Now accepting nominations for April, 2020, Group Reads

[Sara]

Here is a list of some free book sites. I use several of them.

https://mashable.com/article/free-ebo...

[Kathryn in FL]

Diane wrote: "I do the same thing when choosing books for my real life book club, but a lot of our members don't, and it causes problems. I check library availability, audio and paperback versions, and possible ..."

Diane,
I really appreciate that you take the time to research. Often times, I see a book that is posted, I get so excited. Then I go to my library and they don't have it and I am shocked.
I realize more and more that this is an art. Especially with books that are maybe 5 years or older.
Few of the literary greats are even kept in hardcover. Again and again, I am disappointed. It only seems to get worse at my library.

[Vicki]

Responding to the thread about the struggles of bookstores, how can we decry their disappearance and in the same breath recommend sources for free digital loans? Isn’t that just as harmful to bookstores as Amazon? They don’t exist for our browsing convenience; they have to employ a business model that works, given current reading and book-buying practices.

[Diane, "Miss Scarlett"]

Vicky, that's like saying libraries are harmful to bookstores. Or buying books at booksales, or used bookstores, or borrowing from friends. I read far too many books to buy them all new, plus I have limited book space. The important thing is reading, making books available to those with no means to buy them.

[Sara]

I agree with Diane, and most of the free books online are books that are out of copyright. When there was a Borders in my town, I was guilty of spending far too much of my money and time there. I not only bought the books, but I also spent a mint on croissants and coffee. Obviously times change and the demise of bookstores is part of the different way we purchase now...whatever money I have for new books now goes to Amazon. It is still both fair and true to say I miss those days of my thriving local bookstore.

[Kimberlee]

I’m so relieved to hear Diane, Sara, and Vicky talking about the pros and cons of what has been lost and what may be salvaged.

While I am saving a great deal of money and bookshelf space using my current forced system of iPad e-books via book bub and Apple Books, (in addition to my own amazon-avoiding bizarre system of finding the books I live to own...) I miss my old life. I remember the towns and cities I lived in by the holy moments I shared with fellow book lovers in bookstores that were like irreplaceable individual diamonds to me. It makes me weep. It makes me want to throw things. This loss has only been healed by the stellar company I have found with all of you via goodreads. RIP memories.

BUT it has not stopped me from researching healthy surviving bookstores in all corners of this country, to see what might best suit me and my wallet! for a final move. I’m just not ready to throw in the towel yet. Till then, if then, thank heavens for all of you:)

[Kathryn in FL]

While I see the focus on saving money here, I don't see any real discussion on the opportunities missed because we only have a very low level of choices available to us.
As I mentioned, I was an independent bookseller who sold online. Because of some very obvious anti-trust and nefarious activity at the hands of the "River"....I ended up going out of business. I knew a few dozen other sellers in my community. Every single one is now out of business! Every ONE! My focus was on older books 40 years plus. They had various niches. Now of those needs are being filled and as those lower priced books disappeared because of the seedy practices by that forum, who owns this forum too, many book titles are no longer even showing, you can't miss what you don't know huh? My other focus was on controversial topics, but I wasn't allowed to sell those. Think seriously about what that statement means to those who want all sides of a story.
I never saw libraries as my enemies...nor other alternatives Diane mentioned. I do think that some thought needs to be given to the issues I've raised. I say that because few know about these matters but in a society that values free thinking the books are the first things that encourage those discussions seem to disappear.

[Kimberlee]

Sara, I’ve been trolling around in the luxurious fields of the mashable.com site you introduced me to like a sailor on weekend leave with a hollow leg. Who knew? I sure as heck didn’t. Very
cool. A gazillion thank yous:):):)

[Sara]

lol. So happy to pass it on, Kimberlee!

[Jane]

Yes Sara me too ; thank you so much for the link.

[Kimberlee]

Yes, suddenly I’m rich! Like Diane said, it’s all about geTTinG the books so we can read read read. We’re all just a bunch of sweet
honey bees cavorting around the delphiniums happy to share.

[Tom, "Big Daddy"]

The polls are now closed and the selections for Aptil have been chosen.

The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row, by Anthony Ray Hinton is the winner in the Post-1980 category. The winner in the Pre-1980 category is True Grit, by Charles Portis. Finally, the Moderator’s Choice selection, chosen by yours trulyBig Daddy Tom, is a book that has been nominated several times but hasn’t won, The Cumberland Killers: A Kentucky Mystery, by James Aura.

Also, the discussions boards are up and running for the March selections. They can be found here:

For Calypso, by David Sedaris, (Moderator’s Choice):
Initial Impressions: Calypso, by David Sedaris – March 2020
Final Impressions: Calypso, by David Sedaris – March 2020


For Ship of Fools, by Katherine Anne Porter, (Pre-1980):
Initial Impressions: Ship of Fools, by Katherine Anne Porter - March 2020
Final Impressions: Ship of Fools, by Katherine Anne Porter - March 2020

For The Water Dancer, by Ta-Nehisi Coates, (Post-1980):
Initial Impressions: The Water Dancer, by Ta-Nehisi Coates– March 2020
Final Impressions: The Water Dancer, by Ta-Nehisi Coates– March 2020

Happy reading!

Big Daddy Tom