Forums » Smalltalk » Do people still buy books? What kind?

So I was kind of just curious whether people really pay for books anymore. I haven't bought a book that's not been for school (back when I was in school) in a long, long time.

I think the last time I bought a book might be when Hunger Games first came out. I read part of it at a school where I was subbing and I had to read more so I went to a bookstore and bought a copy. But that was a while back.

I was wondering if anybody still buys books, and what genre? Or if you get your books online, what service do you use?

Thanks in advance!

I just recently moved, and had to pack up and still haven't unpacked all of my books. Well, books that aren't in storage.

So yes. Usually things that you can't get digitally--out of print books mainly, from secondhand shops. Abebooks, since I can usually grab what I want for $2. Old Shadowrun pulp... Forgotten Realms... Otherwise I've got a whack of tabletop game manuals, because it's just much easier to flip through a physical rulebook than try and scroll through a pdf (even with clickable links; I just tend to stickynote the pages I use the most). Then hardcover collections of comics I particularly like/comics that weren't/aren't released digitally, usually lesser-known things since most majors do have a digital option these days (at the moment mostly Doctor Who, occasionally Star Trek collections).

Also books on tea, which I tend to like to buy if I think they'll be a good long-term reference for me, although these can be expensive. And the good books mostly came out before digital was a thing, are out of print, but aren't popular enough to be open-source digitized. I think my prized book is an old Tuttle publication of The Book of Tea.

But I still use the heck out of my library. For tea books, more popular pulpy reads, and comics. Whatever strikes my fancy.

(Otherwise I also haven't sold off all of my old textbooks yet, and I have a large collection of very old geology [1950s-60s] textbooks that were gifted by my uncle... They're always great for old plate paintings of rocks.)

Thank you for explaining that! That was really interesting to read.

I buy books all the time, when I have the money at least. There isn't really one particular genre that I like better than the other, besides romance which I'm not a huge fan on reading though that's my main RP type.

If it looks and sounds interesting then I buy it. I'd much rather buy books than borrow from someone or a library because I find that most times I'll like the book enough to go back and read it again.

Though that isn't always the case.

Well sure as crap hope so! My entire career depends on people purchasing books ebooks, but especially in print.

From what I have seen while ebooks are a very popular thing, most people still prefer to buy a paperback at least. A lot of authors, espeically self published ones like myself, have a pre-order where if you purchase the print copy of the book you get the ebook for free. So that is very popular.

'what kind' in terms of genre can't be answered at least not in a general 'what are people buying' sense. Romance, erotica, erotic romance, urban fantasy, low fantasy, high fantasy, literary fiction, historical fiction, self help... Thousands of each genre are published each year and thousands of each genre are purchased every year. There's really no one specific genre of book that is the most popular; even if shifter/were-animal erotic romance novels have become exceedingly popular in the last few years.

I still buy books every now and again. The only reason I don't buy that many is because I am too busy writing books to read them at the same pace someone who doesn't write books at all would be able to. The last book I got is Olivia by Olivia; before that I bought the whole 13 book Southern Vampire Mysteries Series, I'm currently only on book 11 after two years when a lot of people could read all 11 books in at least 6 months.

I personally usually purchase urban fantasy with a romance subplot or modern romance/e-rom novels but I have bought A LOT of informational books on editing and plot structure this year.

So, I think people yes still buy books, even if part of that is simply hope because I need to make enough money to leave. Haha.


Also:

I usually buy my books from www.thriftbooks.com and local bookstores or thrift shops.

I buy books but it’s for my own kind of Fantasy. The books I read is the Maximum Ride series! It’s amazing and I recommend it if you want an action, fighting, and fantasy kind of book!

I still Buy books (I got around 15 this year and I still need finished them ) I don’t like ebooks , paperback is nicer , it gives me more the feeling I read a book and that o read a piece of fantasy of a writer

I have the issue of buying books I never read, but gosh if the covers aren't pretty and/or the story sounds like something I'd enjoy.
Usually I'll end up buying 5-10 books at half price books, and while I rarely take book trips (I have an issue, I know it lol), I do love buying books

-looks over to shelf full of unread books- Someday...

I usually buy books, because all I read online are only fanfictions. I usually find those in the mystery/crime genre, and sometimes translated versions of some pretty old books that I thought were interesting-or whatever I thought was interesting.

It usually goes like this:

Think it is interesting> Read/Skim through chapter 1>Buy if interesting still> Read Chapter 2> Instant regret> Continues reading anyways because of money

I got Dante’s Inferno and the Gargoyle of Notre Dame (translated ver) as a kid just because I thought it was interesting and until now I still can’t finish it because I only really comprehend about 5% of what I read.

Fantasy novels are pretty good as well, I can only judge by the cover though, since the bookstore doesn’t allow us to open certain books...welp.

I still buy books from time to time.

When i buy books its goes like this

Checks cover > checks how its written > who is the write do i know already some books from him/she> is it a musical (like wicked there is a book from and i have it) > if its good buy it!

The last books I bought were Dracula and The Godfather. I love the feeling of actually having a book in my hand and I can spend hours at bookstores picking out which one I want lol.

I get mine at Barnes & Noble or like...yard sales and thrift shops lol.

I do kindle and audible for ebooks and on occasion amazon for any I just have to hold in my hands. Sometimes you just have to feel the pages and smell the book, you know?

I prefer paper books myself and frequent the used book stores.
Computers, tablets, and phones are not conducive to my reading habits.

Oh, definitely. I've tried the 'read books free online' thing, and it wasn't the same. I guess it's easier to get distracted, reading on a screen. I tried Kindle as well; it never took off for me.

There's something about paper books, honestly. The weight of it in your hand as you read, the sound of pages turning, the way the words are printed...something about all of your senses being utilized instead of just your eyes makes the stories seem more real. Online I've noticed characters and narrators didn't have much of a voice. It's always been this montone drone that wasn't engaging. (RP is the exception!) But reading books in person? Everything just springs to life!

And the smell. Don't get me started on the smell of books, new or old. I would sell my soul for my Lord of the Rings book to be turned into a perfume. Those pages have the same smell as something from my childhood, I could just sit here and sniff them all day! Believe me, if I could put the scent into words, I would...

Same same same.

I CAN read a book on a screen, but there's something missing from the experience.

I also have a think for the scent of ink of paper, and also some other off stuff like basically the entire wood section at Home Depot. I will just walk over there for that reason. The smell of cut wood is so awesome! Sandra thinks it's hilarious.

I buy books all the time! Sometimes I don't want to get something from the local library and would rather own a copy, so I buy one. Sometimes it's a new release, and I don't want to wait for the library to have it.

I really don't like reading books on screens- I prefer paper 100%.