What I’m Reading Right Now

I am actually reading a BOOK right now. Shocker, I know, since I have been so hooked on Beatrice (the Nook) lately. But I had purchased a few books right before Beatrice entered our lives and I felt like I really should go back and read those before purchasing any more books on the B&N website.

That is the only downside I have found with my Nook. It makes quite a dent in my “disposable income” budget without me even realizing it. I see a book on there that I want, I press “purchase” and blam! it’s there on Beatrice. Painless and quick. Until I look at my bank statement. (eep!)

Anyway.

Here’s what I’m reading right now… I purchased it at a discount at the drug store – they had a big bin of hardbacks marked down to $5 each and I couldn’t resist. I bought this one and a couple others which I haven’t read yet (but plan to read soon)

And, as I just downloaded the image from the Barnes and Noble website, I see that it is Book #2 in a Trilogy! Egads! Now I’m going to have to download Book #1!! (Labyrinth is the title)

The book, so far, is engrossing, although I haven’t quite figured out the plot yet. However, now that I know that I am really starting in the middle of the story, that might explain a few things – like why I can’t figure out the plot yet! (note to self – look for Labyrinth on the Nook tonight)

Here’s what Barnes & Noble had to say about Sepulchre:

In 1891, young Leonie Vernier and her brother Anatole arrive in the beautiful town of Rennes-les-Bains, in the Pyrenees of southwest France. Born and raised in Paris, they've come at the invitation of their widowed aunt, whose mountain estate, Domain de la Cade, is famous in the region. But it soon becomes clear that their aunt—and the Domain—are not what Leonie had imagined. For starters, Tante Isolde is no graying dowager—she is young, willowy, and beautiful, but with a melancholy air that suits the strange, slightly sinister Domain de la Cade. Leonie discovers that the house has long been the subject of local superstition. The villager claim that the Devil walks in the forests of the Domain, and that Isolde's late husband died after summoning a demon from the old Visigoth sepulchre high on the mountainside. A book from the Domain's cavernous library describes not only the spell used to bring forth the demon, but the strange Tarot pack that is part of the ritual, a set of…

I am not even 100 pages into the book yet – can’t tell you much other than I am looking forward to reading more. I am enjoying the writing style and have already been sucked in to the story – I want to know what is going on – and I want to know what is going to happen to Loenie and Anatole. Anatole seems (on the surface) to be somewhat shallow, but I am reading hints of more depth to the character and to his story.

I’ll keep you posted as I read through it – It’s a big book (~600 pages) so it will probably take me a week or two to finish.

What are you reading?

I love new book suggestions – got any to share?

On the Nightstand

I’ve been doing a lot of reading this summer. I made a conscious decision at the beginning of summer that I was going to watch less TV and do more reading. I’ve got a ton of shows on TiVo and, surprisingly, I don’t even care if I don’t catch up on them. BUT, I am really enjoying reading again. I have been devouring books like they were bon bons and spending lots of time curled up on the sofa with a glass of iced grape kool-aide and my faithful kitty cat, Scooby Doo. (aka Gabriella Pussycat… the nickname is a story for another day)

My new Nook (named Beatrice Nook by Big Girl) has been a constant companion, too. I have been really enjoying it and the fact that just about ANY book is accessible to me anywhere (even 38,000 feet in the air as I flew to/from San Francisco a few weeks ago). I have also been enjoying being exposed to new writers (that I probably would never have considered) as I have been taking advantage of the Free Friday eBooks on Barnes & Noble’s website. Why not try a book if it’s free? Nothing to lose, right?

Details

If you have been considering a Nook (or Kindle) you can read my review of Beatrice here. She is my new best friend (and Big Girl’s, too)

Here are a few of the books I’ve read in the past few weeks:

Weddings Can Be Murder by Christie Craig: Download Cover

Weddings Can Be Murder
Christie Craig

This was a Friday Freebie. I would’ve probably not bought it otherwise. It was light, cotton-candy reading. Predictable plot, although great escapism. Not too crazy about the language in the book (lots of F-words) but I just skimmed them and kept reading.

