Ebook Reader Envy – and a Tiny Haul

I was killing time in Waterstones today, and started playing around with the Sony Reader Touch they had on display.

Bad, bad move.  I now really want.

I had convinced myself that I was perfectly fine with my PRS-505 but oh, the touchscreen.  It was beautifully responsive, and I found navigation completely intuitive (although bear in mind I’ve been using a Sony Reader for almost two years now).

My main concern was the display quality because I’d heard that the trade-off for the touchscreen was a decrease in e-ink clarity (as the touchscreen adds a layer above the e-ink display).  But there was a Sony Reader Pocket right next to the Touch, and comparing the two screens, yes, it is probably just that wee bit less sharp, but really, not a massive issue if you’re reading in a well-lit room. 

£230.  Maybe at Christmas.

 

Oh, and I did leave with some paper books.  There was a 3-for-2 offer, so I spent a very enjoyable half an hour choosing my books, ending up with “Fire” by Kristin Cashore, a Susanna Kearsley (I think it’s “The Shadowy Horses”, as it was on the New Releases table) and George Mann’s “The Osiris Ritual”.

The latter two are new to me – I picked up the Kearsley because so many people have rec’d her books and her recent interview at Word Wenches intrigued me. 

And I’ve been meaning to get a Mann book ever since I read his short story “The Shattered Teacup” (link via tor.com) on his publisher Snowbook’s website.  Steampunk’s the in thing, isn’t it?  It is unfortunately the second book (the first is “The Affinity Bridge”, which wasn’t included in the offer), but I’m thinking (and hoping) it works as a standalone.

A Belated Thank You

To Nath, who went to Kelley Armstrong’s signing in Montreal earlier this month (and did a very detailed write-up of the Q&A session with Ms Armstrong).

Guess what arrived in the post a couple of weeks later?

 

Yes, Nath very kindly got ME a signed book.

There was much “OMG I don’t believe this” when the parcel arrived.  I had a a bit of a fangirl moment along the lines of “Kelley Armstrong actually wrote my name”!  Yes, I’m sad, but seriously, it totally made my day. 

Thank you Nath!!!

Books for October

A bit late with this post, but September had so many releases I wanted – I’m determinedly not thinking of the number of books I added to my TBR pile last month.  And October is shaping up to be just as good.

 

First up, Sharon Shinn is flooding the New Releases shelf – I’m not complaining though!  I’ve just ordered “Quatrain” (out now).  I’ve been waiting ever so impatiently for this quartet of fantasy novellas set in Ms Shinn’s various worlds (Twelve Houses, Samaria, Summer at Castle Auburn and Heart of Gold).  A very cool fact she mentions on her site:

While these four stories take place in radically different worlds, a lot of little details tie them together. For instance, the titles roughly correspond to the four elements; all four open with an almost identical sentence. And a few other things like that.

I can’t wait to get my hands on this one.

 

Ms Shinn then has a YA fantasy called “Gateway”, which she says is set in an alternate St. Louis (out Oct 15) – here’s the blurb from her site:

Adopted from China and raised in St. Louis, Daiyu is a teenage girl who one day steps under the Arch—and finds herself in an alternate version of her familiar city where almost everyone is Chinese.  She has been brought here by mysterious strangers to help them bring down the corrupt ruling government, but to do so, she must play a dangerous part among the elite members of this society.  Very quickly she learns to trust no one except a young man named Kalen.  He will help her carry out her plans and then find her way back home—but she is not so sure that, when her task is over, she’ll be able to leave Kalen behind.

I love the cover of “Gateway” – very striking.

 

And finally, she has a story in the “Never After” anthology (together with Laurell K Hamilton, Marjorie Liu, and Yasmine Galenorn), which is intriguingly described as fairy tales with a feminist twist.  This one is out Oct 27.

 

Moving on from Sharon Shinn (excellent interview here, btw, if you haven’t already read it), Kelley Armstrong has her latest Otherworld release out now as well, “Frostbitten” (urban fantasy).  Elena is definitely one of the narrators in this one, but I can’t remember off the top of my head if she is the only one. 

Ms Armstrong also released a free mini-story called “Recruit” (PDF link), that I believe is linked to the events leading up to “Frostbitten”.  I’m a sucker for freebies.

