tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-159372775162367742024-03-04T20:14:48.440-08:00The Unapologetic ReaderOne of my favorite quotes from library school was "Be an unapologetic reader". Don't listen to the nay sayers who say "That isn't really reading". Anything you read is 'reading'. From the newspaper to blogs, from graphic novels to fanfiction. It's all reading. I hope to share insight into the world of books with reviews, news in the literary world, and what I'm unapologetically reading. Thank you for reading!Bandgeek252http://www.blogger.com/profile/03167182981966693604noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15937277516236774.post-27176156381088528952012-06-29T19:13:00.001-07:002012-06-29T19:13:53.071-07:00Willoughby's Return: A Review<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6522911-willoughby-s-return" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Willoughby's Return: A Tale of Almost Irresistible Temptation" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1266913416m/6522911.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6522911-willoughby-s-return">Willoughby's Return: A Tale of Almost Irresistible Temptation</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1029317.Jane_Odiwe">Jane Odiwe</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/358312690">1 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I was intrigued by this book and while I am a strong Brandon fan, I was interested to see how the author brought back the selfish Willoughby. <br /><br />Needless to say I wasn't too impressed. For one the author took far too long to get to the point. In a way that is fine for it shows the relationship of Brandon and Marianne better, but if you advertise it to be about Willoughby trying desperately to win Marianne back then the story should, I don't know, be about Marianne and Willoughby a bit more than a party here and a meeting there. It took 3/4 of the book for the author to bring about anything of interest. While I liked seeing Marianne grow up a bit, she wasn't the main character I was absolutely annoyed with. <br /><br />I don't know what possessed this author to turn Margret into a cookie cutter of her older sister, Marianne, but she did! Margret was one of my favorite supporting characters because she was adventerous and bold. She never understood social niceities and was always honest. Now Margret has grown up and she basically admits she wants a romance with a man like Willoughby. Partly I am to blame for my dislike since I envisioned Margret with a Captain or another adventurer. I had always thought she would be anxious to get out and see the world not caring if it was by marriage or her own way, she would seek out her own adventure out of life. It wouldn't bother me quite so much if the author had stuck true the Margret I knew from the book. Instead this author basically turns her into Marianne and in love with Willoughby 2.0. And what made me crazy was that the guy that I would have thought to be perfect for her freedom loving ways, she dismissed as nothing but a brother like male. Ugh! <br /><br />If you're going to write Jane Austin Fiction then at least have the respect to not reinvent the characters, but try to stick true to their original backgrounds. Don't like it then write your own blasted story and leave Miss Austin's characters alone!
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/4589120-amanda">View all my reviews</a>Bandgeek252http://www.blogger.com/profile/03167182981966693604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15937277516236774.post-42300583291703581552012-06-29T19:11:00.002-07:002012-06-29T19:12:07.055-07:00One for the Money: A Review<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6853.One_For_The_Money" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="One For The Money (Stephanie Plum, #1)" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1316730230m/6853.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6853.One_For_The_Money">One For The Money</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2384.Janet_Evanovich">Janet Evanovich</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/358319811">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Let me say that I am not a mystery reader. Romance and comedy are my more comfortable genres, but this book had me rolling on the floor laughing. I don't think I have ever laughed that hard when Grandma shot the chicken at dinner. I actually cried. Real tears. <br /><br />I listened to this on Audiobook and have to say that it was great. Lori Petty did the voice and she was brilliant. She pulled off Jersey and Italian very nicely. And why wasn't she asked to play in the movie. I thought she would have done a great job. K.H. doesn't even have the Jersey accent. I may or may not see the movie. I don't think I'll like it b/c the entire time I'll be envisioning Lori Petty as Stephanie. And while I'm on a casting rant, the woman who played Sophia on the Golden Girls would have made a badass Grandma! <br /><br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/4589120-amanda">View all my reviews</a>Bandgeek252http://www.blogger.com/profile/03167182981966693604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15937277516236774.post-63992665224893315312012-05-19T16:42:00.000-07:002012-05-19T16:42:13.212-07:00Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor: A Didn't Even Finish Book Review<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7989800-christmas-eve-at-friday-harbor" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor (Friday Harbor, #1)" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1311986449m/7989800.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7989800-christmas-eve-at-friday-harbor">Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/27847.Lisa_Kleypas">Lisa Kleypas</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/328194939">1 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
This is the second Kleypas book I've picked up and could not finish. My major complaints are <br /><br />1. Too short! This I've noticed is a common complaint. <br />2. Because it is too short there wasn't enough time to get invested in the characters.<br />3. The characters were bland and dare I say, boring. It was just after the first three to four chapters, I usually fall in love with her characters. That just doesn't happen in this book. <br /><br />I had just finished reading for the fifth time, Love in the Afternoon. Where the characters are witty and interesting to this where the characters are kind of bland and stale. I hope that the next books in the series had more character development and better, more interesting characters. <br /><br />I'm kind of hoping that she finishes this series and moves on to something else with better characters.
