BTT: Discussing Electronic vs Paper

Today's Booking Through Thursday is a little different.
First - Go read this great article from Time Magazine: Books Gone Wild: The Digital Age Reshapes Literature. (Well worth reading.)

Second - Stop and think about it for moment. Computers and digital media are changing everything we do these days, whether we realize it or not, and that includes our beloved books.
Third. DISCUSS!

To be different, today, we're having a discussion in the comments section of MizzB's blog. I've participated in the discussion and I'm also posting my response here.

Tell us what you think. Do you have an ebook reader? Do you read ebooks on your computer? Do you hate the very thought? How do you feel about the fact that book publishing is changing and facing much the same existential dilemma as the music industry upon the creation of MP3s?
To follow this discussion click here to go to the Comments section of BTT.

My response:

I always enjoy discussions on this topic. I think Trish made some great comments and I agree with her that publishers will be publishing actual books when I’m old and gray. Like Peta, I have a couple ebooks on my computer, but I haven’t read either of them. I prefer to physically hold a book in my hands, smell the pages and gaze at the cover art while I’m reading. That’s all part of the enjoyment for me.

My view on the Kindle and like products is that I think they do serve a purpose and can be quite handy. I like the idea of downloading whole books in minutes and having a large number. However, I like to collect physical books for my library.

That being said, I was diagnosed with a retinal disease many years ago (Retinitis Pigmentosa) that is gradually stealing my sight. I’ve read reports stating that products like the Kindle are helpful to people with eye issues becaause of the ability to change fonts, etc. and that the screen is easy on the eyes therefore, creating less eye fatigue. Because I am legally blind, but I still have tunnel vision which enables me to have center sight, my eyes do get incredibly tired faster than most. I will no doubt invest in a Kindle at some point, but I will always prefer a tangible book.

The same goes with audio books. I do have a few, but I find it difficult to focus and concentrate on the narrator. I’m sure it just takes some getting used to. At some point, I’ll have to use audio books, but I’ll jump off that bridge when I get there.

These Books Were Made For Walking Meme

Strumpet from Strumpet's Life has a cool idea for a monthly meme. It's called 'These Books Are Made for Walking" and its about books and travel. Every third Wednesday of the month, she'll pose a question for the meme. This should be fun, so play along!

This first question is: What book do you most associate with the beach and why?

My response: Even though I do live a short distance from the beach, I don't typically take books to read while there. I don't like to get them all sandy and dirty and I have a hard time getting comfortable. However, there are books that when I think of them, I instantly think of the ocean. Even if I'm not there in body, I'm there in spirit.

Pretty much any book by Dorothea Benton Frank, but most especially PAWLEYS ISLAND. All of her books are Lowcountry tales and take place beachside. When I read PAWLEYS ISLAND, it was the beginning of Spring when everything was new. Her descriptive writing was so beachy and laid back, I swear I could smell the salt air and hear the waves crashing on the beach. I was ready to pack my truck and go!

I think this is a very cool idea for a meme and I'd like to thank Strumpet for including me. I hope many bloggers will play along! I do apologize for being so late with my post. I promise to do better in the future! To read more answers to this meme, click here.

Teaser Tuesday: 1.27.9

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly event hosted by MizzB at Should Be Reading.

• Each week TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:
  
• Grab your current read
• Let the book fall open to a random page
• Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
• You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!
  
• Please avoid spoilers!

This week my teasers are from BOUND SOUTH by Susan Rebecca White:

"Louise, today my daughter was caught at my alma mater performing fellatio on one of her teachers. I think I deserve a drink. Frankly, I think I deserve to drink as much as I goddamn please." ~page 121
To read more fun teasers or to participate, click here!

Musing Mondays - Lending Books

Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about lending books...
A few weeks back we had a question about borrowing books, this week I was wondering what your policy was on lending books. Do you lend books to anyone? Just friends? Only big readers? How long are they allowed to have them?

I only have a few people in my life who are big readers, so I don't lend out too many. That actually works out well for me because I'm a bit anal about my books, especially those that are dear to me. That being said, I don't mind lending a book to a freind if I think they're actually going to read it. I love telling people about great books I've read and trying to encourage them to read them, but more times than not, they're probably not going to.

When I do lend a book, I allow ample time before I start wondering when I'm going to get the book back. I know people are busy with everyday life and they may not read as much or as often as I do, so I don't want to pester them, but if its been three or four months and it's clear they're not reading it, I'll ask them to return it. Always with the understanding that if they ever do get the time to read it, they are welcome to borrow it again. That just makes it easier for me to keep track of my books. The most avid reader in my life is my boss and he's more anal than I am when lending books. He even had a stamp made with his name, address and phone number that he imprints in the book! He does have a very interesting collection of non-fiction books, so I don't blame him at all. In fact, he told me he has two out on loan currently and its driving him crazy that the borrowers aren't reading them! At least I'm not alone!

If you'd like to participate in Musing Mondays, visit Rebecca at Just One More Page!

The Sunday Salon: Catching Up

Has it really been over a week since I've posted to my blog?? Today, I'm going to play a little catch up of what I've been reading. Since my last Sunday Salon post, I've read two books and did one review. I posted a review of 90 MINUTES IN HEAVEN by Don Piper that you can read here. That was truly an amazing true story. If anyone has read it, please leave me a comment with your opinions of the book. It was very interesting to hear Mr. Piper's experiences in the Heaven he describes.

