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From many flist friends.
Hardback or Paperback? Hardback, if it's one I'm going to use for reference, otherwise why spend so much?
Highlight or Underline? Oh, Lordy, neither. I have an astronomy text I bought used for a college class that after three owners has whole chapters underlined in red and/or painted in pink, blue or yellow hi-lite. Never again!
Skipping all the choose-an-author ones. I don't read enough fiction any more to say.
Barnes & Noble or Borders? Waldenbooks or B. Dalton? Barnes and Noble seems a little rigid on the corporate level, but they do have a better sales strategy than the others in my opinion. Waldenbooks has always been near the bottom of the barrel. Large independent bookstores were once the way to go. But, you're not likely to find many of those away from college campuses anymore. Used bookstores are neat, but you can never depend on the stock they'll have.
Back in the days when I was buying books all the time, I found out by selective buying you could train most bookstores to carry exactly the sort of things you wanted without actually having to say a word to anyone in the store. Of course, bookstores are going to carry bestsellers anyway. I'm mostly talking about classics or non-fiction. One person spending consistantly can definitely affect the stock the store carries in a particular section.
Fantasy or Science Fiction? Sci-fi. They both tend to be preachy, but fantasy can get unbearably preachy at times.
Horror or Suspense? Horror, but I don't read either much.
Bookmark or Dogear? Bookmark, How tough is it to stick a scrap of paper between the pages?
Pen or Pencil? Pen except for special jobs.
Looseleaf or Notepad? Given me a break! Spiral bound notebooks for anything that doesn't belong on scratch paper!
Alphabetize: By Author or By Title? I own hundreds of books. They are arranged just by subject. Alphabetizing is for librarians and neat freaks.
Dustjacket: Leave it On or Take it Off? Leave it on till it falls apart.
Novella or Epic? Both. I've written both.
Fiction or Non-fiction? Mostly non-fiction.
Historical Biography or Historical Romance? Biographies are one of my interests these days.
A Few Pages per Sitting or Finish at Least a Chapter? If I can't read at least a chapter I end up reading the same thing over and over to get the whole picture. So bigger chunks.
Short Story or Creative Non-fiction Essay? Short stories. Outside of ATPo I avoid essays.
"It was a dark and stormy night" or "Once upon a time"? I'm not sure what this question is asking. Mystery or fairy tale? Dumb opening A or dumb opening B?
Buy or Borrow? Buy. If I don't think I'd want to keep it, why read it?.
Book Reviews or Word of Mouth? Neither, I prowl bookstores and libraries, and browse.
Hardback or Paperback? Hardback, if it's one I'm going to use for reference, otherwise why spend so much?
Highlight or Underline? Oh, Lordy, neither. I have an astronomy text I bought used for a college class that after three owners has whole chapters underlined in red and/or painted in pink, blue or yellow hi-lite. Never again!
Skipping all the choose-an-author ones. I don't read enough fiction any more to say.
Barnes & Noble or Borders? Waldenbooks or B. Dalton? Barnes and Noble seems a little rigid on the corporate level, but they do have a better sales strategy than the others in my opinion. Waldenbooks has always been near the bottom of the barrel. Large independent bookstores were once the way to go. But, you're not likely to find many of those away from college campuses anymore. Used bookstores are neat, but you can never depend on the stock they'll have.
Back in the days when I was buying books all the time, I found out by selective buying you could train most bookstores to carry exactly the sort of things you wanted without actually having to say a word to anyone in the store. Of course, bookstores are going to carry bestsellers anyway. I'm mostly talking about classics or non-fiction. One person spending consistantly can definitely affect the stock the store carries in a particular section.
Fantasy or Science Fiction? Sci-fi. They both tend to be preachy, but fantasy can get unbearably preachy at times.
Horror or Suspense? Horror, but I don't read either much.
Bookmark or Dogear? Bookmark, How tough is it to stick a scrap of paper between the pages?
Pen or Pencil? Pen except for special jobs.
Looseleaf or Notepad? Given me a break! Spiral bound notebooks for anything that doesn't belong on scratch paper!
Alphabetize: By Author or By Title? I own hundreds of books. They are arranged just by subject. Alphabetizing is for librarians and neat freaks.
Dustjacket: Leave it On or Take it Off? Leave it on till it falls apart.
Novella or Epic? Both. I've written both.
Fiction or Non-fiction? Mostly non-fiction.
Historical Biography or Historical Romance? Biographies are one of my interests these days.
A Few Pages per Sitting or Finish at Least a Chapter? If I can't read at least a chapter I end up reading the same thing over and over to get the whole picture. So bigger chunks.
Short Story or Creative Non-fiction Essay? Short stories. Outside of ATPo I avoid essays.
"It was a dark and stormy night" or "Once upon a time"? I'm not sure what this question is asking. Mystery or fairy tale? Dumb opening A or dumb opening B?
Buy or Borrow? Buy. If I don't think I'd want to keep it, why read it?.
Book Reviews or Word of Mouth? Neither, I prowl bookstores and libraries, and browse.