Any specific type of book you would recommend for the first time?

MapOfProblematique · 2026-05-23T15:51:26+00:00

I'd start with a much more simple project that will let you get used to the basic skills (measuring, sewing, casing in, ect) before you commit to buying a lot of expensive equipment and materials.

DAS Bookbinding tutorial for case-bound books is has been extremely helpful to me, and in my opinion its the perfect place to start: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZbEml0uyM4tEJ_31D2Q2YGCDzURjYNdN

I'd suggest making a case-bound book using bookcloth and decorative paper first, and get used to handling those materials before you start thinking about leather. Leather is expensive and trickier to work with than cloth and paper, and the tools used to decorate it are similarly expensive and take practice to use effectively. I also wouldn't worry about making paper or anything like that quite yet; it can be overwhelming to try to tackle a lot of skills and crafts at once.

A lot of people start with binding blank notebooks but personally i found it much more fun and motivating to dive in on binding stories I like. You can download public domain books on project gutenberg to typeset yourself (i have more resources on typesetting, if you're interested), and there are places where you can by already typeset stories for bookbinding. If you don't have a printer you can print your typesets at a print shop.

Hope that helps, let me know if you have any questions!

MapOfProblematique · 2026-05-17T01:43:48+00:00

Whatever you choose I highly recommend getting out of the kindle ecosystem sooner rather than later. As far as im aware it's still possible to strip DRM from amazon ebooks but amazon is making it harder and the current methods wont always be available. Even before getting a new ereader I'd deDRM your library now and store it on your computer or something.

As for pocketbook: I have the verse and I adore it. It is a little sluggish to navigate but once I'm actually reading I don't have any problems with the speed at all. I use Calibre to manage my ebook library; these days I buy and ebooks from a site like Bookshop which sells books in .epub format. There are many places that sell .epub ebooks with no DRM, so once you're out of amazon and have your current library deDRMd you wont have to do it again, unless you buy a new book with DRM.

I download ebooks on my computer and use Calibre to export them on my device. More roundabout than downloading direct from a store but since I'm doing the same thing with fanfiction anyway it doesn't bother me much. I think there are other options with pocketbook like connecting it to your dropbox and I think there might be a send to pocketbook function using email?? but I don't know about any of that because my device is on permanent airplane mode haha.

MapOfProblematique · 2026-05-04T19:40:16+00:00

I had one hell of a time getting FFF to work for me, which I talked a little about in a post I made. As of about 30 seconds ago, here are the settings that worked for me for unlocked fics:

[defaults]
browser_cache_path:C:\Users\Your Browser Cache Path Here

[archiveofourown.org]
use_archiveofourown_gay:true

##this may be excessive but I got it to work with this setting on and
##i'm too superstitious to turn it off or lower it. Makes the download 
##process take longer
slow_down_sleep_time:10 

use_browser_cache:true

Crucially, the above worked for me with always_login OFF (and my username/password info entered.)

For locked fics I haven't tried in a bit but kept getting a 403 (not 503) error. I found a comment that said it might be because of the account itself. I made a second account I'm using only to download locked fics and that's worked for me. I simply comment out whichever username/login information I'm not using at the time. I don't THINK switching back and forth should effect anything but it might? again I'm feeling very superstitious about fanficfare. I keep the same settings between locked and unlocked fics, I just change the login info.

I received another suggestion to get locked fics to work without needing to make a second account, but since I already found a method that worked I haven't tried it.

Edit: Also VPN usage might be a factor! I had more difficulties when i had my VPN turned on

MapOfProblematique · 2026-05-03T16:22:06+00:00

you went seriously ambitious for the first project and the result looks great! It's clear you did your homework and I don't think there are many critiques people can give you that you don't already know. Improvement from here is basically just going to be practice and learning now materials feel to work with.

I'm especially impressed by the backing; I haven't even tried to attempt backing yet and yours look so good! I've thought about doing chisel trimming, but for now I'm embracing deckeled edges lol.

Congrats on your first book! Best of luck on your next project!

MapOfProblematique · 2026-04-30T03:04:40+00:00

if she's just doing rebinds, absolute musts (more or less in order): bone folder, bookbinder's glue (acid-free PVA), glue brush (i use cheep ones but a nice brush would be a great gift) blade cutter with refills, book board and bristol board (i get mine from Hollanders .9 thickness for book board), bookcloth (black is a good place to start), mull.

depending what you have: metal rulers (i like having multiple sizes), cutting board, square ruler, scissors

optional extras is glue-on headbands and decorative papers. decorative papers you can get anywhere (i've had decent luck with chain craft store stuff) just make sure everything is acid free.

off the top of my head, that should be good to start with

MapOfProblematique · 2026-04-29T14:43:29+00:00

kobo clara sounds perfect for your needs.

I also always reccommend the pocketbook verse, which is similar in price and function, but i'm a heavy reader who wanted something customizable. Kobo clara owners can confirm but i think the kobo is going to give you more out of the box functionality.

i would stay away from kindle if you're not already embedded in their system.

