Category Archives: Library

Sherlock Holmes

Posted on June 2, 2010 | Comments Off on Sherlock Holmes

Reading (and enjoying) the first (1887) Sherlock Holmes tale, “A Study in Scarlett,” in ebook format. For the most part, the writing still holds up. The language is dated, of course, but no bother. The complete collection is a bargain at just 99 cents. Some Amazon reviewers complained of formatting problems but, other than a few typos, I haven’t run across anything very troublesome yet.

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Posted in Library

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I like my Kindle 2

Posted on June 1, 2010 | Comments Off on I like my Kindle 2

I’m only surprised at how quickly the battery runs down if you use it on and off all day long. I read a novel, Enders Game, over the weekend, is how I found out. It’s cool being able to surf the text Web for free and email personal Word and/or PDF files to the device for later use.

So far I just like to read. Currently that’s The PayPal Wars: Battles With Ebay, The Media, The Mafia, and The Rest of Planet Earth, whose lazy author uses an incredible number of cliches but otherwise produced an entertaining tale of a Web startup’s vicissitudes. I have found this good site filled with Kindle advice, more than I’m ever likely to follow, but it’s nice to know it’s there.

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Posted in Blogosphere, Library, Science/Engineering, Scribbles

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Night Camp

Posted on May 28, 2010 | Comments Off on Night Camp

Mr. B.’s first book review for Amazon, anonymous of course, for an Indie YA book he breezed through in two or three sittings:

“Night Camp” was an overall very enjoyable book. It had its down points but its up points outnumbered them. It was a fast-paced, quick read that always kept me on the edge of my seat. At the start of the book I was intrigued by the odd premises. I felt like I was in the main character’s shoes with the good descriptions, and a feeling of knowing the settings.

At the end the story turned out to be more of a light-hearted story than a Dracula-thriller. But the ending had its own perks compared to many other slightly-scary stories I have read. Once or twice I had trouble figuring out the order of the words. These are the only notable lackings of this book. It has a very good story contained within its pages. I had fun reading this book and I hope other people will, too. Four stars.

That should please any author. I’ll get it posted on Amazon over the weekend.

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Posted in Library, Mr. Boy, Rancho Roly Poly

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Got a Kindle

Posted on May 27, 2010 | Comments Off on Got a Kindle

I’d thought about it, last year, after reading about TFG having one. But I dismissed the idea. Then I thought about it some more. Especially after reading twelve e-books on my Kindle for the PC program on my net book. The net book is clunky to carry around. I’m sure the Kindle will be easier. More later as I get used to it.

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Posted in Blogosphere, Library, Rancho Roly Poly

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In which I read chick lit (and like it)

Posted on May 26, 2010 | Comments Off on In which I read chick lit (and like it)

L.C. Evans is the latest good Indie author I’ve encountered whose work I recommend. So good that I finished her “We Interrupt This Date” in just two or three sittings. It’s possibly the first Chick-Lit book I’ve read. At least the first one I’ve read on purpose. And that was entirely because of Evans’ good prose: easy, direct, and full of gentle humor.

I didn’t realize what sort of story it was until I was about a third of the way into the e-book and saw that I was reading the female version of the old movie formula: boy meets girl, boy loses girl, boy gets girl. Combined with what might be called woman-finds-herself-after-finally-refusing-to-let- everyone-run-her-life. It certainly didn’t hurt that the woman was a 40-year-old divorcee with a son in college.

But it was Evans’ writing (and plotting) that drew me in and kept me reading (despite a formatting problem of few paragraph indents) and that’s the best definition of talent there is. When you’re thinking to yourself: I don’t read this stuff, but it’s good so far, so let’s find out what happens next. Which I did, right up until the very satisfying end. But if I do it again it will have to be another one by L.C. Evans.

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Posted in Library, Scribbles

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The Devil’s Eye

Posted on May 25, 2010 | Comments Off on The Devil’s Eye

Literary agent Nathan Bransford is always coming up with something interesting to post. The other day it was one that sounds old but was new to me: If you could live in the world of one novel, which would you choose? I’d choose the space opera world of Alex Benedict and Chase Kolpath, as created by SciFi author Jack McDevitt. Actually there are four novels. Any one of them would do fine.

I’ve read all four. Began with Polaris and then its wonderful sequel Seeker, only to discover that I missed the first one A Talent for War. So I read and enjoyed it, too, before finishing the fourth, The Devil’s Eye. Now it seems there will be a fifth one, Echo, this fall. Their world, in which there is so little crime the police are happy to get a new case, seems ideal. Their planet, Rimway, is in a galaxy far, far away, in the arm of Orion–my favorite constellation.

Not everyone gets to travel by starship like Alex and Chase do, but the opportunity is there. Just flitting about in gravity-free skimmers would be pleasant enough. (Although I do wish they would realize that someone is always tampering with theirs and plan accordingly.) Also having one’s personal AI, linked in to the galaxy-wide net to help research anything by voice or avatar. But what I like most is the way McDevitt writes. Conversationally. I flow along with the story, happily ensconced in the moment,  not entirely concerned about where events are going. Just enjoying the ride and hoping it never ends.

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Posted in Library, Science/Engineering, Space

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The new Texas social studies curriculum

Posted on May 23, 2010 | Comments Off on The new Texas social studies curriculum

Wisconsin law professor Ann Althouse does a masterful job of objective journalism,  with verifying links,  exposing the WaPo’s deceitful reporting on the new curriculum, forcing the writer to eat his own lying words. Bravo.

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Posted in Blogosphere, Library, Texana

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