Literary Meme

I had never heard of a "meme" until I saw this on Fatuous Observations, so I thought I'd try one myself, using Patience_Crabstick's as a template.(with her permission)

My EBook Reader

It was my birthday earlier this month, and my family bought me an ebook reader.

Bloody Whitcoulls

Whitcoulls, the book store is in trouble.  They have gone into voluntary liquidation, and are no longer fully honouring their gift cards and vouchers. 
As I have a $150 gift card with them, I'm not amused.

I'm also not surprised. 

Even though it was perceived as the biggest book store in NZ, it had a terrible reputation for dodgy offers and it's on-line system really sucked.  It was clunky, difficult to use, and biggest problem of all was that it didn't stock enough titles.
It was competing against Amazon and The Book Depository (TBD) and Whitcoulls was losing.
Amazon had far more titles, was cheaper (so much so that is some cases it was cheaper to buy in Amazon, pay for the postage, and still be cheaper than Whitcoulls. ) and TBD had more titles, easier to use web site, and free delivery.

With the advance of e-books, I wonder how long the traditional book shop can continue?
The new ebook readers are getting closer to duplicating the book-reading experience, with much better contrast graphics, the ability to work in strong sunlight (a major failing of the earlier models) and reducing cost and size.  Some of the more advanced book readers can also store your music files and playback, so you can read your favourite book whilst listening to your favourite music.  Just add your favourite drink for complete bliss.

At least it would be complete bliss except for the $150 owed to me by bloody Whitcoulls.

Church

Now don't get excited Second, I have absolutely no intention of going to Church. I only mention it because my beloved has started her annual campaign to get me to go.


Every year at Christmas, she and my son go off to the local god-bothering centre for an hour of hymns and intensive god-bothering, leaving me at home to stew in my agnostic/atheistic juices, and enjoy a large single malt (Tobermory 10 year old this year)

I enjoy this time alone. I can watch the TV, blog on the PC or best of all, read a book without any disruption.

Total Immersion

One of the best things about holidays is the incredible pleasure of long, extended periods of uninterrupted book reading, where the plot and characters become real, where you can become completely involved in the world the book creates. I can do it, my beloved does to a certain extent, but my son can't. He can read, and read well, but he doesn't get immersed. Sad.

The first time it really happened to me was when I was 21. I'd always liked books, and one of my presents was a book voucher. I'd recently read "The Hobbit" and quite enjoyed it, but I thought it a bit simplistic, more of a children's book. One of my friends at work had told me the Lord of the Rings was much better, so I bought a copy with the voucher.

For 3 days I did nothing but read. It was a long weekend and I started on the Friday afternoon when I got home from the book shop. I lived in the world of Frodo, Bilbo and Gandalf. I only stopped for toilet breaks and food. I almost cried, and certainly felt depressed after I finished LOTR.

I haven't been able to repeat that feat, as I've got a lot more responsibilities now, and I can't afford 3 continuous days of reading, but every opportunity I have, I return to the magical world of books.

So I'll be reading when the rest of my family are off god-bothering. I know who's got the better deal. Maybe I'll get another bottle of malt just in case. Talisker sounds good to me.

That's the only spirit I believe in.

Special Offers Stink

My beloved bought me a gift card from Whitcoulls as part of my birthday presents.  Now I read voraciously, about a book every day or two, so it was a good choice for me.
She also brought back a special offer leaflet from Whitcoulls, saying one paperback at half price.

Excellent.  Nothing better for a Scot than a bargain.  So we went into Whitcoulls in Upper Hutt to get a couple of books.

Lo and behold, I spotted two books I wanted.  The new Lee Child and the new Ian M. Banks (Surface Detail).  I had especially been looking forward to the book by Banks.  They were both on some sort of special offer that Whitcoulls called "Hot Price", about $5 less than the normal price.

At the checkout I spotted a sign saying"Hot Price ticketed books were exempt from the half price offer.  "No problemo" I thought, I'd just ask for the half price against the normal price of the book.

The young saleslady said no Hot Price book was included in the special offer.

I explained that I understood you couldn't apply two discounts to a book, and I'd be happy to get it at half the normal price.

She said NO.

I could feel my face getting red, not from embarrassment, but from anger.
It was so illogical.
I dumped the books at the till and left without them.

As I stomped off to the exit, I noticed that about half of the books in the shop had the Hot Price sticker on them.  What a bloody rip-off.

I won't be buying from Whitcoulls again, and I'll do my best to stop the school buying the pupil's prizes from them or Borders (same company)

I had really been looking forward to reading those books

Sunday, off to Paraparaumu

The House in Paraparaumu

My beloved wants to go and look at a house in Paraparam.  I smile, I'll drive, but I really don't want to go. I like our present house a lot.  It's quiet, comfortable and in good condition.  I've just re-painted the exterior, so it looks crisp and clean.
The house in Paraparam is by a small lake, and has a garden sloping down to the lakeside, with a small gazebo at the edge.  It looks nice, but it's just over the road from the airfield, so I don't know about the noise.
If you want to share in our exciting adventure, the link to the open 2 view site is here

Our local library re-opened yesterday, thank goodness.  I had reached the stage of re-reading some of my old favourites, but I was getting desperate for something new.  The new David Webber "Honor Harrington" is just in, and I've got it on reserve, and the library web site has just informed me that it's ready for collection.

Oh Happy Day.


It's a bit sad that the most exciting thing to happen to me this week is anticipating a new book to read.

Maybe I'm getting too old for too much excitement.

I'd take the little doggie for a walk, but I don't know if I can take much more stimulation.