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/4589120-amanda">View all my reviews</a>Bandgeek252http://www.blogger.com/profile/03167182981966693604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15937277516236774.post-47380192614721375782012-02-26T20:01:00.001-08:002012-02-26T20:01:45.129-08:00It Happened One Autumn: A Review<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/827412.It_Happened_One_Autumn" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="It Happened One Autumn (Wallflowers, #2)" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1298661793m/827412.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/827412.It_Happened_One_Autumn">It Happened One Autumn</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/27847.Lisa_Kleypas">Lisa Kleypas</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/284680863">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I tried this book once before and I couldn't get into it. After reading 'Secrets of a Summer' I found Lillian and Westcliff to be so dynamically hilarious I had to take another look and I'm not sorry I did. I could relate a lot to Lillian. She is one of the few historical female leads I have been able to really get behind due to her unconquerable spirit and sharp wit.
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<br/>Lillian is the next Wallflower in line and it doesn't start well. From playing Rounders with some service boys to arguing openly with Lord Westcliff, it doesn't appear that anyone else Marcus Westcliff himself would ever propose to her. Thankfully that doesn't get Miss Lillian Bowman down.
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<br/>Despite Westcliff's apparent charm, his male egotistical 'I'm the Lord and Master' attitude got under my skin. I was tickled pink that Lillian didn't back down or let him get away with it without a thorough tongue lashing. I cheered her on with several 'You go girl!'s. My husband must have thought I was nuts.
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<br/>All in all I loved this story. Kleypas, once again, shines with colorful characters, humorous scenes, and lovely steamy scenes that I can't seem to get enough of. I am kind of happy that she didn't kill St. Vincent since I adore him in 'Devil in Winter'.
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/4589120-amanda">View all my reviews</a>Bandgeek252http://www.blogger.com/profile/03167182981966693604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15937277516236774.post-16932424411998239292012-02-01T07:31:00.000-08:002012-02-01T07:31:02.910-08:00Lady Sophia's Lover: A Review<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/197743.Lady_Sophia_s_Lover" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Lady Sophia's Lover (Bow Street Runners, #2)" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1316468537m/197743.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/197743.Lady_Sophia_s_Lover">Lady Sophia's Lover</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/27847.Lisa_Kleypas">Lisa Kleypas</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/270806278">3 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I would have enjoyed this book more had I not read 'Worth Any Price' first. I knew what would eventually happen, but that is not to say that the book was completely wasted. I loved Ross' character. He always had such a solid head on his shoulders. Not like other men in historical romances who go off in jealous rages or fall into melodrama. Ross and Sophia's romance was touching and hot!
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<br/>The story goes like this... Lady Sophia Sydney would do anything to ensnare the unattainable Sir Ross Cannon. Her goal -- to ruin his reputation and cause a scandal that would be the talk of all London. So she insinuates herself into his life by gaining his trust and living in his house.
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<br/>The story quickly switches gears from her desire to destroy him to her desire to bed him. Her secretiveness is hardly shown and maybe that is because Sophia never had it in her for revenge in the first place. Not my favorite of the Bow Street Runners, but still enjoyable and worth a read. And I would recommend if you don't want the suspense ruined, I'd read this before 'Worth Any Price'.
