Book Club Chit Chat Thread

[KP the nut]

a kindle itself, being light as a feather. .

So right. I'm a convert. As you know I love books and was a little sceptical. It is so light and much easier to turn pages. I don't have a lot of strength in my right arm and using my Kindle is much better than holding a book.

Mine is a Kindle Touch, so doesn't have the keyboard, but even I'm getting the hang of it.

 

[anthony]

Thanks Loloma... I just don't have one at present because I don't want one at this time. I will get one eventually, it isn't the kindle that annoys me, it is the pricing.

Example... look at Lee Childs books at Amazon: Dead Link Removed

The book and the electronic version are near the same price. Both have their advantages and disadvantages obviously. The one I can't get past mostly is that I can share a book with another... can't do that with the Kindle version.

The Kindle though stores thousands of books in one device and is instant.

Quid pro quo!

 

[piratelady]

I thought you could share kindle books with someone else? I haven't tried it yet but I read something about the ability to "borrow" a book through Amazon Kindle.

 

[Loloma]

The book and the electronic version are near the same price. Both have their advantages and disadvantages obviously. The one I can't get past mostly is that I can share a book with another... can't do that with the Kindle version.

Yes that is true, suppose it depends on ones circumstances. I shipped 8 boxes of books to Holland, shipped only 4 back. Gave a lot to my english speaking friends. Now living with my son, so can't store all the books and I love my books. Another good place to buy second hand books is the Salvo's stores. Not a large selection, but the books cost between $2.50 to $6.00.

I just read a book named "The Mascot" by Mark Kurzem. He lived in Altona, Melbourne and wrote the story of his father's life as a child during the second world war. His father was a Latvian Jew who saw his mother and siblings murdered by the germans when he was five or six. He wandered in the forest for months and survived, eventually rescued by Latvian police. He lost his memory and couldn't even recall his own name.

He became a Mascot used by the German SS for propaganda purposes, fully dressed in a minature SS uniform. The book is abut him going back with the help of his son to find his identity, plus the obstacles and resistance he faced. I fantastic book, should go on the book list.

 

[CraftyCath]

so are we all agreed then to read "His Dark Materials Trilogy"

I agree. :)

 

[anthony]

I thought you could share kindle books with someone else? I haven't tried it yet but I read something about the ability to "borrow" a book through Amazon Kindle.

Kindle books can be loaned to another reader for a period of 14 days. The borrower does not need to own a Kindle -- Kindle books can also be read using our free Kindle reading applications for PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone, BlackBerry, and Android devices. Not all books are lendable -- it is up to the publisher or rights holder to determine which titles are eligible for lending. The lender will not be able to read the book during the loan period. Books can only be loaned once, and subscription content is not currently available for lending.

Dead Link Removed

So in other words, no for most books. Lending is the typical thing... shitty off-beat books typically. Very few publishers seem to allow lending, which is good for them, as then another buys the kindle version for themselves if they really want to read it.

 

[Loloma]

Pleased my Kindle arrived yesterday. I downloaded War Horse and Fifty Shades of Grey Trilogy. It is really easy to use for me. Light to hold and I just have to push the button on the side to go from page to page.

Great asset to have and a god send for people with arthritis and crooked fingers :(:arghh;:inpain:. I don't get excited about many things but I am with this and the thought of all those BOOKS!! Bring it on.

 

[anthony]

The one thing that has really stopped me, is the lighting. I was not prepared to go to the larger size, more tablet based, kindles. As luck would have it, Amazon have just redone their Kindle range, dropped prices significantly as well. They've introduced a new one called Dead Link Removed, which is the one I'm going to eventually buy. Literally only a handful of grams heavier than the basic Kindle, though it contains a lighting system that isn't backlit that hurts your eyes, unlike tablets... it is entirely different.

They've now broken their products into two types, one that runs ads (cheaper) and another that doesn't (more expensive). Now users get a choice. They don't run ads when reading, but instead like a screensaver / between books and other times.

Check out the link above... it is truly something magic IMHO. 8 weeks life from a charge and you can read at night without it using backlighting, instead a whole different lighting technology, so it doesn't hurt your eyes.

 

[Loloma]

Anthony, did you also see the Kindle Owner's Lending Library?

I have the Kindle Wifi 3g feather light. Doesn't have a backlight. Just have to click the side button to the next page. No ads.

 

[anthony]

Looked through the whole range...

Dead Link Removed

Kindles handle books only, just different features in each. Kindle Fire is more tablet oriented, doing movies, music, books, games, Internet and more. I wouldn't want a Fire... I think iPad do it better in that arena.

I don't want a 3g either... as we got that with the iPad and don't use it. I wouldn't use it with a Kindle either. I would only ever use wi-fi to put my books onto it. As said... already got all that with the iPad, and we don't use it.

What we did instead, is we bought a mobile modem which is smaller than a phone, you charge it and it will last many hours. Allows five devices to connect via wi-fi, and connects at high speed using the Telstra network. It is prepaid, so when we go away we load it up... otherwise it sits in the cupboard. We've tested several ideas if mobile on the go, and that is the most convenient solution we've found to date. We already have bundles on our phones... other devices are just out of control when you start connecting them individually. So we found a better option, one device allowing multiple connections, and smaller than a mobile, yet completely mobile. If near power you can charge it up, otherwise it just runs by itself.

[DLMURL]http://www.telstra.com.au/internet/mobile-broadband-bigpond-liberty-plans/[/DLMURL]

You can buy them prepaid or plans... we use our prepaid, as we have cable at home. They cost about $100 or so to buy, then as long as you top it up once every six months with $10 or more, it keeps it live. Drop in the bucket compared to wasting money per device with 3G connectivity.

 

[CraftyCath]

I have wanted a Kindle for years and like you Anthony, I don't want the all singing, all dancing one.

US price for a basic Kindle $69.

UK price for basic Kindle £69.

Sounds like I might be better buying mine when I go to New York (if I go). So long as I get a UK power adapter because the US versions don't work over here.:rolleyes:

 

[KP the nut]

UK price for basic Kindle £69.

Cath, H went for the Kindle Touch for me. I love it, I can hold it in one hand as it is so light and use a finger from that hand to touch the screen to turn the page. I know it sounds pathetic but sometimes my shoulder hurts so much turning a page is painful.

Also, if you want a cover, buy from ebay. I bought a lovely red leather cover for £5.95, much cheaper than in the shops.