The Digital Reader

A new ebookstore launched last week in Australia, but I didn’t cover it. I kinda got distracted by Chris Walter’s commentary (and the ensuing debate) on browser based ebooks, and I forgot to write about the ebookstore itself.

Readings Booksellers is an indie bookstore chain with 6 stores in and around Melbourne, Australia. The ebookstore is based on Booki.sh, the browser based reading app from Inventive Labs. This means you can’t download the ebooks, obviously, but it also means that you can share an ebook just by sharing the URL.

The ebookstore is well designed and easy to navigate. It’s easy to find a title by either author or publisher, and you can try a sample right there in your browser (no account required).  There are about 120 titles available, and prices range from $11.95 to $19.99 AUD. No, you didn’t read that wrong; the prices really are that high.

One thing you might not know about Australians is that when it comes to content they get screwed. Do you recall how I get pissed about a $10 ebook? They only wish they could get prices that low. They regularly have to put up with $30 paperbacks.

It’s good that a new ebookstore has launched, but with prices that high I don’t think it will have much success.

Readings Ebooks via BookBee