Teaser Tuesday #20 - Eve Dallas (JD Robb)

The book I'm reading right now is by the hugely popular and NYT bestselling author Nora Roberts under the pseudonym J.D. Robb. Lieutenant Eve Dallas is the heroine, as always, in this particular book. 
While the series is 30+ books long, you can pick any to start with. The story is fairly easy to pick up.

From Page 2227 in my Kindle Pagecount (probably Pg 200 in a paperbook):

"He blends, and he blends. Mr. Smooth, Mr. Nice Guy, Mr. Harmless"

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Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should be Reading.

Black Friday Sale Roundup: Gone in 60 seconds

How many of you are getting/giving ereaders for Christmas or other occassions?

The Black Friday Sale on Amazon listed the older, Amazon Kindle 2 (for $89 ) - and sold out within Seconds!

Barnes & Noble had a similar sale on the Nook - the refurbished Wi-Fi Nooks were listed on eBay for $79, and later $99. The sale also included the refurbished 3G models for $119. The sale ended after a couple of days, having sold 6,777 Nooks in total.

Some reasons for the difference in the speed of sales (seconds vs. days) was the Amazon Kindle 2 Sale was on Black Friday, when buyers are madly refreshing their browsers for deals!
Still, gone in seconds?? My theories why -

• It was hugely publicized, and word spread via facebook, twitter, before blogs and newsfeeds could pick it up.

• The estimate is that half a million folks saw the update through these sites.

Let me mention here that we tried to buy a $139 WiFi Kindle for a friend 2 weeks ago, and Best Buy was out of stock, both the times we went. 

Tuesday (November 23rd) Amazon reported on their Facebook wall: “We had our biggest sales day ever for Kindle devices yesterday. Thank you, customers!”

What I want to know now is:  
How many readers are gifting/getting ereaders this season?

More info:
Kindle sale results in the news

Blogger Spotlight #2: Tina!

Introducing: Tina from onemorepage.tinamats.com

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What e-reader do you own and how did you get it?

- I own a Kindle! :) I got it by ordering through Amazon and having it sent to my dad who works in Northern Marianas Islands. My mom, who was visiting him then, carried it home to me (I live in the Philippines btw). Funny thing was, I ordered a Kindle two days before the announcement for Kindle 3 arrived. Talk about timing.

Did you consider other readers in the market? Why did you pick this one?

- At first I really didn't want this because I thought my Kindle for iPod and Stanza (an ebook reading app in the iPod) were enough. Then a friend told me she got a Kindle and she loves it, and I finally started thinking about it. I thought about getting a B&N nook, too, since other people swear by it...but then I have already bought some books from Amazon for my iPod and I realized that I have always been an Amazon girl. 

When do you read a paper book and when do you pick up an ebook?

Book Blogger Hop #13 - Nov 26-28

This is a weekly PARTY hosted by Jen at Crazy For Books. It's a chance to discover new blogs and to garner new readers for your blog as well. 

Thanks for visiting!
"What is your favorite book cover?"
A fav book cover? Can I say that this question stumped me a little?

A whole bunch of books I read are ebooks, and the cover doesn't get too much attention from me, I'm sorry to say. I do appreciate the posts bloggers I follow make on cover art, and fan covers!!
So after thinking for a LOONG time (3 minutes), I've come up with an old childhood friend of a cover -> The Dairy of Anne Frank, and this edition here is one I got from my grandmother! I'm sure there are newer covers, but I love this one. I remember spending time gazing at her face, and those expressive eyes, each time I read the book.

Come back Saturday for a new blogger spotlight!!
Hope you stay and check out a few posts, link back to your blog on comments.

The Most Beautiful Public Libraries in the US

Dear World: Thank You For Libraries!

Here are a few of my favorites from a recent Flavorwire list of Top 10 "most-beautiful-from-the-outside public" libraries in the US:

The renovation shown above is so different from anything the government can afford in India!

Chicago Public Library - My one-time haunt while I lived in Chicago..Pure pleasure to see it and its gargoyles! Well-beloved gargoyles standing guard over your books, how reassuring.

This Salt Lake city public library seems super inviting - that wall of windows just draws people in, I'd think.
For all 10 libraries that made the cut, go to Flavorwire
What do you like best?

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Next time, I'll look for gorgeous libraries in Europe and across the world. 
Do you have a picture of your local library? Do share it with me @ deepalipratap@gmail.com - I will feature a post on this if we have enough libraries!

Why I love the internet today

I can safely assume, dear blogger and reader, that you are fairly used to the online world.

