A couple of months ago, I read an interesting post on social reading: Is Social Reading the End of an Intimacy? Porter Anderson discussed the topic on Jane Friedman’s blog for his Writing on the Ether weekly column there (excellent coverage of publishing industry topics there, if you haven’t checked it out).
I’ve kept thinking about the post, since this social aspect keeps slipping into ebooks I’ve been reading. I’ve gotten used to the underlined passages, for instance, although they startled me the first few ebooks I read. The fact that I’ve gotten used to them is what makes me think about Porter’s post.
The underlined passages may not be such a huge deal, but as Porter put it, it could get more extensive:
“I’m imagining pop-up notes nudging me with other readers’ bright ideas; reviews rolling all over the place; and marginalia marching around the glowy screen of my preferred tablet reading device.”
What does bother me (and this is device intrusion, not specifically social media):
When my Kindle tells me that I have 5 minutes left in my chapter. My device has been timing my reading and applies it to unread text. This is my device interacting with me. It makes me feel as if I’m racing the clock…and since I definitely don’t need to be reminded how very little free time I have, it gives me a harried feeling. Clearly, I need to turn this feature off (now to figure out how to do that).
What doesn’t bother me:
Seeing a request at the end of the book to like a book on Facebook, tweet about it, or buy the next book. I don’t do any of those things, but I don’t mind seeing the request. But I read on a survey in the last year (tried to find the survey and can’t, darn it) that readers frequently feel irritated when they get these requests at the end of a book… that reading should be a sanctuary from social media.
Underlined passages don’t bother me. With my Kindle in hand, I’ve been at book club and watched as folks have fumbled through their printed books, looking for just the right passage to illustrate their point. I’m able to immediately find that passage because the thing has been underlined by 500 people. Not wanting to be a know-it-all, I just wait for them to find their spots.
Underlined passages are also useful for writers—these underlined spots create helpful research as to favorite scenes and what worked for readers. You can check out the ones readers underlined on your book’s page on Amazon.
What sometimes bothers me:
Reader comments while I’m reading a book…this bothers me. And you’d think it wouldn’t, with my background. For the record, I’m the daughter of a now-retired high school English teacher. For my first twenty-two years, I rarely read a book that didn’t have annotations in the margins or underlined passages (unless they were library books). I do believe it may have warped me because I write in nearly all of my print books. But Daddy’s notes were a teacher’s notes and I found them insightful. I don’t have the same interest in other readers’ marginalia.
But! I don’t mind reading notes after I’m finished with a book, when I’ve already drawn conclusions for myself. Then I do like to read others’ opinions and analyses. Book club meetings have maybe softened me up for some forms of social reading in my ebooks. But only on my own terms and only after I’m done with a novel.
What’s probably key with social reading, from a publisher/developer perspective:
Porter hit the nail right on the head here, for me: “And our busy developers gussying up social reading platforms need provide us with an escape. An OFF button. I will use it. Indeed, if I can’t turn off these fine features when I want to, I’ll be as anti-social in reading as I am (some tell me) in life.”
Yes. I have to be able to turn it all off. I have to turn off highlighters, forget about annotations, and not “share” at the end of the book unless I darn well want to. I can’t deal with too much clutter in the margins. And I’m with Porter about hearing blather from readers—inconsequential information that has nothing to do with the book. I’d want more insightful comments…sometimes. And sometimes maybe I want to just read and be by myself with my thoughts.
As a writer, though, I’ve noticed the fact that I have gotten used to some of this intrusion, as I mentioned earlier in the post. This makes me think that our future will feature books that are a lot more interactive in a social way. If I can so easily get used to it in my middle age, my kids accept it as a matter of fact. Although I feel somewhat divided on this, I have a feeling that it will be one of many ways we keep writing and reading relevant to a new, computer-native generation.
How do you feel about social reading?
Elizabeth – First, thank you so much for mentioning In a Word: Murder and for your excellent contribution to it. Folks, she’s done a great story!
Now, to social reading. To be honest, I’m not much for it. When I read, I want to get drawn into the story, the setting, etc.. Anything that pulls me out of that is a distraction. You’ve outlined so clearly what the features are that may or may not bother someone, but honestly, I don’t want to be interrupted like that when I’m reading. I’d rather read a book and digest it, and then discuss it.
I haven’t noticed it much in the books I’ve read. Links to buy other books at the end don’t bother me either.
Margot–Thanks so much for your work on the anthology! Very excited about it.
I think there will be many of us who agree with finding social reading a distraction. It will be tricky for retailers/publishers/developers to make sure those readers aren’t turned off.
Alex–I think we’re just starting to see some of the upcoming social changes in books.
I’m completely unfamiliar with social reading. I don’t have an eReader so don’t read eBooks. I like a real book in my hands. I like book clubs, which is the old-fashioned form of social reading, but that’s real people sitting together and discussing face-to-face. I don’t think I’d like this electronic social reading thing. It seems distracting!
Happy reading and writing! from Laura Marcella @ Wavy Lines
Hi Elizabeth … I also consider blogs and the connections readers make through them to be part of social reading. What do you think?
