What have you purchased? - 2020

[Kirsten]

Thanks, Rusalka. You're not a water sprite, are you?

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Well... sometimes? I'm working on the drowning men thing though.

[Kristie, Moderator]

For anyone that participates in the SYNC free audiobook program, it returns this April 30th. They have changed the way they deliver the books this year and you need to have a specific app. If you want to check it out ahead of time, the link is here: https://www.audiobooksync.com.

[Margo]

Kristie wrote: "For anyone that participates in the SYNC free audiobook program, it returns this April 30th. They have changed the way they deliver the books this year and you need to have a specific app. If you w..."

Brilliant, thanks Kristie! I see one of the books in week 1 is by Tiffany D. Jackson. I loved Allegedly.

[Cherie]

Rusalka wrote: "Well... sometimes? I'm working on the drowning men thing though."

ROFL!!!

[Margo]

I bought Sue Monk Kidd new offering, The Book of Longings. Very excited to read it!

[Janice, Moderator]

I picked up 3 audiobooks -


Fool's Fate
If It Bleeds
The Utterly Uninteresting and Unadventurous Tales of Fred, the Vampire Accountant

[Jayme, Moderator]

I bought -
The Book of Longings - HC
Murphy's Law - kindle
A Riviera Retreat - kindle
Lights on the Sea - kindle
The Blue Castle - kindle

My library needs to open up soon. I am spending much more than normal. :)

[Janice, Moderator]

Jayme wrote: "My library needs to open up soon. I am spending much more than normal. :)..."

I had some library books slated into my twisted trivia challenge that aren't available digitally through the library. I've ended up purchasing them instead.

[Kristie, Moderator]

I just stumbled across a 2 for 1 sale on Audible. I have found two books that I thought I purchased that are not in my library. I'm not sure if the mistake is mine and I'm missing a step when making purchases or if the mistake was made by Audible. I'm pretty disappointed though.

I'm sure I'll be buying something, but I haven't decided yet. The sale is here if anyone wants to check it out. https://www.audible.com/special-promo...

[Kristie, Moderator]

I picked up If You Tell: A True Story of Murder, Family Secrets, and the Unbreakable Bond of Sisterhood and The Deep, Deep Snow in the Audible sale.

I was unhappy to see that Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, Her Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed and Verity are both in sale, but neither was listed as in my library. When I went to look for them, they weren't there. I contacted Audible and they refreshed my account, which added Maybe You Should Talk to Someone, but Verity is still missing. It is only $1.99 for whispersync, but I already bought it not that long ago. This really makes me wonder how many other books are missing from my account that I've paid for.

[Margo]

I picked up Fire from Heaven in a kindle deal.

[Janice, Moderator]

I went shopping today:


Kindle Daily Deal:
A Dying Fall
The Outcast Dead

Audible Daily Deal:
Gilded Needles

[Janice, Moderator]

Kristie wrote: "It is only $1.99 for whispersync, but I already bought it not that long ago. This really makes me wonder how many other books are missing from my account that I've paid for...."

That's concerning! I have way too many audiobooks in my library to check. It would be a major undertaking.

[Kristie, Moderator]

Janice wrote: "That's concerning! I have way too many audiobooks in my library to check. It would be a major undertaking."

I have way too many to check as well. I only noticed because they were in the sale and not listed in my library. I still might not have noticed if they hadn't been purchased recently and both had something going on when I bought them that made me remember.

I wonder if there was an issue with the purchase of Verity through Amazon since I added it on as a whispersync deal to a free book. I'm going to have to go through my emails and cc at some point to see what happened because they don't have a record of it at Audible. I'm not sure if it's worth it for the amount of time it may take. I'll probably do a quick search then just let it go if I can't find anything.

I've never had this happen before that I'm aware of.

[Janice, Moderator]

Frustrating! I hope you figure it out.

[Margo]

Kristie wrote: "Janice wrote: "That's concerning! I have way too many audiobooks in my library to check. It would be a major undertaking."

I have way too many to check as well. I only noticed because they were in..."

It makes you wonder how many times it has happened that we don't pick up. Thanks for posting Kristie, I will check every book I buy in future!

[Kristie, Moderator]

I was unable to find the charge or an email for the audiobook. What I did find is two separate email confirmations for the Kindle. It seems that Amazon had some type of glitch and sold me the Kindle version twice for whispersync, but didn't add the audio which is really weird. I don't really care because the book was free, so I didn't get charged anything extra, but I don't actually own Verity on Audible now. Fortunately, the whispersync price is still $1.99, so I'll just buy it through the Audible site this time. No harm done I guess, just some confusion and a little frustration. I'll have to check the email confirmations and my shelves more carefully in the future.

