd like to msg me here or write me at allensmalling@gmail.com, I'll be happy to chat further, John.
I’ve been almost exclusively digital for the last five years, first buying on nook, now on kindle. With how easy it is to get library ebooks on kindle I’ll probably start doing that a lot more going forward on stuff I’m not sure if I’ll like.
I have 2 shelves of unread books, almost all from library sales.I use OverDrive and hoopla through the library and read ebooks & comics (and audiobooks) on my phone.
75-90% Library. The rest i buy, usually on kindle. If it’s one of my true favorite, like Tana French, James SA Corey, Peter Hamilton or Louise Penny, I might buy hardcovers.
Ebooks I read are strictly from the library. They are what I read at night. Most of my reading is done with paper books and mostly I own them. I get them from thrift stores and there's an overstock book outlet not too far from me. Occasionally I buy new from a chain store if I absolutely can't find it elsewhere. Some I borrow from the library. I also run a very informal little local book club with kits from the library. Many books I pass on, whether on book trade sites, stash in a little free library, or donate. To keep, a book needs to have earned its spot: I need to feel like I may realistically reread it, or it had a big impact on me. I also keep some that I think my kids will enjoy when they're older.
Most of my ordering is online, as my mobility is limited. Now that Barnes and Noble offers free shipping, I can order from them more easily than finding my way out to Skokie and trudging the store, and the price is no more (same sales tax).
John wrote: "I've found also that the FS books tend to bleach out on the bindings, almost every abe.com book I've seen has this issue. All of the EP books tend to hold well on the binding colors..."John, five hundred is a good chunk of change for me to commit to one shopping trip, though I suppose I spend that much over the space of a few months.
Unfortunately, my doctor advises me not to make a collection of EP books. I'm allergic to them, he says -- not from the leather bindings but from the glue that holds the leather together. They have a distinct aroma, you may have noticed, and it's more a matter of bonded leather than parchment leather.
(I always wondered why the better-quality bibles in religious bookstores and ES books smelled so much alike -- it's the way the leather was constructed.)
I think you mentioned in-person visits to thrift or consignment shops. Great ideas, and may I also mention library sales, since not all of the books will be "Ex-Libe" or have markings. Many are donated. Chicago's Newberry Library (worth a visit in itself) has an annual book sale with books for all and sundry. Not cheap, but reasonable. Even book 'tent sales' will sometimes turn up the occasional very well manufactured book. I myself have a teensy little HOBBIT from about 20 years ago with gilded edges that has survived more than a few out-of-town trips.
If you travel much to historic sites, you may well see that "locavore" (for lack of a better term) bookbinders with letterpresses are often there to sell their wares. Some of their products are exquisite, and the best are truly of "heirloom" quality. I can't say the same of FS, as you have mentioned. I'm not even sure about EP.
For the really precious books, the best thing to do is put them behind archival glass, as in a book hutch. The second-best thing to do is keep them away from natural sunlight -- even a little will bleach out books or photos over time if they are not protected from it.
John wrote: "Found a fairly sizeable collection of fantasy books, fairly new publications that I have yet to read, at the local goodwill. Most I've spent on books at a thrift store in a long while, about $100. ..."Hi John, glad to hear you are back and safe. There are some great books in that collection. The books on the top left of the pile by Kate Eliott are really good and I never hear anyone talking about them. In case you didn't know, you are missing the first two and the last one. They are King's Dragon, Prince of Dogs, and Crown of Stars. The series is a great epic fantasy and there are some really unique elements to it.
If I buy new I would order online at bookdepository, because that have english books for me but also spanish children books which we read with my son. Here in Netherlands the library costs 50 euros per year which I think is a lot considering the sad options in english. How much does the library membership cost where you are??
Some are still free, but not all that good. In my area, people who live in well-off, large-ish suburbs usually have public-library usage included (examples: Des Plaines, Naperville, Evanston) but frequently user fees are imposed for things like discs and video. Interlibrary Loan is hit-or-miss.
For popular paperbacks, including some in Spanish, Walmart (USA) is often a good choice. They will usually match Amazon's prices but, at least where I live, tend to have faster delivery and store pick-up.
Thriftbooks ships abroad, did you know that? They impose a per-item fee for overseas shipments but it is not onerous. Careful shopping may yield some decent prices if the kids don't mind VG or G used copies, sometimes Like New. Worth comparing prices online.
https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/the-lit...
For new paperbacks, consider wordery dot com alongside bookdepository -- sometimes they are price competitive. They ship from Norwich, in the Midlands region of the UK.
Shipping from US to Europe almost always deems it impossible, I might find it cheaper new in book depository that ships from UK. I have bought second hand books in amazon uk or de listed as 1c and payed the shipping, which is about 4 euros, is still an ok price, but might be 6 or 7 euros new, paperback, so I’m not sure is worth it.
In the case of Thriftbooks>EU (most of the world in fact) the cost us US$4.99 per item. That's about 4.3 Euros. No worse than what you say, but probably no better. Their delivery time is considered good (according to them): https://www.thriftbooks.com/shipping-...I can honestly say that firm has been a blessing to me, since I read a lot, prefer HC, and don't care if it's brand-new as long as it's clean. Domestic orders are not particularly fast (it depends on which of many regional warehouses the company ships from), but they ship free with orders over ten dollars.
And, of course if it matters, you will be using the same tree-paper twice!
Victoria wrote: "If I buy new I would order online at bookdepository, because that have english books for me but also spanish children books which we read with my son. Here in Netherlands the library costs 50 euros..."Nothing - our taxes pay for it
CBRetriever wrote: [Pay] "...Nothing - our taxes pay for it."That sounds lovely, but I don't know which nation you live in.
Denmark?
SciFi and Fantasy Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
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CUBs are almost more common these days, if only because it's pretty hard to live in Sydney without at least the CU part. :(