Thursday, October 6, 2011
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
4,000 and counting...
Well, 4,044 to be exact. 4,044 what? You may ask.
4,044 books that I own...and no, I'm not joking. I am not the owner of a bookstore, and I am not starting a collection to open my own library (though I must admit both of those options had crossed my mind). I am simply a crazy person who loves books.
I know that most of you who read this are going to think I'm absolutely nuts and should be sent for psychiatric care. But let's face it, we all have something we collect or obsess about don't we? Just because mine is something that takes up a LOT of space which could easily be fixed by the simple purchase of an e-book reading device of one form or another does not make me crazy......
The thrill of collecting, for me, lies in the physical book. Though many interior designers would have me dragged into the square and shot at what I'm about to say, I love seeing bookshelves completely filled with books. In my eyes it's not clutter to see that many books lined up from end to end. It's rather homey and welcoming actually. I almost feel as though the room is inviting my guests in for me. 'Come on in and sit down. I'll get you a drink or a nice cup of tea while you make yourself at home. Did you read this book? I just finished it and thought it was great! Here, give it a try and see what you think.'
4,044 books that I own...and no, I'm not joking. I am not the owner of a bookstore, and I am not starting a collection to open my own library (though I must admit both of those options had crossed my mind). I am simply a crazy person who loves books.
I know that most of you who read this are going to think I'm absolutely nuts and should be sent for psychiatric care. But let's face it, we all have something we collect or obsess about don't we? Just because mine is something that takes up a LOT of space which could easily be fixed by the simple purchase of an e-book reading device of one form or another does not make me crazy......
OK...well maybe it does...but only just a little.
See, here's the thing. For me, collecting books isn't just about the contents of the book, it is about the book itself. Don't get me wrong. I have a passion for reading, and I hope to read as many books from my collection as I can. And just to make sure you understand that I'm not completely insane, I fully realize that even if I can somehow manage to read a book a day I am going to have an extremely tough time reading all 4,044 during my lifetime. However, saving space and putting those thousands of books on a Kindle would not be the same. I know what you are thinking, and yes, technically I would still have 4,044 'books'. But as I said before, it wouldn't be the same.
The thrill of collecting, for me, lies in the physical book. Though many interior designers would have me dragged into the square and shot at what I'm about to say, I love seeing bookshelves completely filled with books. In my eyes it's not clutter to see that many books lined up from end to end. It's rather homey and welcoming actually. I almost feel as though the room is inviting my guests in for me. 'Come on in and sit down. I'll get you a drink or a nice cup of tea while you make yourself at home. Did you read this book? I just finished it and thought it was great! Here, give it a try and see what you think.'
.....so maybe that's a bit extreme, but you can catch my drift.
I also love seeing the different sizes of the books on the shelves and the variety of designs and colors on the spines. Some are plain and some are fancy, but put together you get a wonderful myriad of colors and textures which always remind me of a beautiful collage. Instead of having plain walls with one or two pieces of 2D art, my walls are richly decorated with functional 3D art. Don't get me wrong. I also have a good number of 2D artwork as well. Not EVERY square inch of my walls is covered with books!
I know that there are not many others in this world who will agree with my choice of decorating. There aren't many people who would see books as being a form of artwork instead of clutter, but I ask you to give it a try. I don't expect you to go out and collect four thousand books, or four hundred, or even forty. I do ask that the next time you think about purchasing a book, you don't purchase one for your Kindle or Nook. Go to your favorite bookstore or go online and purchase the actual book. When you're finished reading, I ask for you to not get rid of the book. Instead, place it on a shelf with maybe two or three others. Try living with it for a couple of days. Maybe you'll like it and maybe you won't, but next time you have a guest you'll be able say, 'Did you read this book? I just finished it and thought it was great! Here, give it a try and see what you think.'
My book doesn't need a battery
.....Does yours?