So, newest purchase is Verity on Audible.

[Janice, Moderator]

Did you purchase the audiobook from the Amazon site as well as the Kindle? I got that whispersync deal as well. I got the Kindle from Amazon, then popped over to Audible to get the audiobook.

[Kristie, Moderator]

I purchased both through Amazon originally. I just checked the little box that says something like add the audio to your purchase for $1.99. Apparently, there was a glitch somehow.

[Janice, Moderator]

I mustn't be very trusting. I've always had a bad feeling about the connectivity between sites even though they're all owned by Amazon. Although they are connected, I don't treat them like they are.

[Kristie, Moderator]

Yeah, I saw the confirmation after I confirmed, then got the two emails and thought I saw it in my library, but must not have. I clearly didn't read the emails before filing them away, but at least I kept them for reference.

[Gavin]

Just Endymion. I must now what happens next in this series.

[Margo]

Kristie wrote: "I was unable to find the charge or an email for the audiobook. What I did find is two separate email confirmations for the Kindle. It seems that Amazon had some type of glitch and sold me the Kindl..."

Well I'm glad you got it sorted - sort of LOL Verity is a great listen!

I just downloaded my free audiobooksync book, Monday's Not Coming. It's a completely different way of downloading this year.

[uncomfytomato]

I got off audible yesterday,I'm 2 hours in already and really enjoying the narration by Jason Segel.

[Janice, Moderator]

Audible.CA is offering some Giller prize winners for free. Here is the link to the sale page.

I picked up A Fine Balance
Barney's Version
Us Conductors

I already owned a couple of the others.

[Margo]

Audible UK have a 3 for 2 sale. I got

Illuminae
Gemina
Obsidio

I've had my eye on that series for a while.

[Saar The Book owl]

I've ordered at The Book Depsitory:

The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse


Wild Horses of the Summer Sun: A Memoir of Iceland


Both had such lovely reviews.

[Kirsten]

Just picked up Human Errors: A Panorama of Our Glitches, from Pointless Bones to Broken Genes and Twisted: The Story of Larry Nassar and the Women Who Took Him Down in Audible's 2 for 1 sale.

[Janice, Moderator]

Kirsten #donateadayswagestocharity #thankareceptionist #happybirthdaysteviewonder wrote: "Just picked up [book:Human Errors: A Panorama of Our Glitches, from Pointless Bones to Broken Gene..."

Speaking of Audible's 2-1 sale I wonder how often they'll be changing the selections (or adding to them). The banner is gone from the home page so I had to bookmark it so I wouldn't lose it, and there have been no changes. It's the weirdest sale. It says there 139 days left in the sale.

[Kirsten]

Janice wrote: "Kirsten #donateadayswagestocharity #thankareceptionist #happybirthdaysteviewonder wrote: "Just picked up [bookcover:Human Errors: A Panorama of Our Glitches, from Pointless Bones to Broken Genes|36..."

You're right -- that is weird. Maybe they'll update selections every month?

If it doesn't change, I won't take advantage a second time. There were really only a couple I wanted as 80% of the items were either available on Kindle Unlimited or my library's Overdrive list

[Janice, Moderator]

I found the selection to be lackluster. I didn't buy any this round.

[Janice, Moderator]

I picked up two books with my May allotment of credits:


The Girl and the Stars
The Library of Legends

[Margo]

I've added the Mark Lawrence. Nice constellation!

[Janice, Moderator]

I'm going to read it next month for my 2020 release. I think I've also slated it into the stars on the cover task. I'd have to check.

ETA - Checked - I have two books identified for that task, and this is one.

[Jayme, Moderator]

I wish I was buying books with credits! I keep justifying my spending on books by saying to myself "Well, I'm not getting my nails or hair done, so I have money to spend." I have decided to stop the fake nails soooooo...

Books purchased:

The Night Watchman
Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators
Sharks in the Time of Saviors
Midnight in Chernobyl: The Untold Story of the World's Greatest Nuclear Disaster
This Is How You Lose the Time War

You would think by my purchases that I was dipping my nails in gold lol

[Peggy]

Lol Jayme! I always try to justify it too. Unless it's an ebook deal below $3, then I don't even count it as buying a book ;-) I think at some point we just have to accept that this is who we are.

