Sundays on the Acre, Take 7

I figure I better get another thread started before I post my weekly list tomorrow morning!

For the masochists among you, Sundays on the Acre begins here:
http://www.librarything.com/topic/78996
http://www.librarything.com/topic/82207
http://www.librarything.com/topic/83662
http://www.librarything.com/topic/84472
http://www.librarything.com/topic/85051
http://www.librarything.com/topic/86242

For those interested in my wiki, it is here: http://www.librarything.com/wiki/index.php/User:Alcottacre, but I do not really recommend it, as it is boring. All the action takes place on my threads :)

Books Read from My Personal Library in 2010



Pages Read 2010



Memorable Reads for 2010:

Nonfiction
The National Parks: America's Best Idea by Dayton Duncan & Ken Burns
Larry Burrows: Vietnam by Larry Burrows
The Morville Hours by Katherine Swift
Waterlog by Roger Deakin
Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder
Slavery By Another Name by Douglas A. Blackmon3
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebekah Skloot

Fiction
Salvation by Sholem Asch
The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery
Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami
Britten and Brulightly by Hannah Berry
The Party by Rudolph Von Abele
The Egyptian by Mika Waltari
Someone Knows My Name by Lawrence Hill
The Straight and Narrow Path by Honor Tracy
Little Boy Lost by Marghanita Laski

Young Adult
Genesis by Bernard Beckett
Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
Airborn by Kenneth Oppel
The Four-Story Mistake by Elizabeth Enright

A note about my memorable reads: I am not a book critic. My memorable reads list is just that: books that are memorable to me - that for some reason or other resonate with me. I do not review books as many people here do for the simple reason that I am a terrible book reviewer!

Aha! Well, being on Pacific DAYLIGHT Time, it will be late here compared to everyone else when your birthday arrives, so I will simply go ahead and wish you the loveliest of birthdays while we all celebrate the reality of you being here and part of our lives!

#2: Thanks, Roni!

I decided that the time change is just for celebrating my birthday this year. I have to work one hour less :)

YAY!! THE BIRTHDAY THREAD IS UP!!

Aaand I missed seeing the Sink of Sin, too. Lucky me!

#4: The Sink of Sin starts Sunday early AM and you know it, cheater :)

Dear Friend!

Happy, Happy Birthday!

#6: Thank you very much!

Happy birthday from me as well! :D

#8: Thank you, sweetie!

#9: Your welcome. :)

OK, found the new thread - this time.... HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

And I have just read your books from last week, and added 2 to my wishlist - Mountains to Mountains and Spring Moon. Will be back later this morning to see what new damage you've done to it...

#11: I hope you enjoy the books, Cushla. I promise not to inflict any new damage to you. OK, I promise to try and not inflict any new damage to you :)

Come on then... where's the new list? Huh?

Too early. I post it at 5am CT.

Happy birthday! When do you sleep?

I will get in bed sometime around 10am in the morning, I should think. I get off work at 8am.

I resent the idea that I am a masochist just because I come and post on your thread! Certifiably insane perhaps, but no masochist!

Happy Birthday :)

Oh yeah. I knew that! OK, back much later.

#17: Thanks, Jenny.

#18: I look forward to your return visit, Cushla.

Happy Birthday!!!

I finally got caught up!
--BJ

#20: Thanks, BJ! and congratulations!

Did you know you are sharing your birthday with PI? :)

This week's reads:

#112: Airborn by Kenneth Oppel - young adult; this book was just fun from start to finish - the story of a young man who is a cabin boy on an airship and his adventures; highly recommended and on the memorable reads list for the year

#113: The Liberal Imagination by Lionel Trilling - nonfiction; a hit-and-miss book of essays for me - there were several essays that I really enjoyed, but a lot of the essays were dated by references to books and authors of whom I had never heard; the last 2 essays in the collection I thought were thought-provoking, 'Art and Fortune' and 'The Meaning of a Literary Idea'; not recommended for the general public, I think this would be more of a specialty book

#114: Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin - young adult; I enjoyed this book about the afterlife - instead of going to Heaven, you go to Elsewhere and age backwards until you are born on earth once again; I really liked the character of Owen; recommended

#115: The Castle of Llyr by Lloyd Alexander - young adult; read this one for the group read and am continuing to enjoy the series, especially the growth of Taran as a character; recommended

#116: The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett - color me unimpressed - I did not much care for this book at all and cannot for the life of me figure out how Discworld can be that popular, although I have been assured by those in the know that this is not the best book in the series; not recommended

Part 2, since LT is being a pain in the rear:

#117: Slavery by Another Name by Douglas A. Blackmon - nonfiction; I learned about this book through another book I read on the Civil Rights movement and I am glad I found this one - it deservedly won the Pulitzer for its indictment of the post-Reconstruction South; highly recommended and on my memorable reads list for the year

#118: Erak's Ransom by John Flanagan - the seventh book in the Ranger's Apprentice series (5th chronologically), this one finds Will becoming more independent; recommended for fans of the series (which I really enjoy)

#119: Great Essays by Nobel Prize Winners by Leo Hamalian - nonfiction; my review can be found here; recommended

#120: Berlin Diary by William Shirer - nonfiction; Marieke (thanks!) mentioned this book recently on her thread and since I had never read it, I thought I would give it a go; as a foreign correspondent in Nazi Germany, Shirer reports Hitler's rise to power; recommended

#121: Music in a New Found Land by Wilfrid Mellers - nonfiction; Writer's Choice book for the week: A good look at themes and developments in American music, with several composers of whom I had never heard, but the book can be technical in places - if you cannot read sentences such as "The richly spaced tenths of the bass are a warm, sensual fulfilment: against which Hines's famous 'trumpet style' right hand - derived from an attempt to rival Armstrong - clatters in sharp octaves and arpeggios, springs and prances in pianistic abandon, while emulating brass vibrato" this is probably not a good book for you to attempt as there is quite a bit of music theory; if you do read it, do not miss the discography in Appendix V; recommended, with stated reservations

#122: The Straight and Narrow Path by Honor Tracy - this is one of RebeccaNYC's favorite books and I loved it; the sly, sarcastic humor was perfect - you get conversations like: 'You're Irish yourself, though, aren't you?" "Good heavens, no! I'm an Alien Usurper . . . We've only been here about 400 years."; highly recommended and on my memorable reads list for the year

Well I was doing ok with part 1 - nothing to throw onto the pile - but 117, 120 and 122 all sound great. I have Shirer's enormous book on the 3rd Reich here but it is not a book to carry on the trams...

Have a Happy birthday!

#25: I am thinking of doing a re-read of The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich myself. I think I will tackle it next month, though. Too much on my plate this one.

#26: Thanks, Manuel!

Happy Birthday Stasia, wishing you good books and good friends;-)

#28: Thank you very much, calm!

Books #112 and #122, on the pile! Whoo-hoo!

#30: I hope you like them, Faith!

Happy Birthday Stasia!! I always admire the range of books you read. There is something for all tastes. Nothing seemed to grab me this time but there's always next week! Have a wonderful day!

#32: Thanks, Mark! Maybe I will get you next time.

Happy Birthday Stasia!

#34: Thanks, Darryl. And the cake is not chocolate - good job!

Happy Birthday Stasia !!!!!! Hope you had great day :)

#36: Thanks, Jess!

Thanks for the link! :)

#38: Thanks for stopping by, Kath!

Happy Birthday!
Airborn was made into a radio drama series (a number of years ago) on the CBC ( Canadian Broadcasting Co.) It was a lot of fun. I heard part of it while I was driving home from teaching.

#40: Thanks, Cyrel. That's cool about Airborn being made into a radio drama. I have the second book in the series home from the library now, so I am hoping I like it as much as I did the first one.

Stasia, so glad you loved The Straight and Narrow Path -- it is an underappreciated book, and shamefully out of print. And Happy Birthday!

#42: Thank you for the recommendation of it!

It is cold, overcast and raining here in NE Pennsylvania. I do hope your birthday is bring, cheery and sunny.

I'm adding books #112 and #120...

Have a great day Stasia!

#44: Thanks, Linda. I am heading off to bed now.

Happy Birthday!

#23 Airborn and Elsewhere are already on the wishlist. I'm really looking forward to reading Airborn!

I did some separating and combining on the Great Essays by Nobel Prize Writers book and I think the Stories and Essays are both separated now with your review on the write work.

The Ranger's Apprentice series looks interesting but my library doesn't have a copy of book 1. Can I start with book 2?

