Rick MonroFeb 4, 2023

Discovered during the week I was unable to access a Kindle book purchased in 2013. Reason? The order was “too old”, and refund issued to buy again. Which was pointless as the book is now more expensive than when I bought it.

Subsequently discovered 66(!!) other ebooks no longer available for download.

Currently 40 minutes in to a support chat with Amazon.

About to learn, I think, whether we purchase ebooks, or rent them…

[Edit: documenting progress in this thread https://mastodon.online/@monro/109812445178130161]

Rick Monro (@[email protected])

Attached: 1 image The problem first appeared last week, when I attempted to open a book on my Kindle. The book cover appeared in my Library as normal. When I tapped on it, the following message appeared:

Mastodon
Show threadPaul McBrideFeb 4, 2023
@monro oh no. I do not like the sound of that!
Show threadRick MonroFeb 4, 2023
@ThePaulMcBride Not the most satisfying of outcomes, but at least I kinda have the books I want again (or will have 🤪)
Show threadPaul McBrideFeb 4, 2023
@monro sounds like a nightmare. I have a kindle purely because it is the best e-reader hardware. I wish I could have my own copy of the books in epub format though.
Show threadRandi EEAFeb 4, 2023
@ThePaulMcBride @monro This is why i backup all my e-books using Calibre....
Show threadPaul O'MalleyFeb 5, 2023
@Reea
100% agree with you here. I go to the web, download the AZW version and import it into my calibre library.
Admittedly, I also have hundreds of books in Calibre from before I bought a Kindle, so I also use Calibre for managing all the other content on my Kindle also.
Show thread`Da ElfFeb 5, 2023

@paulomalley @Reea #Calibre is absolutely Essential for managing my EBooks (some 600+) and yes I get some of it from Amazon.

Someone down a bit in the thread asks if it Cuts Amazon's DRM...why yes, yes it does.

On Android I use MoonPlus Reader (Pro) and it'll cheerfully display Amazon files, DRM or not.

Show thread`Da Elf
@paulomalley @Reea And that's 6000+ books.
Feb 5, 2023 at 3:41amWeb
Show threadElaine RiguesFeb 5, 2023
@elfin @paulomalley @Reea That reminds me that I need to check if it's possible to use Calibre for my Comixology comics. I have bought lots of indie comics to support artists and then Amazon happened. Le sigh.
Show threadPaul O'MalleyFeb 5, 2023
@lanIka
Yeah, you can use it to manage your comics. I downloaded all of DMZ from my Amazon account and then imported into calibre easily enough.
I can't speak to it further than that though as I haven't read them in ages.
Show threadElaine RiguesFeb 5, 2023
@paulomalley Thank you! I'm swamped with work right now but will try it as soon as I can get some free time in front of a computer.
Show threadSignalelevenFeb 5, 2023
@paulomalley @lanIka is there a way to batch download the AWZ files from Amazon? I downloaded a couple of them because I really wanted to have a backup, but I remember it was a lot of clicks for each file.
Show threadPaul O'MalleyFeb 5, 2023

@signaleleven @lanIka Unfortunately not that I was able to find.
I went through and downloaded each and every individual one. Took a while.

That doesn't mean there isn't a way to so it, I just didn't find one back then.

Show threadArdentArchivistFeb 6, 2023

@lanIka @paulomalley @signaleleven

I did the same. Had to do it in multiple sessions over weeks, but I now have backups of all the books I care about (and most of the rest as well).
Bloody ridiculous that it’s necessary.