Struggling Writers discussion

Hi everyone! Okay, so I am wondering, how do you get your books? Do you buy the books you read? Or do you borrow them from a library? Do you mainly download your books?

Also, we moderators are wondering: are you interested in reading new releases for our monthly book selections? Or do you prefer to discuss older books that you may have already read?

I have a Kindle so I buy my books directly from Amazon :P I have a friend who can download from a local library onto her Kindle.

I'm a mix. Library is best because it's free. :) But if I really like a book I might buy it. Kindle is great because I can carry it anywhere, excluding school. And for that reason, print books are good, too. :)

I have a kindle too. But I still like the hard copy versions best. But the kindle is great for downloading samples.

I am extremely lucky to be sent ARC's and many new books to read for review. Through Goodreads (First-Read) these are either paperbacks or hardbacks. Anything else that i read i buy, as i am a traditionalist and love the feel of a book in my hand. I however only recently moved to a smaller house, and so with limited space i did have to send more than half of my precious books to charity ~ as i just don't have as much room to store books anymore/ no library. I can read 'PDF's' on the computer, but it is just not as easy or enjoyable i find personally. We have a small library in the Village and so i do take books out to read as well!

I definitely use my library a ton because it's free!

Borrow from college- buy- rarely download :D

I'd rather buy them. Sure it would be cheaper to borrow them, but you always have to read them by a deadline. As for downloading books, well, I'm not really a big fan of using tablets to read.

It depends on who has what. Provided you turn them in on time, libraries are predominantly free, but may not have a good selection depending on what system you're in, or may not have them immediately. It's what I like about ereaders, a book bought is a book immediately obtained.

I still prefer a book in my hand to an e reader. Though our library carries a small stock of books in English I rarely visit as it's only open in the mornings to the public!

I pick up books at car boots too, and local swap shops though I have almost read all the books in stock at the local shop!

I still love going into a bookstore and being swallowed up in all the shelves of book covers. So I mostly buy books of authors I expect to really like. That said I have read Ebola and appreciate the portability they provide. It's great to read a chapter on an ereader but then be out somewhere and realize you can pull up the same book on your smartphone right where you left off. It's really cool ( maybe a little difficult to read on the small screen though). I think books are just getting more and more popular, however I also think there will always be at least a niche market for physical books. Look - even Phonorecords have sort of popped up again.

There are virtually NO bookstores near me at all. It's so sad. :(

Yes, they are all going away now. I have the same problem - no bookstores near me. They weren't generating enough business to stay open. I completely agree with you Jessica, it is very sad.

Jessica wrote: "There are virtually NO bookstores near me at all. It's so sad. :("

I have the same predicament. Sorry, though:P

I borrow from my library since I have very limited space for books. E-books are good too but I can't carry them around as easily, I like that my library has its collection online as ebooks to check out though.

Yeah, in my city they've been closing bookstores right and left.

Do you know you can borrow books from Amazon for free too by joining Kindle Prime? Both Cally's Secret and The Menorah Murders are available on Kindle Prime!

I prefer to buy my books, I like to collect books too so buying yhrm is my top choice

I download some books on my Kindle app, but prefer hardcopies. My local secondhand bookshop is brilliant and I get many of my books there. I find brand new books a bit expensive, but I will splurge if I really want it.

I mainly buy my books, both in paperback and digital. I could never really get myself to borrow books from the library. There's something about books that make me want to keep them for good...

Generally, I buy the books I read. But being such a voracious reader, only buying books does neither satiate me nor is affordable. So I collect my books from all sources I come across. I read one at a time, if I am not writing or doing something else, as if a ghost has seized me, then when it is finished, I put it aside, or return to its rightful owner.

I have yet to obtain a Nook or Kindle, so I'm still going old-fashioned and buying regular books, but try to wait if it's paperback or not depending on the title and author. It seems many short story collections (mostly what I read) are in paperback, so that works well! I love libraries, but haven't actually been to one in a long time--I guess there's something about a new book for me!

If I have a book that I want to write notes in (such as a libretto, or a epic poem), I buy it. I also collect editions sometimes. Otherwise, I use a library when I'm not sure if I'll like a book.