And The Straight and Narrow Path has gone on the wishlist.

Nothing to tempt me this week - thank heavens, since Caroline's thread just shot me down in a hail of temptation, both barrels blazing!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! x

Happy b'day fellow March baby.

Already put the Blackmon book on the giant wishlist from when you were talking about it somewhere else last week - your previous thread - Thread No. 1,002,453,008, I think it was...

Happy birthday!

Happy birthday! Hope you have a wonderful day :)

Just dropping by to wish you the very Happiest of Birthdays! (and to add 3 books to my list)

Adding my wishes to the pile: I hope you have a wonderful birthday!

The Straight and Narrow Path and Slavery By Another Name have gone on the wishlist.

I think The Colour of Magic is the worst of the Discworld books by a significant margin, and it really is very different from the others.

Happy Birthday!

What's with all this birthday stuff? Didn't Stasia deny the existence of such a day? Were you all asleep? Saints are not born, anyway...they *materialize* from the Aetheric Continuum. Happy First Appearance of your Creational Vacuum Trail, Stasia!

xo

I read Elsewhere and liked it. A little bizarre , definitely unique. I recommend it..

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday! I hereby (unselfishly) offer up myself to take any unwanted chocolate gifts/cake/etc. off your hands. :-)

Oh, and nice round-up for the week - I've added Berlin diary to my TBR longlist.

No flashing stuff or bad singing, Stasia, just Happy Birthday!

#50. Love your name. The typing on your birth certificate must be very small.

#54. I thought your review of Let the Great World Spin was spot-on. I was amazed how McCann was able to take on the voices of the characters. Great, great book.

Back to you in the studio, Stasia.

ETA Note to self: Learn how to spell.

Happy Birthday!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY STASIA! I'm not sure why you don't want to acknowledge them. After all...consider the alternative ;-)

> 61 Good point, Bonnie!!!

Happy Birthday, Stasia!!!

I was not familiar with Shirer's Berlin Diary. Although I still have the old, worn-out, falling apart copy of The Rise and Fall that belonged to my dad, I've never read the book all the way through. That would have to be a summer project, in stages.

I'm adding The Straight and Narrow Path..if I can find it!

Have a great day!!!

Happy birthday!

#46: Thanks, Heather. As far as the Ranger's Apprentice series goes, I would think that you could start with book 2. I prefer to read the books in order, but if your local library does not have it, I guess you do not have much choice, lol.

#47: Thanks for the birthday wishes, Ellie. I hope you recuperate soon from visiting Caroline's thread :)

#48: Thanks, Charlotte. I am not up that many threads yet, thank goodness!

Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday dear Stasia!
Happy Birthday to you!

May today be the start of a great year :-)

#49/50: Thanks!

#51: Thanks for the birthday wishes, Terri. I hope you enjoy the 3 books.

#52: Thanks, Luxx! Glad to see you around.

#53: I hope you enjoy the 2 books, Caty. That is good to know about The Colour of Magic. I am going to try the next book on the chart, whatever that is, and if I do not like it, give up on Pratchett.

#54: Thanks (I think!), RD. xo

#55: I liked it too, Kath.

#56: Thanks, Jim!

#57: Thanks for the unselfish offer, Mary :) I hope you enjoy Berlin Diary.

#58: Thanks, Charlie Brain! I appreciate you stopping by for my birthday.

#60/61: Thanks! The birthday wishes are appreciated.

#62: Sherlyn, I got my copy of The Straight and Narrow Path from www.abebooks.com, so you might check there. I am seriously thinking of doing a re-read of Rise and Fall of the Third Reich in April. We will see.

#63: Thanks!

#65: I appreciate it, Anita!

Having read Berlin Diary and The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich: A History of Nazi Germany over 20 years ago, perhaps it's time I revisited these classics, but with so many books I haven't read (new and old!) vying for my attention - perhaps not :)

#69: I know what you mean. I had never read Berlin Diary before, but it has been so long since I read the other book that I definitely think a re-read is in order. On the other hand, I think of the books I could be reading . . .

#66 Stasia, I'd recommend trying one of the other Discworld sub-series: Mort is the first of the Death series and Guards! Guards! is the first of the City Watch books, and I think they're both excellent.

I thought Shirer's name was familiar: I read The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich for A Level history, which must have been fifteen years ago. (Fifteen years? How did that happen?) I think I might add Berlin Diary to the wishlist, too.

#71: My local library does not have Mort. It does have Guards! Guards!, but I was trying to follow the chart which is why started with The Colour of Magic.

Re Shirer -- it's also worth checking out The Nightmare Years, which is his memoir looking back on the events covered by his diary. It combines the context that it wasn't possible to include in either the diary or the Massive Tome that is his definitive history of the Third Reich.

As the descendent of many Alien Usurpers, I may have to check out the Honor Tracy book. But not until I finish editing the damn galleys.

Happy Birthday, Stasia. I'll get my Polish-American family together and sing a "sto lat" in your name.

#72 I'll be interested to hear what you think of your next Pratchett, whichever one you choose. Following the chart has a lot of advantages, but the first instalments are not the best and I always want to get non-Pratchett-readers hooked on his books. :)

The Truth will forever and always be my favorite Discworld book (it's also the book I read first). I enjoy the "industry" books, such as The Truth, Going Postal, and Making Money. My partner likes the Guards books the best, although Small Gods is one he tends to recommend before others...

Whew! 76 posts in one day ... that's what I get for actually going to sleep after dinner last night.

Hope you had a good day celebrating your birthday today, Stasia.

I liked your review of the Leo Hamalian book of essays and added that, together with Slavery by Another Name and Berlin Diary to my wish list.

Happy Birthday again - on the current thread. I still hope you get lots of books!

Happy birthday!!!

And I have to agree with you about Discworld. I had the exact same thought when I read The Colour of Magic. I didn't think very much of the book itself, and have never had any interested in going back to read any of the rest of them, despite some strong recommendations from friends.

Happy Birthday Stasia!

#70 Stasia - Instead of rereading the Shirer book The Rise and Fall of Third Reich, may I make a recommendation... Try Richard J. Evans' recent The Third Reich Trilogy, consisting of The Coming of the Third Reich (2003), The Third Reich in Power (2005), and The Third Reich at War (2008). It would be quite some undertaking, but a drop in the ocean for someone who reads 500+ a year ;)

These books are high on my TBR list, and I hope to start the first in the trilogy sometime this year.

Stasia,
I thought I'd be safe if I just looked at the books that you read, but now I got caught again! I added 4 books The Boys of Summer and the Obsidian trilogy to look into for future reading. I only glanced at the messages with touchstones and maybe that was my mistake...maybe I need to ignore the messages with book titles in it.

** somehow I have to find a way to keep up with Stasia without adding any books. I don't think that's possible. Shakes her head and turns back to her book.**

Happy Birthday! (And Guards! Guards! is Pratchett at his very best; why not start with that one?) :)

#73: I checked and the local library does have Shirer's The Nightmare Years so I will try and give that one a read this year too. Thanks for the recommendation, Suzanne. Sorry you are having problems with the galleys.

#74: Thanks, Linda! Send me a recording, would you?

#75: I put Guards! Guards! on hold at the local library. Hopefully, I will like that one better.

#76: I am going to try another one before swearing off Pratchett forever. We shall see.

#77: All nonfiction picks for you this week, I see. Good for you, Caroline!

#78: Unfortunately, no. I got my years subscription to MLB.com and a netbook instead.

#79: Thanks, David. I am giving Discworld another shot, but not any more than one I don't think. Too many other books out there for me to read a series I do not like.

Whew! You are not going to The Light Fantastic after all. Everyone's recommendations are spot on, Stasia. Mort, Guards! Guards! or Wyrd Sisters are the way to go. You should enjoy Guards! Guards! although I suspect you might like the witches strand best.

Hope you have had a great birthday today!

#80: Thanks, Kelly!

#81: Peter, I checked and the local college library has the first 2 books, but not the third. I will probably go ahead with the re-read of the Shirer book and then request the other two from the library while I track down a copy of book three. Thanks for the titles and suggestion.

#82: Sorry, Cheli :)

#83: Guards! Guards! is now on hold at the local library. I am glad to know that it is Pratchett at his best. I hope I think so too!

Happy birthday, Stasia! Sorry I'm a tad late. I've added a few books to my wishlist... Thanks!