Basic plot is centered around murders of brides-to-be who all share the same wedding planner (who is killed in the first 100 or so pages) and the Cop/PI brothers trying to solve the murders and save the girl. There’s also a sub-plot which was focused on Kate (the bride) and her fiancé and best friend. Without spoiling the story, that’s about all I can tell you.

Would I read it again? Probably not. But it was good, escapist summer reading – and for free, that’s not bad.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Eating Well After Weight Loss by MS, RD, LD Furtado: Download Cover

The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Eating Well After Weight Loss Surgery
MS, RD, LD Furtado

I picked this up on the airplane heading out to San Francisco. ON THE PLANE. At 38k feet. How cool is that? LOVE it. Love my Nook.

Anyway.

Very, very informative book. I thought I had learned pretty much all I needed to know about life after surgery already but was pleasantly surprised to find that this book had tons of good information for me. Particularly about carbohydrate intake, protein needs, etc.

I’m still reading it – I have to be in the right frame of mind for this type of book – but I am really glad I bought it. If you are a WLS patient, I strongly suggest making the investment.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium Trilogy Series #1) by Stieg Larsson: Download Cover

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Stieg Larsson

Is anyone not reading this book (or one of the books in this series)?

I mean, really, everyone seems to have this book on their to-read list these days.

I have started it. I haven’t finished it. I keep getting distracted with other books. The story just hasn’t grabbed me yet.

Anyone have any thoughts about it? I’m wondering what all the fuss is about, since I can’t seem to get going on the book. Maybe I just need to get over my ADD and focus on reading it for a few days and see if it gets better.

Darkfever (Fever Series #1) by Karen Marie Moning: Download Cover

DarkFever
Karen Marie Moning

This was another Friday Freebie (which is probably why I can’t seem to finish the Dragon story!)

I was a little skeptical that I’d like it, but once I got into the story (in about three chapters) I was hooked.
I read this in about 2 days.

It’s a sci-fi/paranormal story (not a romance at all) and focuses on this stereotypical Southern Blonde whose sister is mysteriously killed while attending an exchange program in Dublin, Ireland. She goes over to pressure the police about finding her sister’s killer and finds herself embroiled in the world of the Faery, magic and mystery.

There are five books in the series. I have already downloaded #2 & 3 on my Nook. I can’t wait to read them. The stories are engrossing and the dialogue and plot are very well done. I really had no clue what was going to happen from page to page – which is really important to me.

I started this a long time ago. Really, really enjoyed it.

Then I got the Nook and got all sorts of distractions.

I am stuck somewhere in India. At an ashram. Maybe that is why I haven’t finished?
I WANT to finish it. It’s a really good story about finding oneself and growing up.

I WILL finish it.

Maybe after the kids are back at school.

And, then, finally, I am reading this –

I got re-hooked into the saga after seeing the new Twilight movie last week. I’m already more than halfway through the book (started reading it Saturday night) and I just HAVE to finish it to see where things go. Didn’t think I would get sucked back into the Twilight series again, but here I am, reading like a crazy woman.

Like I said, I’ve been devouring books lately.

What are YOU reading?

Anything I should add to my wishlist?

I have a new toy

I have been thinking about getting an eReader for a few months now. I couldn’t decide between the Kindle and the Nook and I have been reading reviews and asking people that have both what they think of them. But, I still hadn’t made a decision.

Did I really need a digital book thingy? I mean, really?

And, would I really like it?

My mom and I are both voracious readers. I am usually reading two or three books at the same time. I keep one in the car, one by my rocking chair, and many on the nightstand. That way, no matter where I am, I have a book to read.

My brother had mentioned the iPad to my mom when he was visiting in June. I have seen so many people who’ve gotten one… but I just can’t seem to get past the high price tag and large size. If I’m going to spend that much money, I just want to buy a new laptop – something I can do some digital scrapbooking and other things on – not just read and surf the web.

Anyway.

I am going on a business trip next week – and I have been trying to figure out how I was going to pick a book to read to take on the trip – since I have three I’m currently in the middle of. What if I finish one early on the trip? I don’t want to buy another book on the road when I have two more at home waiting to be finished. But, I don’t want to carry a bunch of books with me, either. That is just too much extra bulk and weight! (my mind never rests – it’s always tossing and turning on these silly conundrums – does your mind do this, too?)