 

Finally, and I almost forgot because it’s already sitting on my bedside table, Juliet Marillier’s “Heart’s Blood” (fantasy) is also out now (US and Australian editions out Nov 3).  I’ve read and loved every single one of her Sevenwaters books (I really need to catch up on the rest of her backlist), and this one sounds just as amazing.

And I adore the atmospheric UK cover.

From her website:

A haunted forest. A cursed castle. A girl running from her past and a man who’s more than he seems to be. A tale of love, betrayal and redemption…

Whistling Tor is a place of secrets, a mysterious wooded hill housing the crumbling fortress of a chieftain whose name is spoken throughout the district in tones of revulsion and bitterness. A curse lies over Anluan’s family and his people; the woods hold a perilous force whose every whisper threatens doom.

And yet the derelict fortress is a safe haven for Caitrin, the troubled young scribe who is fleeing her own demons. Despite Anluan’s tempers and the mysterious secrets housed in the dark corridors, this long-feared place provides the refuge she so desperately needs.

As time passes, Caitrin learns there is more to the broken young man and his unusual household than she realised. It may be only through her love and determination that the curse can be lifted and Anluan and his people set free…

I somehow don’t think I’ll run out of books to read this month.

A This and That Post

So many things, so little time.  A few things that have caught my eye this week:

For those UK readers considering the Kindle (and yes, that would include me), NextRead has an excellent post summarising what you will and won’t get.  After shipping and taxes, the cost is around $387 according to this MobileRead post.

I’ve decided to hold off for several reasons:

• Firstly, I want a UK store – why would I want to be held hostage to exchange rate fluctuations?  And pay for shipping and taxes myself?  And buy a UK power adaptor?  The launch does feel rushed.  They’ve certainly grabbed headlines by doing a massive worldwide launch, but there looks to have been some trade-offs.
• Secondly, I’m put off by the price: $387 roughly equates to £242.  Too expensive to be an impulse buy, and let’s face it, I’ve a perfectly-working Sony Reader.  And then there’s the surcharge of approx $2 on top of US retail prices.  I’ll be curious to see what the pricing is like – both for the reader and for the ebooks – when they do launch the UK store.
• Thirdly, and probably most importantly, I want a ereader that supports the epub format, because that is rapidly becoming the common format across the industry (both Waterstones and WH Smith, among others, sell epub books).  By only supporting the Amazon (Mobipocket-based) proprietary format, the Kindle will tie you in to buying books from Amazon*.

So I’m holding off for now, but I’m glad to see ebooks becoming more and more mainstream.

* Unless a store sells DRM-free (i.e. non-protected) Mobipocket books.

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A post on Word Wenches alerted me to the fact Jo Beverley and Mary Jo Putney are releasing their older books via a new UK publisher, Everlyn.  I think I already have the books listed so far, but the new covers are gorgeous and very very tempting.

Jo Beverley is doing a signing tour across England to support the re-releases (4-17 November 2009), and if I lived nearby, I would definitely want to go.  Very cleverly, it’s billed as “… retracing the steps of her characters as they flee across the South of England”.

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Recommended read of the week: Ilona Andrews’ “On the Edge”.  I love her (their?  I’m never sure of how to refer to two writers writing under a single pseudonym) Kate Daniels series, so this was an auto-buy for me.

The authors call it a “rustic fantasy”, as opposed to “urban fantasy”.  I sort of think of it as fantasy romance, and actually, it reminded me of Western historicals.  A very entertaining read, and I’m looking forward to the next book in this series.

And I know the cover is not universally loved, but I like.  The male model matches my mental image of Declan exactly.

Reviews are up all around the web: The Book Smugglers (7 – Very Good), Angieville (Angie quoted one of my favourite passages in the book, and has more review linkage), Literary Escapism (loved), Dorkgasm (3 1/2 out of 5) to name a few.

Let me know if you’ve reviewed “On the Edge” and I’ll add a link.

Kindle in the UK

Ahhh… the Kindle comes to the UK.

I was tempted, even though I am totally happy with my Sony Reader.  But I am sort of lusting after the 3G capability of the Kindle. 

