Ebook Rehab Day 29: I Should Do This More Often!

By the end of February I expected to be pulling my hair out with my "limited" selection of paper books to choose from. I expected to be more than happy to "turn the page" on my month as a paper-only reader. I expected to be bled dry by paper cuts, fed up with my reading lamp, and at least a little bit grumpy.

It is the last day of #FeelPaperFeb. I am not grumpy, I'm not fed up with my reading lamp, I haven't even gotten a paper cut(!!!), I'm not more than happy February is over, and my head is still thickly carpeted with Wookiee-like locks. I didn't find my selection that limited, but I did buy more books anyway, as I had waited long enough on some, and on others, I got some excellent buys. I read two (!!!!!) five-star books, I found a new favorite series of Ilona Andrews' (like that was a chore), and I did occasionally find myself craving an ebook, but not nearly as much as I thought I would have.

Here's a look at my month in a few pictures:

Books Read, With the Books Reviewed on the Right

Books I Read this Month in the Order I Read Them (Asterisk* Indicates Review):
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen* (4 Stars)
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston (5 Stars)
Vision in Silver (The Others #3) by Anne Bishop* (4 Stars)
The Autobiography of a Runaway Slave by Esteban Montejo* (3.5 Stars)
Saint Odd (Odd Thomas #7) by Dean Koontz (4.5 Stars)
On the Edge (The Edge #1) by Ilona Andrews* (4.5 Stars)
Bayou Moon (The Edge #2) by Ilona Andrews (4 Stars)
Fate's Edge (The Edge #3) by Ilona Andrews (5 Stars)

5 Star Reads: Their Eyes Were Watching God and Fate's Edge

The First 3 Books of The Edge by Ilona Andrews, a new favorite series!

Yes, I did notice I may have read a little bit slower sticking with all paper books, but I think I enjoyed the experience just as much (if not more than) reading all ebooks (like I do much of the time). I had hoped for some relief with my frequent insomnia, and although I am currently on the daylight schedule, I have a feeling it doesn't have much to do with the book format as much as strategic ibuprofen experimenting (I always make sure to have some before I intend to sleep, therefore having less pain to fight off in order to sleep). And also, there haven't been many storms passing through these past few days (storms = pain = insomnia = vicious cycle).

Here's a link-up for other Feel the Paper Love February Wrap-ups:

Happy Reading!

SFF: The 5 Paper Books You Treasure Most

Sunday Fun Five #48:

#40: The 5 Books You Want to Read Before 2015 Ends

#41: The 5 Characters from Books You're Grateful For

#42: The 5 Bookish Charities Santa Claus Approves Of

#43: The 5 New To You Authors' Books You Want to Read in 2016

#44: The 5 Literary Characters that Feel Like Your Old Friends

#45: The 5 Authors You Won't Shut Up About

#46: The 5 Series You Want to Finish Reading... Someday

#47: The 5 Books You Want a Physical Copy Of

#48: The 5 Paper Books You Treasure Most
For the 13th of March: #49: The 5 Books That Had You at "Hello"
Part of Feel the Paper Love February

A Countdown of

The 5 Paper Books You Treasure Most

5. My First Edition Copy of Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood
I picked this one up due to its unusual cover, and it has become one of those intensely personal books to me. I really need to reread it, as I keep wondering if my reaction will be as intense as it was the first time I read it.

4. My Vintage Copy of Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
I've grown attached to this one due to its cover, and the fact it's one of my favorite books ever. I often think of Manderley, particularly in my dreams...

3. My Hardcover Copy of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
This is my permanent reminder of how I won't parent my children, if I should ever have said children. This book was banned in my house growing up due to my father's dislike of 'magic'. You'll notice one of my most prevalent tags on this blog is 'magic'. I managed to keep this, despite times I hid it under my bed hoping it wouldn't disappear, and reading it under my covers or in the dead of night so I wouldn't get 'caught'. My father also loved taking away the books I was currently reading when I was 'bad' (for full disclosure, I was a good child/teen- I never drank, smoked, stole, or fought, I had better grades than my brothers did, but I would not [and will never] respect someone who treats women [or anyone else, for that matter] like dirt). If you want to be a good parent, don't be a control freak, a narcissist, or take away your children's books.
...unless, of course, you enjoy being anonymously defamed on the internet. ;)

2. My Signed Copy of The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
This is one of my favorite fantasy books. I likely will never be able to review it to my satisfaction, which is why I haven't yet, and I took quite the journey (click link above to read about said journey) to get this copy of it. I'm never letting it go, now that it's finally in my grasp. Muahahahahahaha...haha... ahem.

