Better Than Starbucks discussion

I thought it might be fun to share our reading habits...
- When do you read?
- Where do you do your reading?
- One book at a time or several ongoing reads?
- Favorite genres?
- Digital vs. hard copy / paperback vs. hardcover / new vs. used vs. borrowed ?
- Anything else you wish to share.... .

where and when do I read ? - 1st thing in the morning with a cup of tea in bed, at my desk- before work and during lunch, and whereever and whenever else I can (except not in the bath, after a couple of tragic book drowning incidents).
I usually have 3 or 4 ongoing reads. But quite often one will completely take over for a while.
Favourite genres - anything really except for gory horror and crime novels, though I haven't really tried much sci fi and fantasy yet.
Digital versus hard copy - I prefer real books but have a kindle as I have a small house and am really rubbish at culling my books.
Paperbacks rather than hardbacks for the reason above and also the price difference (quite often I just can't wait for the paperback though)
New versus used vs borrowed. Always new or 2nd hand - I love the feel of a new book but I like the former signs of ownership (and the price) of a 2nd hand book.
I don't underline or write comments in the margins - but I do like to write in my name and the date that I first finished reading my books.
I'm always trying to use book marks but never manage it and am always leaving my books open and face down.
If I like a book I'll read it again - sometimes straight away and shortly after starting a book for the first time I nearly always skip to the end and read the last couple of pages before going back to where I left off (this is harder to do on a Kindle). Spoilers therefore have no fears for me - infact I welcome them.

I always read paper books -- hardback, preferably -- although I keep downloading free books to my iPhone. Just can't resist a good book in any form.
I'm drawn to intriguing first novels, anything about Lincoln or the Civil War - or war in general. I don't read romance, sci-fi, horror or anything with vampires, werewolves or zombies.
Here are my links:

http://www.amazon.com/Homicide-In-Hoo...

https://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Homi...

http://glowtalk.me/Weinberg_website/A...

I read mostly contemporary literary fiction and poetry. Mostly on dead trees, but when I need a book fix NOW, I love my Kindle.

Read everywhere, books in every room of the house. Gave away 1200 books when we moved to this smaller house 6 years ago, and am trying to use the library more so I don't fill up this house, too.

Lee--I like the "wherever and whenever I can" answer aobut when you read (I often read on the subway ride to work and then as I walk several blocks to the building and up 6 flights of stairs). I find if I'm reading more than 4 books at a time, it's probably a sign I'm mentally coming apart or not enjoying what I'm reading!

Gloria--I'm with you on not being able to "resist a good book in any form." I'm still partial to physical books, but I'll take my reading any way I can get it.

Ruth--1200 books!!! Wow. A house doesn't feel like a home to me unless there's books in lots of different rooms (when my wife & I first moved in together some 12 years ago, I left my books packed in boxes for a few months--I never realized how much just seeing them contributed to my happiness).

I suppose it's only fair if I answer my own questions...
- I like to read on the train ride to work, at lunch, outside when I can, and almost always just before going to sleep in bed.
- 2 to 3 books at a time is ideal to me, but I hate having unfinished books ongoing for too long.
- I like a variety of genres from classic literature to sci-fi. I don't do popular or best-sellers too often.
- Prefer physical to digital copies; no read preference between paperback and hardcover, used or new, except that I like getting a good deal (which usually means used and paperback).

We have a few thousand books on the shelves in our house, maybe 2500-3500. But we don't buy physical books anymore:(

That's about what we had before we divested so many, in order to fit into the smaller house.

We had 8000, when we closed down
Our bookstore in 2002! Even if we rarely read a hardcover anymore it is comforting to have them surrounding us. Easier to keep them in order, too:)

It's really hard for me to picture not buying physical books, although I am trying to put a serious dent in the unread books I already own (~135). I don't know how many books we own... Maybe 800... I try to get rid of anything I'd rate less than 4 stars.

I kept the bad ones too for fear of forgetting and re buying!

Mostly I always read library books and then bought the ones I liked, but rarely reread

I read about half library books & half owned books a year, but I get a lot of free books (in gifts, trade, amazon pts, etc).

I buy books compulsively and at a greater rate than I can possibly read. I find it hard to pick books to get rid of and do it very sparingly. I have a few thousand books, mostly in a room which has been converted into a "library" by a load of IKEA shelves.
I read anywhere, train, toilet, bed but mostly late at night. I go through phases of reading more or less intensely.
I often have two or three books on the go but have been more focussed recently on reading one at a time, although I may start one and leave it semi abandoned for a while.
I fold an A4 sheet into the book as a bookmark and to jot down notes. I've done this since I started blogging. Never noted things down before, even when studying at college.

I have just joined the group and am excited to participate.

I read anywhere I possibly can. It took me a long time to adjust to letting go the dead trees and go digital. I still like a nice solid book in my hands. I love library books. There's just a nice feeling that someone else has read the book I'm holding and has had similar emotions on the very same page. And of course, trying to identify the food stains (gosh, I hope they are food stains!!) on the page makes it even more fun to read. I feel when I return a library book, I leave a little of me inside it for the next person to find (although, it's probably just dog hair.)

I do have a kindle now and am trying to justify one of those new lighted ones. There's nothing wrong with my unlighed one except that it's not lit. I work late and need to read in bed before I fall asleep and my little book light is just annoying. I try to keep my light to myself so as to not disturb my hubby's sleep.

My kindle has become like a security blanket for me. Before, I would suffer anxiety attacks if I was nearing the end of a book and did not have another one immediately ready to read. Now, I know I'll never be sans book.

My genre choices are varied, but I do have a hard time with these mass produces and mass marketed books that seem so repetitive. Read any Danielle Steele lately?? how horrible they've become! I'm reluctant to start any of these current hot authors as the books seem to be too cookie-cutterish.