#88: No problem, Marcia. I hope you like the books you added to your wishlist!

What is a netbook? Is that like an ebook?
--BJ

#90: A netbook is similar to a laptop except that it is specifically for the purpose of getting on the Internet and so has very limited other uses. At least that is my understanding :)

Oh, I think maybe I have seen a commercial for one. Thanks. :)
--BJ

Hey Stasia, hope your Sunday/Birthday was a good one. Too busy to check the Acre yesterday so I would like to thank you today for not reading anything that I will be adding to my wishlist.

#93: Rats! Maybe next time, Lynda.

I have a cold, am miserable, and in a foul humor. So I come here, and whaddaya know...I'm cheered up.

*heavenly music* It's St. Stasia's first miracle!

Happy Belated Birthday!

I have a few more for my pile from your list this week. Thanks for the reviews, as always.

Stasia, hope you had a lovely birthday!

#95: I am sorry you are cold, miserable and in foul humor, Richard, and so glad you are cheered by a visit to my thread - I am not a saint, though.

#96: Thanks, Amy-Sue. I hope you enjoy the books from the pile.

#97: Thanks, Milda!

A belated happy birthday! May the years ahead be blessed and filled with joy!

#99: Thanks, Emily!

Happy Belated Birthday, Stasia! I hope you had a fun time celebrating it, and wasn't given too many books as presents ;)

Not sure I understand message 101, it seems to imply that one can ever get too many books as presents. That's just crazy talk.

Happy belated birthday - I was trying not to increase your number of threads this year, but you are worth it!

re>87 alcottacre: Actually, I think some of the later City Watch books are better than Guards! Guards! but you need to know what went earlier to appreciate them fully. But this was my first Pratchett, and the one that hooked me on Pratchett's brand of humor.

Okay, I am seriously late to the BirthdayParty..but..Ostentatious, Me.....this one's for you, Stasia.


glitter-graphics.com

;-}
J

I just got to the new thread -- haven't even read the posts yet -- but want to wish you belated Happy Birthday!

I did not think I was getting any books for my birthday, but my hubby drove over to my office last night with a gift card from my girls (who were gone all day long) from Books-A-Million - he wanted to be sure I got it on my birthday, isn't that sweet? So I ended up ordering 2 books from the BAM website last night: Chess Story by Stefan Zweig, that Darryl has so highly recommended and Affinity Bridge by George Mann that I read last year and really liked.

Thank you all for your birthday wishes! I did indeed have a good one.

Heavens, what else could one possibly give a bibliomaniac on her birthday???? :-D

OK, Just a thought here -- but how many of you folks think Stasia's threads could be the next 84 Charing Cross Road???

#108 Definitely!

I love BAM! I have avoided the store lately as the book club choices always get me! Maybe I should just go make sure the business is doing ok since it is a fairly new store here.
--BJ

Happy Belated Birthday, Stasia! As you know, books bought with gift cards from daughters in no way impact a resolution not to acquire new books. They are freebies so hooray for wonderful daughters and thoughtful gift card delivering husbands.

I felt the same way about Colour of Magic but did not finish. I will let you be the guinea pig for Guards! Guards! before I try another Discworld.

#110: I will let you be the guinea pig for Guards! Guards! before I try another Discworld.

Thanks for nominating me, Ruth Z - I think :)

Enjoy your new books, Stasia! :)

#112: Thanks, Ren!

My birthday (end of last month) present to me is a dozen new bantam chicks. Due to come today or tomorrow. Maybe I'll post a picture on my thread. :)

I'm almost finished with Moorcock's The Warlord of the Air. So far, it is a very spiffy book. I've been a reader of the Elric Saga for many years, but the author's "voice" seems quite a bit different in this book (The Warlord of the Air).

#114: I have never read anything by Michael Moorcock. That looks like one I would enjoy.

Do post the pictures. I would like to see them :)

OOO OOO The Warlord of the Air!! The beginning of Moorcock's A Nomad of the Time Streams trilogy *sigh* and the most wonderful, scintillating alternate history series...! Steampunk, steampunk, rah rah rah!

#116: I found a copy available on PBS, so I hope to find out what all the hoopla is about soon. I really like steampunk, so I am hoping that I enjoy the book.

#108: I have been ruminating on your idea, Suzanne, not ignoring it. I just do not see how it would be a possible thing to do, as much as I like the idea.

I give up on catching up.. just trying to keep my hand in....
hands? keyboard?

#119: You did not miss much, Kath. Just me getting a year older and you were here for that :)

#116 Glad you are feeling better, Richard!

Do try Warlord of the Air, Stasia. I just finished it and I'm walking around in kind of a disoriented daze--always a sign that a book had me totally engrossed. Good stuff.

>121 jadebird: Thanks, Ren!

>118 alcottacre: Wha...? What could be easier? Open up a wiki, copy and paste a few of the gems from the past two years of persiflage, send it to a smart publisher, and...oh wait...I found the flaw....

I do believe that 84 Charing Cross Road is very appropriate for our relationship with Stasia. Except, I know some of us will one day get to meet Stasia.

I love 84 Charing Cross Road, I am just not sure I can be the next Helene Hanff, lol.

You are our hero, Stasia!
--BJ

#112, yes, the smart publisher -- or rather, the dearth of same. Still....

Stasia, BJ is right.

I simply cannot imagine this group without you!

The pressure, the pressure . . .

Yes, sometimes being loved is difficult, but remember that we are sincere and you certainly are loved.....

>126 Chatterbox: To be fair, Suzanne, it's not that there are fewer smart people in publishing, it's that there are fewer *people* in publishing and so the needful tasks are less fairly apportioned.

Someone, somewhere, decided that the idea of running a publishing house was to make steady, ginormous profits to pay off the vampires on Wall Street. We see what *stellar* results this has brought us as the industries so afflicted have a) shed staff to save money, b) stopped taking risks to save money, and c) quit caring about quality to save money. Result? Said industries are...wait...LOSING money! (Cars, books, movies, consumer electronics, anything important I've forgotten?)

Apparently when corporations were created the legal equals of humans, someone forgot to give them consciences. Tsk.

#121

Because I always and forever walk round in a daze, does that mean I've always been affected by a book? Can I use that as an excuse??

#131: As far as I am concerned, yes. As far as the medical establishment and people in general are concerned, probably not - which is just plain wrong.

#131 I thought about that after I wrote it; most people probably think I always walk around in a daze, but, when I notice, then it's different. Right?

#133 There is a big difference between a specified and reasoned daze and one without cause. I tend to go for both, often at the same time, as many people around me can testify. I think it's because living in my head is often far more entertaining than the world around me.

#132

Ah well, I shall just have to use the idea that I am hopelessly away with the fairies then. Fairies are still a good excuse for anyone, right?

#134: Definitely!

Phew, I give up trying keep up with your threads, Stasia. Everytime I try to catch up, there are at least 1-2 new threads with well over 250 messages. From now on I'm just gonna read your book postings. That is dangerous enough as it is :)

This time I ended up with a series of as far as I can see at least nine books! And I can't wait to read them. It's of course the Ranger's Apprentice-series I'm talking about. The Straight and Narrow Path sounds really good too.

And happy belated birthday to you!

#136: I completely understand about the problem of keeping up with my threads, Tanja. I have the same problem :)

I have read all of the Ranger's Apprentice books up through book 7 (the one I just read), so I am now waiting for the local library to get the next two so that I can catch up again.

Thanks for the birthday wishes! I did have a good day.

#134 I second that:) marvelous creatures fairies.

Stasia, perhaps you can fill me in.. What's the deal with the series being in one chronological order and another publication order? In which order would you recommend reading them?

#139: I did not realize until I actually got to it that book 7 is actually book 5 chronologically. I would recommend reading them in chronological rather than publication order.

#140 - Great! I'm glad you're saying that. That would be my natural choice too, but I thought maybe there was a reason for reading them in publication order instead.

#141: I would not have read them in publication order if I had been given any choice in the matter :)

I have thoroughly enjoyed the series especially the progression of the character of Will. I hope you enjoy it too - although you must bear in mind that it is juvenile/young adult and decidedly written for that crowd. What can I say? I am just a big kid.

Quote for the day from The Boys of Summer by Roger Kahn:

"What was a better war book, Three Soldiers or All Quiet on the Western Front? Did Thomas Wolfe really hate Jews? Was Spoon River Anthology or Winesburg, Ohio closer to the tortured heart of America? Was Henry Wallace a populist like Bryan? Would Stalin exploit or respect him?

