Square One

Comfort Reads on the 21st Century

June 23rd, 2009 · 5 Comments
by Kassia Krozser

One of the worst-kept secrets in my household is the fact that I buy multiple copies of the same book. For myself. I am not alone in this habit, but I’ve noticed a new twist on an old concept. Last week, I observed a discussion among readers: the importance of purchasing comfort reads to store on digital readers.

Make the reader happy, and that reader will buy more books.

These readers weren’t looking for free digital copies of books they’d already purchased. No, they were discussing second or third purchases of favorite books. This time, the discussion focused on the quest to build a digital library of old favorites. To paraphrase: “I can have all my comfort reads with me all the time.”

If I understand industry parlance, these are “additive sales”.
Read more…

File Under: The Future of Publishing

The Daily Square

The Daily Square - Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da Edition

June 23rd, 2009 · No Comments

Todays links of interest:

  • The Lie that is Bookscan
    Andrew Zack on the problems with using Bookscan numbers to make publishing decisions: they aren’t accurate.
  • FTC Targets Internet Affiliate Programs
    We believe is this part of the government stimulus package: monitoring and resolving these things will require A Lot Of Manpower!
  • Oprah For Teenage Readers: Where Are You?
    While Mark Bertils makes an excellent point, the end of this post highlights the bigger problem. If you’re building community and are a few days behind in approving, your community moves on.

Read more…

The Daily Square Archive

Quote Of The Week

On Loving Reading

June 11th, 2009 · 1 Comment

Ann Kirschner, after reading Little Dorritt in four different formats:

Oh boy, have I had a lot of arguments along the way to the marriage of Little Dorrit and her long-suffering beau, Arthur Clennam! Readers are passionate and opinionated advocates for their preferred formats. Flip announced that she reads only hardcovers; end of conversation. “I get it,” said Bill, watching me read on the iPhone: “You like your books little.” Bob is no Luddite, but he insists that Steve Jobs has bribed me, since the Kindle is so obviously superior. Just wait for the Apple tablet,” advises techno-sage Joe. And Judith derides my affection for audiobooks as “not really reading.”

That’s the worst accusation: that I am not a serious reader. Not guilty! I love books as much as anybody. But I love reading more. It is the sustained and individual encounter with ideas and stories that is so bewitching. If new formats allow us to have more of those, let us welcome and learn from them.

Quote Of The Week Archive

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