Inspy Romance

Inspy Romance—Fall in Love With a Good Book

The Habits of a Reader + Giveaway

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Paperback, ebook, audio…oh my!
The great debate will probably always remain. Which one is best?

Authors are readers too, and that’s one of the reasons we try to give our audience options. We all have our preferences but I love there are so many ways to read a book. Here’s what I’ve gathered over the years of talking to readers, my personal experiences, and some input from other Inspy authors.

I almost exclusively read books in one sitting – 2 at the most. – Tara Grace Ericson

Some readers want to hold the book in their hands and feel the pages between their fingers. They want the pretty books displayed on a shelf to admire and decorate a room in their homes. There’s something about the anticipation of a book arriving in the mail and opening the package to finally hold the masterpiece in your hand.

Some readers love to take beautiful pictures to share on social media and some will tuck that book in their purse and take it everywhere they go, where likely the edges will be crumpled and the pages a bit tattered.

I always read paperbacks and prefer when no one is gone to potentially interrupt me. – Teresa Tysinger

Same, Teresa, same. LOL!

Others like the simplicity of an ebook. You have your portable devices—whether an iPad, a Kindle or your phone—and you carry around hundreds of books at a time, always with a book at your disposal. You might have one of those fancy Kindles that allow you to read in the dark or you might still be hanging on to the compact black and gray device where your thumbs turn the pages and only lasts an hour before it needs charging (*ahem* I may or may not be guilty).

“I read fiction on my kindle and nonfiction on my iPad!” – Valerie Comer

I’ve recently become fond of audiobooks. Again, it’s very convenient and doesn’t take up any extra space in my house—except maybe on your phone. You might listen through the phone’s speaker or you might have bought a pair of expensive Bluetooth headphones so you don’t have to bother getting tangled with the wires. Maybe you listen in your car while you’re driving or play it through Alexa while you get ready each morning.

I read most books on my iPhone. I think it’s because it’s always charged up and handy, which means I can read whenever I have downtime. – Julie Carobini

For me, the narrator’s voice of an audiobook can either make or break it, so it needs to be just right for me to fully enjoy it. I’ve also become accustomed to Alexa reading a Kindle book to me because I can read much faster when I listen and pick back up with my Kindle when I’m not on the go. But the benefit of being hands-free to do other tasks–like folding laundry or cooking a meal–might just be the thing that gets a busy body to read a book they may not have time to otherwise. And the added bonus of speeding up the audio can double your listening capacity once you’ve accustomed to the faster pace. (I like to listen at 1.5-2x speed)

There have been times when I’ve been reading a book and am so immersed that I can’t put it down when my alarm to pick up the kids goes off. It’s a 25 minute drive, so I plug my iPad into the car and swipe two fingers down the screen so Siri will read it to me. – Jaycee Weaver

The bottom line: we all read in different ways. Find what works for you and embrace all the words!

Do you have any reading habits you can share? Which type of book do you prefer to read—paperback, ebook, or audio? Comment below to be entered into a drawing for a $5 Amazon gift card to use toward a book you want to read.

K Leah (24 Posts)

K. Leah is a hopeless romantic and adores a good Hallmark movie. Growing up in the South, she likes her tea sweet and coffee strong. Family and faith are what matter most and she wears many hats, including being a wife, mom, and graphic designer. Other than being creative with designs or stories, she likes to spend her free time escaping reality into the pages of a sweet love story.


Comments

  1. PAperback is my favorite well ardback actually ten it’s a toss up between ebooks and audio

  3. I use all but I use my kindle or iPad most of the time and I use audible when I’m walking or driving.

  12. I have some old favourites which are paperbacks and I indulge in them rather like comfort food. However, for the last ten years or so I have only bought ebooks. I love my Kindle and read voraciously.

  16. I prefer paperbacks. The only habit I really have is to only read one book at a time.

  17. I prefer to read both paper backs and tablet. I didnt start to read on my tablet until my husband got me one a few years ago as a mothers day gift. He thought I would enjoy reading on my tablet (he is a huge techie, me not so much) Anyway I love my paperbacks, but have found that I am also enjoying my tablet. Like when I am eating lunch, I can just set the tablet up and go, where as a paper back I would have to hold with one hand and eat with the other. I have found it is great for taking places, like on vacation. Though I will be honest, I still take paper backs on vacation also.

  18. I really like my Kindle! I can do other things while reading on it, but I still like paperbacks, too. It took me awhile to get used to the Kindle, but it was sooooo nice to have books on the kindle when I was taking Mom to her doctor appointments! No losing my bookmark, no losing my place, no finishing a book and not having another one!

  19. I’ve been known to start multiple books until I find one that holds my attention. But I usually come back to the others eventually.

  20. The tablet is great for hands-free reading, but it’s much easier to see and read a paperback when I’m sitting out at the beach.