The debates rang until someone called "Copy," but they picked up again at once; so that being a night copyboy at the Herald Tribune was to audit lectures by untitled professors and to attend continuous disorganized seminars of bright graduate students."

Kind of like LibraryThing, you think?

Posted to the Kitchen too

>143 alcottacre: Oooh yeah, that's exactly the spirit here! Great quote!

How are you liking The Boys of Summer? If I ever get back to reading and finishing Wrigleyville, I might pick that one up right after.

#145: I am enjoying it a lot, although it is not exactly what I expected. It is more autobiographical than I thought it would be. Not a bad thing - just not what I was expecting.

#143 - So like LT.

I got my netbook today, and so far, so good. I bought an offbrand one because I did not want to spend a ton of money on something I might not use that much - especially since I hate laptops - but the netbook gets on the internet from my library, where I hope to use it to finish cataloging all my books, rather than having to traipse all my books into the living room where my desktop computer resides.

Exactly my problem with getting my books cataloged. They mostly live in the basement or upstairs next to my bed, and the computer lives in the office on the main floor. I really, really don't want to haul books up and down. Poor me, such a big house...so many books...

My house is only one story, so I do not have to carry books up and down stairs, but it is such a hassle carting them from room to room to get them catalogued. The girls both have laptops, but I did not want to have to borrow theirs all the time, so the netbook seemed like a good compromise.

On the thought that it's never too late to wish someone a "Happy Birthday", "Happy Birthday", albiet belated!!

I'll never catch up on all these postings but on your last thread someone mentioned Loon Lake. It's another of my favorites.

Congrats on your new netbook! I bought a little Acer (which I love) last year after I got tired of fighting for computer time with my teenager. It doesn't seem fair that I have the little netbook and he gets the big 17" laptop, especially since I bought them both, but schoolwork always wins!

Well, since I did not buy either of the girls' laptops, I have no problem with them not sharing :)

I have put Loon Lake in the BlackHole already. It looks like it is one my local library has, I just am not sure when I will get to it.

Thanks for the belated birthday wishes. They are very appreciated.

A laptop would be a good thing. Now that I am spending easily 10X as much time on computer as I used to, we are having some conflict around here. There are 5 of us and one computer. Even the 3 yr old thinks he needs some computer time. I left him alone at the computer one day, and he posted to my blog. I still can't figure out how he knew how to do that.

I dream of someday living in a place where the houses are one story. Although, basements are nice for storing canned goods and things like that.

Two story houses were out of the question for me because I have such bad legs. I really wish I had a basement, though.

#153 & 154> A basement would be nice, I agree. Funny story about the three year old posting to your blog! Last night during March Madness, I noticed that my husband, my daughter and her boyfriend were all on their laptops. I don't have a laptop, so I was reading The Three Musketeers. Anyway, that is a pretty good point about not getting all the books entered because they are not near the computer. That is also true for me. I am hoping to do better at cataloging this summer.
--BJ

Kids get started early on computers, don't they? I have a picture of Beth sitting at mine punching the keys - even though I know she did not have a clue what she was doing - when she was about 2.

I'm very late:



:)

sorry to hear the you did not get on with colour og Magic the are much better books in the disc world set!

Bxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

#157: Thanks for the belated birthday wishes!

I brought Guards! Guards! home from the library the other day. Hopefully I will like that one beter.

We will all hold our breath, anxiously waiting your report...

#159: Please do not hold your breath, Ren. It will be at least 6 weeks before I get to it - there are around 70 library books ahead of it!

Turning blue and passing out...

Quote for the day from Little Boy Lost by Marghanita Laski:

"Hilary was a fast reader and dreaded nothing more than to be stranded without print. He would read anything sooner than nothing, fragments of sporting news torn up in a lavatory, a motor journal on an hotel table, an out-of-date evening paper picked up in a bus. He would covetously eye the books held by strangers in trains, forcing them into conversation until he could offer his own read book in exchange for something new."

Sounds like he would fit in just fine here on LT!

Posted to Kitchen thread too

*waving hello .... just passing through as I catch up on your thread*

Waving right back at you, Caroline. Safe travels!

From me too, although very very late, a happy birthday Stasia!

Thanks, Marieke!

K, now we're cooking with gas :)

Glad you found me again!

Morning Stasia! I'm off to work! Have a great weekend!

Morning Mark! I am still at work. You have a great weekend, too!

Love the quote!
--BJ

I am glad!

#162 What a marvelous quote, Stasia.

Such a true quote. I was helping my friend with her horses today at a competition which involved a lot of standing around, so I resorted to reading the entry list over and over again and making anagrams out of horses names. Kept me entertained!

I am glad you guys liked the quote!

Hey, I have a good idea for those of you who don't have laptops and don't want to drag all your books around. When I first joined, I went to an LT-er's library that was similar to mine, but much bigger, and then just went through her library, clicking on and adding every book that I also owned. I added hundreds that way very quickly.

#176: Great idea, Bonnie! I wish I would have thought of it about 3000 books ago :)

Omigod, that Laski quote describes me to a T... *peers over shoulder, wondering who is spying on her*

#178: It sounds ominously like me too!

Thanks for that lovely quote Stasia....I'm heading to Beavercreek Ohio later this week and will only have a carry on for baggage. I'm wondering just how many books I can carry in my arms while scurrying through the airports to catch connecting flights.

#180: Do not pack any clothes - more room for books!

Aha, this is where the Kindle proves its value... I have 600 books at my fingertips... I know, it doesn't smell like a book, but after a while, I found the device just 'disappears' and I'm focused on the content, as with a book.

This week's list:

123: Pastwatch: The Redemption of Christopher Columbus by Orson Scott Card - this alternate history book imagines history if Christopher Columbus did not make it all the way to the US, but rather stopping in the Caribbean; recommended

124: Vampire Mountain by Darren Shan - young adult; at the end of the previous book, we are left with young Darren going off to rescue Evra, but this book does not pick up where that one left off - no, it goes 6 years into the future; this book just had the feel of so much filler to get to the next installment, a disappointing read; not recommended

125: War Torn by Tad Bartimus, et al - nonfiction; stories told by the women who covered the war in Vietnam, this book was recommended by Tina (tututhefirst), who did an excellent review; guardedly recommended

126: Local People: The Struggle for Civil Rights in Mississippi by John Dittmer - nonfiction; a very good account of the Civil Rights movement in Mississippi, by the same man who wrote The Good Doctors; recommended

127: Homer's Odyssey by Gwen Cooper - nonfiction; the true story (and a must-read for animal lovers!) of a young woman adopting a blind cat (and no sad ending, lol); recommended

128: The Lives of Christopher Chant by Diana Wynne Jones - young adult; another winner by Jones, an engaging tale of a boy who can walk into his dreams; recommended

129: The Four-Story Mistake by Elizabeth Enright - juvenile; this charming story of a family moving from the only home they have ever known into another house is excellent; highly recommended, and on my memorable reads list for the year

130: The Book of Tea by Okakura Kakuzo - nonfiction; this book is a blend of history, philosophy, and the story of the Japanese tea ceremony and its significance in Japanese culture; recommended

131: Little Boy Lost by Marghanita Laski - wonderful story of a man seeking his son after WWII has ended, during which his wife is murdered, and his son, whom he has only met once, lost; he discovers a child who may be his but 'the traitor emotioins of love and tenderness and pity must stay dead in me' and he is afraid to claim the child as his own; highly recommended, and on my memorable reads list for the year

132: K2: Life and Death on the World's Most Dangerous Mountain by Ed Viesturs and David Roberts - nonfiction; I wanted to like this book more than I did - I really liked the parts of the book that told of the expeditions to K2, but felt like Viesturs inserted himself too often into those stories, and his self-absorption detracted from my enjoyment of the book; guardedly recommended

133: High Water by Richard Bissell - this week's Writer's Choice book, an enjoyable ride down the Mississippi; my review is posted here; recommended Mine

134: Alcatraz versus the Evil Librarians by Brandon Sanderson - juvenile; this book was just fun, Alcatraz, a clumsy kid, along with his new found family must save the world from evil librarians; recommended Mine

135: The Boys of Summer by Roger Kahn - nonfiction; this book was not what I expected - a fan's look at the Dodgers - but rather a memoir and team biography all in one; I found the parts of the book dealing with Jackie Robinson's foray into baseball the most interesting; guardedly recommended Mine

Please excuse the Touchstones. I am having major difficulties with them today for some reason!

