(Spoiler alert: don’t read if you’re still planning to read The Hunger Games) I was surprised by how much I enjoyed The Hunger Games — I was expecting Twilight but these books are fun, thoughtful reads . I was also put off at first by the fact that Hunger Games seemed like some combination of…
Does Technology Keep Us From Reading Well?
An article in today’s New York Times discusses the influence of technology on how we read today (Yes, People Still Read but Now It’s Social). According to columnist Steven Johnson, authors like Nicholas Carr (and I’m sure many others) fear that we have less ability to focus than we used to have, and are therefore…
Seven movies based on Wizard of Oz in production
At least one Oz-based movie has wrapped up production, called The Witches of Oz (see trailer here). At the same time, there are at least four other Oz-related movies in planning, and none of them seem to have any interest in fidelity to the books. An article at Just Press Play has more details about…
Review: Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews
This is Book 4 in the Kate Daniels series, and just as with the others each book in the series is stronger than the one before it. This series may have surpassed my other favorite, Patricia Brigg’s Mercy Thompson series. I don’t normally read a book in one or two days because I like to…
New York Times says E-Reader competition heating up
In this article, the New York Times compares new e-readers. It calls the Kindle the “Plain Jane” of E-readers, but says that isn’t necessarily a bad thing for dedicated readers. I think the more development and competition there is in this area, the better for all of us.
Review: Island Beneath the Sea by Isabel Allende
I love Isabel Allende’s books, and so was excited to read this latest, especially as the Haitian revolution is a fascinating topic. I was also a little nervous because the Haitian revolution is extremely violent by all accounts, both in the treatment of slaves and in the slaves’ violent uprising against the whites. One thing…
Reading books because they’re good for you: literature vs. fluff…
I had a lousy commute this morning. The blue line train was delayed, the yellow line train “broke” and had to be “offloaded.” And then the book I was reading took a turn into boringness. So I did something I don’t often do in less distracting circumstances – I dropped it. So long, Jane Smiley,…
How to upgrade the Kindle
In Dreaming of the Superkindle, Harry McCracken of Technologizer proposes to Amazon the next great ways to improve the Kindle: color, less weight, graphics, improving newspaper and magazine readability, and creating the first great e-reader software. Good suggestions, all.
Consumer Reports rates Kindle #1
In Consumer Reports’ first rating of E-readers, the Kindle came out on top. Read more here. The IPad wasn’t included in the ratings because it’s a multifunction device — however CR notes that the IPad is costlier, heavier, and recommends that readers purchase an IPad only if “willing to compromise to get a multifunction device.”
Review: Changeless by Gail Carriger
I greatly enjoyed the first book in this series, Soulless, primarily because of its unique voice and story. The world of fantasy these days seems to take itself much too seriously and this series was refreshing in its different view of the supernatural , its setting in the Victorian era, and its humorous voice. It…
Review: Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay
This book is a powerful portrayal of the Parisian roundups and killing of Jewish residents during the Holocaust in 1942. Before reading this book I was somewhat familiar with the French role in the Holocaust. However, this specific incident was one I was unfamiliar with and the telling of it in this book is horrifying…
Kindle news — Penguin and Amazon resolve pricing dispute?
Kindle News: Penguin and Kindle Resolve Pricing Dispute?
The Book Stop 