Call me weird, but I like the feeling of finishing a book.  I mean I love reading, I don’t read just to finish books, but I still like the feeling.

This one was recommended by a coworker, it’s hard science fiction, which I enjoy, but it’s part one of a trilogy.  A.  Lengthy.  Trilogy.

I’m only one chapter through it, but so far it isn’t bad, but you have to be a pretty big fan of hard science fiction (which is very different from science fiction, think more textbook like):  The Reality Dysfunction

I’ve never been to that bookstore personally, since Inman Square is a drive and Porter Square books is really close to my place, but hey, Inman has Christina’s Ice-cream, so I’ll try and stop by Lorem Ipsum this weekend and see what all the hoopla is all about.

You know what I love about short stories?  The ability to just sit down, spend a little time, and go through an entire journey from start to end.  Perfect for the work commute I think.

You know what I hate?  If you really enjoy the story and you want to read more… tough balls, that’s it, nothing else to read about those characters or settings.

You know what I love?  There is no “filler”.  Novels, much like the episodic TV seasons in the United States, feel like they have some chapters tossed in just to fill up time, so that there are enough words for a novel.  Minor characters are given face time when there is no need, it doesn’t add to the story, just more words and time.  On the flip side, I guess the six episode seasons in the UK can be compared to short stories, too short.  I’ll stick with the thirteen episode seasons offered by Showtime I guess.

Hmm, maybe I should read more novellas or even novelettes.

I haven’t read anything else on the winning list, but that’s OK, I’ve done a back catalog reading of some of the Hugo winning and nominated works in the past… hit or miss, very miss in some cases (I’m looking at you Little, Big), so goes to show that it’s still better to read review or recommendations from others (or from LibraryThing or GoodReads, or even better:  what should I read next?).

Wall-E and Doctor Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog both deserved winning by the way, they’re both perfectly done, if you haven’t already, buy em or Netflix em.

Well congrats to Neil Gaiman (even though since he’s gotten “popular” he’s become writer people love to hate so that they can sound like snobby readers, quite stupid) and others.  I was slightly hoping Cory Doctorow would’ve won for Little Brother since he gives the ebook versions of his works away for free, but then again, he was nominated and that’s a pretty big deal.

Teenagers, I would argue, are actually very good at this–which is precisely why so many of them count both Twilight and The Catcher in the Rye among their favorite books. They are able to read broadly and without the built-in expectations adult readers tend to have. (I don’t like fantasy; YA is sophomoric; literature is boring; whatever.)

– John Green

I completely agree!  I know for a fact some of you just shrug and don’t even bother with fantasy or science-fiction novels, why?  Apparently it’s because age has hardened your mind against different genres of writing (either that or you too embarrased and/or cool to admit liking fantasy/science-fiction).

But then again, reading those romance paperbacks might not even be something a teenager would admit to…

1. Book #1 is a paperback, this one I’ll keep around, to read when I don’t want to carry around the Kindle.  For instance to toss in my luggage for short trips or take to the beach*.
2. This book is huge, think a millimeter or two thicker than the thickest Harry Potter book.  No way I’m carrying this around all the time, it’s pretty much a requirement for me to either get this in ebook format or read it at home only.  I’m probably going to do both.
3. The third one I could possibly carry around, but I’ve got the ebook and I could go either way, ebook or actual paper book.  Figured I’d read it on the Kindle, it’s thinner and lighter.  It was a toss up honestly, so it doesn’t really matter which way I read it.
4. Now this last book I wasn’t going to read, it was going to stay on my shelf.  Actually, I was going to read it, but was most likely going to purchase another copy.  You see, this one I personally got signed by my favorite author, and carrying it around and ruining the book would have killed me.  A perfect candidate for an ebook.  I’ve already started reading it on the Kindle actually, only the first couple of pages though.

And there you have it, the large part of the tour has come to a close, some paper I will be reading at home (keeping the pages in sync will be a pain, paper wise, Kindle has a sexy search feature to help me), and most of it will be the ebook way.  I think this is a bonus actually, I move constantly, less for me to pack and move and unpack.

I’m finding so many more great books to read doing this whole “What ebook should I read next?”.  It used to be I’d keep a mental list or I’d actually just go ahead and order the book and keep it on my bookshelf (the last several months I forced myself not to buy any more new ones, sadly forgetting which books I had on my lengthy mental list doing so).  But now, I can toss it on my Boston Public Library ebook wishlist or just go ahead and get the ebook and toss it on my Kindle, it’s got tons of space, so who cares?  And the ebooks are usually cheaper anyway, even better.

I will miss the feel and smell of paper, and what am I going to get signed when I go to a book signing?  Crap.

*And I am aware that you are aware that I am not fond of going to beaches, but as an example, I believe it makes a valid point.

I read some stats the other day that said that those trashy novel with Fabios on the cover sell like crazy in eBook format.  Makes sense, people get embarrassed reading that crap, but with an eBook reader, no problemo.  I then checked the Boston Public Library’s eBooks selection and sorted by popularity, I swear to you, almost all of the top 10 eBooks were the trash type.  How awesome is that?

I think I’ll stick with my usual reading.

Taking the three stops to and from work isn’t that long of a time to actually do any reading, especially since I love to get lost in a book and the jump back to reality is pretty frustrating, but I don’t care anymore.  I’ve started reading on the T now, even though I barely get through a few pages every time, it’s enough to keep me going.  It’s a good hook at least, cause then I can make some time later at night to read some more.

Here’s hoping I don’t get stuck reading a crap book, then I’ll never get through it (it’s happened a couple times before).

Half way through my current book, four more on my shelf to go.  Until then, no more book purchases.  I feel sad for em, that’s all.

Why? August had made a trade, a deck of cards in return for power over the hearts of all women. Cursed he had become.

He learned, though slowly, what all great harrowed lovers learn: that love is what most surely compels love–is perhaps, except for brute force, the only thing that does, though only (and this was the terrible gift he had been given) when the lover truly believes, as August could, that when his love is strong enough it must surely be returned–and August’s was.

…he came to know that it did not and had not ever contained his power over women: his power over women lay in their power over him.

Imagine having the love of every woman. Imagine not being able to stop loving them. Imagine not being to stop their love from being returned. Imagine endless heartbreaks. A curse indeed.

His role in the novel wasn’t major and in fact there are characters with even more tragic happenings, heroes even, but his short role in those pages was… refreshing. Seeing a gift in a different light. But I guess, sadly, it seems to be one of those curses that you must experience yourself to truly fear. I wouldn’t mind being rewarded with this curse (or cursed with this gift), as I’m sure all of you wouldn’t mind either.

Yes, I am quite ashamed that it took me so long to begin reading it, I don’t really know why I waited, and I just wanted to read it now for some reason.

All in all the weekend was lazy and relaxing, I’m glad it revolved around food, ice-cream, and reading. The reading part I loved, just makes you lose touch with your surroundings, you know?

So… who wants to discuss the book with me now?