High-brow readers for low-brow ebooks

High-brow readers for low-brow ebooks NEWS

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While their bookshelves may be heaving with classical literature, a poll of British readers has found that a third of ebook readers prefer low-brow ebooks and the secrecy that comes with them.

With the introduction of the Kindle into the UK market two years ago brought discretion for guilty-pleasure readers nationwide. Users can carry over 1,000 individual titles in their own personal electronic library with the latest version of the Kindle. As there are no book covers, readers may take comfort in being able to read the latest chick-lit or fantasy title without compromising their astute demeanour.

Are Britons really so self-conscious about reading the latest book that may be deemed 'trash' by their peers? This recent poll shows that a third of ebook readers are simply too bashful to reveal the title of what they are currently reading.

A surprising one in five said they would be so embarrassed of their collection that if their Kindle were to be lost, they would not claim it back for fear of being found out.

Fifty-five percent of those surveyed admitted they had read less than a third of the books collecting dust on their shelves, while ebooks are overtaking printed books sales due to being relatively cheaper and easier to obtain.

Ulric Jerome of PIXmania group which carried out the research told The Daily Telegraph: 'It seems that a lot of people are quite glad that when it comes to e-readers you can't judge a book by its cover.'

Amazon aren't the only ones to profit from e-readers, Apple has sold 180million ebooks worldwide through their devices, while WH Smith have launched their e-reader this month at a similar price to Kindle.

Mills and Boon, publishers of romantic fiction, stated that sales of their e-books had more than doubled in the past year and electronic versions of its novels were outselling their printed work.

The most popular categories of e-books are thrillers and mysteries, followed by romance, fantasy and humour.