tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26414616.post5999108398575095777..comments2024-02-20T12:43:55.753-08:00Comments on R. L. LaFevers: Sherman Alexie - Luddite or Prophet?Robin Lhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02960833482145500665noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26414616.post-60947491987804451922009-12-04T07:38:10.027-08:002009-12-04T07:38:10.027-08:00Lucy, you should totally NOT feel guilty about own...Lucy, you should totally NOT feel guilty about owning a Kindle! I'm not quite as anti-e-book as Alexie and think they can be part of a balanced book diet. :-)<br /><br />Like you, what I find particularly troubling is the unintended consequences of electronic books--such as the disappearance of local book culture.<br /><br />Caroline, I have heard about the free copy phenomenon of increasing sales. And like I told Lucy, I think ebooks absolutely fill a valid role for some readers like your kids. I just think that it is smart to pay attention to the unexpected fallout of the move to ebooks and find ways to counteract the holes it leaves behind. <br /><br />And you are clearly the winner of today's Public Service Award for ferreting out all those illegal copies of Alexie's work!Robin Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02960833482145500665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26414616.post-85618034528673687542009-12-03T23:53:29.259-08:002009-12-03T23:53:29.259-08:00Quite a few experiments have shown that giving awa...Quite a few experiments have shown that giving away free electronic copies of books actually improves sales. :) If you haven't listened to or read Cory Doctorow's thoughts on the subject, you should. It's really interesting stuff.<br /><br />I also think it's naive to believe that refusing to release digital editions of your work does any good. In less than a minute, I was able to find multiple copies of Mr. Alexie's books on the internet (and I've reported the sites). Ebook pirates actually scan the books when digital copies aren't available. <br /><br />For me, as a reader, this is an exciting time. Book culture may suffer, but people are actually reading more because of digital content. My 12-year-old son asked for a Kindle for Christmas--and he's always hated reading! My 16-year-old reads ebooks on her iPhone. They're avid for new reading material but they don't want to lug books around. Ebooks are a perfect solution. <br /><br />:)Carolinenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26414616.post-29556024575430435472009-12-03T22:59:13.542-08:002009-12-03T22:59:13.542-08:00That was fun to watch. He makes valid points. He m...That was fun to watch. He makes valid points. He makes me feel so guilty as Kindle owner! I never would have bought it if I had stayed in the U.S. close to libraries and book stores. <br /> <br />The piracy issue is scary, but what concerns me the most as a reader is the disappearance of local book culture. This hasn't happened yet in Minneapolis, but is it only a matter of time?andalucyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17362287992425261006noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26414616.post-77439346035972644202009-12-03T22:19:25.537-08:002009-12-03T22:19:25.537-08:00Sherrie, I don't think he's decrying elect...Sherrie, I don't think he's decrying electronic media so much as electronic <i>books</i> which once in electronic format, change the way we read and think about books, which is a huge cultural shift--and not necessarily for the better. I think of that as separate from appearing on TV clips on the internet, or even doing podcasts...<br /><br />Glad you enjoyed it, PJ!<br /><br />And Mary, yeah, Sherman is pretty amazing. And brilliant, have I mentioned brilliant?Robin Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02960833482145500665noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26414616.post-12281111222025767022009-12-03T22:08:30.985-08:002009-12-03T22:08:30.985-08:00If Anne Lamott doesn't call me for lunch soon,...If Anne Lamott doesn't call me for lunch soon, I may start dating Sherman. God, he's fabulous. Thanks, Robin! <br /><br />MaryMary Hersheyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17268062901264527270noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26414616.post-18453308445232816332009-12-03T21:16:44.291-08:002009-12-03T21:16:44.291-08:00Wow! Thank you so much for posting this, Robin.Wow! Thank you so much for posting this, Robin.PJ Hooverhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02602205868934777662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26414616.post-38504692274905704962009-12-03T21:03:34.182-08:002009-12-03T21:03:34.182-08:00Great interview! Thanks for posting it. How ironic...Great interview! Thanks for posting it. How ironic that he's decrying electronic media and yet being shared there. But I guess that's part of his point.Sherrie Petersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11670339498152684137noreply@blogger.com