This quote is just terrifying, and I hope it never comes true. I learned a lot from this article, and I am a Kindle owner. I was hesitant to buy one when they first came out because of my obsession with the tangible, musty-smelling hardcovers that I can set on my bookshelf. These qualities are what I love about books. I also love to look at the cover and ponder why the author chose that picture or artwork to encompass their entire book in one glance. I also like to read about the author and see what they look like in their picture. I suppose I initially got the Kindle because there were several novels that I needed for class that had free downloads on the Kindle. The thing basically paid for itself, and I am glad I got it, but I really only use it for class. I have downloaded many many free books on it, like the classics, and it is great for that. But when I am trying to read for pleasure, it is just not the same, so I kind of split up the book and the Kindle purchases.
I suppose I never really thought about how much an author makes off of their books. I know in the end if they are successful then they end up making a lot, but the fact that the publishers get the biggest cut just seems a little weird to me. I suppose it makes sense, because without the publisher you would have no sales anyways, but it still doesn't seem fair. I would rather my money go to the brilliant person who wrote the book and their editors versus the person who slaps a 'Penguin' title on it and rakes in all of the money!
Another thing I never thought of that this article made me think about was the fact that Amazon (and I LOVE Amazon) are kind of shady about the way they run business. I tend to order a majority of my trade books through their site because I have Amazon Prime, which gives you free two-day shipping. It's nice to have the book waiting for me on my doorstep two days after ordering it, but at the same time, it is kind of stupid that they don't split the money up properly. I suppose a trip to the bookstore is in order, so maybe I can help ensure that the horrible quote at the top of the page never comes true!
I thought the same thing about author's profit from their books. I always figured they received the most money out of the "team" but it seems like they don't really make that much per book. I guess they make up for it when they sell millions of books, or they make it onto Oprah's book list.
ReplyDeleteI also think the Kindle is a great tool for the classroom, and it's awesome that so many classics are offered for free, but it doesn't beat the feel and smell of a physical book.
I have a NookBook, which is by Barnes and Noble, and I absolutely love it. It's easier to read and I have at least 60 books on hand for whenever I want to read them. I am torn though as well. I love the feel of a book, the smell of it, and everything about just having it in my hand. I really hope that bookstores and hard copies don't go to waste. Technology in my opinion will never be able to truly get rid of books and bookstores. Considering you have to buy the book somewhere, and it has to be published to be on an e-reader (well as of right now). Nothing beats the feel of a book.
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