So did you like Pastwatch? It's one of my fav books, period. It obviously didn't hit that mark.

#184: Yes, I did like it very much. I saw that there was supposed to be a sequel out last year, but evidently that did not happen.

wowsers. It's been out forever. a sequel woud be interesting. It seems everywhere I turn folks are going on and on about Ender (and I own and read and like the series) or Alvin Maker (I read, liked and then didn't and it made it onto my 'don't buy for my shelves' list), but not much about this jewel (Pastwatch). Maybe because it's a standalone?

I'm glad you liked it. I feel better *whew* LOL

I have only read the first book in the Ender series and not read any of the books in the Alvin Maker series.

I am not sure a sequel to Pastwatch is forthcoming in the near future. Supposedly it was to be published last year, but there is nothing about it being published this one, so I am wondering if it is going to come about at all.

At least three books for the tbr pile this week. Thanks Stasia:)

You are very welcome!

Ditto what Bente said.

re: netbook. Is it necessary to join an online service, like AOL etc for internet service?

#190: I did not. I have a cable modem in my house along with a wireless router, so my netbook, which has WiFi, just picks up that network.

Thanks, I so want one but I wanted to be sure about this one point. May I ask which one you chose? I saw a Dell for $249 and that's about how much I want to spend.

Only one for the wishlist this week (Pastwatch) but only because another two were already there (The Lives of Christopher Chant and Alcatraz versus the Evil Librarians).

I managed to get Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn: The Final Empire out of the library this week but discovered that so far only his Mistborn series has been published in the UK.

Morning Stasia- I might get away easy this week too! Little Boy Lost sounds like my kind of book and regarding the K2, I remember Ed Viesturs, from Krakauer's Into Thin Air, which is one of my all-time favorite reads! Have a great Sunday!

#192: Lynda, I sent you a PM.

#193: I hope you enjoy Pastwatch along with the other two that were already on your wishlist.

#194: Mark, I think you will like Little Boy Lost. I read Into Thin Air several years ago and have read a couple of other books about the 1996 Everest tragedy since.

Pastwatch was great.
I also enjoyed Empire which came out in 2007. I haven't picked up the sequel that came out this year, Hidden Empire. Interesting premise of war between the Left and Right in the US.

#196: I will look and see if my local library has Empire, Laura. Thanks for the recommendation.

I think that I have Empire around my house somewhere. I will have to look.
--BJ

I enjoyed the Alvin Maker series.. have thought often about a reread, but....

Tea in hand, I'm reading your thread and will be adding books 128, 123 and 131. Earlier this week you told me about The Four Story Mistake and since you were so glowing I rushed to the library to obtain a copy. You are right, it delightful.

#200: I am glad you are enjoying the Enright book, Linda. Looks like you picked some other good ones from this week's list as well. I hope you get a chance to read them too.

I'm so glad you enjoyed Homer's Odyssey. I was lucky to have received it as an ER book last summer and loved it.

>196 lauranav: I read Pastwatch last week coincidentally (especially as I have owned it since it came out and had lost it in my attic). I loved this book and agree with the comments here. This was Card at his best. However, I disagree about Empire, which felt like Card at his worst - and the plot made very little sense! So much of his recent output feels rushed, and lacking the creative original spark in works like Pastwatch.

I hope there is no sequel to Pastwatch. Ender's Game was a wonderful book. Speaker for the Dead was more thoughtful and probably better. Xenocide too was excellent. After that things began a steady spiral downhill as Ender became more cash cow than story. I would hate for that to happen to Pastwatch.

I was just revisiting my 2009 threads and came across our discussion about how Dicksons The Dragon and the George should have been a stand-alone. Like Pastwatch it was a stand-alone for years and then out came the 'sequels' which did not reach the same standard of excellence. I'd hate to see it too!

The only thing I'm adding this week is a notebook computer, although I could buy quite a few books for what one costs. And I might want to add a Kindle, too, as I resented lugging four books in my carry-on bag to Disney World. Chatterbox makes a compelling case for it in Msg. 182.

205- Yes, I agree with Chatterbox. I will never stop reading my 'real' books, but there's nothing like a Kindle for traveling!!

Hi Stasia, I added Homer's Odyssey - Gwen Cooper to the Wishlist!

Okay, you got me this week! #s 128 and 134 are safe--they are already read and in my library.

#129--An Enright I haven't read! Must check the library NOW.
#127--A cat book without a sad ending--oh boy! Ditto.

#123--I've heard a lot of recommendations for this one, even though I've pretty much sworn off Card since the 1990s. I may need to go ahead on this one, though.

Loved the Laski quote! Except that I'm not a fast reader that passage is a very good description of me. I have anxiety attacks if I'm stranded without something to read (which is why I'm seriously considering getting an e-book) and I am also a certified "book snoop"--trying to see the titles of what fellow passengers are reading. I've been known to stop in the bookstore of an airport to see if I can identify a book whose title I was unable to read but I saw enough to identify the cover! LOL

Boys of Summer has been in my library waiting for me for several years--I will put it on the short shelf for this year; and I'm adding Into Thin Air which I've also had for quite a while--the bookstore where I bought it has gone out of business! :-( I'm trying hard to read "off my shelves" this year so I love getting suggestions of books I already own!

Just stopped by to wave at my Favorite Enabler....and to say that I dug out my ancient copy of The Book of Tea..from back in the College days. I must have read this for a course...since the text is all-but-obscured by even obscurer notes.....what a lovely book it is, nonetheless...

Regarding the K2 book: I've noticed that quite often the high-altitude mountain climbers seem somewhat narcissistic. Maybe that's what is required to tackle something so dangerous; absolute unwavering confidence in one's self. Otherwise, no sane person would take the odds.

I remember The Four-Story Mistake books from my childhood. They were some of my favorites.

I'm adding Local People: The Struggle for Civil Rights in Mississippi and The Boys of Summer to my wish list. The Kahn book has been on my "wish list" forever!

Hello Stasia,

I have a Dell netbook coming next week and I'm excited about it. I've used a laptop for a few years and don't think I'll ever go back to a desktop.

I'm adding Little Boy Lost; it sounds very good.

I second the recommendation for Little Boy Lost. I read it last year. A good story and a quick read.

Onto the neverending list go Little Boy Lost and The Four-Story Mistake!

I'm adding Little Boy Lost, I've looked at it before and wondered how it was. I'm a fan of Darren Shan, but more for his ability to get boys who don't read interested in books again. I'm going to try his adult books later this year (I've said this before).
I'm not adding the Veisturs book, but will add Into thin air to my list.

I have read both the K2 book and Pastwatch. I really liked Pastwatch, but I agree with you on the K2 book. It was not nearly as good as I had hoped. Pastwatch was really interesting. Not being a big science fiction fan, I don't always like Orson Scott Card. I liked this one. I also liked his biblical historical fiction series - Sarah is the first one.
I am adding Local People: The Struggle for Civil Rights in Mississippi, Four Story Mistake, and The Book of Tea. Thanks!

#202: I really liked the book too, Joanne, and was so glad that it did not have a sad ending.

#203: Like I mentioned to Susan in a previous post, I think that the sequel to Pastwatch must have stalled since it was due out last year and I have seen nothing that indicates that it will be coming out this year either. I really liked Pastwatch and thought the story did well as a stand alone. Why do authors/publishers think we need multiple sequels to a story? I hate that!

#204: I agree.

#205: You could always download Kindle-for-PC to your notebook computer, Donna. At least, I think you could.

#206: I am glad you found one you liked on this week's list, Angela!

#207: I feel like singing a chant: "I got Roni! I got Roni!" :)

#208: The Laski quote is so appropriate especially for this group, isn't it?

Stasia

I'm stopping by to thank you for recommending The Four-Story Mistake. I really liked this one! As you said, it is old-fashioned! It was a delightful read.

#209: Favorite Enabler, huh? I like it! Yes, The Book of Tea is a lovely little book.

#210: I think you have a point, Sherlyn. I did not look at it that way.

#211: I am glad that you found something to like on this week's list, Darryl. I sent you a PM regarding The Boys of Summer.

#212: I hope you enjoy Little Boy Lost, Bonnie!

#213: Kelly, I did not remember that you read Little Boy Lost last year. Perhaps that was where I got the recommendation. If so, thank you very much!

#214: I hope you enjoy them both, Marcia.

