Nook VS Kindle

Ok, so it has been a LONG time since you've seen a new post from me, and I do apologize about that. Let's blame it on life changes and take it from there. A lot of things have changed in my every day to day life, and it affected my ability to complete anything of interest for you all. But that's alright. I'm back.

Today I want to give you a small post on how i feel about the nook vs the kindle. My nook was doing fine and dandy until it ate my entire digital library. I don't know why it did, but it did a complete factory reset. Which was very annoying and frustrating because of how many books I lost. But I do need to let you know that the nook type I have is the older one with the ink presentation pages, and the small touch screen along the bottom.

The kindle on the other hand, has been very entertaining. There's so much that it can do and so much that I can read on it. There is a lot of books and different media types that can be used on it. I've been reading on it, as well as playing some games. I love my singing monsters, and nemo's reef is slowly growing on me.

Anyway, I'm back. You're going to be seeing a bit more of me now, I think things will be ok.

Something Different For Valentine's Day

To be honest Valentine's day is the one day of the year I dread more than any other. I've yet to have a pleasant experience on it, and I am not going to be planning on having a good experience on it this year. But that doesn't matter. I found an adorable book that I just HAVE to share with you! (regardless of how I personally feel about the matter of Love)

Fixing Cupid
Cristian YoungMiller
438 pages

Don't let the page numbers daunt you. This is a fast read, the story is fun and you never know what is going to come next.

It revolves around a character named Ben and his troubles with love. If you don't believe me, just read the first 6 pages, you'll know enough that you'll likely be as intrigued as I was.

His best friend decides to try and help him 'fix' his problem, by helping him put his life back together. But as the story continues, we wonder if the fix is causing more trouble than it is worth.

Due to most of the content of this book, I do NOT recommend it for readers that are not capable of dealing with sarcasm and adult situations. It also helps to have a sense of humor and a slight idea about romantic history.

Why did I like this eBook? Well, it was cheerful, pleasant, and there are a large number of comedic moments that shine. It is a piece that will appeal to both genders, and there's a happy ending.

I guess I'm a sucker for a happy ending.

Villains Children Know

So in the new year I'm sure we all have been watching the news, and their always trying to paint various people in a villainous light. And I'm seeing a trend. Kids have a habit of turning people they don't know into villains. And today I've got two such stories to share with you about kids and their villains. Neither are very factual, but they are both enjoyable shorts. Just a bit of fluff to lighten things up.
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The Pumpkin Eater
Justin Cawthorne
18 pages

This unique seasonal story looks at the kinds of stories that parents tell children.(You know, if you don't behave the boogeyman will get you" type of stuff) The made up things, like how flashlights scare away monsters. This one is set in October on Halloween and examines what happens when a boy heads somewhere that is frightening. Yet he is determined to trick or treat the place anyway, to prove something to his friend. We learn something very interesting about the person who lives there though, he's not your everyday neighbor.

A fun read for most ages, though an adult should pre-read it to determine if it is appropriate for their child. It isn't traumatizing, but it can seem scary to very young kids.
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The Demon of Walker's Woods
Dan Dillard
79 pages

This story is a much more grim look at the way children demonize older people that they do not know. It also examines the reactions that children have when something awful happens to someone that they are close too. You're shown how they progress to various levels, pushed by curiosity, only to have their fears confirmed. Recommended for and teens and up, children should only read this piece at an adults discretion. As it may be crueler than most can stand.
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Well, Happy reading folks! Hope you have a great day and I hope the new year is going well for you ^_^.

Happy New Year!

Welcome to 2012!

It's been interesting the past few months, sharing what I read with you. And I have enjoyed it. I plan on enjoying it for quite a bit longer in fact. I'm not going anywhere just yet. But I do want to thank those of you that are reading. I am thankful to have such wonderful people visit this page.

Now, I'm going to remind you about a few small things, that I mentioned what seems like eons ago. The reason that I am going to do this is because I feel it's important for anyone who reads to know that there are plenty of options available.

Our current economy, (yes I say Ours, because it effects everyone)means that when we pick something to read we are forced to be more selective. At least, when we are purchasing hard copy media. Digital media abounds in various formats, and there's a large amount of it out there. Various formats and types too.

I personally have found a lot of enjoyment by utilizing my eReader to peruse a good number of pieces, some of which you've learned of, some of which you've yet to be told about. but I want to remind you about the sources I use to get new things to read.

Project Gutenberg. ( http://www.gutenberg.org )
This site has a large variety of different pieces available. A good number of them are pieces that have passed out of print, or their copyright has become null. So you'll find a good number of classic pieces, as well as some lesser known older works here. I like to browse here when I feel nostalgic.

WOWIO ( http://www.wowio.com/ )
This website is nice for people looking for afford-ably priced books. They give out free books now and then as well, and they have a section of pieces they call Brain Bytes that are nice for self educating, or reading to provoke thought. If you enjoy comic books, they have a good number of graphic novels available at their site, some in color, some in black and white.