There are naturally levels of familiarity and usage, but I spend about 80% of my awake time online, thanks to work and fun - I stream TV episodes online, read books online, play my music from on-demand sites or radio. This isn't unusual for some of you, I bet!

So why today to express my net-love?

Well, I'm am simply amazed at how much easier it has become to get the book I want, when I want it!

How have you used the internet today?

Book Blogger Hop #12 - Nov19-21

This is a weekly PARTY hosted by Jen at Crazy For Books. It's a chance to discover new blogs and to garner new readers for your blog as well. 

Thanks for visiting!

"Let's use this week's Hop to share what we are most thankful for and what our holiday traditions are!"

I'm Indian, and we have a HOST of holidays every year, depending on the flavor of your religion/credo. My family celebrates 'Ganesh Chaturthi' every year, honoring Ganesha, the fun-loving God of Wisdom, Luck and several other qualities. We have special food that we make on this day - rice cakes, sweet rice balls, sticky jaggery kadubus, coconut milk - it is Yum! Traditionally, Ganesha's idol is lowered into water at the end of the festival, but we choose to not pollute the water bodies. For us, it really is all about the food.

I am super thankful for a loving family, and for living in Bangalore, my favorite city!

With last week's Hop, I launched a new feature at e-Volving Books - featuring Bloggers with eReaders! I'll be posting a second interview later today too. Contact me if you would like to be featured - reading on a phone counts as e-reader! *wink*

Good posts:

Some of the most popular ebooks in the world (FREE!)
 Review of NYT Bestseller book - Towers of Midnight 

If you like it, do follow, and leave me a message about it. I will follow you back, and be a happy little commenter on your blog.

Review: The Sweep series by Cate Tiernan

Grade: B+/A-

Pages: Approx 200 in each book
Summary: Morgan thinks witchcraft is laughable when her best friend Bree drags her to a meeting of the Cirrus Coven. But during a cermony led by Cal, Morgan's long-time crush, Morgan feels a shock. Suddenly everything looks brighter, clearer. Morgan doesn't want to get involved with witchcraft-but she feels like witchcraft is choosing her. 

Overall: The Sweep series by Cate is a light read, yet still really interesting. I felt like this was the sorbet course, a hiatus, amidst my reading of George RR Martin's much weightier tomes. Every novel covers Magick, young love and fitting in (or not!).

However, a novel in the Sweep series is so short that it is almost a chapter in the lives of the characters.
Plus: The Wiccan research is pretty intense, and the books give an authentic feel to being in a coven and the troubles/challenges a young witch (Morgan) might encounter. The first few books all deal with Morgan, and her first two loves. She slowly begins to learn about her abilities, and her heritage, and has to make touch choices in order to grow in power and understanding.
Minus: Please read as many books together as possible, the story feels very abrupt if you don't.

 

I would recommend it to: All YA readers, ages 10 and up. Adults will also enjoy this series - there is enough depth in the story to entertain a more discerning reader. Also: P.C. Cast readers, Lili St. Crow and Rachel Vincent fans.

Teaser Tuesday #19 - Black Powder War by Naomi

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should be Reading.

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 From Page 94:

"When  you are very hungry, my dear, it is hard for your ambitions to rise above your belly", Laurence said.

 
Black Powder War is the third book in the Tremeraire series, which is about the Napoleonic wars (an alternate history with Dragons). A lot of historical research in this book makes for intelligent, but slow reading. I find it easier to read in spurts, between other novels.

ANNOUNCEMENT: E-Volving Books launches the Blogger Spotlight showcasing a blogger and their ereaders! 

We begin with Charlotte at Lit Addicted Brit in the post below. Mail me at

  deepalipratap@gmail.com for your spotlight!

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Don't forget to enter below for a chance at winning a Kindle DX!
E-volution? By Author Scott Nicholson & Kindle Giveaway

Blogger Spotlight - A Brand NEW Feature! #1: Charlotte

Introducing: Charlotte from Lit Addicted Brit

Favourite recent read: 'No and Me' by Delphine de Vigan

My eReader:  A Sony eReader Touch Edition

About Charlotte: I've recently taken up a job as a lawyer after a LOT of studying to get here so every day is frantic, hardwork and intense but I lOVE it!!  I usually start out by commuting to the city from my village and get to squeeze in 45 minutes of reading.  I work quite long hours so it's all work until I commute back and manage to indulge in a book for 45 minutes on the way back!  Most evenings I just enjoy being at home with my boyfriend of four hours, reading and blogging and ignoring housework!!  At the weekends, I'm a sucker for a big comfy chair, big fire and long hours curled up with a book - big surprise! :-)

Click to read on about Charlotte and her reading habits! Mail me if you want a spotlight of your own!

