tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post4709350102238410561..comments2024-03-13T07:34:24.149+00:00Comments on The Age of Uncertainty: A Taxing ProblemSteerforthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07627936539372313828noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-40583765810774085542012-05-17T06:04:55.064+00:002012-05-17T06:04:55.064+00:00The strangest thing about that incident was the wo...The strangest thing about that incident was the woman's deadpan response - she didn't register a flicker of shock at the word she thought I'd said!Steerforthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07627936539372313828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-4690973268036321422012-05-17T05:51:46.712+00:002012-05-17T05:51:46.712+00:00Steerforth, this was a great post full of really i...Steerforth, this was a great post full of really interesting things but you SHOULD NOT HAVE PUT IN the aside with your embarrassing exchange re Rankin because I've been unable to do anything except giggle uncontrollably (yes, apparently I'm 12) all the way through the rest of it. I'll have to come back and read the rest of your salient points when I'm older.<br />xoMTFFhttp://motherhoodthefinalfrontier.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-36056497564374648432012-05-10T21:10:32.908+00:002012-05-10T21:10:32.908+00:00You haven't read Catch-22? Stop what you'r...You haven't read Catch-22? Stop what you're doing and read it now! Who cares whether it's a ratty old secondhand paperback, an overpriced new paperback or an ebook. Just read it!James Russellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03199461104138671799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-8294575489699514822012-05-10T20:39:15.572+00:002012-05-10T20:39:15.572+00:00Interesting post. Can't stand Amazon, but the...Interesting post. Can't stand Amazon, but then I do work for Waterstones....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-36777789228840701222012-05-09T21:57:08.430+00:002012-05-09T21:57:08.430+00:00Apart from childhood favourites, no.
I don't k...Apart from childhood favourites, no.<br />I don't know why. Perhaps I feel it's a waste of time to reread a book when I could spend that time discovering a new one, and yet my gut feeling is that I'm only scratching the surface on the first reading and it would be better to be intmately acquainted with 100 books rather than have a vague memory of 500.<br /><br />I revisit pieces of music many times. I've probably listened to Sibelius's 6th symphony at least 200 times and never tire of returning to it; but at 24 minutes long, it's less of a commitment than a whole novel.Steerforthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07627936539372313828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-77732351443251236282012-05-09T21:22:00.791+00:002012-05-09T21:22:00.791+00:00Steerforth, have you really never re-read a book?!...Steerforth, have you really never re-read a book?! That's fascinating; I'm a fairly frequent re-reader myself, maybe that's weirder than I thought. I have several novels that I've probably read five or six times each and I'll probably read again many more times. I'm like that with films and music too, maybe I just don't like surprises!<br /><br />Having said that, I own plenty of books and there's only a handful of them to which I'm attached to the particular personal copy on my shelf (got grammatically lost after 'handful' in that sentence and can't get it to come out right, oh dear). Generally I'm happy with library books and will only buy a favourite now for convenience of re-reading and just because I like to have them around to look at, like old friends.<br /><br />http://www.etsy.com/shop/PearlFogPearlFoghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01801099750614747277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-54634142577656174532012-05-09T18:40:53.444+00:002012-05-09T18:40:53.444+00:00@ Richmonde - truer words were never spoken - one ...@ Richmonde - truer words were never spoken - one reason I haven't given up the Blackberry for an iPhone. I should add, after my post, that I do love books - owning books, holding books, re-reading books (I do quite a lot of this) and collecting books. I would never want actual books to "go away." And I understand that I may be contributing to their demise by reading Ebooks, which is sad. So I continue to buy both Ebooks and 'real' books (I never thought I would actually come around to Ebooks, actually)for the foreseeable future. And I do still love poking around in old book shops, an experience that neither Amazon nor any other ESeller or chain store can ever hope to equal. Steerforth, you can do so much more on the iPad than type, so I wouldn't let the touchscreen hold you back! I don't have a Kindle, but I use the Kindle download to download books and there are other book apps that offer some really good, free books especially the aptly named 'Free Books', that offers everything from F Scott Fitzgerald & Edith Wharton to Jung and Freud,to my favorites, out of print classic ghost tales by Blackwood, Lovecraft, etc. There are also some great photography apps.magiciansgirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03381303565184561031noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-67710980428165930022012-05-09T17:04:18.430+00:002012-05-09T17:04:18.430+00:00Laura - I think Tesco have actually got worse duri...Laura - I think Tesco have actually got worse during the last ten years. I'm sure their food range used to be better. Perhaps this is why their profits are down.