A popular topic among booklovers is the question of physical books or ebooks. Both have their advantages and disadvantages but today I want to ask you about ARCs! Do you feel the same way about ARCs and eARCs as you would about a finished copy of a book and an ebook copy?
Obviously it's a huge privilege to be able to receive ARCs in any form but I'm curious if people have a preference. Physical ARCs are easy to read since they're basically still a book whereas with ebooks, sometimes I find the formatting gets messed up in the eARC. It kind of takes away from my enjoyment if I can't read a sentence without having to decipher some of the words. Then there's the fact that, to the extend of my knowledge, ARCs are expensive to print so usually there's a smaller chance of getting one. eARCs, on the other hand, are a little bit easier to obtain since most people have access to sites like NetGalley and Edelweiss. Like I said, both have their pros and cons.
For me, I like both forms. Yep, I fail at answering my own question haha. If I really had to choose I guess I'd have to say there have been instances where I found myself favouring physical ARCs more. Like when my Kindle couldn't read an egalley from a publisher's digital library so I had to put it on my iPad. (Anybody know how to fix this?) I've never read on my iPad so that was a new experience. I do still prefer my Kindle more. With that being said, I'm still really grateful to get a chance to read a book early no matter what form it's in :D
What about you? Have you ever run into any trouble with eARCs? If so, did it make you prefer physical copies more?
It is hard to love a book when the formatting is screwy but sadly, I have had this happen with both eARCs and regular books. I honestly prefer e-books though because it is so much easier for me to carry around and have with me at all times (kindle, phone app, computer app...).
ReplyDeleteIn regular books too?!? I haven't come across that yet and hopefully won't either! Convenience is definitely a big factor :)
DeleteI've actually stopped reading some eARCs in the past because of screwed up formatting, and I hate when that happens. There's also been ones that I've been approved for but couldn't send to my Kindle and since I don't have an iPad, I couldn't read them. However, that's only happened a few times, and I find that most of the time, I can read an eARC fine. I've only gotten a handful of regular ARCs so I'm still not sure on my preference haha.
ReplyDeleteOh no that really sucks! Not being able to read it because of you have a different device sucks too :( I wish there was an universal format! Then we can all enjoy them trouble-free. I've only gotten about 5 physical ARCs but I definitely prefer them so far.
DeleteI get both physical ARCs and eARCs, and I prefer the physical ones.
ReplyDeleteI've had a lot of wonky eARCs, and once you get used to the fact that the author's name might be randomly thrown in a sentence, it's not so bad. It just takes some getting used to. The highlighting feature is the best though. I highlight a lot. I've also had the same problem as Christy - I can't send it to my Kindle, and if I want to read it, I have to read it on my computer.
I like physical ARCs more though, mostly because they read more like a finished book. There aren't as many formatting issues in them, and you get a better idea of what the finished book is going to look like.
Erin @ The Hardcover Lover
I definitely agree with what you said about physical ARCs Erin! For those same reasons, I lean towards physical ARCs too :)
DeleteI have definitely experienced the author name popping up all over haha. Happens with page numbers too ;) I don't do it very often but highlighting is definitely super convenient! With physical ARCs, I cut up post-its into small slivers and stick them in the margin of the pages.
eARCs are a wee bit easier for me to get a hold on, but physical ARCs are extremely rare, and all the ones I have (I think it's a grand total of 4) I've won via giveaway one way or another, and they're rather more precious for that!
ReplyDeleteI've gotten about 5 ARCs through requests and giveaways and they're definitely like treasure to me haha. I don't have a whole lot of luck with eARCs. Most of the time my requests go to pending and then go directly to declined after a few weeks :(
DeleteI love e-arcs because they are easy for me to make notes in for the upcoming review, however, there is just something awesome about receiving an ARC. It makes me so happy. I'm at that stage in blogging where I'm not big enough to get them from publishers, but I've won a few from giveaways and they're prized possessions to me. So both for me as well!
ReplyDeleteSame! I'm where you are except I've gotten a few ARCs from publishers! They're super nice :D Just keep trying and you'll get there :D
DeleteThere's something exciting about a physical ARC, but I don't generally mind reading eARCs. It's actually ARCs that made me start reading my Kindle more, actually.
ReplyDeleteNicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
Yessss I do happy dances every time I get an ARC!! I do read eARCs faster though since I take my Kindle everywhere with me :)
DeleteI definitely prefer physical ARCs. It is a lot more convenient to obtain the eARCs though, so I can't complain;)
ReplyDeleteYep, I hear you! I feel the same way.
DeletePhysical ARCs are like prized commodities, aren't they? I prefer physical copies of books. Period. :)
ReplyDeleteDefinitely! I think as booklovers, we all hold ARCs in a high place in our hearts :)
DeleteI prefer eARCs! I do a lot of reading in the middle of the night so I can catch up and meet deadlines for my reviews. It's easier to read in the middle of the night on my Kindle than it is a physical book because I don't want to keep my fiance up with the light on! It's also easier for me to carry an eARC wherever I go, just in case I have a few minutes of free time where I can read a few pages. (: Nice discussion post!
ReplyDeletePearl @ AsteriskPearl's Book Blog
Thanks Jennifer! I usually read the most at night too but my eyes get all droopy if I read too late into the night. Plus, if I sleep too late I'll end up feeling really crappy at work the next day :( I also haul my Kindle everywhere just in case I can sneak in a few pages ;)
DeleteI definitely prefer physical books of any kind. I usually only get physical ARCs through work (I work in a bookstore), but we definitely get a lot less these days then in the past. I think that's because they now prefer that booksellers use Edelweiss (I have unrestricted access to 95% of the titles there, I rarely have to request anything, I just download it). I still have to request a lot of things on NetGalley. I think we get less physical ARCs because it's cheaper for and it's easier to make more titles available to more people, especially for smaller publishers. I do like to be able to get lots of eARCs, but like you said, sometimes they don't work right. Most of the time they do, though. Also, for some reason, I have trouble reading eBooks. I know it's all in my head. I like to own my books, too, especially if it's part of a series. I'm going to BEA and that's when I get a huge pile of ARCs. That makes me very happy. I barely get any ARCs in the mail anymore, so it's Edelweiss and NetGalley for me.
ReplyDeleteI am so jealous that you can download 95% of the stuff on Edelweiss!! That is so awesome!
DeleteWow 95% is really sweet! I haven't had the most luck with EW and NG. For some reason they both hate me lol.... I like owning my books too. If it's a series then I have to own ALL the books. It's insane and probably impossible so I'm still thankful to have a Kindle to be able to own more books :D
DeleteHave fun at BEA! Wish I could be there too!
I love Ebooks if it's grea I'll get the finished copy but I like reading on my kind,e at night so much better. Book light are i convent while laying down and trying to hold s book is uncomfy. I have run into this issue with formatting and you simply make the letters bigger then make the, smaller again or vice versa and it usually fixes the issue. Nice post Eileen.
ReplyDelete❤️ Britt @ please feed the bookworm
I have tried all sorts of reading positions to get myself comfortable but when it comes to physical books, I do have to admit it's difficult. Thank you Britt!! I am going to try that! Thanks for letting me know~
DeleteFor arcs, I much prefer print arcs. mainly because eArcs come with a lot of formating issues. Some I have not been able to read at all even. If I do get eArcs I prefer them from Netgalley or Edelweiss as those are at least legible so far. But, as you said, it is an honor either way.
ReplyDelete