Book Blogger Hop #11 - Nov 12-14th

This is a weekly PARTY hosted by Jen at Crazy For Books. It's a chance to discover new blogs and to garner new readers for your blog as well. 

Thanks for visiting!

This time, I'm doing the Hop a little differently (possibly my lack of sleep has messed with my mind). Instead of commenting here, please check out any posts you like and comment there? 

I will read all comments, and reply to each one on your blog. Post a link!

ANNOUNCEMENT: E-Volving Books is launching the Blogger Spotlight here Today, showcasing a new blogger and their ereaders every two weeks! 

We begin with Charlotte at Lit Addicted Brit in the post below.

Oh, and don't forget to enter below for a chance at winning a Kindle DX!
E-volution? By Author Scott Nicholson & Kindle Giveaway

E-volution? By Author Scott Nicholson & Kindle Giveaway

By Scott Nicholson
http://www.hauntedcomputer.com/

Maybe we should just hold the phone.

I mean, here we are blindly calling this e-thing “progress,” heralding a New Age where every child in the land will have unlimited access to all the words ever written and everything being written as we speak. Plus all the stuff they’ll be writing on their own Kindle/tablet/pad/phone thingy.

Too much information.

Yeah, maybe. And it’s going to be cheap, it’s going to be everywhere,it’s going to be free, it’s going to be worthless, it’s going to create more books than we have time to read. They say the average American reads two books a year. Average out the cost of the typical device and it will take about five years to break even, and that assumes they buy hardcovers.

Even authors can’t make sense of it. While my friend John Everson was hitting #30 on the Nook charts with a 99 cent e-book version of Covenant, he was tweeting about how ebooks are lacking some essential element that prevents them from being a book. I mean, dude! You just got the biggest audience you could expect in your lifetime and you’re seeing a downside?

But maybe he’s right. Maybe all us people who fancy ourselves “real authors” are soon going to be snowed under by people dumping their three-page high-school term papers on the Internet, giving them covers and product pages, and by all appearances providing the same content as a “real author.” After all, besides the sample. all you get is a stamp-sized picture and a description that any decent con artist could polish up.

Maybe this isn’t the beginning of a shiny new era of communication, a time when anyone with a dream can find an audience. Maybe these devices that intimately connect us are really tools of the devil, and our heads are going to explode. Maybe the Illuminati are just waiting to secretly gain control of the publishing industry and print only material that furthers their goals and builds their cover stories. Maybe writers have no chance at making a real go of this business, and all those indie success stories like Karen McQuestion, J.A. Konrath, and David Dalglish will be blips on the radar of publishing history.

Maybe that was as good as it got, and it’s all downhill from here. Quick, all you writers, get back in line in New York. Go sign a publishing contract. Give up control of your content and put yourself at a competitive disadvantage. Hurry, while the indie fad has everyone’s attention and agents actually have time to read your emails. Ignore us idiots who are going to keep on giving our readers cheap, convenient content.

Hee hee.

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My new crime thriller Disintegration is a Kindle bestseller, and paranormal mystery As I Die Lying just launched, both for 99 cents for a limited time.

Scott Nicholson is author of 12 novels, including the thrillers Drummer Boy, Forever Never Ends, The Skull Ring, Burial to Follow ,and October Girls. His revised novels for the U.K. Kindle are Creative Spirit, Troubled, The Gorge, and Solom. He’s also written four comic series, six screenplays, and more than 60 short stories. His story collections include Ashes, The First, Murdermouth: Zombie Bits, and Flowers. His web site is www.hauntedcomputer.com.

To be eligible for the Kindle DX, simply post a comment below with contact info. Feel free to debate and discuss the topic, but you will only be entered once per blog. Visit all the blogs on the tour and increase your odds. I’m also giving away a Kindle 3 through the tour newsletter and a Pandora’s Box of free e-books to a follower of “hauntedcomputer” on Twitter. Thanks for playing. Complete details at http://www.hauntedcomputer.com/blogtour.htm

Author Scott Nicholson HERE Tomorrow - Win a Kindle Tour

The post tomorrow is courtesy of Scott Nicholson, author of 12 novels, including the thrillers Drummer Boy, Forever Never Ends, The Skull Ring, Burial to Follow ,and October Girls. His revised novels for the U.K. Kindle are Creative Spirit, Troubled, The Gorge, and Solom. He’s also written four comic series, six screenplays, and more than 60 short stories. His story collections include Ashes, The First, Murdermouth: Zombie Bits, and Flowers. His web site is:

http://www.hauntedcomputer.com/

What do you Win? 