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/4589120-amanda">View all my reviews</a>Bandgeek252http://www.blogger.com/profile/03167182981966693604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15937277516236774.post-16645221154911169492012-02-01T07:22:00.000-08:002012-02-01T07:22:23.539-08:00Lone Warrior: A Review<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1307816.Lone_Warrior" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Lone Warrior" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1182654443m/1307816.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1307816.Lone_Warrior">Lone Warrior</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13375.Bobbi_Smith">Bobbi Smith</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/270802778">3 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Marissa is captured by a Comanche raiding party. Believing everyone including her traveling companion Louise are dead she keeps hope that she can find a way out of this mess. She doesn't understand why she was taken, but she soon finds out. Ten Crows, the chief, has two sons Bear Claw and Wind Ryder who are at war with each other. In a vision Ten Crows believes that Marissa, the Shining Spirit, will make peace between Ten Crows' legitimate son Bear Claw and his white son Wind Ryder, a fellow captive himself.
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<br/>The only trouble is Wind doesn't want her! He has put his white identity so far behind him seeing her white skin and blond hair shakes him deeply. Both are struck by a curious passion that neither was expecting, but both have to be willing to surrender to.
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<br/>It was a pretty quick and enjoyable read. I liked Ten Crows for the most part. Bear Claw was the bitter villain who just couldn't let it lie. There was a smooth plot, interesting characters and enjoyable love scenes. Not really worth a re-read, but still an enjoyable read.
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/4589120-amanda">View all my reviews</a>Bandgeek252http://www.blogger.com/profile/03167182981966693604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15937277516236774.post-87928110884490687532012-01-27T13:16:00.001-08:002012-01-27T13:16:50.436-08:00Tempt Me at Twilight: A Review<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6264710-tempt-me-at-twilight" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Tempt Me at Twilight (The Hathaways, #3)" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1311970573m/6264710.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6264710-tempt-me-at-twilight">Tempt Me at Twilight</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/27847.Lisa_Kleypas">Lisa Kleypas</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/268584633">2 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
This is one of lowest ratings I have given a Kleypas book that I have actually finished. It makes me sad to do so, but nothing within me could honestly give more than 2 stars.
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<br/>The story's synopsis is Poppy Hathaway is the compassionate, almost to a fault, member of her unconventional family. After three seasons in London society, she is still unmarried, but she has a hope that Bayning will propose to her despite his father's objections. That is until Harry Rutledge catches her lurking about his hotel. In that moment the man who got everything he wanted set his sights on the sweet Poppy who wanted nothing more out of life but to be loved and live a life of peace. Ruthless and almost cruelly selfish he manipulates Bayning's father and Bayning himself so that Poppy will fall into his arms. And despite her family's objections, Poppy, for some unknown reason, accepts Harry's proposal.
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<br/>There are several issues I have with this book. The first is that Harry is so cunning and manipulative he is almost disgusting. As striking and attractive Kleypas tried to make him, nothing can change how he used everything in his power to manipulate and bend her to his will. That kind of submissive/dominant behavior should be reserved for the bedroom only. The second issue I have is that Poppy in a desperate attempt to love her husband, as deeply as she loves her family has to sacrifice EVERYTHING she said she wanted out of life. She hates London, but lives in the hotel with Harry and acts happy about it. She can be shy and awkward, but suddenly after she's married she is popular and socialable. The third issue I have is that while Harry, admirably?, does want her to want intimacy, he arrogantly wants her to just bend to his will. He is such a man. He wants a willing warm woman, but wants her exactly how he wants her to be. That's not love! That's control. He cared very little for her pain, her loss of love, and being detached from her loving, affectionate family. She is so willing to be controlled it made me want to put the book down and not take another look at it. But since I paid money for it, I supposed I should get my couple bucks worth out of it. Bottom line, while I like the Hathaways (a lot), I didn't care for Poppy and Harry's love story. I liked them better in "Married by Morning". There Harry wasn't nearly as controlling and manipulative. Ruthless, yes, but not so selfishly cruel and demeaning.