The book on the left is my grandmother's copy

1. My Grandmother's Copy of Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
This one holds a lot of sentimental value, not really because of the book itself, but due to the person who owned it. If Goodwill ever received it, it would be thrown straight into the trash, but for me, it's a treasure.

Do you have certain paper books that you hold dear? What makes you want to keep them?

Paper Books: Pros and Cons

Throughout this month, I've been thinking a lot about what I like about paper books, and what I don't like much at all. Here I've compiled my list of paper book pros and cons.

Pros of the Paper Book:

1. The ability to give, resell, or borrow for long periods of time.

2. The ability to smell a book in order to detect how old it is (or if someone borrowed it without asking).

Pretty cover art is the best!

3. The ability to admire a book individually, and feature it on your shelves.

4. Paper books are collectibles- ebooks are definitely not. An author can sign your ereader, but not your ebook. You can pass down a book as a family heirloom.

5. Paper books never need a recharge or batteries.

6. Paper books can be read in the bathtub without much worry (unless you have a bad grip or like to splash).

7. If an intruder enters your house, you can always bash the back of his head with that huge edition of Harry Potter, a dictionary, or other reference book. An intruder is likely not intimidated by your slim e-reader, even when it is held menacingly.

8. Paper books need light to be read, but research says that lit screens can be harmful to sleep quality around bedtime (kind of a pro-because of con, but it fits).

9. Paper books come in a multitude of styles: you can have different cover art (if you want that certain cover art), or you can have a lighter paperback or a heavier and sturdier hardcover. With ebooks, it's mostly one size fits all- and sometimes, you end up with cover art you aren't keen on.

10. Paper books give you an opportunity to touch, grasp, and hug your favorite book. In a weird way, they feel warm. Ebooks are hidden in a cold, mechanical device that may someday fail you.

Cons of the Paper Book:

1. Paper cuts innocent fingers. Paper drinks the blood of bookworms.

2. Space: you can only own so many books, especially if you live in an apartment.

250+ Ebooks vs. 10 Mass Markets vs. 10 Larger Books

3. Size: it's much easier to travel with a slim ereader than ten bulkier paper books.

4. Cleanliness: if you spill coffee on a paper book, it leaves permanent marks. If you spill coffee on an ereader, you have to (likely) buy a new ereader, but your ebook is still in pristine shape.

5. Ability to access book whenever and wherever it's wanted on multiple devices.

6. Weight: some of us have trouble holding heavier books for long periods of time- ebooks weigh only as much as their e-reader.

7. Ebooks are easier to read if you have certain eye conditions. I love the high contrast, black background with white text reading my Kindle offers. Ebooks on the Kindle can also be read aloud to you by a robotic voice, but it still helps if you can't afford audiobook versions.

8. Some ebooks can be read without lights- depending on the device used to read them. If you live in a cave without electricity and don't have night vision, it's a definite plus, if you consider the hazards of candlelight reading (think fire). 

9. You don't need a bookmark/random scrap of paper for an ereader.

10. All your highlights and notes are saved in one place, something you'd have to use a notebook or Goodreads for in a paper book.

Topics to Think About:

Permanence and the Paper Book

An interesting topic of discussion is whether paper or digital books are more permanent. For example, if you lost your house to a flood- a giant flood (or other natural disaster)- you would likely lose all your paper books to mold. On the other hand, if you had digital books, those would still be retrievable, as long as you had internet access (which is pretty common, these days).

Eco-Friendliness

Depending on the site, the title of eco-friendly can go to either party, or so it seems (it really depends on how much you read and your reading style). The best take on this seems to be using your library card, and buying used books instead of new. If you have an e-reader, take care of it so it lasts- and don't throw it away.

Learning and the Paper Book

A Washington Post article states that: "Over 92 percent of those I surveyed said they concentrate best when reading a hard copy." If we concentrate better (or even think we do), isn't that an enormous benefit? While the science of this is debatable (which is why I put it under Topics to Think About), I have to admit that I, too, get readily distracted while reading an ebook. Usually, I turn the Wifi off, but even then, I feel like I'm more likely to skim.

Which do you prefer: paper books or ebooks (or audiobooks)? What are some other pros and cons of the physical book (that I was likely to busy thinking up abstract scenarios to ponder)?