Come on, Sony, release your wireless Reader in the UK.  I so would.

More discussion on Kindle going international on the Mobileread forums.

A Non-Book Post

Or not really.  It is book-related.

I am so excited about the BBC’s new adaptation of Jane Austen’s “Emma”.  This is my favourite Austen book.  Romola Garai’s playing Emma – the last movie I saw her in was “I Capture the Castle”, and I thought she was great in it.  It’s a four-part adaptation, with the first being on tomorrow (Sunday) night at 9pm.  I can’t wait.

Secondly, Channel 4 finally brings “True Blood” to terrestrial TV (or Freeview, in my case) – starts Wed 9 Oct.  Yay!  I’ve been dying to watch this and see if it matches my vision of the Sookie Stackhouse books.  I don’t have massively high expectations based on the reviews I’ve read so far, but I am still very much looking forward to it.

What I Am Doing

Reading:

Joanna Dobson’s Professor Karen Pelletier mystery series.  I’ve just finished the second book, “The Northbury Papers”, and am about to start the third, “The Raven and the Nightingale”.  I’m loving these books – the academic setting, the American literature element, and last but not least, Karen’s personal life.  There’s a very subtle romance growing, and yes, I totally spoiled myself by reading the blurbs for the next books – now I need to know how everything gets resolved.

 

Waiting (very impatiently) for:

Diana Gabaldon’s “Echo in the Bone”.  The Royal Mail would choose this time to go on strike.  Fingers crossed it arrives next week.

 

Next up:

In the absence of “Echo in the Bone”, I’m thinking possibly Ellen Crosby’s “The Chardonnay Charade”, the second in her Wine Country series.  I’m on a bit of a mystery kick at the moment.  I read the first book, “The Merlot Murders”, recently and really liked it – there is some angst, most definitely, and Ms Crosby brings the winemaking process to life without ever venturing into info-dumping territory.  Oh, and I probably don’t even need to say it, but yes, there is a potential romance    I am so predictable.

Lisa Lutz’s “Curse of the Spellmans”

You know those books by new-to-you authors which make you think “oh, I should really try other books by this author”, but it’s not quite I-need-to-go-and-order-other-books-by-this-author-NOW?  And then you never actually get around to trying their other books.

Lisa Lutz is one of these not-so-new-to-me authors.  I came across a mention of her Spellman books that compared them to Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series* back in January.  Enough to intrigue me, and when I asked for opinions, Lys recommended it.  Rather serendipitously, I stumbled upon the first book “The Spellman Files” in the library around the same time, enjoyed it, and made a mental note to watch out for the second book when it was released in mass market paperback.  Which I promptly forgot about, oh, a couple of weeks later.

Then this week, I was killing time in a bookstore, and spotted “The Curse of the Spellmans” in mmp (helps that the UK cover (right)` is pretty eye-catching, and IMO, captures the slightly offbeat spirit of the series perfectly).  I went “ah!”, read the first page, and had to buy it.  I mean, when a book starts with this:

Saturday, April 22
1900 hrs

“Hello?”

“Hi, Mom.”

“Who is this?”

“Isabel, and don’t ask me again.”

“Who?”

“Mom, it’s really not funny when you do it.”

“Seriously, who is this?”

“I don’t have time for your games right now.”

“Neither do I,” said Mom, finally dropping the amnesia act.  “I’ll call you in a few days.”

“Don’t hang up!!!” I shouted into the receiver.

“Isabel, calm down.”

“Just don’t hang up.”

“Why not?”

“Because… I only get one phone call.”

Heh.  Of course I had to continue reading.

The tagline for the book is the perfect introduction to the Spellman family:

Meet the Spellmans, a family in which eavesdropping is a mandatory skill, locks are meant to be picked and blackmail is the preferred form of negotiation.

To say “Curse of the Spellmans” is crammed with action is an understatement.  I mean, for starters, Izzy is convinced their new next-door neighbour’s involved in something illegal (she just needs to figure out what it is), her younger sister Rae is trying to make up for accidentally running over her new friend Inspector Henry Stone (or as Rae puts it, “almost accidentally manslaughtering my best friend”), both her parents are behaving suspiciously (or more than usual, anyway), and her best friend and sister-in-law Petra is avoiding her.