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/4589120-amanda">View all my reviews</a>Bandgeek252http://www.blogger.com/profile/03167182981966693604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15937277516236774.post-49484236871021638932012-01-26T15:18:00.000-08:002012-01-26T15:18:09.403-08:00Sweetwood Bride: A Review<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/692929.Sweetwood_Bride" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Sweetwood Bride" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1223638246m/692929.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/692929.Sweetwood_Bride">Sweetwood Bride</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/34160.Pamela_Morsi">Pamela Morsi</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/268173945">3 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Stuck inbetween a rock and a hard place trying to keep her family together after both her parents are gone, Eulie Toby, an innocent optimistic simpleton, concocts a brilliant plan. She leads the town to believe that Moss Collier has knocked her up and will not marry her. So in the first chapter, Moss is wed with a shotgun aimed at his back. Furious, as anyone would be, Moss has other plans. He dreams of Texas and herding cattle, not farming in the Tennessee hills. When her five siblings meet him, Moss quickly realizes why she lied. Determined with as much sunshine happy optimism as she can muster, Eulie is determined to be the wife Moss deserves.
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<br/>The side characters were given an unusual but enjoyable amount of attention as Eulie learns that while she might have lied with good intentions, trying to control others isn't the way to earn family love. As Moss's dream of Texas is fading into a future with Eulie.
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<br/>While I have a hard time getting into women (female leads) who lie, Morsi showed the reason for the lie. She does well writing the side characters and their back stories. I liked how the family's conflicts resolved themselves, but I do wish Moss had more closure with his dream of going to Texas. I didn't feel it as resolved as everyone else's conflicts.
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<br/>It's a decent read. Eulie's character is a sweet simpleton that may annoy some, but I wasn't too bothered by it. What wouldn't some of us do for family.
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/4589120-amanda">View all my reviews</a>Bandgeek252http://www.blogger.com/profile/03167182981966693604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15937277516236774.post-37236459148511612952012-01-18T08:21:00.000-08:002012-01-18T08:21:27.000-08:001984 meets 2012This, I have to say, scares the crap out of me! Stop SOPA and PIPA. The voting begins January 24th so speak out against Internet censorship.<br />
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<a href="https://www.google.com/landing/takeaction/" target="_blank">Google's Stand</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.reddit.com/" target="_blank">Reddit's Stand</a><br />
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page" target="_blank">Wikipedia's Stand</a><br />
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What these media/information sites are all saying is that SOPA AND PIPA ARE A BAD IDEA! Speak out, contact your local congresspeople and tell them to vote it down. We do not want to end up like China, North Korea, or Iran where their information is controlled by the government. That's not America's way.<br />
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<br />Bandgeek252http://www.blogger.com/profile/03167182981966693604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15937277516236774.post-3440502522297034742012-01-14T07:48:00.000-08:002012-01-14T07:48:55.512-08:006010 Library Visit Final PresentationThis is a presentation I did for my LIS 6010 Introduction to the Profession. The assignment was to look at two libraries and compare/contrast their attributes. I focused most of my interview on the general attitudes and overall general approach/vision of each library rather than on technical bits of information.<br />
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<a href="https://docs.google.com/open?id=1AqS-cYuJB5oI_L2CegYJmO5kzAVlKvpNbQaSHs2jW0fTa7mX8KmKZ5MImIp4" target="_blank">Library Visit 6010</a><br />
This is through GoogleDocs. <br />
<br />Bandgeek252http://www.blogger.com/profile/03167182981966693604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15937277516236774.post-57468010340527634512012-01-13T09:12:00.001-08:002012-01-13T09:12:36.457-08:00Maid to Match: Review<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6973771-maid-to-match" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Maid to Match" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1258611802m/6973771.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6973771-maid-to-match">Maid to Match</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/52609.Deeanne_Gist">Deeanne Gist</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/137793593">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
This is one of my favorite Christian Historical Fiction writers for her historical accuracy and her light Christian ranting, but this one fell a little flat in the romance department. I really couldn't feel the romance between the two main characters. The side characters were wonderfully funny and light, but the two main ones were a touch half baked. I enjoyed the story but probably wouldn't re-read it. Great if you want a cute little romance with a Christian background and neat historical details.