I keep everything as turned off as possible, and I’ll be honest, if I find anything that intrudes on my experience (such as excessive fancy formatting) I’ll “crack” the book and strip it out. (Or find a pirated copy.)
I do like that annotations and social aspects of a book are allowed — because after reading a book, that can be like reading scholarly “glosses” in the margins. They can be great for thinking about the book.
As for getting used to interruptions: we’re used to ads. People of my generation were even more used to them (however, they were strictly limited). But even with TV, I really hate those little animated logos and show promos that pop up during the show. It’s one of the reasons I got rid of cable.
I tend to like annotating my books a lot. I find it helpful when I’m going back later to reread.
http://www.modernworld4.blogspot.com
Hi Elizabeth – I haven’t come across that sort of ‘interaction’ yet – and can’t say I want to … there’s so much to dilute our thoughts anyway.
I can see your father’s marginalia must have made fascinating pertinent reading .. relevant – so often we don’t get that …
I hate being bombarded with information and I do like to make a choice, and yes I’d switch the off switch if it was available …
How are people going to be able to concentrate … but we do need to cross-refer at times …
Thanks interesting to read, and to know about .. and also about Margot’s book – off to get to support the Hospice .. cheers Hilary
I have one of those cheap Kindles (the under $69 one), and I don’t have Wi-Fi at home. While I wouldn’t mind seeing on occasion those passages that are highlighted the most, that’s the point: I don’t mind those on occasion.
The only time I’ve seen any offers come thru was one place I worked at late last year that had Wi-Fi…and I didn’t have to know the password, I guess because I was onsite.
Anyway, I now realize it’s a blessing for me to not be bugged by offers or anything else when I’m reading on my Kindle.
Just like I don’t have a Smartphone either – and I’m not even close to being a Luddite! (It’s the expense, is all. :-))
I read for myself. I’m rarely interested in what others thought of what I’m reading.
I’m fascinated, though, by the idea of seeing what my readers thought of my books, but I can’t sort out how to do that? Perilously close to turning in my geek badge on this one; it’s just not self-evident.
Laura–Definitely distracting. Although the underlining becomes less-so over time. But then, sometimes, you *do* notice the underlining and wonder what on earth is going through reader’s heads when they’re highlighting or not highlighting a portion of text. I was reading a book recently and suddenly the author hit me over the head with the theme of the book…it was almost author intrusion. Not a single underline. Remarkable.
awriterofhistory.com–Most definitely! And there will come a time, I think, when those communities are linked to inside books.
Camille–Even the formatting? Wow! (Note to self–continue on with my cheaper formatting that I’ve been using for the past few books. :) )
I do like reading them sometimes after I’ve finished a book. Even if it’s just to shake my head over what people thought of a book.
Oh, I hate those, too. We pulled the plug on cable and see all that stuff on Netflix and Hulu now…but the ads are more manageable and less-intrusive. I haven’t seen pop-ups there. But then, I really don’t watch much.
Gina–I do it for print, but never for ebook. It’s just a little awkward for me on ebook.
Hilary–It can actually be interesting, but only if I’m done reading.
I find it just so distracting, but I’ve wondered if I’ve got adult ADHD…maybe it’s me! The kids these days seem to like more collaboration on activities than I do…collaboration with *everything*.
Joel–It might be that no one underlined or highlighted? I didn’t, and usually don’t on ebooks. But you can see them on mine, if you want to get the location of the thing. It’s below “more about the author” and “what other items do customers buy after…” Allllll the way near to the bottom of the book’s page on Amazon. Then you can click “see all notes and highlights” and it will open up a new window. So I have a few notes on my book’s main page at the bottom: http://www.amazon.com/Body-Backyard-Myrtle-Clover-Mystery-ebook/dp/B009YAVVAU/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1383842469&sr=1-1&keywords=body+in+the+backyard and then after clicking “see all notes and highlights,” this window pops up: https://kindle.amazon.com/work/body-backyard-myrtle-clover-mystery-ebook/B00A1MOY4K/B009YAVVAU/posts . And luckily, no rude comments on this one. :) At least, not immediately evident to me.
Nancy–If you’d like to see them for a particular book, you don’t even have to have that feature enabled on Kindle–you can go to the Amazon page for that book and if you go to the bottom of the screen, you’ll see comments and highlighted passages. :) It can be nice…at least *after* reading a book, to see what others thought.
Very interesting discussion. I’ve yet to have much experience with social reading. What we did have in our house for a long time was a tattered copy of Teilhard de Chardin’s The Phenomenon of Man which my grandfather-in-law bought back when he was reading for orders, and Teilhard was a half step away from heresy; he passed the book on to my father-in-law, with his marginalia, and my father-in-law added his marginalia when he was in seminary; then it went to my husband, who took the same path. Now that was social reading that stood the test of time. My daughter is in divinity school now. There isn’t much left in the way of margins, but she’ll make her mark.
Interesting…I don’t think I’ve experienced this. Well, except for the “review my book” at the end, which doesn’t bother me at all. It doesn’t interrupt my reading.
We sure are living in a new world!