I will download a book if I do not have a real book that I could read at that moment. Also only if that book was free or did not cost that much money.
I will normally get books from a library. It would cost too much money if I bought all of the books I have and want to read from a bookstore.
I will buy books from a bookstore under special circumstances( birthday gifts, having spare money, a new book in a series just came out, wanting to complete a book series that I own, library does not have the book I want, etc.).

I also like to buy from my library book sale. Basically, they take donated books or books that are too worn/ never checked out and sell them for 25 or 50 cents each. :)

If the library has the book, I get it from there since I don't really keep books after reading them. If not, I get it from the cheapest source which is usually downloading. I also download classics that are public domain.

I get my books mostly from the library during their used book sales. I buy a full box or two during every sale. I also check out books very often. Recently this year I began borrowing my first eBooks from the library.
If there is a series I particularly like I usually buy it. I also buy when there is no other option.
I used to buy print only, but now buy digital only after having a bookshelf collapse from holding too many books, unless I can get the print version cheaper or if it is digital only.
I also get books from authors whose books I am interested in reading, when they offer it free for review, but this is obviously not my main way of getting books to read.
Basically it's print books from the library book sales first, then print books borrowed from the library, buying books digitally, borrowing library eBooks, buying print books, getting digital books to read for review, then finally winning the occasional print book from Goodreads giveaways.
When doing book discussions on books I prefer to do it on books I have already read since I am still in the process of reading my print books to downsize my collection before any other shelves break on me, or before there is an earthquake or something and I end up with a big mess!

Half price book store, Barnes and Nobles and Amazon.com

All three. I love to re-read the books I enjoy. There always seems to be something I didn't catch the last time I read it.

I buy books I only download the ones that are only in ebook form

Physical books will always be best, but not if you don't like clutter, like I don't. So I download books from Google Play to read them on my Android. Or I'll read them off of Scribd.

I love the feel of having a physical book in my hands. Ebooks just don't cut it for me.

I download most of them but if i can get a braille book i would rather do that

I borrow them, and if I decide I like them after maybe a forth of the way through the book I will buy it. Usually I buy from the book stores, as opposed to online.

I use overdrive and rent them from the library when I can. I'll only buy when I cant get it for free and its an author I know and love. Or that I was blown away in the sample and the reviews are 4.0 or higher.

i used to buy books when they were between 3-5$ retail at bookstores. its been about 10 years now and the major bookstores in my city left (all i have now is locals and wally world). i still rack up late fines between county city and university libraries (i check out 50 books a month lolz). its rare that i buy books. i have to love them to own a copy otherwise i get it at library.

i still find the overstocks at dollar stores and buy books if theyre interesting. i rarely download ebooks because i like physical copies. mainly its ARCs clogging my tablet, i only bought 2 ebooks - kings on writing and some cowboy romance by accident (i was sleepy and thought i downloaded a preview for another book with similar title and i dont like romance or cowboys)

Lately I've been only getting ebooks since it's cheaper. I still buy books at the bookstore once in a while. I also borrow books from my cousin who has a massive collection.

I prefer to buy e-books as they are slightly cheaper; also solves the problem of storing them.

I tend to discover new books through a bookclub I am a part of. If the book we are reading isn't available for Kindle, then I will consider ordering the physical copy - although that usually means a trip to the charity shop to get rid of it later, as I don't have much shelf space!

Open to reading both old and new books, discovering new works is why I am in the bookclub.

HM Reynolds

I either buy, am lent books by friends or go to the library. I only read physical books. I like the feel of the paper, the sound of turning a page, and during a small part of my day being able to unplug and step away from electronics.

I do a mixture of both. I do however borrow books or download them on my phone. Buying books can be really expensive (unless you're on Amazon).

a mixture but mostly the library these days

I mostly.buy or download.

I have a fair amount of books that I bought (either new or at used book stores/book sales), but after moving almost once/year for the past 10 years or so I've realized I cannot keep buying books, and need to weed through my personal collection and get rid of some of the ones I own!

Now I obtain books almost exclusively from the library (both physical books and audiobooks on CD as well as downloads and eAudiobooks).

usually, I buy used books (ebay, library book sales, bookstores), and sometimes I go to the library, rarely do I pay full-price for books (new releases from favorite authors)...