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/4589120-amanda">View all my reviews</a>Bandgeek252http://www.blogger.com/profile/03167182981966693604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15937277516236774.post-85214315747591803442012-01-13T09:10:00.001-08:002012-01-13T09:10:53.386-08:00Smooth Talking Stranger: A Review<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4066312-smooth-talking-stranger" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Smooth Talking Stranger (Travises, #3)" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1312013066m/4066312.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4066312-smooth-talking-stranger">Smooth Talking Stranger</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/27847.Lisa_Kleypas">Lisa Kleypas</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/240813565">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I find that I love this author. Witty and hot! But this book I had to force myself through the first three chapters because there was no one in the book I liked initially beside the protagonist. The Mother, boyfriend, cousin, and even the sister had me just wanting to put the book down and forget it, but patience paid off as the author moved away from those characters and on to very fun and enjoyable characters that sold me on the book. All in all, pretty good, but I think I will go back to her historical romances. They seem to be more my flavor.
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/4589120-amanda">View all my reviews</a>Bandgeek252http://www.blogger.com/profile/03167182981966693604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15937277516236774.post-25910805648217625082012-01-13T09:08:00.000-08:002012-01-13T09:08:22.090-08:00Suddenly You: A Review<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/161910.Suddenly_You" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Suddenly You" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1298455811m/161910.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/161910.Suddenly_You">Suddenly You</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/27847.Lisa_Kleypas">Lisa Kleypas</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/240011358">2 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I knew deep down I wasn't going to like this book, but thought what hey I'll try and and see if I like it. I found the romance a little bit stale while the action was steamy. I did not like Jack very much at all. I found his character to be manipulative and beyond arrogant. I could only read about 200 pages of it before I set it down and couldn't finish it. I liked Amanda alright. I found her an interesting roll of modern woman (not historically accurate, not by a long shot) and vulnerability. I think this could have been better if it was written in modern times, but I probably still wouldn't have finished it since I didn't care for Jack too much.
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/4589120-amanda">View all my reviews</a>Bandgeek252http://www.blogger.com/profile/03167182981966693604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15937277516236774.post-82241891963463471052012-01-04T09:12:00.000-08:002012-01-04T09:12:31.861-08:00The Admiral's Penniless Bride: A Review<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8676331-the-admiral-s-penniless-bride" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="The Admiral's Penniless Bride" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1287632757m/8676331.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8676331-the-admiral-s-penniless-bride">The Admiral's Penniless Bride</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/36636.Carla_Kelly">Carla Kelly</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/244123570">2 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
This book left almost a sawdust taste in my mouth. Not so repugnant that I want to vomit, but it wasn't pleasant to say the least! The beginning had an interesting hook.
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<br/>Sally Paul is sipping on her last penny when Admiral Sir Charles Bright notices her and hatches a plan. He needs a wife and his first choice has stood him up so when he notices that she is without means he proposes a marriage of convenience. At first she says no, but then realizes it's marriage to the one handed man (the other hand has a hook) or the workhouse.
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<br/>It starts out sweet, but then kind of turns stale towards the middle. I was a little bit thrown by the book burning scene since I am an avid fan of books no matter how horrible they may seem, but I tried to take it into context. My main beef with this book is the love scenes. I know some authors struggle to write romantic love scenes, but she almost avoided them entirely. I have no problem with a shy writer, but I almost wanted to scream, "Man up! And write a decent love scene!"
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<br/>The author struggled with the telling of the story. It almost felt as if she was trying to write it as a movie would show. I've read fanfiction writers who can pull this off better than she did! You have to write so the reader knows what the hell is going on. The story didn't start to get good until the last thirty pages. It felt rushed and poorly told at the end. Excellent beginning, but a stale middle and rushed end made it sit uneasy with me and so I gave it a 2 star rating.
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<br/>It's a quick read so if you want to check it out, go ahead... it's an easy read. And there were some enjoyable bits to it. I think I would have enjoyed it more had the secondary characters been better developed, the story told better with smoother transitions, and not so rushed at the end.
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/4589120-amanda">View all my reviews</a>Bandgeek252http://www.blogger.com/profile/03167182981966693604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15937277516236774.post-15594101271701333472011-12-26T08:09:00.001-08:002011-12-26T08:09:53.467-08:00Star Bright: A Review<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3265268-star-bright" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Star Bright (Kendrick/Coulter/Harrigan #9)" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1267896650m/3265268.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3265268-star-bright">Star Bright</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/51304.Catherine_Anderson">Catherine Anderson</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/251228642">3 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I wanted to give this more stars, but couldn't. I liked the beginning. It was gripping and interesting. I could feel her panic and anxiety throughout most of the book, but where it feel short with me was it moved too slow. I find with Catherine Anderson books that they are generally way too long for what she writes about.
