Mom / Breakfast Meats / Reading / Please Become a Follower, Natalie

In honor of Mothers Day, I stuffed myself silly like any good daughter.  What better way to celebrate my Beloved Mom than going to my Grandparents’ country club and eating an omelet, an obscene portion of breakfast meats, fruit, a salad and for dessert – pasta in tomato cream sauce.  Not only did I celebrate my Mom by eating a huge brunch, but she then returned the favor and sent me home with a BBQ dinner ready to go.  The woman knows how to show love through the all important stomach.

Which brings me to my latest read, book two in the Hunger Games series – Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins.  I can already see that I could be making my infamous Twilight mistake by reading these all at once, but once I commit to a book series I am all in.  I still like this series, and boy are they quick reads.  Ideal for a blogger with a full time job and drinking schedule to attend to.

To make this even more interesting for my readership, I borrowed this book via the Nook from my Friend and Occasional Reader Who Hasn’t Signed Up As a Follower But That’s Okay Natalie.  It was very easy to accept the eBook, but you only have 14 days to finish it.  Of course I finished it in about four, but not everyone has the pressures of blog readership to keep them going.  An excuse I wish I could also apply to the amount of pork products I consumed this afternoon.

Blogger Spares Readership Boring Story; Takes Credit for Sacrifice

I hate hearing airport delay stories, because they are never interesting and I have pretty much heard or experienced all of it at this point.  With that same filter in mind, I will spare my readership the saga that played out last night as I tried to spend a gift card on barnesandnoble.com.  You are welcome, world!

Troubleshooting aside, I am now reading my first ebook using the Nook app on my iPad.  I am so modern.  Thirty-six pages in, here is my gut reaction list of pros and cons (subject to change).

Pro

·         Book purchases on a whim.

·         Book goes where the iPad goes.  (Insert complaint about no real lunch hour at work here.)

·         Blogging fodder.

Con

I'm gonna lick your "book." 

·         Book purchases on a whim.

·         World’s Greatest Dog Norman’s ability to turn pages with his tongue.

·         I don’t care what the technology claims, I can’t easily lend this book.

·         iPad is not a book. 

·         Bookshelf is confused.

Folks, I will keep you posted as this story develops.

Bookworm Goes Back And Forth About Whether to Hate or Like Friends. Settles On Love.

This weekend I finished Wahoo Rhapsody by Shaun Morey, which was my first book read on the Kindle app on my iPad.  I heard about this book on a blog, back when I was doing a bit of research on how to make millions by blogging.  (For the record I have given up on this goal after much mockery and “don’t quit your day job” type advice for my blog-less and moderately witty but ultimately unsupportive circle of friends and family.)  

I found the plot to be a bit hard to follow. There were so many characters I had trouble keeping a few of them straight. I give this book a resounding score of “eh.”  Sadly, the main reason I chose to start Wahoo Rhapsody last week, was because after finishing my last book I didn’t feel like walking upstairs to get another one.  The iPad was just right there.  New laziness record set!

I have read a few books on the Nook app, and can now check off the Kindle app as well.  This was a hot question during some birthday gift opening this weekend, since Loyal Reader Phill didn’t know which device was my favorite.  For the record, my favorite device is Old School Books.  Preferably of the Lent By A Friend variety.  Even more preferably from the friends who don’t mock the blog.  But the ones that do I love anyway.  Especially when they surprise me for my birthday.

How can you hate a crew that gives you a Beer of the Month Club
membership for your birthday?
Surprise!
Photo Credit: Loyal Blog Follower Katherine

Friend Makes Departing Promise

Natalie, "may the odds be ever in your favor."
Book jokes!
photo credit: Lucky

It’s a sad day for any reader when they learn a book friend is moving.  Loyal Blog Reader Natalie is leaving Richmond for an exciting new life in Nashville. 

When losing a Book Friend, you may go through a rollercoaster of emotions.  Like panic – I thought we had plans to see The Hunger Games movie in March 2012?!  Or, do you think I’ll get my books back?  (Like South of Broad: A Novel by Pat Conroy which is a good read but as I’ve said it’s no The Prince of Tides.)

Maybe you’ll feel a sudden flood of honesty.  Natalie, I didn’t love The Zookeepers Wife by Diana Ackerman as much as you did.  I mean, it’s a good story but it started off too slow and it dragged a little!

All in all, you should focus on the good times.  Remember when you had to get up at 9 am on a Sunday to lend me an eBook on your Nook?  Ah, the good old days.

I am now gunning for Words With Friends Rival and Blog Reader Courtney to go see The Hunger Games with me in March.  Natalie, I hope you can join us.  Even if you cannot make the trip back, I will hold you to your promise of recruiting new blog followers.  Good luck making friends after that recommendation!

Audience Demands Reading Amidst Difficult Conditions; Blogger Grovels As Usual

I got a little bit of heat yesterday from my now famous Anonymous Friend Who is a Blog Reader But Not a Book Reader for not having posted since Monday.  So last night when my power shut off for 2 minutes, I was glad I didn’t have to put my glowing iPad down – I could resume reading on my Nook app.  There’s a product benefit you never hear in commercials.

In closing, please don’t give up on my blog.  I am reading as fast as I can, and think each of you are smart, pretty and interesting – whichever of those compliments is most relevant.

Blogger Takes Own Advice, Flaunts It

I was inspired by a recent post by the Paperback Bookworm.  As easily the most avid reader of my blog, I took my own St. Patrick’s Day advice and read a Maeve Binchy book for the first time since probably 2002.  I chose her novel Echoes based on a quick overview of the plot and the fact that it was $7 less than the other Binchy contender I considered on barnesandnoble.com  Don’t judge the Bookworm.

Echoes is everything I love about Binchy’s books.  I love her character development and sweet stories.  I love that in my head I can hear the Irish accent, but there are no annoying spellings of “favourite.”  I want to comment on the ending, but that could alienate my dear readers. 

A great read that I can’t lend to anybody since I read it on the Nook iPad app (sorry Most Frequent Reader, Mom).