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Three Complete Mysteries by Kinky Friedman
If you like a main character to be heavily sarcastic and have an extremely dry sense of humor, these three mysteries are for you! They are all extremely fast reads and are real page turners. Follow country singer turned amateur detective, Kinky, as he puts his life in danger to solve unique and quite interesting murder cases.
The three novels included in this book are:
The three novels included in this book are:
- Greenwich Killing Time
- A Case of Lone Star
- When the Cat's Away
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
The Sea Hunters: II by Clive Cussler
This book was a wonderful and exciting piece of non fiction. Cussler takes the reader on a wonderful journey back in time to experience the lives and deaths of ships and their crews. The reader is then transported to present day when Cussler describes his adventures as he and teams of other dedicated people try to hunt down these lost vessels. Some hunts are successful and some are not, but each story is captivating and makes this book a real page turner.
Get This Book On Amazon
Get This Book On Amazon
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Einstein's Bridge by John Cramer
This book was quite unlike any others I have ever read! Although it can be extremely scientific at times and a bit difficult to understand, the underlying story is exceptionally intriguing and contains many twists and turns that made me not want to put the book down. If you are interested in science fiction or enjoy stories that have enough 'scientific support' to make them believable, this book is for you!
Get this book from Amy's Paperback Swap
Get this book from Amazon
Get this book from Amy's Paperback Swap
Get this book from Amazon
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
I Can Carry.....
One of the arguments that many of my e-book lover friends have made in support of the e-book is that they can carry all of their books with them at all times. While this sounds quite impressive, is it really a benefit?
"I can carry two thousand books on here. Which makes traveling so much easier."
I'm pretty sure that none of them even own two thousand books (physical books or e-books) and if they did, when would they need to carry all of them at once? I mean, just think about it for a minute. When would anyone on this Earth need to carry two thousand books with them at one time? What kind of vacation are you going on? No one needs two thousand books to go to the beach for a week.
Still, they'll say that traveling is so much easier because of their capacity to carry everything with them in a slim (but still rather oddly shaped) electronic device. I really don't understand that statement. I mean, I always take books with me when I travel, and I've never found it to be annoying or take up a lot of space. When I fly, I'll take maybe 2 paperbacks with me. They fit nice and snug in my carry on and certainly help the time pass more quickly while sitting in the airports and the planes. I honestly don't read once I reach my destination. The days are filled with lots of sightseeing and eating, and the evenings are filled with more eating and sightseeing. There honestly isn't time to read.
The only vacations for me where lots of books are required are beach trips. I absolutely love doing nothing but sitting in my beach chair near the water with a good book and a cold drink. The relaxing atmosphere just allows me to plow through my books, and I can usually read a book a day (though I expect that will change on our next beach trip since we now have a son and four dogs). For the sake of optimism, however, let's say I'll be able to continue that rate of reading. I would still only need to take 5 or 6 books for the week. Put 5 paperbacks in a small tote and stick them on the corner of the trunk. It really isn't going to take up much room. Yes, it takes up more room than a Kindle or iPad, but your car isn't going to collapse from the extra 2 pounds. Honestly the dog toys, treats, blankets, towels, brushes etc. are far more annoying to me than slipping 5 paperbacks in the bottom of a suitcase.
Don't get me wrong, keeping two thousand books on one device takes up a LOT less space than two thousand actual books, but does it really make traveling that much easier? I mean, it's not like music where we switch between albums and songs rather frequently and we'd have a reason to take two thousand with us. Most of us read only one book at a time. We don't read a chapter in one book and then switch to another.
The capacity to carry that many on one device seems like more of a 'just because I can' than anything. Think about it the next time you pack for vacation and go to put your Nook or Kindle in your suitcase. Ask yourself if you really need all of those books or if putting a paperback in its place would suit your needs just as well.
I can carry exactly what I need. What can you carry?
"I can carry two thousand books on here. Which makes traveling so much easier."