Smashwords ( http://www.smashwords.com/ )
I LOVE this website. Why? Because you never know what you're going to get. I've found quite a few authors via this site that I positively ADORE. If you're not sure what kind of books you're interested in, you can search by topic. What I also like about this site is the large variety of file types that the different pieces are available in.

Another Angel gets His Wings

Ok, so I couldn't leave you with that other story. I felt cheated by it, so I decided to hunt up another one that would be more suitable. (though, I'm not really sure how much more)

Yuletide Magic
Jamieson Wolf
42 pages

This story has many similarities to a number of popular holiday tales and themes that help to make it appealing. It's a Wonderful Life, A Christmas Carol, as well as the terrors of working retail around the holidays. (There's nothing as awful as being an 'elf' 2 nights before Christmas.)

The story itself though, explores one woman's progression from someone who loved celebrating Christmas, into one who preferred not to celebrate it at all. The reasoning the author gives us, would elicit sympathy from many readers. Many of us have had siblings destroy a new toy, and generally there's consequences for those actions. So when the actions are described there's a bit of a surprised feel to them happening.

I think the real point of the story is how family is important, even if there's been hurt and anger in the relationship. Time can create change, things do not always stay the same. And change as many people know can be both good and bad, as it lets us see where we err as well as what we can improve on. Sometimes it can be hard to see when things are wrong at first, but there's always a chance it will become clear.

I recommend this as a read for teens and adults due to some of the content. (I think on Smash, the author tagged it as possibly offensive to some, and audience of 17+, but I'm not entirely sure I'm remembering that right.) Yes there are many moments where alcohol is mentioned, as well as smoking. But these are 'legal' activities.

oh, and a slight spoiler I guess, but I liked how the author mentioned going to a Homeless Center and spending time with the people there. Because the statement that is made at this point is true, they're people too. Not everyone treats them that way, but they do appreciate the ones that do. It's the same thing in general in my honesty opinion though. People, like to be treated like they're people. By treating others as you'd like to be treated, there's a common courtesy expressed that shows you appreciate them for who and what they are.

Oh, and an Angel named Greyhound. That's definitely a reason to read it(it's amusing). Have a good time, and enjoy your holiday reading if you're reading by theme. Have a safe and joyful holiday! (see you tomorrow ^_~)

A Winter Court Story

I am quite content with my decision to share the following piece with you, because even though it isn't exactly a holiday story, it revolves around The Winter Fairy Court, referred to by some as the Sidhe. While it is not singular in it's presentation of various fairy actions, we get a fast paced story.

The Winter Princess
Stacey Jaine McIntosh
180 pages

If you can make it past the first spelling error, you're looking at a decent story. Partly the story seems to be a diary, due to the types of language and information used. But it also tends to bounce through various perspectives, moving between different characters. Sometimes it's a bit difficult to know who is speaking at first. That all said, it seems to be directed at the now popular "teen" audience.

In the beginning, we learn that our main character is a pregnant teenager. (that said, maybe it's not appropriate for all readers). By page 12 you'll get the idea that unlike the now cliche vampire vs werewolf scheme many stories have going on, we're dealing with a triad. Werewolves v.s. Vampires v.s. Fairies.

Honestly though, besides the spelling mistakes, I found the story quite appealing. The author takes liberties by utilizing various fae lore, but it creates and enjoyable piece as a whole. The main character is a strong female character, although at times I was led to wonder what motivates her actions. At times the various male characters seemed bi-polar, but that generally had to do with them not being human.

There is a decent number of references to sex in this book, which while playing to it's teen audiences desires, may not be appropriate for early teens. The idea of consequences, is well presented, as well as the fact that revenge sometimes affects more people than us alone.

Just so you know, I did toy with calling this post "Sex, Drugs, and a Fairy War". But I figured a less comical title would be appropriate.

Anyway, if you read this piece, I do hope that you enjoy it.

Another Story with a Moral

I'm going to be lazy today. So only one short story, not a book, not an essay. Although I've been looking for winter stories, but I'm either too picky or the searches haven't been pulling them up. Part of me wants to blame it on being tired ~_~, after all I am only human. I'm honestly exhausted of late.

anyways, on to the story for the day...

Winter Visitor
John T. Gaffield
9 pages

This short horror story has a moral. It gives a winter themed look at how people treat each other. The story also gives a sharp glimpse at the way some folk react to the unknown. It also has an almost familiar feel that the folk who have watched "A Christmas Carol" may see a few similarities. But this story only really has one moral.

Treat others as you'd like to be treated.

I'd recommend this as a story for most readers. There aren't a lot of words that would puzzle young readers. But I do recommend that an older reader verifies that the content is acceptable for their child.

If you read it let me know what you think, it's an interesting short read, even though it is quite short.

Not The Wands You Know

I have a very bad habit. I download books not by content or for any specific reason. I generally just get them by genre.

