The Literature Thread

[Tomous]

Out of interest, how do you all read books, physical copies or do you tend to go for ebooks/audio?

I use a Kindle.

So much better than books, in my opinion. More comfortable to hold, can instantly return to your place in the book and you can read in the dark (good if you have a partner asleep in the bed). Plus you don't need loads of shelf space for books. No brainer for me.

I'm not so big on audio books but I've never really tried them properly.

[Oblomov Boblomov]

Out of interest, how do you all read books, physical copies or do you tend to go for ebooks/audio?

Physical books for me. For some reason, it just doesn't feel right to read on a Kindle.

I like to use books in a decorative way at home, too.

I've always assumed I would struggle too much to keep up with audio books. Often, when reading, I have to go back over sentences, or even entire paragraphs. I can't imagine skipping back a few seconds to re-listen to the audio.

[Cuttooth]

Physical books for literature, iPad for comic books.

[more heat than light]

I use physical books because I like to share them with friends/family after I'm done. Also because I like people to know what I'm reading.

[ITSMILNER]

I’ve been buying physical books but I’m thinking of Switching to kindle just to save me from having lots of books hanging around I might end up buying Kindle and anything I really like the look of I’ll buy in physical.

Comics/GN’s are always digital

[sawyerpip]

Enjoyed that, so have just ordered the book on Amazon.

Is there a story about a dystopian consumerist future where you can order something on a device that knows more about you than you know yourself, and have a group of overworked, underpaid humans scramble to deliver it to you on the same day?

Funnily enough I'm about to have a similar group of humans deliver that Gabrielle Zevin novel recommended earlier in the thread. Hope you love the Chiang book as much as I did.

Ted Chiang is great and there are some fantastic stories in that collection. I'd also recommend his collection 'Stories of Your Life and Others'. Stories of Your Life is what the film Arrival is based on and is what got me into his books in the first place.

On format, I have a Kindle which I use a lot and have built up quite a backlog just from buying daily 99p deal books which look interesting. E-readers are really convenient, but I do agree that nothing beats the feel of a real book, and if I particularly enjoy something I'll often look to buy a physical version as well.

[Knoyleo]

I used to read a lot on kindle back when I was renting and moving every year or so, as I just didn't want to be moving a load of physical media about every time. But since beginning a homeowner, I've really enjoyed building up a collection of books on shelves. It's also so much nicer to be able to unwind without looking at a screen when reading as I normally spend all day looking at a screen anyway, even if the old e-ink is very unlike a conventional screen.

Never really got into audio books. Not sure why, although there's still a stubborn part of me which insists that can't count as reading, because it's listening.

I suspect I probably would end up treating them as background noise when doing something else, and then not concentrate and miss bits.

[Squinty]

I have something like 200+ of those ebooks, 99% of them were bought for 99p.

I used to do the Google rewards surveys a lot so I always had credit to burn and books are the best thing to buy on the store in terms of value.

I only really started buying them with a credit card when I moved to Denmark (you don't get surveys here). Really cannot resist a 99p book.

[Kriken]

I much prefer physical books to ebooks. Big part of the reason for this is that I spend most of my day looking at screens. A lot of leisure time spent playing games or watching stuff and browsing. So looking at printed paper is a nice break from this. I also usually read during the evening as a way to unwind before I sleep - a lit screen is a bit counterproductive for this.

I don't read that much anymore but recently I've been slowing making my way through Haruki Murakami's Killing Commendatore. Like most of his other books I've been enjoying it and finding it an easy read.

[Oblomov Boblomov]

A question for those who do listen to audio books: do you ever feel like you do get a bit lost, or don't properly follow everything, or even realise you've spaced out for a few seconds and not listened to the last couple of sentences?

Don't get me wrong, I'm reading the Dune series (currently about 2/3 through book 3) and even with being able to read back repeatedly I still feel like I'm getting lost regularly trying to follow this as an audio book would feel impossible!

[ITSMILNER]

A question for those who do listen to audio books: do you ever feel like you do get a bit lost, or don't properly follow everything, or even realise you've spaced out for a few seconds and not listened to the last couple of sentences?

Don't get me wrong, I'm reading the Dune series (currently about 2/3 through book 3) and even with being able to read back repeatedly I still feel like I'm getting lost regularly trying to follow this as an audio book would feel impossible!

I downloaded a couple of audio books before and tried to listen to them when I went on long walks. I found that I just zoned out and didn't really take in anything I listened to

[Memento Mori]

A question for those who do listen to audio books: do you ever feel like you do get a bit lost, or don't properly follow everything, or even realise you've spaced out for a few seconds and not listened to the last couple of sentences?

Don't get me wrong, I'm reading the Dune series (currently about 2/3 through book 3) and even with being able to read back repeatedly I still feel like I'm getting lost regularly trying to follow this as an audio book would feel impossible!

