eReader - Conclusion

The eReader, in Kindle, Sony, Stanza, or another unknown competitor's version, is here to stay. After almost 10 books on my Sony I really like the text, I like the weight; I pretty much like everything about the device. I have read lots of reviews on the Internet and a couple of personal reviews from our brick and mortar customers who have taken the leap into the eBook world – and people are positive. I have read about the naysayers that will never read in a non-traditional format and heard them voice their opinions forcefully and loudly. I speak from the heart because about a year ago those were my words, and they were loud and clear. They were naive. My eyes have been opened both as a reader and as a career independent bookseller. Although this segment of book sales is still very small –it is here to stay and to grow. We have an entire generation hooked on iPhones, text messages and online communities. The leap to eBooks just seems right - both in timing and finally, in technology. As a reader, I probably will read 70-80% of books on the eReader. Why? I like it better. I actually read longer and faster with the weight and large font size. Does this mean I won’t ever buy another book? No. Of the books I’ve read I will certainly buy copies of my favorites because a great book is just that. Great. For me, it carries not only the memory of a great story, but the time and place when and where I read the novel and this memory is best represented by the physical object. I want books in my house as decoration and I want to touch and feel them. Although I do not need the physical book for reading I do enjoy jacket design and presentation. Also, as a member of the bookselling community I certainly never lack for suggestions or free books to enjoy – but also when on vacation I enjoy browsing for books. Seeing what other stores choose to display, what type of staff picks exist, and just plain and simply what jumps out at me. Although, Amazon does this in the virtual world pretty well and they will only get better – you can’t replace physical books and physical people completely. But if you want some predictions, here are mine:

Amazon continues to become a more and more dominant force in all forms of retail, books included. The Kindle, because of Amazon’s connection to all its customers, becomes the first eReader to make it and make it seriously. eBooks affect brick and mortar sales minimally in the next 3-5 years, but after that they grow to represent at least 20% of all book sales. This change closes weaker independents and severely effects big box superstores that cannot change into community local resource centers that just happen to sell books. Amazon or another company takes a chance and makes a cheap version of the Kindle that is only for textbooks – students proceed to pirate virtually all textbooks which severely effects any store that sells textbooks, any publisher of textbooks, and any author expecting royalties for their work. Books continue to be sold in traditional and digital formats and the remaining bookstores thrive, albeit under an entirely different model than we know today…more about that in the weeks to come…

eReader Part VII - pricing

I've just finished up reading a few more novels on the eReader despite the crazy rush of holiday sales and the subsequent winter term textbook rush and found another quirk worthy of discussion regarding eBooks: pricing. Just before Christmas I had the pleasure of selling books for an off-site event at the Reading Public Library for author, Stewart O'Nan. As is typical with author events, you never, ever quite no what to expect in terms of audience size and sales. I was told they were expecting about 80 people, turned out to be closer to 40 and I knew right away I had too many books. However, the attendees were lovely and the presentation given by Stewart was excellent, funny, and insightful. His commentary on his successful book, Last Night at the Lobster, about the closing of a Red Lobster Restaurant in New England interested me. From the cover shot I originally thought it was a novel about Hockey in New England and never really gave it another thought. After hearing Stewart's presentation and the funny questions and experiences of the audience and their fond (or not so fond) memories of working in food service - I had to read the novel. Of course, continuing the eReader project I went onto Sony's site and purchased the book for $13.96. Which got me thinking - there are no Hardcovers or Paperbacks in the eReader world - just one format. I sell the paperback for $13, so the eBook costs more money. Now going back to Hardcover I paid just $11.99 for the $25.99 eBook of Edgar Sawtelle. Conclusion - reading books in the eFormat is certainly easier on your wallet in the Hardcover version and more expensive in Paperback. Interesting... I wonder what authors would think if all of their books came out only in one lower priced format - less royalties? Or possibly more, since the cost is cheaper to the publisher? I'll have to query the publishers on that one too... nonetheless the Lobster is a great little gem that takes just a night to read and enjoy. Happy New Year!