<br /><br />Anna - Thanks for the link - fascinating stuff! I had no idea that a respectable publisher could be so cut-throat. But then they all cut deals with Amazon and the supermarkets when it suited them, so their words of support for the high street bookseller do sound rather hollow.Steerforthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07627936539372313828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-81482229487672338722012-05-09T16:19:48.829+00:002012-05-09T16:19:48.829+00:00I think I forgot to link - here it is
http://vinc...I think I forgot to link - here it is<br /><br />http://vincentzandri.blogspot.fr/2012/04/hate-amazon-well-read-about-what-random.html#.T6qXY3ndgvvAnniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15941917503687179585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-73474827885017874092012-05-09T16:18:41.505+00:002012-05-09T16:18:41.505+00:00I read this interesting post from the point of vie...I read this interesting post from the point of view of an author defending Amazon after having poor experiences with old school publishers - can't remember where I came across it, apologies if it was already on your blog. <br /><br />I have a lovehate relationship with Amazon, they are also dodgy to their employees - poor working conditions and won't let them unionise.<br /><br />The thought of paperbacks dying out makes me cry.Anniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15941917503687179585noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-89648808496835346082012-05-09T15:53:08.015+00:002012-05-09T15:53:08.015+00:00The biggest cause of concern to me is the disappea...The biggest cause of concern to me is the disappearance of our High Streets. As you say, it used to be the chains driving the independents out. Now the chains themselves are being driven out by the internet (sic Clinton's Cards today) and by too many supermarkets diversifying to a ridiculous degree so that they do nothing well any more.<br />I'd really like to see a law where supermarkets are only allowed to sell food!!!The Poet Laura-eatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07779308486569849157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-11839682219383793832012-05-09T15:27:28.844+00:002012-05-09T15:27:28.844+00:00zmkc - I must confess that I've never looked b...zmkc - I must confess that I've never looked beyond the covers of a Joanna Trollope novel. She seems like a guilty pleasure which, thanks to the Kindle, we can now read in public without being found out!<br /><br />Lucy - Yes, the internet has revolutionised the music industry. I don't miss the days when I trudged from one record shop to another on a futile quest for a rare album, or playing a new purchase only to discover that it was crap. Like you, if I discover something I like, I'll support the artist by buying the CD.<br /><br />I like having physical copies of my favourite novels, as they're like rings on a tree, reminding me of what I was doing or feeling at a particular time in my life. But so far, I have never reread a single book. Perhaps I will when I'm older. <br /><br />Jim - You've highlighted what I think is a growing problem. Writing is a solitary occupation and I suspect that most authors are introverts, but to get their work noticed, they increasingly have to be 'out there', tweeting, blogging and hassling bookshop managers and local papers. How you get your books noticed on Amazon I don't know.<br /><br />As far as Amazon are concerned, I "love the sinner but hate the sin".Steerforthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07627936539372313828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-20024926036804221312012-05-09T13:14:19.280+00:002012-05-09T13:14:19.280+00:00There is tax evasion and tax avoidance; the first ...There is tax evasion and tax avoidance; the first is illegal, the second is not. What governments need to do is plug up those loopholes that enable people to avoid paying tax by simply shuffling around money. And who wouldn’t avoid paying tax if they could legally get away with it? The question is whether or not Amazon have been evading or avoiding; probably a bit of both. Whatever happens they are here to stay. Yes, there will always be other places to buy books just as there will always be other search engines that aren’t Google but who use them?