Deadly Wands
Brent Reilly
683 pages

In many popular books wands are generally used as tools to create or interact. They are frequently used for magic, and performing other amazing tasks. Not in this book though. Instead they are the equivalent to jet packs, guns, and other various items that aid in mass destruction and help create a war like atmosphere.

This book is unique in the way it presents an alternate world history. It demonstrates knowledge about tactics, as well as ways that various cultures interact. It's based in a fictional copy of our world, so a lot of the places named are ones the reader will know or recognize.

I was amused by the authors choice of main villain : Genghis Khan. Basically Khan has created an imperialist empire by conquering most of the world. He has armed his fighters with wands which other countries do not have access to. These wands enable the users to fly, shoot flames, and fight with weightless swords extended from the wands.

The main protagonist is Billy the Kid. Most of this book examines the various details of his life,from child to "adult" we see him as he develops. We learn about what angers him, what he believes in, as well as what he is willing to die for.

A major theme is the importance of family. It seems like every other page or two reflects on some aspect of family. Whether it's who your uncle is, or who your great great great grandfather is. Truthfully it is intriguing to think that there are folk that would be as concerned about their lineage as the ones that are in this book.

The ending of this piece is rather open, leaving me wonder if there is or will be a sequel.

There area few reasons that I won't recommend this piece for young readers. One of the major ones is sex. There is a running stream of commentary that implies procreation to simply extend ones lineage outward is appropriate. I'm not saying that some people wouldn't agree with the idea, I just do not think it is a point that the youth of today need stressed to them. Also, while sex is a major topic, it is far from romantic in nature. It is not descriptive and tantalizing like some of the more erotic pieces I've read. Oh, there is not an extensive amount of foul language (which is pleasant), but there is a large number of descriptions that to some may seem gory.

Content Recommended for Mature Audiences.

In The House

Okay. Short stories can be pretty weird. But that doesn't really stop us from wanting to read them anyway. Yeah, I know that you already know that I read weird stuff. So today for your enjoyment I'm recommending 2 short stories that involve "in the house" aspects.

Death on the Toilet
Robert Stikmanz
20 pages

This is an enjoyable story, about a man and his accidental introduction to Death. We get a unique description of what Death appears like, as well as to what Death smells like.

This story takes an interesting look at Deaths job, as well as the reactions people have at meeting Death. Recommended for mature readers, not because of the content, but because some of the items mentioned may confuse younger readers.
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Appliances Included
Mark Souza
50pages

A nice horror read for teens and adults. This story examines the history of a families 'new' home. It gives a recounting of the places history, and examines how rumors can be ignored. I enjoyed it's simple straight forward sty;e, as well as the unexpected twist at the end.

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Yeah I know this post is horribly short. But the stories aren't so long that I can give a deep analysis of them without possible spoilers. So feel free to read, please feel free to drop me some suggestions ^_^

To start a bookshelf......

We're going to need some books.

There's no limit to the things that you can do digitally these days. Everything seems to be changing as people strive to go green, or save money. Not that there's a reason to complain about the desire to do either of these things.

What's wonderful though for those of us that enjoy books are all of the pdf and e-book readers that are becoming available. True they're initially an expensive investment. But they open you up to thousands of new books you might not otherwise read. Most of which will only cost you the amount of time it takes to collect them.

Now, That may sound silly to you now. But think about how much money you spend on books each year. Let's say you buy one book each month, you can easily spend upwards of $84.00 a year, figuring an average book cost of $6.99 a piece. Honestly that's a very low balled price since I myself have been known to purchase books that cost more that tewnty bucks a piece.

Anyway, what's really nice these days are all the websites that grant access to books in various digital formats, free of charge. True, not all the books available in this manner are by authors you can automatically recognize. But there are a huge number of the worlds classic literature pieces available for anyone to download and enjoy. One site that provides classics in various digital formats is Project Gutenberg. ( http://www.gutenberg.org )

Now I know some of you likely have read your fill of classic pieces, and may have no interest in reading them. You're probably asking what kind of places are there available for you to get books at? Me, I've located two sites that have worked well on satiating my desire for new books. Both of the following sites I'll be writing about provide both free and reasonably priced books.

WOWIO ( http://www.wowio.com/ ) has everything from history bites to romance novels. And depending on who is sponsoring the site at any given time there is a huge variety of different books available free to their site members. What they do, is the sponsor pays for the book, and you receive the book of your choice with an advertisement for the sponsor included in the file. This leads to a reader being able to create a diverse library for free.

Smashwords ( http://www.smashwords.com/ )is different than WOWIO in that it offers books by independent authors. Indie writing can be very enjoyable to read. Some authors offer pieces for free in order to get people interested in their writing. Other authors list their books at low almost non committal prices. This is nice for those of us who are uncertain about what kind of book we are getting, allowing for a comfortable creation of a mild fandom.

Of course these are only a small number of the sites available to readers. So... why is this important anyway? I'm going to be writing here about the books I read. Hard copy books as well as digital editions. If you have any book recommendations, or a site to recommend, feel free to let me know!

CHEERS!