SFF: The 5 Books You Want a Physical Copy Of

Sunday Fun Five #47:

#40: The 5 Books You Want to Read Before 2015 Ends

#41: The 5 Characters from Books You're Grateful For

#42: The 5 Bookish Charities Santa Claus Approves Of

#43: The 5 New To You Authors' Books You Want to Read in 2016

#44: The 5 Literary Characters that Feel Like Your Old Friends

#45: The 5 Authors You Won't Shut Up About

#46: The 5 Series You Want to Finish Reading... Someday

#47: The 5 Books You Want a Physical Copy Of

For the 28th of February: #48: The 5 Paper Books You Treasure Most
Part of Feel the Paper Love February

A Countdown of

The 5 Books You Want a Physical Copy Of

(Optional Corny Valentine's Day Subtitle: Let's Get Physical!)

5. Poe by J. Lincoln Fenn
This was an entirely unexpected gem- and one of the funnest Halloween reads I've devoured during that season. And also, there's a picture of a mansion on the cover- it simply must grace my shelves, someday.

4. My Man Jeeves (Jeeves #1) by P.G. Wodehouse
I had such fun with these short stories- I would rather have my very own Jeeves (and perhaps a Wooster too), but I will settle for a physical copy of this book.

3. The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux
I own the ebook (free) edition of this- but I really, really, really, really would like a physical copy of it to grace my shelves. Particularly with a beautiful cover like this, or an older hardcover edition.

2. Master of Crows (Master of Crows #1) by Grace Draven
This is the first and only romance I've rated 5 Stars- it's safe to say I loved it, so it's no wonder I crave a physical copy of it. And since the cover is also one of the best you'll see in romance (despite having the worst cover to begin with)... Yeah, I think I'll be getting this someday.

1. Words of Radiance (The Stormlight Archive #2) by Brandon Sanderson
The book I would most like a physical (preferably hardcover) copy of is this book- mostly so I can see the illustrations without squinting (and, you know, I kind of loved it too). I may not be able to pick it up as easily as the others (it has 1087 pages), but I'd still love to own it.

Which books do you want a physical copy of?

"Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that I have needed to read this book for a long time. One friend really liked this book in junior high, the other said it was way overrated. I may have abstained from reading it just to keep on good terms with both of them- and also because I couldn't bring myself to complete other romantic-ish classics like Anna Karenina and Wuthering Heights.

Given it was published in 1813, it's true that there is a lot of archaic writing to be had in this book. Long sentences are almost assured on every page, but I grew to enjoy the style (and the pacing that goes with it). I have to disagree with the many articles that have been written on the reading length of classics like this: some of them say this book will only take 2-3 hours to read. I guess if it's a reread (for the 3rd or 4th time) that might be true and very feasible. However, for the modern reader, this will take a fair bit longer, unless you've got a doctorate in English literature (in which case, why would it be your first time reading this???).

The Plot (As Seen on Goodreads):
'"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife."
'So begins Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen's witty comedy of manners--one of the most popular novels of all time--that features splendidly civilized sparring between the proud Mr. Darcy and the prejudiced Elizabeth Bennet as they play out their spirited courtship in a series of eighteenth-century drawing-room intrigues.'

Among the reasons I read this was that it was recommended for my personality type (INTJ- or so the myriad of internet crash courses/pop psychology tests tell me). Mr. Darcy is supposedly INTJ, and also an antihero. When you start reading the book, it's clear he's the sort you wouldn't be paid to associate with- he's got an excessive amount of pride. Meanwhile, Elizabeth has an excessive amount of prejudice, which sometimes is revealed through her judgy judgy thoughts and actions.

As Sheldon Cooper and the writers of the Big Bang Theory put it:

From Pinterest, but likely stolen from someone else,

In some ways, this book is absolutely a masterpiece. However, I didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would, perhaps due to my excessive viewing of Pride and Prejudice adaptations, or perhaps due to something else entirely. It's difficult to know now, but I know in some ways I was absolutely irked with Elizabeth's attitude. She was constantly trying to find fault with others, to the point she alienated me. People, much like characters in a book, are never perfect- I try to see the best in others, in order that they may someday see the best in me.

