Best ebook reader/workflow for a selfhoster digital bookworm reddit / selfhosted ---------------------------------------------------------------------- MioCuggino · 2023-12-25 10:35 Hi there. I have an old kindle 6 inch wide display. I buy several books from Amazon store (and honestly I think I'm going to continue buying them) however I also like to "own" my ebooks and be able to see and share my whole collection of book just how I like to see normal books on the bookshelf. So I've found Calibre Web, but I've also found a special version where there's also already included dependencies to make my Calibre Web on my Pi4 server be able to convert .epub ebook into kindle-compatible file and also send to kindle via email, so I receive them DIRECTLY on my kindle (Without these extra dependency, the linuxcontainer version can't do that on my ARM Pi). In the end, I have an always accessible Calibre from web, I can mount the calibre database on disk on my PCs (if I don't want to use the Web Version), I can load ebook on it and send them to my Kindle through Wireless! VERY USEFUL and very convenient. FANTASTIC! However, I don't hide that I would like to improve my reading experience: * I want to buy a more capable ebook reader (mine has a smaller screen, is 5 years older and I'm sure there's something better on the market) * I was going to check the top notch Paperwhite, however maybe Kobo has a more open ecosystem and would better fit a "selfhoster"/Calibre Web workflow. Don't forget that I would still like to buy ebook from Amazon, albeit if I HAVE to ditch this feature well...I can survive that * Amazon now support epub directly and will ditch "soon" the ability to send .azw through email * This maybe mean that Calibre will soon not be able to send converted ebook through email? I will lose something I want to retain at all cost: the ability to send ebook from my collection to my ebook reader, without having to use extra tools or a wired connection to my pc * My server has died :( So (because...no backup) I have to re-create everything from scratch and its the occasion to try something new There's some other selfhoster book worm that has some advices for me? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- pvanryn · 2023-12-25 11:54 I have a Kobo reader (Libra2) and I like it quite well. I installed [KOReader](https://github.com/koreader/koreader/releases/tag/v2023.10) on it. KOReader can also be installed on computer hardware if you want to read on your desktop, although I prefer [Foliate](https://github.com/johnfactotum/foliate) for that. I am not sure if you can email books to yourself, I have never tried. But it works fine with Calibre Web, and you can also transfer books via usb. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- JimmyRecard · 2023-12-25 12:12 I'm also in the middle of rebuilding my homelab setup. Until now, I have used Kobo Clara HD with free aftermarket reader called KOReader (which is brilliant, an absolute must). Then I'd run desktop Calibre on my PC and use Syncthing to duplicate the Calibre database to my server. On the server I used [COPS](https://docs.linuxserver.io/images/docker-cops/) which is a little tool that displays the Calibre database in OPDS format. This is a structured format which allows KOReader to read all your books from the server and download them at will. You get a sort of 'App Store' experience. Once it's all setup, the use experience is that you get your book, put it into Calibre, and then on your reader you simply go into OPDS menu, find the book and hit download. The reader downloads it from the server and you're good to go. I haven't yet started rebuilding the book stack on my server but I'm likely gonna get rid of the Desktop Calibre + COPS and simply use Calibre Web which I think has OPDS server built in. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- daYMAN007 · 2023-12-25 12:33 About your Kindle, you might get a big improvement without buying now by installing KOReader (this also exists for kobo) [https://github.com/koreader/koreader](https://github.com/koreader/kor eader) There is also koreader sync [https://github.com/koreader/koreader-sync- server](https://github.com/koreader/koreader-sync-server) Which can synchronise your reading position acrosse devices. (No web client tho) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ChrisMillerBooklo · 2023-12-25 13:05 The already mentioned Koreader app is really outstandingly good. By the way, it runs very well on Pocketbook devices, which are deliberately designed open and adaptable by the manufacturer. The absolute trump card for me, you can install Syncthing on the devices! So my eBook folder is mirrored in real time on my desktop and server. New eBooks automatically land on my Pocketbook Ereader. If I move them there to the folder for „finished books“, this change will be automatically synchronized. I am more than happy with this setup. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Shoddy_Hunter2609 · 2023-12-25 15:07 Kindle does not accept epub directly. That's a misconception. BUT now you can send epub to your Kindle via email (without covering it yourself before) You can't directly use it ---------------------------------------------------------------------- purged363506 · 2023-12-25 15:43 I'm waiting with great anticipation for pinereader ---------------------------------------------------------------------- adamshand · 2023-12-25 19:34 I use Calibre on my laptop to manage my books and sync my books folder to my homelab server which runs Calibre-web. I then followed [these instructions](https://code.mendhak.com/kobo- customizations/#syncing-kobo-with-calibre-web) to allow my Calibre-web books to appear on my Kobo in the book store. Works great. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- HammyHavoc · 2023-12-26 04:06 Hacking Kindles is absolutely a thing. Check out KOReader. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- notdoreen · 2023-12-26 04:07 Even if Kindle disables email transfer, can't you still transfer books via USB? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- MioCuggino · 2023-12-26 09:48 Well, I hope so! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Haliphone · 2023-12-26 14:43 Can you link us to your special version of calibre? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- MioCuggino · 2023-12-26 14:47 Is not made by me: [https://hub.docker.com/r/y484v/calibre](https://hu b.docker.com/r/y484v/calibre) Is kinda old, but has already within everything needed for Pi to convert ebook. I don't know if on latest version is still required/supported (because, as said above, Amazon should directly accept epub now so MAYBE calibre-web is directly able to send epub to kindle now?) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Shoddy_Hunter2609 · 2023-12-26 21:40 most newer kindles on newer firmware are not yet jaibreakable ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Haliphone · 2023-12-26 22:29 Awesome thanks! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- HammyHavoc · 2023-12-27 04:02 >I have an old kindle 6 inch wide display First sentence of the original post. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- fuwafuwa7chi · 2023-12-27 08:04 I got myself a Kobo Libra 2 for Christmas after using a Paperwhite for 8 years, and I love it so far. It's light, sturdy, and the screen has great contrast. As others have said, installing [KOReader](https://koreader.rocks/) on it is a must; luckily, for Kobo devices it's essentially a one-click install. I'm pretty sure it's also really easy for Amazon readers. For managing my books/manga, I use [Kavita](https://www.kavitareader.com/); one of its many features is a fully-fledged OPDS server, which KOReader can access natively. You just have to add the URL (either local or remote) to your OPDS source list, and you'll be able to browse and download any book in your library, directly from your reader and without any other tool.