A book launch is the low-key equivalent of a movie premiere, a celebration of the fact the book is now out in the world and available for purchase.

I have been to two local in-person book launches.

One was for a book I edited, and one was for a book written by a friend. Both were held in hired halls with catering, and attended by lots of encouraging family and friends.

But those aren’t the only launches I’ve attended.

I stayed up until midnight to watch the televised launch of the sixth Harry Potter books. JK Rowling read the scene where Harry and Ron visit Fred and George’s newly opened magic joke shop.

I’ve also attended several whistle-stop fast book launches at writing conferences, where authors each got five minutes during a meal break to share the story behind their book.

And I’ve participated in a couple of Facebook launch parties, although these tend to be at odd times in my (New Zealand) time zone—either too late at night (or early in the morning), or in the middle of my working day … so I mean to take a break and check out the party, but invariably forget.

What about you? Have you been to a book launch? What kind of launch was it?

Yes! My local library system has a healthy selection of Christian books.

They do tend to focus on the major US publishers rather than buying books from local authors. They also had more of a focus on fiction than non-fiction.

Unfortunately, they aren’t all free.

My library has two sections—fee and paid. New releases and books from popular authors tend to go into the paid section for several months before finding their way into the free section. This does keep waiting times down (I’ve heard of people being 84th in line for a book, but that doesn’t happen here!).

Anyway, books from the paid section cost $3 for two weeks (compared to around $30 to buy the same book in the bookstore that used to be across the road). That’s a fair price for a new-to-me author I may or may not enjoy, or for a book I don’t think I’ll want to read and re-read (yes, there were books I’d borrow then buy).

But I mostly stopped borrowing the paid titles once I started reviewing, because those were the titles I chose to review.

But the library still stocks a great selection of Christian books.

What about you? Does yuur library stock Christian books?

This might sound odd coming from a book reviewer, but I rarely read book reviews before buying a book.

Why not?

Mostly because I’m a book reviewer. Reviewing means I get a lot of books free (so I’m not buying them at all), and I’m often reading pre-release or new release books that don’t have many reviews.

When it comes to buying books, I’ll sometimes buy pre-order books (e.g the entire Tuscan Legacy series). Again, I’m often buying before release date, so there are often few reviews if any. Pre-orders are tempting, because many of the books are offered at special low prices for the preorder period only.

I also buy sale Kindle books, such as those advertised through email newsletters like BookBub. These are often free or 99 cent books. I never look at reviews for the free books (they’re free. Why would I). And I rarely look at the reviews for the 99 cent books. If I buy, it’s on the strength of the cover, author name, and book description (and price). I figure BookBub has already checked out the reviews, and they won’t advertise the book if there is an obvious issue.

I do check book reviews most when it comes to buying full-price Kindle books or paperbacks. But even then I’m checking the reviews that point out the faults (so the one-star and two-star reviews), or the reviews from authors, friends, or reviewers whose opinions I trust because we like similar books

What about you? Do you read reviews before buying a book?

This question is a sign of the times!

Once upon a time, back when I only read paper books, I “received” them in one of three ways: I bought them myself, I borrowed them from the library, or I received them as gifts.

And I always read them as soon as I received them. I would, of course, prioritise library books, because they had to be returned. But it would be rare for me to have a book longer than a week or two before I read it. The main exceptions were the Good News Bible a friend gave me when I was about thirteen, or the reference books I was given: books of Bible stories, children’s encyclopedias (encyclopediae?), or (later) university textbooks.

But ereaders have changed my book-buying habits. So has reviewing.

As a result, my reading habits have also changed.

I get a lot of review books. Some I receive direct from authors, but I find most on NetGalley. I also have hundreds and hundreds of unread books on my Kindle. Most of them were downloaded free, but there is also a good number of books I’ve paid for (including many sale books. Because there is a never-ending supply of books I want to read. No matter how much I want to read it, I’m reluctant to pay $10 for a book when I already have so many unread books.

But if that same book goes down to 99c or $1.99? Or where the pre-order copy is half the regular price? Or when I find a must-read book on NetGalley? Sold.

You see my problem. A complete lack of self-control when it comes to books.

The result is a to-read pile which is out of control. So this year I’ve made, and am making, a concerted effort to read new books as soon as they arrive on my Kindle. I prioritise books I’ve paid for, but also (try) to apply this to review copies.

The positive aspect to this is I’ve already read all the books I’m due to review in June, and have written and scheduled most of the reviews as well. I also make a point of not visiting NetGalley unless I’m posting my reviews, or receive an email saying I’ve been approved to review a book I requested.

I have also decided not to buy Kindle books that area already available unless I want to read them at once. Right. Now. It’s working as a way of keeping my to-read mountain from growing into a small planet. It also means that when a pre-ordered book arrives on my Kindle, I can sit down and read it right away. It helps that most books seem to release at 7pm in my timezone, just as I’m sitting down to relax in the evening!

So, long answer short, I am making a point of trying to read books as soon as I receive them rather than letting them languish on my Kindle.

What about you? Do you read books as soon as you receive them?