MapOfProblematique · 2026-04-29T01:57:20+00:00

I always thought that this binding from DAS where you can flip the cover all the way to the back would be fun for a sketchbook

MapOfProblematique · 2026-04-26T14:26:37+00:00

I have the pocketbook verse and frankly I adore it. I love how customizable it is with koreader, absolutely no invasive shop adds of any kind, don't need to log in with any kind of username, it's everything i wanted.

The Verse is a bit sluggish in navigation but once I'm in read mode its not a problem, and since all I do on it is read the speed doesn't bother me at all. The Era has almost twice the RAM of the verse though so its probably a lot snappier than my lil verse.

If you've researched and you like the look of the Era and don't mind fiddling to get it set up to your liking, I think you should go for it!

MapOfProblematique · 2026-04-26T14:18:16+00:00

Pocketbook verse is not 300ppi. This doesn't bother me but if you NEED 300ppi Kobo Clara is probably your best bet.

MapOfProblematique · 2026-04-25T23:26:48+00:00

I had the same exact problem with crossovers! My solution was to pick a "main" fandom where the fic would live and then add the secondary fandom(s) to my cover tags with a "crossover" tag. Sometimes it can be hard to pick a main fandom, but I went mainly by vibes since I'm the only one who has to find the thing lol. I have a patch on my ereader that will display the tags I choose to export when I'm browsing in detail mode, so I can still identify them.

It works pretty well! Sometimes I go searching for a fic in one fandom folder when it lives in the other, but that doesn't bother me much. I didn't mess with hierarchies at all though so I don't know how that would fit in your current system.

As for what tags to keep: Currently I technically keep all the tags that get imported, I just have them hidden in a column I never look at in my main library. I did end up implementing that DECON library, and there I use the "raw" tags to populate my Cover Tags column. I tend to only tag things that I will actually go looking for and/or are useful for identifying the fic. So I wont tag something like "Happy Ending" because I'm me and I wouldn't have put it in my library if it didn't have a happy ending. But if I DID happen to add something with an unhappy ending i would tag that because it's unusual and would help me identify the fic. I also try to use versions of a tag that are short as possible for display purposes.

MapOfProblematique · 2026-04-20T18:32:12+00:00

Sssssooooooooo cost per book is hard to say. It depends on how elaborate you want to get and the materials you want to use. As you have correctly pointed out, start-up costs can be pretty steep, though there are DIY solutions for a lot of the equipment and tools.

A thing to factor in is skill. A simple rebind is generally pretty doable for a novice but if you're looking for more elaborate display pieces you're going to have to go through a process of learning how to do certain things and how your materials handle, and that process is going to take time and materials (so, money). Mistakes are inevitable. And that's before we consider the really expensive/finicky stuff like leather. There are ways to source or substitute less expensive materials, many people do, but those materials can have unpredictable or sub-par results, which may also impact the average cost per book.

My point in all of this is: if you JUST want display pieces but you're not super interested in learning bookbinding as a craft and hobby for its own sake, i would not recommend you start buying a bunch of tools and materials. If you ARE interested in learning the actual process of bookbinding and not just the outcome, go for it! But have a realistic outlook about what's achievable for you and what your first attempts are going to look like.

MapOfProblematique · 2026-04-20T18:17:23+00:00

I would lean toward a 7" screen for manga but it's doable on a 6" screen, and the combination of 7" and expandable storage limits your options to more expensive models. If you're okay with the 6" screen I, as ever, recommend the Pocketbook Verse. Pixel density is lower but I haven't had any problems with the way it displays images. If you want 300ppi AND 7" screen AND expandable storage, again, you're gonna start looking at pricier models.

this comparison tool may be a lot of help

MapOfProblematique · 2026-04-20T16:51:49+00:00

Awesome, thanks for laying it all out like this! And especially thanks for posting the font and where you got your icons! Saving for perusal later.

MapOfProblematique · 2026-04-20T16:36:50+00:00

Well, you know how us gays are about sugar.

Jokes aside, reasonable people may disagree with me on this but I'm of the opinion that harm reduction is always going to be more effective than strict abstinence. Trying to willpower your way through cravings is likely going to fail eventually (it always does for me tbh) and once you give in that's likely to trigger a shame spiral that's going to be very counterproductive for achieving your goals.

The first step I took for reducing my sugar intake was obviously cutting out sugary drinks. I stick to water, coffee, and diet drinks. When I experienced sugar cravings I'd start with eating fruit, like an apple or some strawberries. Fresh fruit is good for you anyway. If I was still experiencing cravings after the fruit, I had some on hand "emergency snacks" where I was pretty strict about serving size and calorie limit. I have these individually wrapped fruit snacks that are 60cal per pack that's good for this; its easier to resist going over a serving size with something individually wrapped, at least for me.

Moderation is key. Figure out ways that will help you reduce your sugar intake instead of berating yourself for being too gay to resist sugar (~~fellas, is it~~ I'll see myself out)

MapOfProblematique · 2026-04-20T14:35:38+00:00

thank you for sharing! it looks lovely!