<br /><br />As far as the mushrooming self-publishing industry goes, well, as a self-published author in all but name (my wife actually handles all the publishing side of things) I have some concerns like you. The fact is it doesn’t matter if Amazon has 1.8 million titles available or 1.8 billion; it’s too many and no one is going to find my books there unless they are looking for them by name. Which means they’ve learned about them elsewhere. And even the most dedicated self-published author only has so much time to devote to promotion if he ever expects to write another book.<br /><br />The biggest problem is that, because of these ease with which one can get a book into print these days (or, increasingly, into some electronic format), there will be authors who have written perfectly good books that could well get book deals—like me—who simply can’t be arsed playing the publishing game. I’m not being overconfident when I say that and, as you know, it’s rare for me to bum myself up but I’m well aware of how good I am. What bothers me is that I have to clamour for attention in a marketplace full of … let’s just say not so good books. So the odds of anyone hearing my voice crying in the wilderness is next to zero because the wilderness has now got a multitude wandering through it and every one of them and their dog is touting a book and willing to accept 99¢ for it if they’re not giving it away for free. Well, sod that for a game of soldiers.<br /><br />It will be interesting to see where we are in ten years with all this. I don’t think things will be all that different. The Xmas charts will all be full of ghost-written celebrity confessions and populist writers. Their books will even probably be still available in paperback form too. For all progress is heading in the right direction we’re still waiting on the flying cars and tinfoil suits we were promised back in the seventies.<br /><br>Jim Murdochhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12786388638146471193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-80831769293132930592012-05-09T10:16:23.345+00:002012-05-09T10:16:23.345+00:00I agree with magiansgirl.
Part of the 'probl...I agree with magiansgirl. <br /><br />Part of the 'problem' is that everyone is an artist these days. I have received a few requests to review a self-published book, and like you, I baulk.<br /><br />Music is more my thing than books (sorry folks) and I wouldn't know about 98% of my favourite artists without the internet. <br /><br />I find an artist I like, download their tracks, and if I like what I hear, I'll support them by buying their CD/going to see their show.<br /><br />Buying novels seems pointless. You read it once, maybe twice. Pass it to a friend, never see it again, or leave it to languish on the shelf gathering dust. That's not to say I don't understand people's pleasure in buying books.<br /><br />The possessiveness of 'owning' something tangible will always appeal to some. We have hundreds of CD's which never see the light of day. <br /><br />Somebody will be ripping you off, and somebody will be losing out - it doesn't matter where you purchase your reading material from, or in what form.<br /><br />True 'artists' die poor anyway. That's why we all have so little time for people like Hirst and Jackie Collins.<br /><br />Real talent shines through eventually, the path isn't always paved with gold, though.lucy joyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04863146546863419637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-86104192664894290892012-05-09T08:20:20.004+00:002012-05-09T08:20:20.004+00:00I got stuck at the concept that Joanna Trollope is...I got stuck at the concept that Joanna Trollope is a great writer - entertaining but absolutely dreadful stylist in my unspeakably snobbish view. But I will read to the end when I've got over that hurdle.zmkchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08972549292961948240noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-51541824113966388342012-05-09T07:43:16.256+00:002012-05-09T07:43:16.256+00:00Tim - That's what I thought too. Whoever wrote...Tim - That's what I thought too. Whoever wrote that is in the wrong job.Steerforthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07627936539372313828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-71732930463876919112012-05-09T07:41:34.549+00:002012-05-09T07:41:34.549+00:00Art - I half agree with Rob Jones. Publishers and ...Art - I half agree with Rob Jones. Publishers and retailers were quite happy to break up the old model when it suited them. But the prospect of losing the expertise of professional publishers sends shivers down my spine.<br /><br />Kim - You're absolutely right. I don't like what I read about Amazon these days, but I wouldn't want to live in an Amazon-free world. I've been buying from them for 16 years and never cease to be impressed by their ever-improving offer. Like you, I love the convenience of MP3 downloads, ebooks and next-day delivery. I don't want to live in a house groaning under the weight of <i>things</i>, so I'm all in favour of the recent developments. Ebooks, MP3s and streaming video also have a lower carbon footprint.