Hey!! Let's get some action going! What are we reading?

[doreenjoy]

Does anyone else get annoyed when you *have* to read a paper book? I'm being forced to read "Self-Editing for Fiction Writers" (grad school requirement) and it's not available in e-book format. I find it really inconvenient that I can't change the font size, and that it doesn't fit as well in my bag as an e-book reader.

[montsnmags]

Originally Posted by doreenjoy

Does anyone else get annoyed when you *have* to read a paper book? I'm being forced to read "Self-Editing for Fiction Writers" (grad school requirement) and it's not available in e-book format. I find it really inconvenient that I can't change the font size, and that it doesn't fit as well in my bag as an e-book reader.

On the other hand, I put my feet up on the edge of the bath yesterday, happily reading without fear of damage(*) a pbook recently bought.

But, seriously, yes, I have all these TBR pbooks I really wish I now had in ebook form.

Incidentally, the pbook (no ebook available) was a small book of short stories called how a moth becomes a boat (<---linky), by Josephine Rowe. Less than one hundred pages long, and each story only lasting a couple of pages or so, it's a book you can just pick up, read a story, and put down. But you'll probably pick it up again later and happily read the same story. Each story feels like a novel-conflated-from-a-moment-and-then-condensed-into-a-very-short-story. Each words feels precisely chosen; as if each sentence took a day or more to write; as if each two-page story was the work of a hundreds of hours. They're condensed from large seams of text into perfectly faceted diamonds. They're very affecting emotionally. I'm loving it, as you can probably gather.

Cheers,
Marc
(* I realise there are accessories that will let this happily happen with the device, but I don't have one )

[FlorenceArt]

Originally Posted by montsnmags

Incidentally, the pbook (no ebook available) was a small book of short stories called how a moth becomes a boat (<---linky), by Josephine Rowe. Less than one hundred pages long, and each story only lasting a couple of pages or so, it's a book you can just pick up, read a story, and put down. But you'll probably pick it up again later and happily read the same story. Each story feels like a novel-conflated-from-a-moment-and-then-condensed-into-a-very-short-story. Each words feels precisely chosen; as if each sentence took a day or more to write; as if each two-page story was the work of a hundreds of hours. They're condensed from large seams of text into perfectly faceted diamonds. They're very affecting emotionally. I'm loving it, as you can probably gather.

Wow, that is some hyper confidential secret book, how did you find it? It's not on Librarything or on amazon.com.

[Georgiegirl2012]

I took a break from Cutting the Stone to read Tree of Life by Elita Daniels. It's wasn't my usual reading fodder, and whilst I enjoyed the story itself, there was something about it that didn't make it a smooth read for me. There were parts of it I loved, including the beginning part when Deacon was a small child, so give it a go and see what you think. I do think it would translate well into a film.

Now in the middle of reading one of the free romance books from the Mills and Boon site http://www.everyonesreading.com/

[montsnmags]

Originally Posted by FlorenceArt

Wow, that is some hyper confidential secret book, how did you find it? It's not on Librarything or on amazon.com.

Very small publisher only. It was mentioned by another Aussie (journo, I think?) on Twitter. She has other books, which I will be getting.

She deserves a bigger audience. She could probably have one if her very small publisher offered an ebook, hey?

Cheers,
Marc

[FlorenceArt]

Originally Posted by montsnmags

She deserves a bigger audience. She could probably have one if her very small publisher offered an ebook, hey?

With such a recommendation, I'm sure she would

Currently reading a French book called "Holy war, Jihad, Crusade: violence and religion in Christianity and Islam". Now reading the first part, about how Christianity evolved from the initial anti-violent teachings to the glorification of holy war. A very interesting take on the religious and political history of Europe.

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by FlorenceArt

With such a recommendation, I'm sure she would

Currently reading a French book called "Holy war, Jihad, Crusade: violence and religion in Christianity and Islam". Now reading the first part, about how Christianity evolved from the initial anti-violent teachings to the glorification of holy war. A very interesting take on the religious and political history of Europe.

For that and other reasons, I've often thought that were Jesus alive today he wouldn't recognize the religion that was founded in his name.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by doreenjoy

Does anyone else get annoyed when you *have* to read a paper book? I'm being forced to read "Self-Editing for Fiction Writers" (grad school requirement) and it's not available in e-book format. I find it really inconvenient that I can't change the font size, and that it doesn't fit as well in my bag as an e-book reader.

I particularly did at first after getting my Sony but have come to terms with it. I generally prefer ebook form, but sometimes the opposite is true as well, ebooks are not easy to "browse" and jump around in and that is sometimes useful.

Also for technical books I sometimes prefer paper for studying and focusing on them moreso.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by montsnmags

....
Incidentally, the pbook (no ebook available) was a small book of short stories called how a moth becomes a boat (<---linky), by Josephine Rowe. Less than one hundred pages long, and each story only lasting a couple of pages or so, it's a book you can just pick up, read a story, and put down. But you'll probably pick it up again later and happily read the same story. Each story feels like a novel-conflated-from-a-moment-and-then-condensed-into-a-very-short-story. Each words feels precisely chosen; as if each sentence took a day or more to write; as if each two-page story was the work of a hundreds of hours. They're condensed from large seams of text into perfectly faceted diamonds. They're very affecting emotionally. I'm loving it, as you can probably gather.

Cheers,
Marc
(* I realise there are accessories that will let this happily happen with the device, but I don't have one )

Damn, doesn't seem to be available here in the U.S. and it sounds like it's right up my alley.....

[GeoffC]

Originally Posted by kennyc

Damn, doesn't seem to be available here in the U.S. and it sounds like it's right up my alley.....

Seems only in the AU, at present .... and yes, Marc's comments have interested me also

[FlorenceArt]

Originally Posted by montsnmags

Very small publisher only. It was mentioned by another Aussie (journo, I think?) on Twitter. She has other books, which I will be getting.

She deserves a bigger audience. She could probably have one if her very small publisher offered an ebook, hey?

Cheers,
Marc

At least now the book is on Librarything. I added it to my wishlist

[Cyclops]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Now for Trouble Magnet by Alan Dean Foster. This is another in the long-running Pip and Flinx series. This is the third from last, and since I've just bought the last one and already have the penultimate one, I'm hoping that the quality has improved from the previous one, which was just a 'filler' novel, and I can read straight through to a good finish...

Oh I like ADF's books, a much underrated SF author IMO!
I recently read his Icerigger trilogy, and next year I will make my way through his Thrankx/Pip nd Flinx books that I have.

[poohbear_nc]

I'm re-reading Elmore Leonard's "Maximum Bob" - an oldie but goodie. I can picture the characters from the short-lived 1998 TV series as I read it. Truly a series before its time - wish HBO would get hold of it now.

[phenomshel]

Reading "Misspelled" an anthology edited by Julie Czerneda. So far I'm really enjoying it, the stories go from silly to thought provoking. After Desert Grandma's review, "Tree of Life" by Elita Daniels is probably going to be after this. Mr PLD, I sent friend requests to both you and Elita via Facebook... hope that was ok.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by Cyclops

Oh I like ADF's books, a much underrated SF author IMO!
I recently read his Icerigger trilogy, and next year I will make my way through his Thrankx/Pip nd Flinx books that I have.

The Pip/Flinx books started really well. The last three I've read dragged a bit.

But now having nearly finished the last book, it seems that he's taken all the action that should have been spread across those books and crammed it into the last book. Good fun.