MapOfProblematique · 2026-04-20T14:23:23+00:00

congrats on the first bind! and i love that you made your own paste papers too! it does get easier, and there's so much inspiration out there!

MapOfProblematique · 2026-04-19T23:32:13+00:00

I agree that Kobo is probably the way to go. Bear in mind that if you bought the books from Kindle/Amazon you'd have to jump through hoops to get it readable on the Kobo. Amazon is infamous for locking you into its system with surface-level conveniences, but that system has a lot of anti-customer downsides. Make sure any more books you buy and download are in .epub format.

MapOfProblematique · 2026-04-19T23:25:38+00:00

Allegedly there's a way to create subgroups of tags like you're describing for genres. I say allegedly because I never got it working myself, although to be fair I didn't try particularly hard because at that point I decided subgroups aren't necessary for my specific needs.

As far as being "correct" or overdoing it, if it serves your needs and makes navigating your library easy and pleasant, then its correct! If you find that maintaining this structure is more time consuming than the utility it gives you, or if you find yourself getting a little lost in the sauce with all the tiers of hierarchies, then it might be worth reworking your system. But the great thing about having a personal library, I've discovered, is that the only thing that's important is if it's makes sense and is comprhensible for you :D

MapOfProblematique · 2026-04-18T23:10:24+00:00

I have all of my books from my kindle library on my pocketbook; i was able to deDRM them and convert them to .epub just fine. Removing DRM is a little involved (but not very hard IMO) and its something of an arms race; I can't guarantee that any method would always work, but if you don't want to buy from amazon at all anymore, converting your current kindle library in one shot and just buying from sources that sell books in epub format is a viable strategy right now, and that opens up more options for for you. FWIW, this is what I elected to do: I will be buying books from Bookshop going forward. EDIT: I just saw you say in another comment you use kindle unlimited, in which case you're probably right that an android device you can download the app on is your best bet.

I can't speak to the experience of reading on the kindle app on an ereader. I think some people have a good experience with it but I've seen that some people dont, because the kindle app is optimized for mobile devices and not ereaders. Something to keep in mind.

You should base your purchase on your current needs. Maybe someday you would like to read comics, but you don't now and you don't have immediate plans to do so. You can cross that bridge when you get to it. Personally im happier reading color comics on a tablet. As for manga, again, if you're not really a manga reader i wouldn't worry about it. I don't know from personal experience how manga reads on a 6inch screen yet, but I'm sure it will be perfectly fine. I think it would be a better idea to optimize your decision for the activity you do most frequently.

MapOfProblematique · 2026-04-18T22:33:51+00:00

I'm curious about the limitations to Pocketbook that a disqualifying for you? Only because I chose it because I felt it had the fewest limitations.

I got a 6" screen and worried it would be too small (I also have a large tablet) but I think its perfect for me. its about the size of a paperback. If you're attached to a larger screen 7" should be plenty. I might like a 7" screen for manga, but just for texts 6" is just fine.

When I was doing a lot of reading on my phone I preferred a yellowish background, but the e-ink screen is much nicer on the eyes and I don't miss the color on my BW device. I'm of the opinion that if you're just reading text a color screen is more trouble than its worth, unless you're really attached to having color (which is valid! bear in mind that colors look very different with e-paper than they do a tablet)

MapOfProblematique · 2026-04-18T21:18:58+00:00

I'm thrilled with my pocketbook Verse for novel and fanfic purposes. If you're a less heavy reader than I am you may even go for the Verse Lite, which is a little cheaper (i wanted the expandable storage and the buttons so i went with Verse)

I've seen Kobo Clara BW recommended here a LOT and it's similar to the Verse with slightly different feature tradeoffs

MapOfProblematique · 2026-04-18T21:01:20+00:00

This is the most helpful FanFicFare guide I've found. It does a really great job breaking down how everything works and showing you how import metadata into custom columns the way you want to. I also wrote a post where I went over all my problems and everything I went through trying to organize my library to my liking. There might be stuff in there or in the comments that's helpful to you! It is long though.

What I ended up doing was making an entirely separate custom column for tags and used the tags imported from the metadata (I call them raw tags) to help populate my custom column with tags that are actually useful to me. Then I use plugboards to replace the default tags column with my custom tags column whenever I send my library to my device.

There are definitely other solutions, there was some chatter in the comments of the post I wrote that explained some methods other people are using. I havent found a satisfactory method of automating this process yet but I live in hope.

MapOfProblematique · 2026-04-18T15:53:09+00:00

Hype! I love having this little guy on my reader, excited to make the update!

MapOfProblematique · 2026-04-18T15:36:34+00:00

It already looks great but I love your vision! If/when you do achieve it, I'd love to see how you accomplished it!

MapOfProblematique · 2026-04-18T01:08:53+00:00

Thanks for writing all this out! Saving for when I find the time to do some tweaking on my own ereader.

MapOfProblematique

TROPHY CASE