Pride and Prejudice is not a modern love story- and that's perhaps why it has withstood the test of time. There is one scene in the book that nearly brought me to tears- a rarity in four star reads. But, in others, I was rolling my eyes at Elizabeth's superiority complex and counting the sentences/paragraphs until her scene was over. If you are a fan of classics, this is a must read, just for the purposes of intense discussion- Pride and Prejudice is a treasure trove of social maneuvering and thought, which is why I think it shouldn't be read in a few hours.

Rating: 4 of 5 Stars for a classic that is equal parts love story and guide to social manipulation.

Content: Ages 12+ for advanced wordplay, people who make cow eyes at each other (okay, it wasn't mentioned, however, I read between the lines), and the pursuit of an honorable courtship.

Page Count: 210 pages in my paperback edition

"Better World Books" Haul

Since I went a little nuts with online book buying this month, I decided to do a little show and tell of what I acquired. Many of you know the Book Depository ships for free, but did you know there is another online book shop that also has free shipping (even international, now)? And it's actually cheaper than the Book Depository?

Better World Books sells new and used books- at a decent price, and donates to bookish projects (libraries, literacy programs, what have you). I opted for used books due to the cheaper price tag, and began shopping in their bargain bin- noticing a lot of familiar faces were on sale (Robin Hobb books, Ilona Andrews' hard-to-find series, lots of popular titles). One thing I will note about the shopping experience is that you don't always get the price you think you will- there are limited quantities of books, and the price does get higher as other people buy them up. When adding 1 or 2 books to my cart, I had a notice that the title, at that price, was unavailable- but they had another edition of the book in better shape, for $0.50-$1.00 more if I wanted it. You'd think I'd be mad about the upcharge, but when it came down to it- I was paying less than a used bookstore price on lots of the titles- titles I doubt I would ever see at the thrift shop here or in Montana.

George is the official un-boxing inspector

George doing the sniff-test

The Edge Series Ilona Andrews
On the Edge (The Edge #1) by Ilona Andrews
Bayou Moon (The Edge #2) by Ilona Andrews
Fate's Edge (The Edge #3) by Ilona Andrews
Steel's Edge (The Edge #4) by Ilona Andrews
I bought all these because I am addicted to Ilona Andrews' books, and also because these usually cost $7.99 each for an ebook edition. Talk about overpriced! This series is also 'loosely connected with the Innkeeper Chronicles' according to Goodreads.

The Tawny Man Series by Robin Hobb
Fool's Errand (Tawny Man #1) by Robin Hobb
Golden Fool (Tawny Man #2) by Robin Hobb
Fool's Fate (Tawny Man #3) by Robin Hobb
Although this comes third chronologically in Robin Hobb's fantasy works/world, and many suggest you read Liveship Traders Series first, I really couldn't bring myself to get excited about that series. Since I know of this character from Assassin's Apprentice, I decided I'd skip to this series after the Farseer Trilogy.

Royal Assassin is from BWB, Assassin's Quest is from Amazon

Royal Assassin (Farseer Trilogy #2) by Robin Hobb
Assassin's Quest (Farseer Trilogy #3) by Robin Hobb (from Amazon/Motor City Books)
I greatly enjoyed Assassin's Apprentice, so I decided to get the rest of the trilogy. Better World Books didn't have the third book available, so I bought it off Amazon.

Cry Wolf (Alpha & Omega #1) by Patricia Briggs
True to my word, I decided to try another work by this author. I hope I will like this one better than Moon Called.

Saint Odd (Odd Thomas #7) by Dean Koontz
I'm so excited to be able to finish off this series! I hope this conclusion will be epic!

Here is a screenshot of my cart on the webpage:

Grand Total Amounts to $43.80 without discounts

Here is what I actually paid- for 9 mass market paperbacks and one hardcover book:

Actual Total: $34.92, a savings of $8.88

It's true that some of you may not like the used books or library editions, but as for me, I'm rather happy with my purchase/hoarding.

Have you tried Better World Books? What is your favorite online bookstore?

Fortnightly Update #3: Book Buying Relapses and a #FeelPaperFeb Progress Report

I've been browsing the internet for the best prices on certain books I desired to add to my pile, and recently came across a smorgasbord of them. As I am hardly resistant to bookish temptations, I bought them all- a total of 12 books that should arrive at my doorstep by the end of February (if they don't go the way of that book I "won" on one of those Goodreads giveaways and never arrive).