I bought 3 books in the past weeks:
The Year of Living Danishly: My Twelve Months Unearthing the Secrets of the World's Happiest Country
The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane
Louisiana Longshot

[Roz]

Before I'll buy a book (usually Kindle) it has to be cheap ($1.99 or less) or free. In the past month I bought:

The Water Cure
Golden Poppies free
The Fortunate Ones
Ghost Story
The Dressmaker's Gift
Stitch 'n Bitch Superstar Knitting: Go Beyond the Basics (went overboard on this one at $2.99)
Self-Employed: 50 Signs That You Might Be An Entrepreneur

[Margo]

Janice wrote: "I'm going to read it next month for my 2020 release. I think I've also slated it into the stars on the cover task. I'd have to check.

ETA - Checked - I have two books identified for that task, and..."

I found one when I was looking through library site but I forgot to make a note of it and now I can't find it again :(

[Peggy]

And another one..

The Seven or Eight Deaths of Stella Fortuna

[Janice, Moderator]

Margo wrote: "I found one when I was looking through library site but I forgot to make a note of it and now I can't find it again.."

I hate when my memory crashes likes that. It can happen too easily it seems.

[Janice, Moderator]

I purchase 24 credits every year which costs me about $11.00 per audiobook. I try to ration them out - 2 per month. But, once again, I had to replenish them. I used my last 2 credits with the purchase above and my membership doesn't renew until July. They offered 3 credits so I bought them. They're good that way! LOL!

I rarely buy ebooks over $5.00. Not having the availability to access the library has affected that though.

[Kristie, Moderator]

Janice wrote: "I rarely buy ebooks over $5.00. Not having the availability to access the library has affected that though."

Can you not get ebooks through your library?

I'm very fortunate here. Our library system is still doing interlibrary loans and you can take out any book that is available to borrow and does not have a waitlist through no contact curbside service. They are not taking any returns though, so I have a bag full of books just waiting to go back.

We also have ebook and audio service that is still running. I've actually been reading more library books than books I own lately, so I haven't been buying too many.

[Janice, Moderator]

The library does have ebooks available with a regional association. I've used it extensively, but since the library has been closed, more people are using it and there are huge waitlists on a lot of the books. It's gotten a bit frustrating.

They have curbside pickup, but I've always assumed it was for books carried by them and not ILL. Most of the books I look for aren't available at my library but are available elsewhere in the province. I probably should have enquired and not assumed.

They've just opened up the book return slot, but are putting any books returned on 3 day quarantine. The entire library is scheduled for phase two of the lockdown lift which may be some time in June.

I just picked up The Night Watch from curbside pickup. They have it set up really well. There's a bank of parking stalls in the centre of the parking lot. They're numbered and have a phone number for you to call to alert them you are there. You either leave a back window open or the trunk. They place it in your vehicle and away you go. Slick!

[Sandra, Moderator]

My library is not doing curbside service, but they bought a huge amount of ebooks during the pandemic. Still there are waiting lists for getting them, but there are also many books available right now. Not great for challenges and buddy reads, because you can't be too picky, but I think it is working very well considering the circumstances.
I'm in the waiting list of about 7 or 8 books I'd really like to read, and also reading other stuff available that was in my TBR but always lost the battle against newer or cooler reads. I'm also reading books from my own bookshelves at home, which usually also get neglected.
Summarizing, I thought it was going to be bad to get books during the pandemic, but so far I've had more options that I can actually read, as usual. :)
I bought A LOT of books for my kids, though.

[Renee]

My library just starter accepting returns. The books will go into a week quarantine before returning to circulation. The second week in June they will start curbside pickup. It will be only for books in the libraries collection

On another note, I accidentally signed up for the Book a Month club. I had been given a gift of two book. I collected the wrong button, I am now a member. My husband is questioning my use of the word accidental. LOL

[Sandra, Moderator]

Oh, Renee! What an unfortunate mistake! ;)

[Jayme, Moderator]

Renee wrote: "My library just starter accepting returns. The books will go into a week quarantine before returning to circulation. The second week in June they will start curbside pickup. It will be only for boo..."

I love the book of the month club. I've been a member for years. If you don't like a book offered you can skip that month. I've skipped like 3 months in a row before, but then the next month they will have 4 books I want to read. My mom is a member too, so we will discuss the books offered each month, choose our book and when we're finished send the ones we ordered to each other. Double books!

[Peggy]

I subscribed to bookbub a long time ago, selected genres, and I get an email every day with ebook deals (free to 3.99), also well known and relatively new books.

I just had an email they are going to do the same for audiobooks, it's called chirp. Might be interesting for some of you :)

[Peggy]

chirpbooks.com

I just noticed it's not available in the netherlands, so perhaps other countries are the same.. sorry!