#215: Kerry, I would take another look at Little Boy Lost. It really is an excellent book. As far as the Darren Shan books go, I think anyone would have been disappointed in Vampire Mountain. There is really no transition from the previous book to this one, plus nothing much happens in the book - it is just a set up for the next one. I think that is what I found most disappointing.

#216: Looks like you found several to your taste on this week's list, Jenn. I hope you like them.

To the several people who said they would like to read Into Thin Air: I would recommend that you get the other side of the story as well, and there are a couple of books that I would recommend to go along with the reading of the Krakauer book.

The first is called The Climb by Anatoli Boukreev, who was a climber himself (sadly lost in an avalanche several years later), who participated in the rescue efforts on Everest.

The other book I would recommend is entitled The Other Side of Everest by Matt Dickinson.

once again, great recommendations.

Thanks, Linda!

#217 "Why do authors/publishers think we need multiple sequels to a story? I hate that!".

Yes, in books and movies too. It all comes down to money. Why write an original book or produce an original film when you know you can make money off past success? And it is extremely hard to think of unintended sequels to stories that were not huge disappointments.

#218 "You could always download Kindle-for-PC to your notebook computer, Donna. At least, I think you could."

You can, and kindle even produced a Mac version which they had been deliberately stalling for some time now, which in itself was good reason for me not to touch them!

But if we are talking e-books, ther are much better alternatives to the dreadful Kindle. If buying an ebook reader, get one of the better established readers that support the epub format that is becoming the de-facto standard. Amazon uses two different proprietary standards for the Kindle - and they killed mobipocket when they bought that up. The result is that if you get a Kindle you will be locked into Amazon forever or lose your content. Buy a (newer) Sony, or Bookeen Cybook, or any of the other epub devices and you will be able to port your books from device to device and maybe into iTunes (but certainly to the iPod, iPhone and iPad using an app).

You will also pay less for most books - especially if you use Fictionwise.com who always have many books on 100% rebate and all kinds of other regular discounts. I tend to build a wishlist there and wait for an everything 50% off sale.

The other advantage - if you use an ereader other than the Kindle, it won't be nearly so ugly!

Oh and the other other advantage - Only Amazon has the power to come and delete your books off your device. Other companies didn't build back doors into your device to allow such invasions of privacy.

#225: I have never heard of the Bookeen Cybook as I have never really seriously considered buying one of the devices, but it is good to know that there is more variety in e-book readers out there.

>225 sirfurboy: & 226 I hadn't either. TY, esp as I am shopping for an e-book reader.

I have a serious lag problem so keystrokes often don't make it to the page ... Makes me look more illiterate than I am!

Morning Stasia- Thanks for the other Mt. Everest suggestions! Both look good!

#228: No problem, Mark! I hope you can find them.

Awww...I don't think my Kindle 2 is ugly! :( The Kindle 1, however, does not look nearly as nice as this one...
I agree that some other ebook readers have advantages over the Kindle (I did lots of research first) - each user should make the choice that's best for them, definitely!

Stasia, I forgot that I also added The Four Story Mistake - it's part of a series I see. Do they need to be read in order?

#230: Angela, The Four Story Mistake is the only book in the series that my local library has, so I cannot tell you about the others. It does stand alone very well, though.

>225 sirfurboy:: Sirfurboy, lots of good info in your message. I'm saving it for future reference. I'm a long way from being won over to the e-book club, but I do think it makes a lot of sense for traveling. So, if and when I take that China trip with my hubby, I'll be in the market. I'm sure by then there will be even more competition, lower prices, more features, etc. Gotta love capitalism!

All of the Enright books are great and they don't need to be read in order. Certainly, I didn't do so when I was first reading them aged 7, 8 or so. I think I read The Saturdays first, which might have been originally published under another title, like The Saturdays Club or something? The only caveat to the above is that I'd leave the final book, Spiderweb for Two, until last. It's interesting, when I read this I never for a moment thought that the children in the books weren't my age or realized that they were written in the 1940s. Nowadays, the lack of reference to technology, from computers to cell phones, would give it away instantly. I wonder if that will spoil a new generation's reading pleasure??

Re my Kindle -- I suspect that what Sirfurboy is referring to is the fact that content on the Kindle is rights-restricted, meaning that it can't migrate or be transferred from one device to another. Essentially, you are paying a price to rent the book for your lifetime, but not to own, in the same way you own a "DTB" (dead tree book) which can be resold or loaned to a friend, etc.

Speaking personally, this worries me less than having a wonky device. I've had two friends recently return to their Kindles, one from the newest, bleeding edge Sony device, the other from something else (not a Nook, can't remember.) Both complained that it's less easy to use & less "invisible" when reading; one also griped about having access to fewer books than on Kindle. Neither likes the DRM system, but for now they are resigned to living with it. This is an extremely fluid format, with things changing almost monthly (witness the last round of battles over end-pricing of e-books, and who controls that...)

Perhaps I'm used to the "locked in" model of technology -- I've been accustomed to my iPod for six years or so now. I'm aware that I'm trading away some flexibility for convenience, ease of use, etc., but I'll make that tradeoff. I want easy access to the greatest # of books via a device that is as bug-free as possible, and so far I've found that to be a Kindle. If a rival appears that can offer all that, I'd consider it, and keep my Kindle as a repository for the books I've already downloaded (hey, it's still easier to keep that on a shelf than to find storage space for 600 books...). But I wouldn't consider an iPad, or anything like that. Reading of a backlit device??? Nightmare.

ETA: Donna, it was my own China trip that convinced me to buy a Kindle. I arrived in China for a three-week reporting trip with nearly 30 books in my suitcase. I had to lug it through Shenzhen customs, and pay overweight baggage on EVERY internal flight. Utter nightmare. And I STILL ran out of books in Beijing. (Thankfully, it's a lot easier to buy English-language books in the PRC than it was in the late 90s, but still....) I never want to go through that again. Now I can take four or five books, plus a Kindle.

OK, I now have a new obsession (besides books): http://www.ustream.tv/theowlbox#more

Check it out! Thanks (I think) to TeacherDad for the link.

I'm kinda with Chatterbox on this. I find the Cybook extremely un-ergonomic. The Nook is too slow for me. The Plastic Logics reader is too big. I looked long and hard at the Sony but a couple reports of major malfunctions swung me. Any book I really want to keep I'll buy as a real book anyway. I just want something I can share books with my wife, is ergonomic, and is reliable. The Kindle fits the bill there.

In the end, I consider this an interim device—in a few years the technology will have advanced a lot (color ePaper perhaps) and I'll upgrade. The fixed batteries will probably be dying just about that time anyway...

"In the end, I consider this an interim device"

That is, to me, precisely why I think the Kindle is the wrong choice. I am now on my third e-reader (been using them for several years now) and each time I have changed to a new device I have been able to take my growing ebook library with me. Amazon is deliberately locking people in to their device and preventing book portability.

I agree with Chatterbox about the undesirability of reading on a back lit screen as a general rule, but it is in fact more convenient when reading in bed or in a child's room when they are unsettled and should be asleep and you are stuck there. I don't have an iPad yet, of course, but I use my iPhone sometimes in such situations. I also use it to read books when I find myself waiting around when out of the house and without a book. The advantage of using one of the better supported book formats is I can choose which device to read my books on.

To be fair, there is a kindle app for iPhones and I believe there will be one for the iPad, so that is not a specific advantage of ePub and other formats. However I know of no way of uniting my Kindle books with my ebook library, nor of reading them on all my devices.

As regards what you think of the other devices - that will come down to personal choice. But what I hate about the kindle is that huge keyboard and the relatively small reading space on the chunky device. My cybook gen3+ has a lovely cover that makes it look and feel like a book and it fits in my coat pocket. My wife's opus is even smaller and lighter and also has a lovely cover.

Not sure about what stability issues there are - I have not noticed any problem with my cybook. My wife's Opus was crashing occasionally but this seems to have been fixed with a firmware update at Christmas. She tells me it has not crashed once since that went on.

I think Sony devices were criticised for having screens that were too reflective and thus not readable outdoors (one of the great strengths of e-ink is it is perfectly readable in bright sunlight, just like paper). There are several other devices to consider too. I had an iRex Iliad first, and it is still the best for reading PDFs without a doubt, but expensive and not keeping up with improvements in technology. I think anyone seriously thinking of buying a device might wish to look at http://www.mobileread.com/

I would also add one hazard of reading ebooks is that people keep coming up to you and saying "is that an ebook reader"? And so instead of reading you end up telling people about the wonders of e-ink instead.

