Category Archives: books & writing

kindle

01 Monday Dec 2008

Posted by in books & writing, gadgets, geekiness

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kindle
Do you have a Kindle?

My cuñada DKL mentioned this on a post awhile back (can’t remember which one) because she knows what a gadget junkie I am. And I’m really trying to like it and begin coveting it, but I can’t honestly see the benefit of having one (even if I could – at the moment they aren’t sold outside the US).

First of all, with a $359.00 purchase price and $10.00 per book, it’s not really any more economical than buying normal books, well, until you’ve maybe bought about 50 of them.  Also, I’m suspicious of the “revolutionary electronic-paper display that looks and reads like real paper”. Could it actually be much different from a computer screen (I cannot read long texts on a computer screen)? And what happens when you’ve reached the 200 book limit?

Basically, I can’t see the advantage of a Kindle over having one of these fabulous Toshiba lightweight beauties, which of course would do a lot more. But if anyone would like to convince me otherwise, I will add a Kindle  to my gadget wish list, though it’ll definitely come after the Toshiba Portégé, the iPhone and the 3-in-1 HP.  🙂

page 69

24 Thursday Jul 2008

Posted by in books & writing

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From this Guardian article …

To find your perfect novel, see page 69

Musicians have long held that the true worth of an album is to be found at track seven. Marshall McLuhan recommends trying the same trick at page 69.

Unless a book has been recommended by someone who shares similar reading tastes to mine I’ll usually read the first page and, if it doesn’t grab me, then I probably won’t bother buying it. If someone has lent or given me a book I’ll normally give it a bit longer. I used to never give up on reading a book when I was younger (well, except for Ulysses and Crime and Punishment) but I’ve since realised that life is too short to waste it on books I’m not enjoying.

Do you have any special tricks or rules when choosing a novel?

book list update

17 Tuesday Jun 2008

Posted by in books & writing

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Since I am at the mid-year mark I thought I would do an update post on my what I’ve read 2008 page.

I’m on my 24th book so far, which averages out to 4 books a month, though I’ve been reading a bit more since the op. I think my normal average would be about 3 books a month. I’ve kind of fallen behind with leaving my own personal reviews, but you can tell by how many stars given how much I liked/disliked something.

So feel free to chat (either here or there) about my book list. I’m sure there is plenty to both agree and disagree about. I’d also appreciate some recommendations to help get me through the long, hot summer. . .