Here I go again, being a hypocrite...

I have decided to run another little experiment. Whatever new releases in literature I want, I will buy then via e-reader. So far, I purchased the following: The Fox Effect, Half-Blood Blues, and Drifting House. I have others, but those are the big releases so far. I plan on more, which I'll note as the year goes on. Much like the vinyl-with-MP3-code business, it is an attempt to get into another format of entertainment that I enjoy.

Most of the books do end up being cheaper to purchase in e-book form versus the hard copy (with my employee discount). The Fox Effect was an unusual one, it was about a fifty-cent difference between the paperback and the e-book. 

So far, I enjoy both formats. I see myself still buying hard copies and encouraging that more, but e-readers and e-books have their own purposes.

Trying anything new for 2012? Share them!

I concede, I concede; here is my white flag.

I have purchased an e-reader. Yes, one from my job. No, not the full-color ones with Angry Birds on it (I'll be getting an iPhone for that later). The "simple" one, the one with only Wi-Fi capabilities to download an infinity of free samples of books I've been meaning to read for years.

Man, I actually like the thing. It's a surprising godsend. As I mentioned, the free samples are wonderful. It gives me a chance to read a few chapters to get a "feel" before either buying it or passing on it. It is similar to going to the library, grabbing a huge stack of random titles, and finding a place to sit to peruse. But unlike most patrons, I won't leave a huge mess behind. A lot of times, as an unashamed bibliophile, I have a huge-ass list of "to-read books". This will help eliminate the bummers and get me to the good stuff.

No, I will not buy e-books exclusively. I will still purchase hard copies. It will be easy to judge which ones to purchase as e-books versus hard copies. I don't know how it will work, but trust me, I'm getting a feel for these things.

I originally wanted one when, at work, there was a possible chance I could win one. When that didn't happen, the desire to own one stuck with me. Then, in a series of serendipitous events, the path was laid out for me to own the little bugger (whom I named "Calliope", "Callie" for short). 

For Callie and I, this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

~

On a side note, Jeffery Eugenides wins an Internet for this billboard. Hell, I'll try to read the book again just because I forgot how much this was so damn genius. Attn: writers: humorous book release billboards = Frustrated Lady Writer wanting to read said book (even if she hated the first twelve pages of it at first read).

On the topic of e-readers and literature these days (from the bookseller)

So yeah, I work at a bookstore that is concentrating on selling e-readers, besides the usual I normally do. I got to try it out a while back. It's a neat little gadget, pretty easy to use especially if you already own a smartphone of sorts (in this case, iPhone). I'm a sucker for awesome gadgets, and e-readers do charm me for that alone.

There is a purpose for these little e-readers, they're for those who travel a lot and don't wanna carry a whole bunch of hardcover bestsellers. But I am concerned that it will be replacing the standard published book. If it does, I feel then that I have no choice but to go to e-readers, when having one right now is an optional choice.

Lemme clarify this: it's like the way we all rent DVDs. You almost have no choice but to rent online. In my town, there are no Blockbusters and Hollywood Videos. If I searched, there's a chance even Movie Gallery and other smaller stores like that aren't around, either. Yes, I've seen RedBox, but the variety is limited.

This Slate.com article points out how these days, one can Wiki practically anything and learn all there is to, let's say, major depression. For some, that is enough. But even as someone as pro-Wikipedia as myself, that is not enough. I can Wiki all about Talking Heads until my eyes bleed, but nothing beats reading entire books on them. Think of some of the best Wiki pages you've ever seen. Even then, those contain a "greatest hits" of information, if you will.

I've had customers tell me that they do own e-readers, but still buy hard copies. While that does comfort me some, not everyone is gonna be like that. There are gonna be folks who will embrace the technology and think nothing more of it. And there will still be folks who don't give two damns about books anyway, but that's not the focus.

But this article here also gives me some hope. To say the "literary snob is dead" would be appropriate. The writer points out that literature as we know it is dying, and it should. But also, it assures me who believes that e-books will not replace hard copies entirely. Like MP3s to CDs, it is just another option.

The article also talked about the situation going on at the New York Times Book Review, where Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Weiner criticized the section for thumbing their noses at writers like them while praising Jonathan Franzen and his new novel Freedom. I agree with the situation, especially with chick lit. It's just as legit as any other form of writing. It deserves the same attention. So yes, down with the literary snob!

I keep finding articles that tell me different statistics, the percentage of those who have one and those who don't. Also, that Salon article mentioned something that I'm getting damn sick of: social networks. Having read The Shallows, the writer talked about how e-readers will be able to connect readers to Facebook on books, making it easier to socialize. Uhm, hi. Forgot about book clubs? Message boards? We already have something like that, you silly geese. It also doesn't help that I think social networking sites are (slightly) necessary devils. I'm all for connecting people with their reading, but this might be the wrong way to go about it.

On a lighter note, a fun reason why Kindles are not the best thing.

I'm excited about the future, but honestly I'm also as fearful. Anything is possible, but all I hope is that it is for the good. May we have the choice of either the e-reader or a hard copy.

Amen to that.

Hi, there... *wave*

Yeah, I should explain why I suddenly vanished. One word: finals. And that's about it.

To continue with the 200th post bonanza, I promised to announce a novel project. That's right, kids! I'll be working on another novel. This time, it will be that one I kept yammering about back in the earlier days of the blog. I think it's perfect timing, since I'll be done with school and officially without a life of sorts (LOL). I'll add more details later, probably around June 1st (the official start date). This will be a huge one, probably my longest project to date.

~

I got a new iPod the other day. So, this makes the new one my third. There wasn't anything seriously wrong with the previous one, well, other than the hard drive was small. I'm probably gonna give my old one to my mom. She would utilize it better than just me giving it to Apple.

For those who care: a timeline of iPods (with their silly names and generations)

le petit [third generation] (2004-2005)
Kodachrome Prodigy [fifth generation] (2005-2010)
Athena Mercurie [sixth generation] (2010-present)

~

And damn my life. Check out this playlist that has been running through my head for the last week:

"Eleanor Rigby" by the Beatles (this one makes no sense, since I only heard it once)
"Who Are You" by The Who (damn you, C.S.I. Whatever-This-One-Has-This-As-Their-Theme-Song)
"Killing An Arab" by The Cure (yes, it is about The Stranger)
"The Secret Life" by Brian Eno and David Byrne (this one is just... random. WTF?)
"Fast Karma/No Questions" by Jerry Harrison (I... I got nothing. *insert standard-issue "distraction from giving an excuse" here*)

~

Alright, I may not be back for another couple of days. Until then, here is a song I would love to learn how to play on guitar and sing to.