I downloaded a couple of audio books before and tried to listen to them when I went on long walks. I found that I just zoned out and didn't really take in anything I listened to

Yep this is why I listen to podcasts or music while walking. I can't follow a full plot.

[Alvin Flummux]

I listen to audiobooks, because I just don't dedicate any time to physical/Kindle type book reading nowadays. When I did, physical books took me forever to get through and sent me to sleep, and I've become more distracted with my phone and such over the years as well. I found that Kindle reading felt strange, and it just didn't gel with me, though I did enjoy it as a vehicle for comic books.

So I listen on my drives, whilst cooking, etc. I find it a very pleasant thing to be able to take in a good book while I do other things. I've read more through aural reading over the last couple of years than I did physical books the previous decade, and that, honestly, is a relief.

I also like the voice actors doing different voices for different characters - really helps me differentiate them in my head, and build up the scene in my imagination. On the page, it can be hard to tell who's talking until after the fact.

A question for those who do listen to audio books: do you ever feel like you do get a bit lost, or don't properly follow everything, or even realise you've spaced out for a few seconds and not listened to the last couple of sentences?

Yes, but I find it preferable to reading the same paragraph over and over again, as I would get caught in cycles of that with regular reading. Very frustrating. If I have to rewind, I don't really mind it, and I find that I'm usually alright as long as I have a general understanding of what's going on.

[Squinty]

I'm about 30% of the way into Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield. It's been quite good so far.

[Cuttooth]

I'm trying to get properly back into reading fiction again with the likes of The Word for World is Forest by Ursula K. Le Guin, which I really liked, particularly the glimpses of the wider universe outside the specific setting of the story.

Novellas like that are probably a good place for me to keep going as I feel I can actually finish them at the moment, although I've just started The Left Hand of Darkness as well because I wanted to keep going with works in Le Guin's Hainish universe.

Anyone have some general recommendations for great novellas, maybe in a sci-fi or horror setting?

[more heat than light]

I'm trying to get properly back into reading fiction again with the likes of The Word for World is Forest by Ursula K. Le Guin, which I really liked, particularly the glimpses of the wider universe outside the specific setting of the story.

Novellas like that are probably a good place for me to keep going as I feel I can actually finish them at the moment, although I've just started The Left Hand of Darkness as well because I wanted to keep going with works in Le Guin's Hainish universe.

Anyone have some general recommendations for great novellas, maybe in a sci-fi or horror setting?

This Is How You Lose The Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone is one of the best things I've ever read. Pretentious time-travelling Sci-Fi love story, beautifully written, sub-200 pages. If you want something a bit more light-hearted, The Murderbot Diaries are great.

[Cuttooth]

I'll have a hunt for it at lunch, cheers!

[Oblomov Boblomov]

Enjoyed that, so have just ordered the book on Amazon.

Is there a story about a dystopian consumerist future where you can order something on a device that knows more about you than you know yourself, and have a group of overworked, underpaid humans scramble to deliver it to you on the same day?

Funnily enough I'm about to have a similar group of humans deliver that Gabrielle Zevin novel recommended earlier in the thread. Hope you love the Chiang book as much as I did.

Finished it today. Very enjoyable. I don't think I loved it as much as you, but I would recommend it to others, for sure.

I think The Truth of Fact, the Truth of Feeling stood out to me.

What really struck me was how easy it was to read. I think I've been struggling through the Dune books for too long .

[Squinty]

I read The Left hand of Darkness earlier this year. I didn't love it, but I liked it enough to finish it. Probably the best thing I can say about it, the world and society in it were really memorable/unique.

Finished Gates of Fire. I liked it a lot, didn't want it to end, I got really sad that it did. It had a positive message about what women go through when their husbands and sons get sent to war.

I'm now reading the first Rigante book. Enjoy a bit of Gemmell, always basic, pulpy fantasy stuff but it's easy to read, the prose is blunt and to the point. Legend, despite all its flaws, is one of my favourite books.

[more heat than light]

Enjoyed that, so have just ordered the book on Amazon.

Is there a story about a dystopian consumerist future where you can order something on a device that knows more about you than you know yourself, and have a group of overworked, underpaid humans scramble to deliver it to you on the same day?

Funnily enough I'm about to have a similar group of humans deliver that Gabrielle Zevin novel recommended earlier in the thread. Hope you love the Chiang book as much as I did.

Finished it today. Very enjoyable. I don't think I loved it as much as you, but I would recommend it to others, for sure.

I think The Truth of Fact, the Truth of Feeling stood out to me.

What really struck me was how easy it was to read. I think I've been struggling through the Dune books for too long .

Yeah I really enjoyed that one too, really clever. Glad you enjoyed it.