Ans: A Kindle! 

Just come back tomorrow and comment on Scott's post to enter into a draw for the Kindle

Review: Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson

Rating: A

Description: "The Last Battle has started. The seals on the Dark One’s prison are crumbling. The Pattern itself is unraveling, and the armies of the Shadow have begun to boil out of the Blight...It is time to toss the dice"

Length: 864 pages of Hardcover (no ebook for 1 more year)

Overview: This is the most hotly anticipated book of the year (currently on a number of Amazon Bestseller Lists)! As the penultimate book in the Wheel of Time series, Towers of Midnight is about a lot of things, but there are two main focuses here - Tying off several hanging stories and prophecies, AND  bringing all the required players to the site of the Final Showdown. A very fast-paced novel, there were very few moments that I could bear to put this book down (I read till 4 AM!)

Plus: A lot of resolutions, several plot-lines were tied up nicely. Rand was more of 'hidden' character in this book. Not to say that he didn't have a lot to say and do, but Rand came in at pivotal moments in other character's stories and changed the game. We didn't see too many Rand POV chapters, if I recall. Still, the phenomenal amount of work he got done in this manner! Perrin, not one of my fav characters, had one of the key Moments of Awesome in the book - and it was about time!! 

Brandon's writing has really improved from his previous work on the series (The Gathering Storm). His ability to enter a character's personality and write multiple timelines is clearly growing, and hopefully will hit the sweet spot in the Final novel.

Minus: While this peeve is not about the actual book itself, it is more of a publisher gripe - why is the ebook being released one year after the hardcover? Not sure what the logic is. People do get used to reading on the Kindle, and especially for long, heavy books like this, I would have loved to be able to have the ebook option.

The focus clearly was on timelines, plots and resolving several open threads. Brandon had to hustle to be able to fit it all in and bring the diverse characters upto speed. I don't blame him for this, and I know he is able to write thrilling, deep characters, as we saw in The Way of Kings.

Overall: A very, very, strong setup for the finale - The Last Battle.

You will like this if: You are a high/epic fantasy reader, or like anything by George R. R. Martin, Steven Erikson, Robert Jordan. If you have read Brandon Sanderson's books, this is for you. If you haven't picked up the series yet, what better time than now? The next and final book is coming, and you have 13 books to go for entertainment..Unlike poor souls like me who waited 15 years for the complete series and The Last Battle.

Buy from Amazon: by Jordan's, Sanderson's Towers of Midnight (Hardcover) (2010) (Towers of Midnight (Wheel of Time))

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New to the series? Read my review of the entire series here.

My detailed analysis of the last book, The Gathering Storm, is here.

A review of Brandon's last book, The Way of Kings is here.

Watch the Trailer for Towers of Midnight here: 
Trailer - Towers of Midnight (a.k.a Most Anticipated Book of the Year)

Book Blogger Hop #10: Nov 5-8th

This is a weekly PARTY hosted by Jen at Crazy For Books. It's a chance to discover new blogs and to garner new readers for your blog as well. 

This Week's Question:

"What are your feelings on losing followers? Have you ever stopped following a blog?"
I do get worried when I see the count of followers go down, and I'm still not sure what I could be doing wrong. I think the next contest I have, I probably shall not make it exclusively for followers - hopefully only folks that are interested in my blog follow.
There are several blogs I enjoy reading and commenting on. These bloggers are friends on Goodreads and on Twitter as well. With that level of interaction, I am never going to stop following! Remember, follow me, leave a note here, and I will follow back.
I have occasionally stopped following a blog, though just ones that stopped posting, usually.

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Coming up soon, my review of Towers of Midnight (this is why my posts this week are so few).
Recent Post - Get Free Books (Jane Austen, Sherlock Holmes and more)

Teaser Tuesday #18 - Towers of Midnight

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by MizB of Should be Reading.

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We pre-ordered this penultimate book in the Wheel of Time series from Amazon and it arrived today, the day of release (and the day before my bday!) SQUEE

"A wave of wrongness washed over her, a warping in the air, the Pattern itself rippling. A balescream it was called - a moment when creation itself howled in pain."

New to the series? Read my review of the entire series here.

My detailed analysis of the last book, The Gathering Storm, is here.

Watch the Trailer for Towers of Midnight here: 
Trailer - Towers of Midnight (a.k.a Most Anticipated Book of the Year)

Bai, I disappear to read.