  22. I read mostly paperback but I read on my kindle too for books I listen to audiobooks when I am doing errands and sometimes before bed .

  24. I prefer reading physical books, though I do enjoy reading on a kindle too. A lot of times I’ll by cheaper books for the Kindle, to try the author and then end up buying their books in physical form so I can share them with others.

  25. Good morning K Leah! I hope your day is going well :-)

    I still prefer to read a real book, there’s nothing like holding it in my hands! I love it when it has embossed (or raised) lettering on the cover & spine because then I can “pet” it. Please tell me I’m not the only one that does this, lol! The tactile feel of it is very satisfying!

    Now, I have also read my fair share of ebooks too. Sometimes I can’t get the book because it’s only available in ebook format, or my digital library has a copy of a book I want to read, whereas my physical library doesn’t. I discovered the Kindle Paperwhite about 4 years ago and I love it for reading in bed because it’s easier on my hands. So most times I will have the paperback for reading during the day, and the ebook for reading at night. I also have a subscription to Kindle Unlimited & that always has a great variety of books on it, especially those written by our beloved authors here on Inspy Romance! I’ve been able to read books written by new-to-me indie writers & have made a few new “favorite” author friends through it :-)

    I’ve never gotten into audio books, I feel way too distracted to be able to sit and listen to one. And I also feel like I should be doing something else while listening, that’s FAR too distracting for me to concentrate on the book. It’s like I have to split my time between two things & I’m not good at that, lol!

  27. I can appreciate you wanting to “pet” the book… and it’s quite funny to think I’ve done the same thing a time or two. Kindle Unlimited has been wonderful for me as well! Glad you’ve been able to find some new authors you enjoy reading.

  30. I like the ebook best because I can read in the dark in bed and my husband can go to sleep. But I also like to read paperback books every now and then. For some reason (and I don’t really know why) I am not a big fan of audio.

  31. I enjoy reading both paperbacks and ebooks! I like struggling at night with a booklight trying to read lol

  32. Audio took me a LONG time to get used to. I think ultimately the kicker for me was if I wanted to read, I needed to listen and be able to multi-task, so I somewhat forced myself into it. But I love it so much now I prefer it over the other choices.

  33. I remember getting caught by my sister in law one night while they were staying with us. I had my book & a flashlight with the covers over my head, trying to read and not bother my husband who was sleeping beside me. haha!

  35. I like paperbacks, but don’t have the room to keep them. I do ebooks. Ebooks are a lot easier when you are traveling too!!

  36. Hi, I only read paperbacks and I am not tech savvy at all. I will listen to audio books in CD’s or in MP3.

  41. Good thing a lot of gadgets have become much more user-friendly than they used to be. But you can’t ever beat a good paperback.

  46. I usually read an hour before bed each night. I like to alternate between paper books and my Kindle. :)

  49. I an old school. I like to hold the book in my hand and turn the pages. Reading on a Kindle bothers my eyes. My mind does not stay focused on an audiobook. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.

  50. I love to hold a book in my hands when I read , but also like the convenience and portability of my kindle.

  51. I love Paperback & then I can re-read them anytime & not worry about loosing it.

  52. I prefer paperback cause I’m old fashion. I have a library & will keep filling it.

  53. Im late cos I forgot I was going to respond. I tend to read on the computer. I find it so much easier cos I don’t need glasses for the computer. I also like the kindle. I tend to read watching tv. (I read a lot watching sport).

  58. I have another friend that prefers to read on the computer too. I usually read when my husband is watching sports…since I usually don’t care anything about what’s on the TV. ha!

  59. Paperbacks will always hold something special for me but I’ve gotten used to reading a lot on kindle because of how easy e-books are available when you have a few minutes break.
    This is an advantage to read in my spare time at the university.

  63. I normally only watch sport I like but I can read watching the cricket, Aussie rules football (only watch if my team is playing) and I read a lot in the Winter olympics. I can watch tv and read on the computer. As I can’t handle multi focal glasses it makes it hard to watch and read a book or kindle

  64. I love reading a physical book. I also read on a Kindle, but it took a while to get used to it. I have a hard time with audiobooks because I don’t absorb the story like I do when I’m reading it myself.

  65. I read mostly at night so eBooks work perfectly for that. I always have an audiobook on in my car – it’s funny – my kids listen to bits and pieces and ask me about it later on :)

  66. These days I go with a mix of audio and ebooks. I can have a couple of audiobooks going at once (not listening to them at the same time, lol), and have the same amount at least for ebooks (it could be 2, 3, or even 5 at one time).

  67. I didn’t really start reading much at all until I got a Kindle. It’s fun how everyone’s reading mannerisms are different.

  68. My daughter has learned when she gets in the car, she almost immediately turns it to the radio because she knows I’ve been listening to a book.

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