I do love a good Stephen King novel though. Classics, mysteries, good science fantasy, light-hearted fun reads. They'll all work for me as long as the story sweeps me away to another world, another time.

yeah, I dont believe I have read a "bestseller" in years, not sure why mass market books have to be so bad. i am not willing to believe most people, and especially most readers are that stupid.... but somehow, the crap almost always out sells good literature...

Hmmm, I read in any format really. I was given my eReader 3 maybe 4 years ago now and took to it like a duck to water :D I still buy in paperback and hard back but for the biggies like Les Mis & Game of Thrones set I did look for the eFormat first ;)

Genres... I like some (maybe most) of the classics, crime, horror, thriller, fantasy, historical fiction, the occasional romance if it's well written.

I would read anywhere if I could but I can only read on transport if I'm using my eReader and only then on a plane or a train (but only for about 30 mins at a time) otherwise I feel ill - which seriously limits the amount of books I could've read by now... 9 hr car journeys to Scotland would've passed much quicker :P

hayley, audio books!

Ooh, that's actually something I didn't mention, oops :S I have tried and failed at audio books - I get distracted if someone's talking to me for a long time and I can't interact with the speaker. No matter how good their voice is I still tune out to think of other things :( Now if Mr Rickman or Mr Armitage was in the room with me and reading with voices so gorgeous, so that I could stop them and ask questions or just make comments then it could work ;)

- When do you read? When I can, usually at night.

- Where do you do your reading? In bed, on the couch, at my desk during lunch.

- One book at a time or several ongoing reads? Depends on how many reading challenges I've signed up for! Right now I have three going.

- Favorite genres? Historical fiction, mystery, some horror. Sci-fi/fantasy can be pretty hit-or-miss for me.

- Digital vs. hard copy / paperback vs. hardcover / new vs. used vs. borrowed ? Mostly hard copy - I try to keep the local libraries' stats up! :) I do read a book via my Kindle or Blio apps now and then. I'm like Hayley, it's hard for me to concentrate on an audio book.

I have a fairly substantial Virago Modern Classics collection going. Every now and then I find one in a used bookstore. I really should make a concerted effort to read them all. Since the hubs is a history professor and my background is art history and library science, we have wall-to-wall bookshelves in several rooms of our house. Needless to say, they're all crammed full.

I've never given audio books a try, but I don't think I'd like them much since I really enjoy the act of reading and the tactile experience. I really wish one could be paid full time to read whatever one so desires ; )

Marc, that is the ultimate wish of all readers, I think!

The only time I've found audio books to fit in with me is on long car trips. I find my attention drifting and then I have to rewind.

Marty wrote: "Depends on how many reading challenges I've signed up for! Right now I have three going...."

Marty: May I ask which 3 challenges you're signed up for?

Angela: I think if I took more car trips I might give them a try. There should be a Goodreads contest where the winner gets paid to read for a year ; )

Hayley wrote: "I would read anywhere if I could but I can only read on transport if I'm using my eReader and only then on a plane or a train (but only for about 30 mins at a time) otherwise I feel ill -..."

That is such a bummer. My wife and son are both readers but get motion sick if they try to read in the car. I'm usually driving and they seem to frown upon my attempts to read at the same time...

Reading is part of driving:)

There is literally a bookshelf in every room and hallway of my house, and in some rooms more than 1..it's a little too crazy. I prefer hardbacks, willingly read paperbacks that I can annotate, esp. classics, and I have a Kindle.

Once upon a time I was a monogamous reader, but that has changed. I have a stack on my bedside table, several on Kindle, but usually try to have serial monogamy with one--better finish. I read late at night, in bed in the morning on weekends. Sometimes I can read in the front seat of the car, not the back, and not in hilly places. I read while giving tests at school, and out loud to children frequently. I wish I used public transportation so I could read on it, but I walk to work. With earbuds in, listening to ridiculously loud music.

Tracy... I need to live at your place! I currently rent so have to keep an eye on my collection until I win the lottery and can buy my own place with a library - otherwise moving will be a bit heavy ;)

Tracy wrote: "I wish I used public transportation so I could read on it, but I walk to work. ..."

I read on my walk from the subway station to work (about 2.5 blocks and 8 or 9 flights of stairs) ; )

Marc, that sounds hazardous!!

Angela wrote: "Marc, that sounds hazardous!!"

It could be, but not so far!

When do you read? - Mostly during my commute to and from work (on the train). I try to read some when I get home, like before bed, but sometimes there's just too much going on.

Where do you do your reading - On the train, in bed, on the couch

One book at a time or several ongoing reads - Always one at a time for me.

Favorite genres - classic literature, non-fiction, memoirs...pretty much anything good ;)

Digital vs. hard copy / paperback vs. hardcover / new vs. used vs. borrowed - Hard copy, though I have a Kindle somewhere...prefer paperback, but will do hardcover...I get most of my books at the library or Half Price Books, so used!

A commute by public transportation seems like a gift for readers, Lara!

yes, any commute where you can get lost in a book instead of fighting traffic sounds good!

Marc wrote: "A commute by public transportation seems like a gift for readers, Lara!"
Very true!

- When do you read? I read as often as I can, but my usual times are in the evening before bed, and in the morning, with my cup of coffee.
- Where do you do your reading? I read in bed, in an armchair by the fireplace, or in the bath.
- One book at a time or several ongoing reads? I have one main book going at a time, with a couple more on the side for different occasions.
- Favorite genres? Any and all. I am a voracious reader!
- Digital vs. hard copy / paperback vs. hardcover / new vs. used vs. borrowed ? I am not particular in my choices. I'll read them in all shapes and sizes. :)