I'm pretty sure that none of them even own two thousand books (physical books or e-books) and if they did, when would they need to carry all of them at once? I mean, just think about it for a minute. When would anyone on this Earth need to carry two thousand books with them at one time? What kind of vacation are you going on? No one needs two thousand books to go to the beach for a week.
Still, they'll say that traveling is so much easier because of their capacity to carry everything with them in a slim (but still rather oddly shaped) electronic device. I really don't understand that statement. I mean, I always take books with me when I travel, and I've never found it to be annoying or take up a lot of space. When I fly, I'll take maybe 2 paperbacks with me. They fit nice and snug in my carry on and certainly help the time pass more quickly while sitting in the airports and the planes. I honestly don't read once I reach my destination. The days are filled with lots of sightseeing and eating, and the evenings are filled with more eating and sightseeing. There honestly isn't time to read.
The only vacations for me where lots of books are required are beach trips. I absolutely love doing nothing but sitting in my beach chair near the water with a good book and a cold drink. The relaxing atmosphere just allows me to plow through my books, and I can usually read a book a day (though I expect that will change on our next beach trip since we now have a son and four dogs). For the sake of optimism, however, let's say I'll be able to continue that rate of reading. I would still only need to take 5 or 6 books for the week. Put 5 paperbacks in a small tote and stick them on the corner of the trunk. It really isn't going to take up much room. Yes, it takes up more room than a Kindle or iPad, but your car isn't going to collapse from the extra 2 pounds. Honestly the dog toys, treats, blankets, towels, brushes etc. are far more annoying to me than slipping 5 paperbacks in the bottom of a suitcase.
Don't get me wrong, keeping two thousand books on one device takes up a LOT less space than two thousand actual books, but does it really make traveling that much easier? I mean, it's not like music where we switch between albums and songs rather frequently and we'd have a reason to take two thousand with us. Most of us read only one book at a time. We don't read a chapter in one book and then switch to another.
The capacity to carry that many on one device seems like more of a 'just because I can' than anything. Think about it the next time you pack for vacation and go to put your Nook or Kindle in your suitcase. Ask yourself if you really need all of those books or if putting a paperback in its place would suit your needs just as well.
I can carry exactly what I need. What can you carry?
My book doesn't need a battery.
Does yours?
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
A Matter of Convenience?
This story begins with a gift card to Barnes & Noble which my sister-in-law had given to my husband and I last Christmas. I was more of a Borders girl myself (which is a shame since they're going out of business) but I was not going to pass up the opportunity to get some books!
We ventured out on a Saturday afternoon with a simple enough mission which we thought would take us less than an hour. There were just two books on our list: The Autobiography of Mark Twain Vol. 1 and Baby Love. We walked into the store and were immediately greeted by a huge kiosk for their Nook surrounded by throngs of people. After navigating our way around the annoying obstacle we decided to start with hunting for Baby Love first. It's a cookbook, so naturally we decided to head for the cookbook section. It took us all of about three seconds to realize that there was absolutely no order to the books on the shelf. We stood there for longer than I'd care to remember before deciding that we should see if they actually had the book in stock.
We set off to find a computer station to see if the book was A. in stock and B. where it would be if it was. To our chagrin there were none to be found. There has to be a way to look up a book, I thought. They just can't have no catalog system...can they? I mean, even the PUBLIC LIBRARY who's state funding was cut has a system.
We continued to wander around aimlessly and felt like two lost lambs who would never be reunited with their herd.
It was then that my husband decided to find an assistant to ask where the book might be. We began what seemed like our fifteenth trek around the store to find a Barnes & Noble Employee. After about half an hour we had found two people....two. Both were at the information desk (which I would expect but I would also expect to find at least one or two others scattered about the store) and both were helping customers learn how to read a book.
OK, let me rephrase that.....both were helping customers learn how to read a book on their Nook.
