Road Trip Wednesday is a “Blog Carnival,” where YA Highway’s contributors post a weekly writing- or reading-related question that begs to be answered. In the comments, you can hop from destination to destination and get everybody’s unique take on the topic.
This week’s topic:
Where do you buy most of your books? No one is judging!
I buy e-books at Amazon.com.
*The title of the post refers to buying books as the only shopping I like, cause I hate, HATE shopping. Even clothes, shoes, anything. I love having them, hate going to the mall to shop.
I have a good explanation, though.
When I used to live in the US, I went to Books A Million, which was the bookstore nearest to my house.
When I came back to Brazil, I brought a lot of books, but, within a few months, I had read them all. I wanted to keep reading in English (so I would not lose my English and because I was writing in English). There are a few bookstores here in Brazil who carry a dozen of titles in English, the “original” book, but they charge a lot for it (you know, it’s foreign …).
So each time my husband went to US for work, I ordered 10+ books. Can you imagine the weight of 10+ books on a suitcase? More than once he paid for overweight on his baggage and wanted my neck for it lol
Then the e-books exploded and I saw a solution for my reading … my husband bought a Kindle for me and I started buying books online. Pretty simple, pretty neat.
I do miss the smell and the feel of print books, but at least now I can keep reading without having to wait for my husband’s rare US-trips ;)
When and if I go back to US (to live again!) next year, I’ll probably buy half of the books on a bookstore near to my house (luckily a local one) and the other half on Kindle. You gotta admit that having a hundred books on a small device is kinda of neat for traveling and such.
Anyway …
Where do you guys buy books?
Cheers,
I buy most of my books from amazon, but I also love to pick up books in charity shops. I haven’t really gotten into the ebook hype as I much prefer the real thing than reading off a screen. Maybe eventually Ill give in, but I think it will be a long time away yet! lol :)
That’s an interesting angle on the whole e-book thing that I hadn’t even considered, Juliana. Thanks!
I buy ‘book books’ at B&N or if I’m in a city that has an Indie Bookstore I’ll buy at least one there.
But I do have a Nook, so I buy ebooks a lot too. I travel for work and my Nook is so awesome for that! Books can be SO HEAVY!
I am sooo hoping to get a Kindle this holiday season! *fingers crossed!*
When I came back from the US, I brought back soooooo many books :-)
I also try to keep reading in English as much as possible so I buy on Amazon or in some bookstores in the city which carry an international section.
I do my best to read a lot French novels as well and I usually buy quite a lot when I go back home.
Basically, I buy a looooot of books and am thinking of getting a kindle soon.
Wow! That is a weighty heap of books to put in a suitcase! I can totally relate to not having good, inexpensive book access in a language you want. I lived in Germany for 6 months and the only place I could buy English books was a British military store and they charged an arm and a leg for them. So online shops were super helpful. I’m definitely grateful for the access to books I have again living in Canada. Thanks for sharing! =)
Oh, I know the weight of bringing books back from the US. I think I brought 10 home myself this year and I had to repack to avoid the charge. In the end, I was 1 pound under the free luggage limit ^^;
The kindle has been growing on me too. I like my books on print but I’m slowly running out of space for books and I have a tiny flat. Can’t fit another book case into this place! A kindle would save a lot of space for me.
I’m so partial to print books, but I definitely see the ease of ebooks for people that travel and for international readers who want books in languages other than their country’s official language. We do travel quite a bit, and I’ve felt the weight of just 3 or 4 books stuffed in a carry-on bag, so I can imagine your husband’s bag would feel like a ton of bricks, lol.
Alright, you have a way more valid excuse than I do to shop Amazon! It really never occurred to me that people overseas wishing to read English would be buying “imports.” What a great solution e-books offer!
E-books at Amazon and picture books at whatever local bookstore I can get to. Unfortunately, I don’t have many choices for physical bookstores (and they’re all 15-30 miles away).
I still haven’t made the jump into e-books, but the newest Kindle is so tempting. Every time I move (which has been a lot over the last few years), I’m shocked by how heavy my books are.
Makes sense! I have an Kindle and buy some of my books as eBooks. But I also still like buying print books as well.
I hadn’t really thought about how hard it would be to get books in English in other countries; I would have jumped on the Kindle train right away if I were in your shoes!
Ever since I got my iPad, my books have come from the iBookstore. Once in a while I go searching elsewhere, as I have apps for every eReader on my iPad.
I’m sure your husband likes your Kindle more than you do!
I have yet to break down and get a Kindle, but the Fire has my attention. And my daughter’s getting one for Christmas from her Grandpop. So, maybe someday.
E-readers do make travel so much easier, though it’s pretty cool how they help out in your specific situation. I think the most important thing is that we buy books. Better you do it on a Kindle than not buy them at all because you don’t have access. :)
It seems as though you’re lucky to have eBooks as an option now. I totally understand why your husband wasn’t a fan of schlepping books back and forth, though it was obviously for a VERY good cause. :)
I’ve been thinking about getting a Kindle for awhile, just because it would make it so much easier to travel and can fit in my purse (since I carry a book around with me everywhere). It’s good that you were able to find a way to keep getting books in English :)
Thanks guys for sharing with me.
Sorry I didn’t answer each one of you. I’ve been quite busy during the holidays!
Hope to catch up with you next week!