<br /><br />I remember reading some publishers holding their hands up in horror when public libraries appeared on the scene, but the industry merely evolved.<br /><br />James Heneage's point does raise a genuine cause for concern, but publishers have been less indulgent towards midlist authors for quite a while now, before ebooks appeared. <br /><br />Richmonde - Yes, that's the one thing that would stop me buying an iPad.<br /><br />Martin - I agree. Whatever happens, people will still read and use their judgement. I'm just slightly put off by the prospect of wading through long lists of ebooks by people I've never heard of. I've downloaded samples of some of the free self-published ebooks on Amazon and none of them have taken my fancy yet.Steerforthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07627936539372313828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-80571593036743358232012-05-09T07:22:24.732+00:002012-05-09T07:22:24.732+00:00"Cutting edge timeliness"? Yuck."Cutting edge timeliness"? Yuck.Tim Fhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14681067872556519250noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-51111300250982394622012-05-09T06:57:23.736+00:002012-05-09T06:57:23.736+00:00An interesting post. We are, indeed, living throug...An interesting post. We are, indeed, living through a publishing revolution, at the end of which, people will still exercise their judgement as to what constitutes a 'good read', Amazon or no Amazon.Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13494219959077922220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-71854905902318373392012-05-09T06:40:15.771+00:002012-05-09T06:40:15.771+00:00@magiciansgirl - typing on a touchscreen is an imp...@magiciansgirl - typing on a touchscreen is an improvement that isn't!Lucy R. Fisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08632983296994349550noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-16764501086837950192012-05-09T03:05:22.815+00:002012-05-09T03:05:22.815+00:00I enjoyed this post & I think you raised many ...I enjoyed this post & I think you raised many good points. I see the ' book industry' much the same as the music industry or the film industry, etc. everything evolves & while you don't have to love all aspects of 'progress' you can choose to go with the flow & appreciate the good parts while trying ( perhaps futilely) to amend the bad. I have a friend who's long worked in the records industry(& by record industry I mean he sells vinyl records) and he loathes iTunes, MP3s, etc., & rails against the soulless ness of new technology ( he bemoans a lot, too). He also hates what Amazon is doing to independent bookstores. I can't entirely disagree, but I have to admit I love the immediacy of iTunes & ereaders. Perhaps we're just spoiled, and we now have the attention spans of fleas (never really understood that expression) but I find myself hating to wait for something to arrive in the post or postponing a purchase til,the weekend when I have time to shop. Hilary Mantle's new book came out today & now I have it to read before I go to sleep tonight, instead of waiting & running out to the store to buy it on Saturday. I could just be lazy. And if I don't want to buy an entire album to get the one or two songs I really like, hey, great. Ditto for movies- iTunes & Netflx means I can download what I'm in the mood to watch instantly, instead of going out to get a DVD. Yes, I've come to the conclusion that I am definitely lazy. And perhaps this does have dire repercussions for me and the rest of the world, but then they were saying that when the telephone was invented & TV came along. Technology changes & we change with it, sometimes for good, sometimes not. And if my typing is wonky, please forgive me - I'm still getting used to typing on a touchscreen rather than a regular keyboard......magiciansgirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03381303565184561031noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32570460.post-73254089229104196792012-05-09T00:54:09.880+00:002012-05-09T00:54:09.880+00:00Well I don't know anything about the tax situa...Well I don't know anything about the tax situation in the UK, but in America the big 6 publishers have been up in arms, for, oh, years...and its sort of coming to a head now. It's the same battle cry about competition and fostering authors. Amazon's recent foray into publishing mainstream commercial books independently of the traditional publishers seems to have really struck a nerve. <br /><br />But it does throw the traditional publishers in a rather sacrosanct light, or rather they put themselves there, and so I like what Rob Jones said.Arthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07615345242334094697noreply@blogger.com