The book is fast-paced and hilarious, helped along with flashbacks, interview transcripts, and lists scattered throughout.  All the above plotlines (plus others!) came together very satisfyingly in a coherent whole.  The characters, seen though Izzy’s first-person POV, were beautifully sketched out.  I loved Izzy but wanted to shake her at times for being so incredibly single-minded, I adored her younger sister Rae and her mad obsessions, and oh, I have high hopes for Inspector Henry Stone.  The Spellman family may be complete nutters, but they are family.

Ms Lutz really hit her stride in this second Spellman book – it’s comedy with heart.  And it’s safe to say that I’m now ordering the third book “Revenge of the Spellmans”.

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*The comparison to Stephanie Plum is not really fair to either, IMO – they’re very different stories, the only similarity is that both Izzy and Stephanie are female.  And that the plotlines are completely OTT.

BBAW Blogger Interview: Leontine

As part of BBAW 09, you could sign up to do interview swaps with another blogger, where you would be randomly paired up with another book blogger and find out more about them.  I loved the idea, and was partnered with Leontine of Leontine’s Book Realm – tagline: A Guide into the Mind and Life of a 21st Century Book Addict.  I can so identify.

We brainstormed some questions, and Leontine’s answers are below – so if you’re curious about what a Beefcake Preview Night entails or what’s sitting on Leontine’s nightstand (yes, I’m incurably nosy), read on!  And my answers to the same questions are at Leontine’s blog.

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This is Book Bloggers Appreciation Week – so let’s start with the blog-type stuff:

Why did you start your blog?
Because I wanted a place where I could explore my book lovin’ side. Where I could place my reviews and write whatever triggered me to write about. I like the fact my creative side was challenged, that I could create my own vibe and over this past year, my blog has really come in to its own and tells you much about me as a reader and book lover

What do you focus on?
On my blog, Leontine’s Book Realm, I focus mostly on my reviews and anything related to me as a book addict. I also have a Beefcake Preview Club night where I do a character interview from an upcoming book. I also have a cover and series discoveries and interviews.

What do you enjoy most… and least about blogging?
I really love the fact to just be active with my book passion. To allow my blog to showcase my various interests in what I enjoy so much about the book world. I am aiming for a blend of reviews, interviews, columns and what I discover as a reader.

Do you have any features on your blog?
Like I already mentioned, I have a Beefcake Preview Club night where I have a character interview, the crew is ready with a cocktail for the ladies, where we can talk about everything but mostly the character interview, and for my followers, I have a giveaway.

If I discover a series, I do a feature of Series Discovery. Basically it is a post where I tell what triggered my intrigue for this series and series info.

I also have a Cover Discovery, I am always in the mood to talk covers. What I love, what turns me off and what turns me on. This is the post I do this in.

What kind of sneaked up is the Monthly Book Tip interview. I always have a monthly book I expose in my sidebar and a few month ago I asked if the author was up for a short interview…in the following months it has become a monthly feature on my Book Realm.

Who was your first commenter?
My very good friend and fellow booklover; Pearl from Pearl’s World Of Books was the very first to comment on my blogpost – What has been in 2008 and what is to come in 2009.

What is your favorite blogpost?
My review of Anne Bishop. Though I had already heard much about her Black Jewels series, I always wonder if an author can live up to the hype. Because, what works for someone else doesn’t not always necessarily have to work for me. Still, the synopsis intrigued the daylights out of me. When I read the first book, Daughter Of The Blood, and I wrote my review, I knew I had a winner of a trilogy turned series on my hand. My review is one of those reviews that flowed from my fingers in my awe for this author’s skill and creation of world and characters.

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Moving on to the good stuff… the books!

What do you usually read? Favourite authors / genre etc
I read mostly in the Paranormal/Fantasy genre with Suspense, Erotica and Historical as a side dish. Some of my favorite authors include: CL Wilson, Anne Bishop, Karen Marie Moning, Kresley Cole, Nalini Singh, Kathryne Kennedy but also; Anna Campbell, Chris Owen, Shayla Black, Lauren Dane and Shannon McKenna are a few I absolutely love to read.