So, my mind wandered back to the Kindle/Nook question again. I went online (again) and read some more reviews. (I love CNet.com’s reviews. They never fail me) After church yesterday, we went out for lunch and just happened (wink, wink) to go to a restaurant in the same shopping center as a Barnes & Noble. I managed to sneak in and get a detailed demo of the Nook from a very knowledgeable salesperson (thank you!)

I discovered that the Nook has some cool little features that the Kindle doesn’t. They are both so similar that there isn’t really one specific feature that puts one over the other, in my opinion. I think it boils down to personal preferences. But here is what I liked about the Nook:

I love the virtual menu – a touch screen rather than physical keys (the Kindle has keys). I like it because it turns itself off after a few seconds (you can specify how long) and then you don’t have to worry about accidentally pressing a menu key and having something happen in the middle of reading.
I love the eInk technology (they both have this). It makes it so easy on your eyes when you are reading – so much more easy than reading on my iPod touch or phone screen. It is black & white, so there is no color display (except the menu screen, which is in color)
I love the fact that I can have 1,500 books on the Nook at one time (I don’t think I’d ever worry about not having something to read again!) And, with the Nook’s ability to add a micro-SD card, I can expand that capacity if I need/want to.
I can also put music on my Nook – so I can use it as an MP3 player if I choose. Which is just a neat feature but not really something that I thought my future eReader had to have.
I love that I can download a book in less than a minute. I am an impatient girl. If I find a book that I want to read, I want it NOW. I don’t want to wait to have to go to the store (maybe days from now) and now I don’t have to! How cool is that?!?
I also love the fact that it stores where I left off reading in every single book I am reading – and will take me to the last point read when I open the book. No more lost bookmarks.
I think it is cool that it has a browser on it as well – Given, you are looking at a black & white screen (because of the eInk) and some pages look very dull in b&w, but at least you can look at the internet if the mood strikes you. The browsing feature is a little strange (you use the color, touch screen at the bottom to scroll/pan around the larger b&w browser page) and is going to take some getting used to, but I like the fact that I can go online and look things up if the notion strikes me – and I don’t have to get my laptop out to do so.
I got the one with the 3G service on it. At first, I wasn’t really sure why I’d need that, but I found out in the first five minutes why, and I’m so glad I did. The 3G service allows the Nook to connect to any AT&T cell tower (automatically, I didn’t have to do anything) and provide access. In fact, I took the Nook out of the box on the drive home, just to see it in person, and when I turned it on, it connected to the 3G network and I was able to register my Nook and connect to B&N as we were driving home. THAT, my friends, was really cool. No waiting for a WiFi connection. Just presto! and I was online as we drove down the highway.

Big Girl is also enamored with my new toy. She has been very resistant to my planned reading schedule this summer and new books or trips to the library have not swayed her in her determination NOT to read. However, the Nook seems to have changed all that. I don’t know if it is the novelty of it, or what, but she quickly asked for a book to be loaded (Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief) and started reading away.

I have noticed, prior to this, that she seems intimidated by books that seem “big” or “long” and I’m wondering if I’ll be able to get her to pick stories that just seem interesting without being intimidated by their heft – since she will be reading them virtually. I loaded the B&N eReader software on her netbook, so if I am using the Nook, she can still read her story. (As a matter of fact, if I have the B&N eReader software loaded on my phone or iPod, I can do the same and read any book I’m in the middle of on my Nook even if the Nook is not with me. I am not sure yet if the bookmarks will synch or not. Have to check that out.) Details

As a matter of fact, she came downstairs this morning, Nook in hand, reading away. Wow. That’s just awesome.

So, I’m all set with my new toy and I’m ready for my business trip (just as soon as I pack). I got a cute cover for the Nook, too – to keep it safe from scratches while it rides around in my bag. I think I’m going to name her – just haven’t decided what yet. “Nook” sounds silly – Big Girl and I both think. And with this cute pink jacket, I think she is just begging for a name. Matilda? Beatrice?

Do any of you have eReaders? Or thoughts about having one - or not having one? I admit, I have been on the fence for a LONG time, but now that I got one, I’m so glad I did.