Another book I finished earlier this week was THE THIRTEENTH TALE by Diane Setterfield. I haven't posted my review yet, but plan to do that in the next day or so. What I can tell you now is that I loved reading that book. It drew me in in the first pages and didn't let go. Please come back and visit again to read my full review of that most impressive first novel from Ms. Setterfield. And if you've posted a review, leave me a link and I'll add it to mine. If you haven't read it, it's the opinion of this book lover that you are really missing out on a great story. OK, moving on . . .

The book I'm reading now is also from a first-time novelist. Her name is Susan Rebecca White and her book is called BOUND SOUTH. It's set to be released by Touchstone Publishing on February 9th. I initially came across this book late last year while participating in Jill's "Waiting On" Wednesday weekly post. You can read that post here. I was contacted by Ms. White's publicist and she was kind enough to send me a copy of the book for review. I've only just started reading, but I can tell I'm going to enjoy this story. The characters are fresh and a bit quirky and they each tell a story. It's about Southern mothers and daughters, old fashioned traditions trying to survive modern changes and about a girl desperate for a father's love and so much more. It takes place in Atlanta, which appeals to me, being a southern woman.

As I said, the book is being released February 9th and there's a blog tour scheduled that I'll be participating in as well. I'll have more details soon, so check back often!

For now, it's time for me to go blog-hopping for a bit, then it's back to BOUND SOUTH. Have a wonderful day everyone! I'll see you on the blogs!

Review: 90 Minutes in Heaven: A True Story of Death and Life - Don Piper

I received this book from my aunt who sent it to me saying 'You have to read this book!' It's the amazing story of Baptist Minister Don Piper and the account of his experience in heaven following a horrific car accident in January 1989.

I'd heard a lot about this book prior to reading it and honestly, the reviews were quite mixed. I didn't know really what to expect. From the very beginning, he makes it quite clear that he died during that accident and he is adamant about that fact.

His story begins the morning of the accident and eventually what he remembers in the hours that follow. The accident itself is daunting and scary to hear in detail. It's something you wish no one should ever have to go through.

According to Mr. Piper, what happens next is both unbelievable and miraculous at the same time. As the minutes go by and the EMT's wait for the coroner's arrival to pronounce him dead, a passing motorist, another minister, stops and asks if there is anyone he can pray for. They explain to him that the only person injured is the deceased man in the Ford Escort, Don Piper. Lead by a force he can only explain as God insisting he go pray for the dead man, this other minister climbs through the back of Don's crushed car, touches his shoulder, the only part of his mangled body he can reach, and starts praying and singing hymns. As the minutes pass and the praying minister is brought to tears by the sheer horror of this tragic accident, he soon notices that his is not the only voice he hears. Singing an old hymn, he opens his eyes and sees Don singing with him. He feels for a pulse and upon finding one, jumps from the car and yells 'This man is alive!'. Although it took him several moments more for him to convince the EMT's he wasn't crazy. Finally, almost two hours after the accident, Don is removed from the car and on his way to the hospital. That in and of itself is an amazing story, but what follows is even more incredible.

Don Piper goes through the gamet of emotions after surviving a near fatal accident with injuries that would surely kill most people. Miraculously, he suffers no internal injuries, although his bones are broken everywhere and some are even missing. His right arm is the only extremity left intact.

Not only does this book focus on Don and his injuries, but also how he deals with them, all the while wondering if its worth it to be here on earth with all the pain and suffering of his recovery. It's actually an incredible story that I found very encouraging and hopeful. It was enlightening to follow him through his realizations that his accident was not only life-changing for him, but for people around him and even people he has never even met.

In this book, Don takes us through his journey of trying to understand why God sent him back to his earthly home, when in the beginning, all he wanted was to be back in heaven where he felt no pain, only joy and peace.

I didn't find this book to be over the top or preachy in any way. As a Christian myself, I found a certain hopefulness in his words that left me with a positive, comforting feeling inside. Although it does jump around a bit at times, its an easy read. Its a book that each person will probably interpret differently, but all in all, I'm glad I read the book and shared in his experiences.

Have you read this book? If so, please leave me a comment and let me know how you felt about it. I'd be interested to know, as I haven't found many people who've read it.

90 MINUTES IN HEAVEN

Author: Don Piper

Publisher: Revell

Published: September, 2007

Pages: 208

Teaser Tuesdays 1.13.9

Each week TEASER TUESDAYS asks you to:

• Grab your current read
• Let the book fall open to a random page
• Share with us two (2) “teaser” sentences from that page, somewhere between lines 7 and 12.
• You also need to share the title of the book that you’re getting your “teaser” from … that way people can have some great book recommendations if they like the teaser you’ve given!

Please avoid spoilers!

This week I'm sharing two teasers from my current read, THE THIRTEENTH TALE by Diane Setterfield, a book I am thoroughly enjoying!

In the nursery Charlie's rage and fury seemed to have deserted
hm, leaving in their place a woeful fatigue. You could sometimes hear his
slow, dragging steps across the floor, and sometimes, ear to the door, you
heard him crying with the exhausted sobs of a wretched two-year-old. ~ pg 197

I have to apologize for the crazy spacing - it seems Blogger has a mind of its own today! (grumble, grumble)