I looked around to make sure I wasn't at the wrong kiosk. After all, there was an entire station right inside the front entrance manned with three employees doing nothing but helping people acquire and learn how to use their Nooks. Did we really need the only other two available assistants in the store doing exactly the same thing? Apparently so, as everyone else standing around the information desk was holding a Nook. I watched them with some amusement as in turn they each glanced down at their Nook with a slightly bewildered expression.
Deciding we might have better luck if we split, my husband went off into the wilderness to try and find the Autobiography of Mark Twain while I waited in line around the information desk Nookless. My expression was not bewildered, but as the minutes slowly ticked away and neither customer being helped seemed any closer to gaining the ability to read, it grew from slightly irritated to annoyed to down right livid. I JUST WANT TO KNOW IF THIS BOOK IS SITTING ON A SHELF!! I screamed in my head.
It was then that I heard one of the women ask how she could find a page, say page 246? At this point the assistant went into this detailed explanation of which I immediately ignored.
Seriously? I thought. SERIOUSLY? Has reading really become so complicated that a woman in her early 50's needs instructions to find a page?
You want to find page 246? I'll tell you how to find page 246. You flip through the pages until the number 246 appears in your field of vision, usually in the upper left corner of the left page. It is a process that usually takes about three seconds.
I continued to wait, completely dumbfounded, until I was finally able to ascertain that Baby Love was in stock but The Autobiography of Mark Twain was not. We purchased Baby Love and continued on our way after over three hours...a trip which should have taken about 40 minutes (including travel).
I tell you that story because it embodies one major and quite fundamental question which arises out of the Kindles and Nooks and e-books.
We ventured out on a Saturday afternoon with a simple enough mission which we thought would take us less than an hour. There were just two books on our list: The Autobiography of Mark Twain Vol. 1 and Baby Love. We walked into the store and were immediately greeted by a huge kiosk for their Nook surrounded by throngs of people. After navigating our way around the annoying obstacle we decided to start with hunting for Baby Love first. It's a cookbook, so naturally we decided to head for the cookbook section. It took us all of about three seconds to realize that there was absolutely no order to the books on the shelf. We stood there for longer than I'd care to remember before deciding that we should see if they actually had the book in stock.
We set off to find a computer station to see if the book was A. in stock and B. where it would be if it was. To our chagrin there were none to be found. There has to be a way to look up a book, I thought. They just can't have no catalog system...can they? I mean, even the PUBLIC LIBRARY who's state funding was cut has a system.
We continued to wander around aimlessly and felt like two lost lambs who would never be reunited with their herd.
It was then that my husband decided to find an assistant to ask where the book might be. We began what seemed like our fifteenth trek around the store to find a Barnes & Noble Employee. After about half an hour we had found two people....two. Both were at the information desk (which I would expect but I would also expect to find at least one or two others scattered about the store) and both were helping customers learn how to read a book.
OK, let me rephrase that.....both were helping customers learn how to read a book on their Nook.
I looked around to make sure I wasn't at the wrong kiosk. After all, there was an entire station right inside the front entrance manned with three employees doing nothing but helping people acquire and learn how to use their Nooks. Did we really need the only other two available assistants in the store doing exactly the same thing? Apparently so, as everyone else standing around the information desk was holding a Nook. I watched them with some amusement as in turn they each glanced down at their Nook with a slightly bewildered expression.
Deciding we might have better luck if we split, my husband went off into the wilderness to try and find the Autobiography of Mark Twain while I waited in line around the information desk Nookless. My expression was not bewildered, but as the minutes slowly ticked away and neither customer being helped seemed any closer to gaining the ability to read, it grew from slightly irritated to annoyed to down right livid. I JUST WANT TO KNOW IF THIS BOOK IS SITTING ON A SHELF!! I screamed in my head.
It was then that I heard one of the women ask how she could find a page, say page 246? At this point the assistant went into this detailed explanation of which I immediately ignored.
Seriously? I thought. SERIOUSLY? Has reading really become so complicated that a woman in her early 50's needs instructions to find a page?
