E-reader Glitch
You'd think with digital copies it'd be easier to fix them. I don't have enough knowledge about the digital book process to know whether or not this is the case. If it's like uploading a file from a computer it should be easy enough. And for the author's sake I sure hope so.
I've been using my Kindle more and more and I've noticed a lot of formatting issues. I'm currently reading a book and
the the paragraphs are either
broken or they
run together. It makes
it difficult to decipher who is talking during internal/external dialogue. It's quite comical when you're not sure if the hero is sighing over the way the heroine grins or the heroine is grunting while lifting a sack of flour.
It kind of sucks, because I'm betting this paritculare book is probably one of the best I've read when it comes to real deep point of view. Since it's a review copy I'll be able to voice my concerns directly to the publisher (which happens to be a big name publisher) and hopefully they'll work out the bugs. I'd hate for the author to not receive the kudos she deserves because of a glitch on the publisher's end.
What kinds of issues have you come acrossed with digital books?
Happy Tuesday,
Renee
13 comments:
I miss the cover art that I enjoy on my print books - something about that image inspires me to read.
I'm with you on the sloppy formatting - it can be a challenge to read dialogue, especially in larger font sizes.
I do love my covers. I wish the bulk of digital books had the same quality as traditional books.
I don't think publishers will be able to get by with sloppy formatting before their readers will form an all out rebellion. *g*
I've had a Kindle for two months but have yet to read anything on it. Too chicken, I guess, or too comfy with my "real" books. But with all the different types of files, I'm not surprised to hear there are issues with e-book formatting. I've noticed sloppy formatting in Print on Demand books too. Never even see a typo when I read a 100-year-old book! BTW, I deleted my first comment because it had a typo :-)
I'm with Pat. I've owned my Sony ereader for months now and haven't really used it. I guess I'm set in my ways. Love the printed copies I can hold in my hands. I do plan to download some library books so I'll let you know later what those copies are like.
Pat, I know what you mean. I don't recall errors in older books, and now they seem to be all over.
Hi Laurie,
I do love holding a book in my hand. I think I will always prefer them over an e-reader. But it sure is easier to cart the Kindle over a bag of books. ;)
I have seen lots of misspelled words and wonder how that many managed to get through. I know your eyes sees what it expects and it is difficult to catch them all, but this wonderful story needed surgery.
I fought getting a Kindle for a long time, but now that I have one I love it. I read both with the same satisfaction.
I've been reading ebooks out of necessity since the end of 2004. Back then, the choices were limited and the quality much better. Today, I only read one or two 'real' books a year, which is nothing compared to the 2-3 ebooks I read each week.
I suppose that releasing ebook formats at the same time as the prints books as they do today has affected the quality of the ebooks compared to the past. They are getting sloppier, which is a shame.
In an ideal world, errors shouldn't happen in either format. In our less than ideal world, they do. But it doesn't mean publishers should become blasé about them, especially in ebooks formats which are not as final as print.
Perhaps as publishers become more comfortable with the format they will improve their editing procedures to curtail glitches. It would mean an added expense, but they could be corrected once found even after publishing. One possibility could be to add a way for readers to report glitches as they find them during the first year/months of publication. Something quick an easy like a highlight an error option and a send error report to publisher option at the end.
Having said that, this could easily translate to more expenses to publishers and inevitably higher ebook prices. I think I could persuade myself to live with the glitches. ;)
Paisley, at first I didn't want an e-reader, but then I realized there were so many books out there that I could only get digital and sitting at the computer reading is not my idea of fun.
Now that I have my Kindle I do love it. It's just taking a bit to get used to.
Hi, Ana! I can see point about added expense, but does it really cost the publisher any more to publish a print than e-book? If the editors take the same time with all their books than you'd think the only difference in costs would be the paper or lack of paper. But from what I'm seeing I'm not sure that the digital books are edited as well unless the author takes the time to comb through an puts out a well polished copy.
I haven't come across a book yet that is both print and digital. I wonder if the digital copy is the same as the print.
So far I haven't had too many problems, but I don't read many digital books. I need an ereader.
Alice, I had been wanting an e-reader for a while. I received one for an early birthday gift. And I love it.
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