I have been using Apple's Books app to read. After purchasing physical books, I search for electronic book resources and then use my iPad to read (strange behavior, like buying CDs without a CD player and listening to streaming media, haha).
However, I found that some electronic book resources cannot be found, but WeChat Reading has them. So I started to try using it, and temporarily concluded that it cannot completely replace the Books app.
-
Does not support vertical layout
When choosing book versions, I pay attention to whether the mainland version has been edited ("deletion" is no longer appropriate, as some published books not only delete but also modify). If there are edits, I will try to buy the Taiwanese version. For books that are not very sensitive, I can still buy them on Taobao. However, for highly sensitive books, I cannot buy physical copies as the cost of purchasing agents is high and they are easily confiscated by customs.
There are still many legitimate Taiwanese e-books, such as "Readmoo," "Books.com," "Kobo," etc. The payment methods are also relatively easy. However, I don't like using the reading apps provided by these platforms. I found that Kobo provides downloadable e-book files in EPUB format. After obtaining the files, I can use Calibre to crack the DRM and use them freely (piracy).
Most Taiwanese physical books are vertically laid out, even for e-books (Readmoo converts vertically laid out physical books into horizontally laid out e-books). Apple's Books app may support different layouts of e-books very well due to the need to adapt to the reading habits of different countries/regions. I used WeChat last year and found that it does not support vertical layout. After providing feedback to customer service, I deleted my account and stopped using it. Recently, I started using it again and found that it still does not support vertical layout, which is a bit disappointing. But I can also understand it, after all, the demand is not high (WeChat Bookstore still has physical books that are vertically laid out, but e-books are converted to horizontal layout).
-
Does not support left page flipping for comics
Let me share a tool called Manga Repack, which can create EPUB files that support left page flipping and full-page display for individual comic images.
WeChat handles this type of comic book the same way as regular books, with right page flipping (in fact, if it does not support vertical layout, it already indicates that it does not support left page flipping, and most vertically laid out books are also left page flipping).
Apple's Books app also supports this very well. When reading books on an iPad, text books are read in landscape mode and divided into two columns (WeChat is also like this), while comics are read in portrait mode. The flipping method is very comfortable.
-
Possible edits compared to physical books
Doubtful, uncertain.
argentea: WeChat Reading even has edits in classic works. Genuine users are victims. You can buy online literature, but forget about other books.
redtea: "Modern Chinese History" (Jiang Tingfu), in the printed version, uses □□□ to represent certain names, but in the electronic version, the paragraph containing the names is directly deleted.
davelm: Just a reminder, the content of some e-books may be different from the printed version, and it's good that they are edited. The platform will also directly rewrite some content.
For now, I will continue to use WeChat Reading as a supplement to the Books app. I will use the Books app for vertical layout, comics, and e-book resources, and WeChat Reading for its unique e-books.
Books published in mainland China are indeed cheaper compared to Taiwan, but I hope that the impact of the floods will not directly kill the already struggling physical book industry.
Lastly, in this deep and hot water (haha), I hope that the publishing of books in Taiwan will not follow the same path as Hong Kong, where the content becomes increasingly restricted. So... let's continue to pursue peace XD