Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Summer Reading Without an E-reader


Packing books for my trip to the Florida Keys was as essential as packing bathing suits, sunscreen, and bug spray. For me the process of gathering books is a little more involved since I’m still one of those people refusing to buy an e-reader.

In search of the perfect beach read, I went through my TBR pile. Found one book there – The Man Who Loved Pride and Prejudice.
Next I checked what my goodreads (www.goodreads.com) friends were reading. I didn’t fine anything new there. I had read the popular summer reads and NYT bestsellers.

My next step was a search of the online booksellers. The problem with scanning the pages of – people who bought this also bought… - is that it takes too many scans to get to the lesser known authors. I quickly tired of that process which didn’t produce anything of interest.

My favorite way to find a book is to search the fiction section of my local bookstore. I’d die if they closed my local B&N. At the bookstore I searched for books that had caught my eye in the past and for some reason I never read. I added two books to my list. At home I searched the titles on my public library database to see if they were on the shelf or needed to be reserved.

The Dress Lodger by Sheri Holman
The Book of Air and Shadows by Michael Gruber

The end result was a great week spent at Duck Key sitting at the lagoon reading.

What books have you read this summer? Did you use an e-reader or buy a book?




Goodreads Book Giveaway


Chocolate Muse (A Love by Chocolate Romance)
Being released August 04 2011
Giveaway ends in 28 days (August 31, 2011)


11 comments:

Sarita Leone said...

I don't have an e-reader, so I buy the physical books. Love it that you enjoyed your reading time and your vacation.

I'm currently reading a Christmas book. Loving it, feeling cooled by the winter snow!

Congratulations on your upcoming release!

Zelda Benjamin said...

I know so many people with e-readers I love to hear from someone who doesn't have one.

Sandy Cody said...

I don't have an e-reader either and am glad to know that I'm not the only one.

As for the books I've read this summer, it's a pretty varied lot: Faithful Place by Tana French; The Postmistress by Sarah Blake; Motor Mouth by Janet Evanovich; The Bird House by Kelly Simmons; Freedom by Jonathan Franzen - the list is getting too long, but I'll add one more since it's by an Avalon author: The Price of Victory by Sandra Lee Smith. I enjoyed every one of them, each for a different reason.

Thanks for a nice post. It's always fun thinking back over recent reads.

Sandy Cody said...

P.S. Love your cover, Zelda.

Zelda Benjamin said...

Thanks, Sandy. Is an e-reader in your future?

Sandy Cody said...

An e-reader in my future? I have no immediate plans to get one, but am sure that eventually I will; it's just the way the world is going. Right now, though, my stack of paper TBRs is too high to think of adding anything to the mix. How about you?

HollyJacobs said...

Hi, Zelda! I do have an eReader. I bought it with trips in mind. When we took our cruise a few years back, I had a suitcase just for my books. LOL For traveling, my Kindle rocks! That being said, I won't ever not buy real books. There's something about the heft of one. The smell. The binding crackling as you open it the first time. Ahhh. So, yes, I do have an eReader, but real books...well, they're real. And my not-so-secret passion!

Holly

Zelda Benjamin said...

I agree. I can't add another gadget. However, my phone battery is dying so tomorrow I'm off to buy an iphone.

Zelda Benjamin said...

Holly,
The idea of an e-reader for traveling is very appealing, especially for long vacations and overseas flights. when I do break down and buy one it would be for that reason. Like you I would never give up the experience of holding real book.

Elisabeth Rose said...

I don't have an e reader. I think perhaps they're more popular in the US than Australia so far, although I know people who have them. Not many general readers though.

Zelda, I wish they'd stop putting such deliciously tempting chocolates on your books!!! I'm off to the shops soon and I'm going to have to force myself to keep away from the chocolate aisle.

Zelda Benjamin said...

Lis,
You can only imagine how much chocolate I eat while I'm writing.
Spent the month of June in Au and NZ. I wish they sold Cadbury Bubbly in the US. Finished the 2 huge bars I brought home in just a few days.