Invisible ink? I don’t see the point
A friend just forwarded me this link:
Book publisher experiments with invisible ink
The gist is that if a book is printed using disappearing ink then it will instil a sense of urgency in the reader to get on with it and bloody finish the book.
Hmm…is it just me or does this sound like a really bad idea?
Whatever the reason for not reading (not enough time, can’t be bothered, get a round tuit) I don’t see how the ‘threat’ of the book disappearing will change anything.
To me the idea is about as useful as Write or Die. For those of you that don’t know Write or Die is an app that ‘forces’ you to remain productive by deleting word you’ve written if you stop typing for too long (this is only in kamikaze mode, there are less brutal modes). It’s only useful if it works for you. To me the threat is already there, the words don’t exist. So using Write or Die means any words ADDED to my WIP will be deleted (because I’m guessing nobody types an ENTIRE novel in WoD). If I don’t write then there are no words, if I use WoD then I’m being productive, I’m sitting down and typing…so the threat seems redundant.
Same with this invisible ink lark, if you can’t be bothered/find the time to read then I don’t think knowing the book will go bye-bye in two months will change anything. You can always buy the book again so the only real threat is the loss of the price of the book…
Hmm, if you don’t get around to reading something on time the threat of monetary loss rears its head. That sounds familiar.
I have a new idea!
Why don’t we give away the books for FREE, using normal ink, then after a certain period of time…say three weeks, we’ll start changing some sort of ‘fine’ for every day the book is not returned (you have to return it eventually it was free after all). And if the reader takes an especially long time reading the book they can let someone know and the fees will be put on hold for another three weeks (because even if it gets us reading paying for the privilege is a luxury we can’t afford in a recession). But as an extra precaution (and to make sure the publisher doesn’t go bust) if the book is never returned then the reader must pays these ‘fees’ AND the RRP of the book!
It’s an idea so radical it might just work…any name suggestions for what we could call this magical system would be gratefully appreciated.
We’ve already got that system – it’s called a lending library.
Not a bad idea in theory. (But you know what comes after a statement like that)
So, how will you know that the book has actually been read and not just used to prop the door open or balance the laptop on ? Or don’t you really care as long as the book is in someone’s possession ?
The invisible ink is a reasonable idea too but I would find it more useful in writing than reading, I think. A bit like your Write or Die app.
Then again, as you say, if you just can’t be arsed to read or write something then it won’t get done.
I have this feeling often … ..
If the book is so good (why do I doubt this?) that you want to read it again, you’ve got to buy it again. You can’t lend it to a friend, and so spread the writer’s fame and enlarge his/her potential readership. It can’t go into a library.
Since when was reading a race? The whole thing’s a gimmick, a fad, a waste of paper – though presumably you end up with a notebook you can re-use to write something more permanent (and probably better).
I never understood the urgency, I get told off by my other half for having books on my shelves that I haven’t got aroung to reading…usually when I’m buying more 😛 There’s no harm in waiting! Taking it slow, no loss if I read it in five years rather than tomorrow. Fad indeed!
I don’t tend to keep that many fiction books unless they are something pretty special that I know I’ll want to read again. The rest go to the charity shop or a friend. However, the idea of a paperback becoming a nice notebook with a snazzy cover does appeal.
I’m a total book hoarder, I enjoy nothing more than standing in my library deciding which book to read next 😀