What a nice stack of reads, Stasia.

I've always been a fan of Orson Scott Card ... haven't read Pastwatch yet and it sounds like something I'd really like. Also added The Book of Tea and Little Boy Lost

I've already got Homer's Odyssey in my teetering TBR Tower, so no need to add that, but I may push it up the steps a little....now that you've told me there's no sad ending. ;-)

Good review of High Water ...darn....another book on the wish list

*Peeking in, head hanging in shame*
I'm terribly behind on my threads. I hope your birthday was as sweet as you. :)

I've added Slavery By Another Name to the abyss.

>236 sirfurboy:: but it is in fact more convenient when reading in bed or in a child's room when they are unsettled and should be asleep and you are stuck there

I find backlit even harsher on the eyes in a dark room. I solve the problem with the book light from M-Edge. It attaches to a dedicated slot in the book cover and folds away right along the "spine" when not needed; the cover is sized to hold it.



As for the portability, it's just not that important to me. So far, none of the books I've bought for Kindle reading are likely to be re-read—I use the Kindle for a different type of reading than I do regular books...small moments out of the house or at sporting events while waiting. Having the reading locations synchronized between the Kindle and the phone automatically is a convenience I like since sometimes the latter is the only device I happen to have.

It all boils down to personal taste. I dislike the Cybook's ergonomics, you don't. You dislike the Kindle's keyboard, I don't mind it. Anyone buying an ebook reader shouldn't buy one on anyone's opinion (other than quality issues, perhaps) anyway; they should handle them first.

I'm going to weigh in on the great e-book reader debate by confessing my love for my Kindle. I'm on the second Kindle (the first, a first gen Kindle, fell victim to a TSA mishap) and it's one of the best tech buys I've ever made. The ergonomics work for me and the convenience of Whispernet is great for someone who travels as much as I do. The fact that it now works on 3G is a huge plus. I tried the Sony reader and the B&N Nook too and found that the selection of books available on Amazon was too good to beat. The latest version of the Kindle is at least as user friendly for me as the other two.

#240 makes an excellent point - whichever one a buyer is considering try it out first. What's right for one person may not be right for you.

Pretty hard to 'try out' the Kindle for those of us not living in America ;) Nevertheless I got mine last week (I'm in Australia) and am pretty happy with it so far. I decided on the Kindle based on the 16 levels of grayscale and inbuilt dictionary and Wiki access. As mentioned above, the only snag is being locked into Kindle content for any books you buy from the Amazon store - they are only going to work on a Kindle (or Kindle for PC program) and not on any other eReader you may want to change to in the future. Doesn't really affect me too much as I'm mainly reading Project Gutenberg/public domain books but I have some misgivings about Amazon's attitude on locking customers into their format/device.

Tad ~ I don't use a Kindle cover. Do you recommend the M-Edge rather than the Amazon (leather) cover which clips into the device? I have a neoprone case for transporting the Kindle but think I need a cover as the aluminium back is rather slippery.

Stasia ~ sorry to ambush your thread! I'm glad you liked Little Boy Lost :)

#239: Thanks for stopping by, BG!

#242: No problem with the thread ambush! I love the discussions, Laura.

>242 digifish_books:: Laura,

We had the plain Amazon cover for my wife's Kindle and ended up switching it to an M-Edge Prodigy. Basically, two reasons:

1) The first was the light. There are lots of lights that can attach to the Kindle but this was the only one we found where the cover was made to accommodate it. (Note that the light only clips into some of the M-Edge covers, btw...the Prodigy and maybe one other.)

2) A minor reason was the attachment mechanism. The Amazon cover we had only attached on the hinge side. The M-Edge has the same hinge locking mechanism on the left, plus elastic straps on the right. Again, only some of the M-Edges have the new hinge mechanism. The others use elastic straps on all four corners. I'd never go with the latter; it's just not secure enough. This was a minor reason because the hinge actually feels quite secure by itself, but the extra corner straps just bind the cover a little more tightly.

I actually don't think the M-Edge Prodigy covers are the most stellar looking things on the planet (I hate the white stitching), but they seemed the most functional for our needs and I'm not trying to make a fashion statement with the Kindle. ;-D

>242 digifish_books: Thanks for the info, Tad. I will investigate the M-Edge Prodigy cover further.

I'm a little late to the party, but I'm excited to see that you enjoyed both your first Alcatraz book and Homer's Odyssey... yay! I've passed my copy of Homer's Odyssey around the family and keep recommending it to others... some of the tale is just so extraordinary that I still think about it in amazement...

ETA: Especially Cooper's recounting of the break-in... AMAZING.

#246: I agree with you about the break-in. Truly amazing!

I checked out the Blind Cat foundation's website too and was regretting that I do not live anywhere close to North Carolina so I cannot adopt one of the cats. The nice thing is I can still donate to the upkeep of one of them!

I so want to read Homer's Odyssey, but I dare not do it until I actually have the possibility of getting animals again. I'll put it on the TBR with a warning to myself.

Also Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians (I am after all studying library and information science..) and The Lives of Christopher Chant (along with all the other DWJ books I want to read) are going on the list.

#248: Tanja, Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians has nothing to do with library science. I could not tell if you were kidding or not, and I do not want you to get the book expecting one thing and finding something entirely different.

#249 - Haha, I know it has nothing to do with library science. It's just always fun to read books where librarians of some sort are included. Particularly when they are evil! :)

#250: OK, I just wanted to be sure!

Sooooo pleased you enjoyed The Lives of Christopher Chant! I think I'd be a teeny bit heart-broken if you didn't... ;o)

Interesting discussions on e-readers. I've been waiting for a bit more variety to appear before I buy one, (so as not to end up with something clunky that needs to be updated half a year after I buy it and also hoping that the prices will descend a bit), but I'm probably getting ready to invest soon (next really big holiday I reckon...).

As you all say, it's down to personal taste really, but anyone who's interested, I came across this site fairly recently, which has some comparisons. Currently, for me, it'll be between the BeBook & Sony readers...

Weighing back in on the Kindle debate...

I think the fact that I didn't have a legacy e-book library in other formats that aren't supported by Kindle probably influences my opinion. I didn't make the leap to Kindle until I won a journalism price with some cash attached, and I just decided that was the right thing to spend it on. There is no way that I could ever read on an iPhone or any backlit device, in any environment -- it would be like watching TV in a dark room (I even have trouble at movies; can't go if there's even a hint that I might get a migraine.)

The Sony has issues in sunlight (like computer screens), as I discovered sitting at a table in a restaurant in St Croix next to an unhappy user. I think BeBook requires an extra gizmo, a stylus of some kind. But yup, it all comes down to what feels right to you. For folks overseas thinking about Kindle, there is a message board on Amazon where people who want to see a Kindle can post & those who have Kindles will offer to let others take a look.

If you do get a Kindle, get the insurance. It's worth it, and they honor it with incredible speed and efficiency. If it can't be fixed while you're on the phone, you have a new one in 24 hours, then you send the old one back. Also, do get a case for it. I just have the Amazon one, and it's fine, though I echo the comments about having that elastic as well. I like the Amazon one, tho, as there is noting to stop it lying flat, whether in my hand or on a table. Definitely don't get one with just four edges holding it in. Recipe for disaster. I saw someone lose his onto the subway tracks in NY that way....

My sole gripe about the Kindle 2 is the lack of expandable memory. The K1 had an SD slot and that is missing on the current device (to make it slimmer and incorporate a longer-lived battery.) I suspect that will come back in the third or fourth version. Fliss, I don't think you'd need to worry about having to update rapidly. My K1 still works fine, two years later. Sure, my K2 is an interim device, but so are all technological gizmos. Since Kindle seems technologically better than the rivals, I'm happy to assume that will continue to be the case.

One note -- I'm a woman, so I carry a bag with me wherever I go. I realize that for a guy on weekends, carrying a much smaller device would be easier. Still, if you're going to otherwise carry a book, this is the size of a very slim trade paperback, and not that much heavier. Another issue: if you want to do more than just read books, the Kindle may not be the right toy.