Recent Acquisitions (or the Piling of the-Piles):

the-pile Additions:

Vision in Silver (The Others #3) by Anne Bishop
This finally became available in mass market paperback, and since this is Feel the Paper Love February, I decided to buy it. I'm reading it now to take a break from my heavier TBR picks for Feel the Paper Love February.

the-invisible-pile Additions:

Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

I collected this for my Travel the World in Books challenge- let's hope it mustn't languish much longer than a month. Books set in Nigeria can be a bit difficult to come by.

Currently Reading:

Vision in Silver (The Others #3) by Anne Bishop
(See above for cover pic). So far it's good, but I'm struggling with holding my shiny new mass market paperback. I am anti-spine-cracking, but it does get tempting, since my hands hurt (more than usual) from holding it.

Finished These Books:

Moon Called (Mercy Thompson #1) by Patricia Briggs (links to my review)
Some male characters just aren't my thing. I vacillated on this book for a long time- it's a good read, it just wasn't the best read for me.
Rating: 3 Stars

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
Oh, what fun! A video game book! Enough '80s references to complete an encyclopedia! Unfortunately, perhaps a tad too many on that count. But it was still fun to read!
Rating: 4ish Stars

A Rogue by Any Other Name (The Rules of Scoundrels #1) by Sarah MacLean
I had read and felt 'meh' about another of Sarah MacLean's books, but assumed if I gave one of her other books a shot I'd like it. That wasn't the case- I will be more aware of my proclivities next time- her books just aren't for me.
Rating: 2 Stars

Thorn by Intisar Khanani
I completely spaced having read this one- so I'll just add it in now. Generally I stay away from YA fantasy, but this fairytale retelling of the Goose Girl was a delight. Someday I'll get around to reviewing it.
Rating: 4ish Stars

Virtuous Scoundrel (The Regency Romp Trilogy #2) by Maggie Fenton
I read the previous book in this series and was hooked. I love romances that don't take themselves too seriously, and that was the case with this book.
Rating: 4 Stars

Feel the Paper Love February Reads:

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

So now I can say I read Pride and Prejudice! It wasn't quite what I expected but it was a worthwhile read- I think watching all the P&P movie/tv series remakes may have done me in, because I knew everything to do with the story. However, it does have the most beautiful scene I've 'seen' in a classic novel. That counts for something.

Rating; 4 Stars

***Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston***

Second five star read of my year (I'm on a roll)! Weirdly enough, way back when I watched the movie version of this on tv (because Halle Berry was in it), but I didn't notice the similarities until the end. I could decide if I should rate this five stars or not, as there are moments in this book that are just plain ugly- however, it's too beautifully written not to. This will be another one of those books that stick with me a long time.

Rating: 5 Stars!

In the Blogosphere:

At Red Star Reviews, book blogging becomes a family affair with a review of Roverandom by J.R.R. Tolkien.

As usual, Ceilidh @ Bibliodaze has my thoughts exactly on this article: Your Fave Is Problematic: Navigating The Gap Between Art & Artist. It's a difficult path to travel.

Melanie @ Brewing Up Books has a discussion (Discussion: No, the Last Movie Shouldn’t Be Two Parts) that tickled my fancy.

Wendy @ Musings of a Bookish Kitty reveals her Bookish Thoughts on The Evening Spider by Emily Arsenault.

Rachelle @ Fortified by Books reviews The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry, which makes me want a time travel machine so I could go back and pick it up as a Kindle Daily Deal.

Erin @ The Paperback Stash reviews The Child Thief by Brom. I heard of this book somewhere else but can't remember where...

Kritika @ Snowflakes and Spider Silk posts DiverSFFy: Karen Memory, a book that's been on my radar for a while now.

Kind of Self-Promo:
I preserved the honor of the House of Gryffindor by winning the House Cup @ Fortified by Books (curated by Rachelle). Litha is our king, anyone?

In My Life:

I couldn't get wrist braces due to my doctor's and my error, so I'll be waiting a month or two to get back in- I may end up constructing my own. My hands, for once in my life, are no longer the hot, sweltering things of my youth (I had serious issues with that until I went on different meds). I'm thinking of knitting fingerless gloves and reinforcing them with plastic or something. My doctor had implied the wrist braces may stop the severe, intermittent nerve pain in my fingers, which I've had since I was 16-17 years old, and which has been a recent insomnia-causer. I'll do pretty much anything to get rid of pain... as long as it's legal.

Happy Super Bowl Sunday, fellow Americans! Happy February 7th to everyone else!