Let’s talk about anything bookish!
I have a confession to make. I do not really care if I get a physical Advance Reader Copy (ARC) or not. SERIOUSLY. I know there have been a lot (trust me) of drama surrounding ARCs, the grabbiness of bloggers that I have to admit have some truth to it, plus some that actually sell ARCs at an exorbitant price!
Not only that, but there is also such a thing as ARC ENVY. Oh, I admit to being envious of all the ARCs that some bloggers get waaaaay in advance. And yes, I was initially doing everything in my power to get ahold of them. Requesting ARCs from publishers, going to conventions (admittedly, I don’t go to a lot) and lining up so I could grab the coveted ARC.
Which brings me to my confession. I personally DO NOT care anymore if I get an ARC or not. Sure, I’d love to get physical ARCs but I won’t actively seek them out anymore.
Too little time
One of the reasons is just that I simply can’t read them all. Heck, I still have a bunch of physical ARCs from last year that I haven’t even read yet. And not only that, these are some that I really don’t have the interest to read anymore.
Yes, I understand the high that one gets when you receive an ARC in the mail but after that initial high, you are left with nothing.
I just don’t have a lot of space
Let’s be honest here. Physical ARCs take up a lot of space. Since I prefer hardbacks, I want to keep my paperbacks at a minimum. Now, if I love a book, I get the hardback (if available) so then I end up with two copies of 1 book that I don’t know what to do with.
Plus, the clutter! *shudder*
What if I don’t like the book!
Another thing that concerns me that I might not like the book. Now, what do I do with an ARC if I don’t like it? Sure, I know that you can trade your ARCs and I have seen people do it but I don’t really receive any of the coveted ARCs anyway so I never get a trade. And the ones that are good picks, I really don’t want to trade.
I still love eGalleys
I’m also not eschewing ARCs altogether. I still request eGalleys from Netgalley and Edelweiss and I am perfectly fine with that. There also doesn’t have as much envy to get an eGalley as compared to a physical ARC.
I have requested fewer galley in the last few months, though. Again, this is because I just don’t have the time to read them anymore. I’ve also found that some books are better in audiobook form, so I usually wait for Audible or my local library to have it on hand.
Do you love physical ARCs? Do you go out of your way to get an ARC?
While I still kind of love to get ARCs in the mail (it doesn’t happen often enough that I’m bored with it yet), I agree that digital ARCs are actually nicer in some cases. They’re just easier to deal with!
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction recently posted…Sunday Post & Giveaways Galore – 12/18/16
I do love physical ARCs but I love eARCs too. After all, is the goal to help the author and read a book or is it to covet a pack of paper? I will just take what I can get.
That is true, Jessa! The only problem I have is the drama surrounding ARCs.. 🙂
Yeah, ARCs overwhelm me, too. I will request physical copies every once in a while (every few months or so), but I honestly don’t want them too much more often because I have my own TBR that needs whittling down and I don’t need to be adding to it with ARCs! 😀
Ali recently posted…OwlCrate Unboxing + Heartless Review
hahaha true! I almost always DON’T get an ARC so I don’t go out of my way to get one now. Egalleys are fine 🙂
I love receiving physical ARCs – not gonna lie!
I request only those I really, really want to read, and because I’m international blogger, I know that my chances to get one are lower then chances from UK or US bloggers (I send my review requests to UK publishers).
Also, there’s constant fear that my blog is not big enough to request (One publisher sent me email that I should contact them once I gain more followers, so…).
Anyway, I always like to tell myself that I can always purchase the book I want to read. If I can’t for some reason do it now, the book will be available for purchase later, so I don’t feel too bad if I don’t get ARC.
Plus, I really want to review every ARC I get, so I am more focused on reading those I already got then requesting new ones. And there’s so many great back titles, so there will always be good books to read…
irena_bookdustmagic recently posted…Book Review: Miracle on 5th Avenue by Sarah Morgan
WOW! I struggle at reviewing all the books I get so that’s why I am not requesting as much. One thing that is good though is some Pubs like International bloggers but I know that some don’t send out ARCs to them as often because of shipping… unfortunately.
I don’t give a shit about ARC’s. Sure there are a few arcs I would love to get (mostly Lauren Layne’s books which are earcs anyway) but I read close to the release date (or after) anyway. Also for me, putting together an email, keeping track of publisher contacts, requesting shit is just too much of a hassle for me (can you tell I’m lazy?). I gave up requesting arcs last Summer and I don’t regret it. I still use NG and EW but I don’t go out of my way to request other print or digital arcs anymore. The book will eventually come out and if I don’t have money, there is always a library or a friend who will be willing to let you borrow it 🙂
Nereyda│ Nick & Nereyda’s Infinite Booklist
I feel you, Nereyda! I request from NG & EW only for those authors that I really love. 🙂 I still get some free ARCs from being an Avon Addict but that’s about it! I also get physical ARCs from them once in a while but again I also don’t go out of my way to get them. haha
I also use the library a lot so that’s where I mostly get my books if I don’t purchase them myself
I do think your points are VERY valid. But I also will fully admit to having a case of the sads when I don’t get books. And…, I rarely get them so that is a lot of cases of sad 😉 I also LOVE the schedule of them though, I find it helps me be more decisive when reading, so that is a plus. But I do agree that there is always some kind of drama happening. And I do enjoy eARCs too, I just like to have a balance between ebooks and physical, I like to read one of each at the same time 😀
Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight recently posted…Book Hoarder Survival Guide
I also like getting physical books, Shannon! Especially ARCs, but I am not actively seeking them out anymore. It would be fun to get a few. haha the most important thing is that I read the ones I get and the ones I request (eGalleys)
All very good points! I’m still excited when I get physical arcs, but yeah lack of room and what if I hate the book?! It’s so much easier to say so I don’t like it on Netgalley/EW than emailing a bad review to the publisher. I love my e-galleys too!
Cyn @ Bookmunchies recently posted…Musing About Things: An Update from Cyn!
hahaha for some reason romance is good as an egalley, I feel. 🙂 haha it’s just that YA ARCs are super cute to look at! 🙂
And yes, I still get excited when I receive a physical ARC..
All valid points! I request so few ARCs I get excited EVERY I get approved. ☺️
Terri M. recently posted…“Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?”
Me too! 🙂
I don’t get physical ARCs, but I’m perfectly happy with my eARCs 🙂 It’d be nice to have more physical books, but ebooks are easier for me to read anyway. And I would also feel even worse giving negative reviews if I had physical copies lol.
Kristen @ Metaphors and Moonlight recently posted…Cover Characteristics: Book Covers featuring Snow
Oh, I never really thought about feeling bad when giving a negative review for a physical ARC…but come to think of it, I lined up for Heartless by Marissa Meyer in April and I just can’t get into the story. I will be listening to the audiobook for this one 🙂