Have your reading / buying habits changed since you’ve started blogging?
Oh yes, most definitely yes!!! My Urban Fantasy shelf has been growing rapidly and The Book Depository Store and I have created a very intimate relationship

Who provides you with good recommendations?
I have my *partners in crime* Pearl, Marissa and my sister Natascha. But also Cecile, VampFanGirl, Donna, Mandi, Blodeuedd, Amy and too many more to write up who provide me with sound advice. I have put my CC to a stretch thanks to these incredible gals *grin*

Which authors are on your keeper shelf?
There are so many! Jennifer Donnelly – Anne Bishop – Sherrilyn Kenyon – JR Ward – Nalini Singh – Elizabeth Vaughan – Rona Sharon – Shannon McKenna – Kresley Cole – Lisa Valdez – Anna Campbell and I could go on typing for a bit.

Do you have a latest discovery you talk about at any given moment?
Lauren Dane – Laid Bare, I just loved her Erotica Romance. It is raw, emotional, passionate, real, intense and she grabbed me from the prologue with characters that just had me at hello.

What is your favorite moment to read?
Early in the morning or in the afternoon. I can read at practically any hour of the day but mornings and between 2-5PM are the times I read the most.

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And to finish it off, some more personal questions…

1. What was the highlight of your week?
I had a ROOB gang meeting last night (9-13-2009). We had good food, good conversations and a hilarious movie: The Hangover to watch. 12 hours went by in the blink of an eye.

2. Last movie you watched?
Well, that one is easy, The Hangover. I thought it was going to be a b-comedy but I had a lot of good old fashioned laugh-out-loud moments, it was well worth the time and money

3. Your dream date would be…?
After a dazzling night of wine and dining and a musical we fly away to a somewhat secluded place. Starry night, candles everywhere and a hot tub….

4. What is your favorite season?
Fall and winter are in the run, but I think the fall would win with its stormy weather and leaves in all the colors falling from the trees.

5. Your favorite vacation spot?
I loved going to Ireland, the rich culture, the legends, the history and the very kind people I have met all added to a fabulous experience and one I’d like to repeat one day.

6. Boxers or briefs with your hottie next door?
Briefs, I so don’t like boxers, or at least those loose fitting ones with all the wacky prints, they just don’t do it for me.

7. Bad boy or knight in shining armor?
I am such a bad boy kind-a-woman. The one that gives me the most chills and thrills at the moment is Daemon from the Black Jewel trilogy.

8. What’s your favorite food?
Pasta, carb hell but with various veggies, or sauce and my taste buds are in heaven

9. Current favorite TV series?
SUPERNATURAL, I just love Dean and Sam Winchester and the cases they solve in search for their father…and that is just the beginning.

10. What’s on your nightstand?
CD’s with my favorite music, my notepad and my current book; Geoffrey Knight’s Fanthom’s Five; Cross Of Sins.

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Thank you very much Leontine for joining in the fun – I now have more blogs and authors to check out!

BBAW Starts Today

Today marks the beginning of the Book Blogger Appreciation Week, an annual celebration of book blogging, with this year’s theme being “Celebrate Books”.

Unless you’ve been under a rock or something, you’re probably aware of the controversy around the BBAW awards.  IMO, awards are a fun way of recognising the work and effort that people put into their blog, and therefore a logical part of BBAW, but really, they’re the icing on the cake, not the cake itself. Because the cake (and yes, I am totally stretching this metaphor) is the fact we have a wonderful community of book bloggers (as well as commenters and lurkers!) that makes blogging enjoyable, rewarding, and ever so satisfying.

So yay for BBAW and a big thank you to Amy and her army of volunteers for organising this!

This week, I’m looking forward to discovering many new blogs, starting off with the list of blogs shortlisted for the various BBAW awards.  There’s also a list of suggested blogging topics for the week – I’m not doing all, but I am doing the blogger interview tomorrow, which I thought was a fantastic idea.

And finally, for a most excellent link to start off BBAW, Carolyn – sorry, I mean Little CJ and Miss Doreen – at The Thrillionth Page has a hilarious post up about the blogs shortlisted for the Most Humorous Blog award… and why they should have been on that shortlist, dammit.