You want to find page 246? I'll tell you how to find page 246. You flip through the pages until the number 246 appears in your field of vision, usually in the upper left corner of the left page. It is a process that usually takes about three seconds.
I continued to wait, completely dumbfounded, until I was finally able to ascertain that Baby Love was in stock but The Autobiography of Mark Twain was not. We purchased Baby Love and continued on our way after over three hours...a trip which should have taken about 40 minutes (including travel).
I tell you that story because it embodies one major and quite fundamental question which arises out of the Kindles and Nooks and e-books.
Are people using them out of a matter of convenience or simply because it's new and 'hip'?
Is the Nook really easier for that woman or any of the other people who were clinging to their devices with desperate hopes that this would be the last question they would have to ask? When those people finally are able to use the Nook well enough, are they going to get as much enjoyment out of whatever they read as they would if they had just picked up the book and saved themselves that much aggravation?
I should also point out that it's not just an 'age' thing. It's not just that the people who needed help that day were older and less technically savvy. About half of the people standing around the information desk were in their late twenties and early thirties, an age where it is assumed using a Nook would be as easy as breathing. Clearly it was not. They stood looking just as lost and confused as the customers who were in their fifties and sixties.
Have we really done this to ourselves? Has the need to stay young and hip within our society forced us to make our lives that much more complicated? We have taken reading a book, which should be as simple and enjoyable as listening to a musician practice in the comfort of their home, and have turned it into a major production on a large stage with bright costumes, flashing lights, huge sets, and fireworks.
......Why?
Is it really a matter of convenience?
My book doesn't need a battery.
Does yours?
Monday, August 1, 2011
An Undying Love
Books were a major part of my childhood from almost the moment I was born. Being a teacher and a book lover herself, my mom would read to me constantly when I was an infant. My father's family snickered at her. "Look at her readin' to her," they'd say. "It's not like she can understand." My mom understood however, and she kept on reading.
Some of my earliest memories are of going to the library as a toddler and picking out books to take home. I of course had my favorites which would always make the cut and immediately got put in the bag. Though I immediately went for those favorites, I would always find new things to try. My mom and I would slowly make our way through the children's section and I would pick out titles and authors that I had never read. I did not have a time limit nor did I have a book limit, and each visit would last a couple of hours and result in dozens of books making the trip home.
As soon as I learned to write my name I had my own library card and I can still remember how proud I was to print my name on the back. There was a children's counter that was just the right height for pint sized book lovers and it was so awesome to hand my library card and stack of books to the assistant for the first time. I was checking my books out all by myself! I had a huge grin on my face and couldn't wait to get home and read!
My mom taught me that reading is not just about getting from the first word to the last word as quickly as possible. Reading is a journey. It is a journey that is always exciting and new. A journey that can take you to places you've never been and could never hope to be. A journey that can introduce you to others' thoughts and ideas which in turn can help you form new ideas of your own. A journey that can show you new people and new worlds. A journey that is filled with excitement and joy, yet has moments of sorrow, heartache and pain. A journey that can teach you important life lessons if only you will listen. A journey that can answer all of your questions and even some you have yet to think of.
You see, the journey you embark on when reading is not created just from the words you see. Please do not misunderstand me. The words are an extremely important aspect, and indeed without them there would be no journey. But the words alone do not make the journey as fulfilling as it can be. Why use only your eyes when you can also use your nose, ears and hands which will allow you to embark on a much more satisfying and exhilarating voyage?
Think of it in terms of your favorite sport or your favorite musician. If given the option, would you rather see them in person than watch them on TV or listen to them on your i-pod? Yes, the outcome of the game is going to be the same whether you are in the stadium or in your living room. And yes, Adele is going to sing the same songs as the ones you have on your i-pod, but there is something about the live experience that makes it better.