Quote for the day from Stone's Fall by Iain Pears:

"The walls were lined with books. Evidently Ravenscliff was a great reader. And an accomplished one. There were not there for decorative purposes, as you sometimes see in great houses. These books were to be read. Had been read, in fact. Novels in French and German and Italian. Works of history and philosophy; medical journals, books of travel. The classics - in translation and the original languages. Dictionaries and reference books. . . Zola, Tolstoy, Darwin, Mill. Marx, I noted with curiosity. Books on sociology and psychology. Even a few on criminology. It was an impressive range. Lucky the man with the leisure and energy to read them all."

I want that guy's library!! (and the leisure and energy too)

Posted to the Kitchen as well.

Kindle debate? I know I'm at least a week behind but I missed a Kindle debate? How could this happen?

I love my Kindle. I read books, magazines, newspapers, and blogs on it. I got mine for my birthday last year. Other family members bought a nice leather case (non-amazon) for me along with a shoulder strap tote. I think it's an M-Edge brand with the hinge on one side and the little straps on the other.

I bought my own Starry Starry Night skin for it though.

This year, Amazon gift cards were popular Christmas and birthday gifts for me.

I can't imagine life without my Kindle, though I've never been a person who gets attached to her books. Once I read them, I give them away. For instance, my copy of Apple Turnover Murder is going to a friend on Sunday when we go to a hockey game.

#254 I want that guy's library, too, and the ability to read books in their original language.

#256: I forgot to wish for the ability to read the books in their original language. Thanks for the reminder, Ren. I want that too!

LOL! (about the language ability -- I was always awful in foreign languages.)

Great quote!

#256 & 257: Count me in too!

#259: We can form our own club: the 'I want everything when it comes to books' club.

That sounds like a brilliant idea Stasia!

LOL -- I thought we were already in it! :) That library sounds fab. Is the rest of the book good too?

#262: I am only about 200 pages into the book, but so far I am liking it.

And yes, we already are in the club.

@257-259
Reading works in a foreign language is not difficult or impossible-- it just takes a lot of time and dedication.
All my life I wanted to read Dante's Divine Commedy in the original language, so a few years ago I obtained an Italian version and went through the full poem, line by line, using a dictionary and an English version of the poem. It took a long time but, to me, it was all worth it.
The poem has 100 cantos with each canto containing about 100-150 lines each. What I did was to first read each canto in English, then attempted to read it in Italian side-by-side with the English version, without bothering to translate individual words, but just to appreciate the meaning and rhyming. Then I went back and spent time reading each line closely in Italian using a dictionary (or google) to understand each word and each line. At the same time, I was consulting references for all the people and things mentioned in the poem. Thanks to the internet the process is much simpler.
Naturally, following this approach one never gets to read 75 books in a year. But Dante is worth 75 books many times over.
To me there is nothing more beautiful than a few well written words.

#264: Wow! Manuel, you must have a lot of dedication to do something like that. I am sure the effort was well worth the reward though.

#264 A great effort indeed! I have a very bad track record when it comes to learning foreign languages, I have "tried" learning French and German with equally disastrous results. I still am hopeful though that someday I would have the time and dedication to get the job done!

>266 PiyushC: I got A's in my Hebrew and Greek courses and know next to nothing of them today . Never studied French or Romanian, but am learning them... maybe you need to move? ;->

ET fix typos

@266 -
Piyush, a while back I thought I would learn one of the Hindu languages, so i picked up a Sanskrit grammar book. I gave it up though since I realized that it was more important at the time to focus on learning Chinese- since I travel to China frequently.
Actually, all it took is allocating at least an hour a day to work on the poem- which is what I still do in Chinese. No matter what, right now the one hour of Chinese is the first thing I do when I get up. Although some days I seem to goof off most of the hour! But that's another story.
@267
I just saw your beautiful wedding card-- all in French. Cool, very cool.

Stasia, I just realized that I am using your thread to converse with other LT folks- does this fall under the category of "thread-abuse"?

#268: Stasia, I just realized that I am using your thread to converse with other LT folks- does this fall under the category of "thread-abuse"?

Everyone talks about everything on my thread. I have never considered it "thread-abuse," just people making themselves at home.

Stasia, come to think of it, your thread is more like a park in a city, the drinking fountain around the office, the kitchen in the house, the place where people can gather and have a good, if brief sometimes, conversation.

#270: I consider that a compliment! Thank you very much - that is exactly what I want.

>270 xieouyang: what a lovely thing to say! Nice to meet you Manuel :)

Chatterbox said that the Kindle appeared to be technologically better than rivals - but that is not actually the case. The best tech build is probably the irex 800 series. Irex have had the best build for about three years now but sadly also prices to match.

See www.irextechnologies.com for details. Theirs is a touch screen display - you can write on your documents and then photocopy them or save the notes as images for later reference. Like the kindle it also has 3g wireless in the USA.

Sony also has a good tech build, only let down by the shiny screen.

The place to go for comparisons and discussion is the mobileread.com forum where you can compare and contrast and also hear about gripes for each device.

Amazon is the only device that allows someone to come along and delete your books and notes remotely and without your permission. Not sure what it says about a company that will design such features into their product.

Whilst it is not e-ink based, the ipad/iPhone turns out to be the first truly multiformat reader, with app based readers for amazon content, ereader and epub. Stanza app adds in a load of other formats

But the real message I would like to stress is: don't buy the kindle just because that is what you have heard of. There are lots of options depending on your preferences, where you read and what you read.

And I still think the kindle is ugly ;)

I'm leaning toward the Cybook. Before this discussion I didn't even know it was out there. Thx Stasia for hosting it! :)

#274: No problem, lol.

I'm all for competition in the ebook market. I love love love my Kindle 2, but its popularity is just going to have other companies strive to make something even better. I've heard that the Kindle will come out with "full magazine color" in the next three years, and they're considering a touch-screen as well, and I bet someone else comes out with one before Amazon.

The iPad could have been so much better. It's a shame they dropped the ball. And - just for me, personally - a back-lit ereader is pointless.

And some may consider the kindle ugly ... but US book covers are leaning towards the hideous these days anyway. ;)

>276 London_StJ:: While I love the touchscreen on the iPhone, I'm uncertain if I'd want one as the only page turning gesture on an ereader.

Right now, I can read one-handed on the Kindle since there's a "turn page" button right under the thumb. On the phone, with both Kindle for the iPhone or Stanza, the device is small enough that I can stretch a thumb over and swipe. However, on a full-sized ereader, it would take two hands. I hope they'd continue to have buttons (on both sides) in addition to the touchscreen.

I'm with you there. I love being able to read one-handed, and prefer the buttons to swiping on my iPhone. And fingerprints drive me crazy.

I prefer the buttonns too... it is a big factor in my decision-making LOL

I love the fact that if I get interrupted suddenly I can simply set my Kindle (or any other ebook reader) down without having to search/fumble for my bookmark...which I'm always losing!

"...and they're considering a touch-screen as well, and I bet someone else comes out with one before Amazon."

Indeed. I bought my first touch screen iRex Iliad reader (now superseded) about 3 years ago.

And despite being touch screen, it also has a very nice page turn bar down one side for a full tactile easy page turn experience without moving the hands.

I don't use it much these days because I like the portability of my cybook. I still use it for PDFs though (which I tend to write over).

Weighing in on the great ebook debate.

I am very glad that I have my Kindle 2. I was admitted to the hospital unexpectedly on Wednesday. Wednesday night a friend dropped off her Kindle so that I would have something to read once I felt better. She stopped at my house on Thursday to packe me a bag and grab my Kindle and my lap top. Being able to read a variety of books has helped pass the time wonderfully well until I can finally go home. I'll never catch up to Stasia but I have read four books since I've been here.

Of course, blogging and web surfing is also keeping me busy. Yay for hospitals that give their patients internet access. Not wireless but with a nice long cable. I can use my computer in bed!

#282: I hope nothing is seriously wrong, Kathy. Best of reading while you are in there! :)

Stasia dear...284+ posts and no new thread? Now, really, we taught you better than that in Netizen Class, didn't we? Now rustle off and set up thread number 810198573 like a good young'un.

#284: But, but, Richard, I was trying to hold out until Saturday?!

>284 richardderus: What difference could a few hours make, either way, at this point? Saturday, now, place your bets as to whether this thread will implode before you make a new one and will simply cause an LT cyber-singularity....

No one can say you're unappreciated, though, can they? Folks come from every part of the site to visit with you and your coterie of comely lasses.

#286: your coterie of comely lasses.

I have a coterie of comely lasses and never knew it! OK, Richard, I am off to create thread 8. *grumble, mumble, threatening never to read another book*

New thread here: http://www.librarything.com/topic/87831