There are things about books that heightened my reading journeys as a child and still heighten them today. I love the crispness of new books and the wonderful crinkle noise the hardbacks make when they are first opened. I love the slightly musty smell of books and the distinctive feel of the different types of paper. I love how old books are strong yet vulnerable, and I love knowing that other people who have held that same book in their hands embarked on a voyage similar to the one I am about to experience. I love the feeling I get when I grasp the corner of the page and wait with growing anticipation to when I've read the last word and can finally turn the page to continue my journey. I love that split second of suspense when the page is in motion and I wonder if the story is going to play out as I expect it or want it to. I love taking the bookmark out to allow my voyage to continue, and I love that when I put the bookmark back I can physically see how far my adventure has advanced. I love the satisfying feeling I receive when my journey is finished and I can finally close the book for better or for worse.
Yes the story would be exactly the same if I read an e-book. It would have the same words, the same characters, the same plot, and the same outcome. My journey, however, would be different. It would be missing those extra little things that would make it that much more special. I would be watching the game in my living room, not in the stadium.
Some of my earliest memories are of going to the library as a toddler and picking out books to take home. I of course had my favorites which would always make the cut and immediately got put in the bag. Though I immediately went for those favorites, I would always find new things to try. My mom and I would slowly make our way through the children's section and I would pick out titles and authors that I had never read. I did not have a time limit nor did I have a book limit, and each visit would last a couple of hours and result in dozens of books making the trip home.
As soon as I learned to write my name I had my own library card and I can still remember how proud I was to print my name on the back. There was a children's counter that was just the right height for pint sized book lovers and it was so awesome to hand my library card and stack of books to the assistant for the first time. I was checking my books out all by myself! I had a huge grin on my face and couldn't wait to get home and read!
My mom taught me that reading is not just about getting from the first word to the last word as quickly as possible. Reading is a journey. It is a journey that is always exciting and new. A journey that can take you to places you've never been and could never hope to be. A journey that can introduce you to others' thoughts and ideas which in turn can help you form new ideas of your own. A journey that can show you new people and new worlds. A journey that is filled with excitement and joy, yet has moments of sorrow, heartache and pain. A journey that can teach you important life lessons if only you will listen. A journey that can answer all of your questions and even some you have yet to think of.
Reading is a journey that begins with a book.
I don't mean an e-book that you read on your Kindle, your i-phone, or your PC. I mean an honest to goodness old fashioned book.
You see, the journey you embark on when reading is not created just from the words you see. Please do not misunderstand me. The words are an extremely important aspect, and indeed without them there would be no journey. But the words alone do not make the journey as fulfilling as it can be. Why use only your eyes when you can also use your nose, ears and hands which will allow you to embark on a much more satisfying and exhilarating voyage?
Think of it in terms of your favorite sport or your favorite musician. If given the option, would you rather see them in person than watch them on TV or listen to them on your i-pod? Yes, the outcome of the game is going to be the same whether you are in the stadium or in your living room. And yes, Adele is going to sing the same songs as the ones you have on your i-pod, but there is something about the live experience that makes it better.
There are things about books that heightened my reading journeys as a child and still heighten them today. I love the crispness of new books and the wonderful crinkle noise the hardbacks make when they are first opened. I love the slightly musty smell of books and the distinctive feel of the different types of paper. I love how old books are strong yet vulnerable, and I love knowing that other people who have held that same book in their hands embarked on a voyage similar to the one I am about to experience. I love the feeling I get when I grasp the corner of the page and wait with growing anticipation to when I've read the last word and can finally turn the page to continue my journey. I love that split second of suspense when the page is in motion and I wonder if the story is going to play out as I expect it or want it to. I love taking the bookmark out to allow my voyage to continue, and I love that when I put the bookmark back I can physically see how far my adventure has advanced. I love the satisfying feeling I receive when my journey is finished and I can finally close the book for better or for worse.
Yes the story would be exactly the same if I read an e-book. It would have the same words, the same characters, the same plot, and the same outcome. My journey, however, would be different. It would be missing those extra little things that would make it that much more special. I would be watching the game in my living room, not in the stadium.
My book doesn't need a battery.
Does yours?
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