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<br/>Faking her own death to escape her murderous husband, Rainie Hall takes refuge in the rural community of Crystal Falls, where she finds work as a bookkeeper on a horse ranch run by dangerously good-looking Parker Harrigan. But as their initial attraction blossoms, Rainie fears she can never escape retribution from the man who has sworn to kill herand that her mere presence could jeopardize everything the Harrigan family holds dear.
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<br/>I liked Rainie and Parker. I thought they were sweet, but the characters seemed like they were two dimensional trying to be three dimensional. And not quite pulling it off. Towards the end I kept skipping pages hoping it would just end. I think I'm going to stop reading Catherine Anderson for a while. She seems to do this a lot with her characters.
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/4589120-amanda">View all my reviews</a>Bandgeek252http://www.blogger.com/profile/03167182981966693604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15937277516236774.post-57551033405799473252011-12-23T07:27:00.000-08:002011-12-23T07:27:59.360-08:00Morning Light: A Review<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1702448.Morning_Light" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Morning Light (Kendrick/Coulter/Harrigan #8)" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1213391756m/1702448.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1702448.Morning_Light">Morning Light</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/51304.Catherine_Anderson">Catherine Anderson</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/250383208">1 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I couldn't even finish it! It had a great plot and interesting characters, but it didn't need to be 300-400 pages long! Seriously! 200 pages and that would have been it. I liked Loni and thought she was very interesting, but Anderson took WAY too much time getting this guys together while trying to find the boy. Are you trying to find the boy or are you trying to hook up??
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<br/>The story goes like this... a woman with the second sight has a vision about a boy lost in the woods and believes it is Clint's son. Only Clint tells her, he doesn't have a son. Turns out... maybe he does. Well the boy is lost in the woods with his trusty dog and Loni believes that only Clint can find him with her help.
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<br/>Sounds it should be gripping and intense, right? But it's not. The beginning is rolling and then half way through I hit a dead end. Nothing was going on. I kept flipping through pages hoping that somewhere it'd pick up and get good again, but it didn't. So I put it down and let it go. I have to say when it comes to Catherine Anderson, she either hits it on the head and it's awesome or it's so horrible I can barely finish it.
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/4589120-amanda">View all my reviews</a>Bandgeek252http://www.blogger.com/profile/03167182981966693604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15937277516236774.post-62742808582777786882011-12-23T07:15:00.000-08:002011-12-23T07:28:22.130-08:00Annie's Song: A Review<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/659600.Annie_s_Song" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Annie's Song" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1213912722m/659600.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/659600.Annie_s_Song">Annie's Song</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/51304.Catherine_Anderson">Catherine Anderson</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/245885201">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
Everyone seems to think that Annie is a moron including the town's meanest drunk. After he rapes her and thinks nothing of it, his older brother steps in to offer his help. With Annie now pregnant and her parents more concerned about scandal than their own daughter's welfare Alex decides to marry her. Only after a few weeks he realizes she isn't an idiot, but deaf.
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<br/>It was a hard read in the beginning just because there wasn't one character besides Annie and Maddy that I liked. I thought everyone in this book was horribly selfish. After Alex finally realizes that he can help her, things improve and Annie grows to love and trust him.
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<br/>It was a quick read and one of Catherine Anderson's better books.
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/4589120-amanda">View all my reviews</a>Bandgeek252http://www.blogger.com/profile/03167182981966693604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15937277516236774.post-38345603329232184672011-12-20T06:21:00.000-08:002011-12-23T07:28:48.656-08:00Lily and the Major: A Review<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/386751.Lily_and_the_Major" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img alt="Lily and the Major (Orphan Train, #1)" border="0" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1174357062m/386751.jpg" /></a><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/386751.Lily_and_the_Major">Lily and the Major</a> by <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6223.Linda_Lael_Miller">Linda Lael Miller</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/245534184">2 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
I wanted to like this book, but Lily was kind of a combination of my favorite kind of character and my least favorite character and I just couldn't like it. I did finish it. I was getting literary whiplash from the two of them going Yes-No-Yes-Yes-No and so on and so forth. One minute she is proud and ambitious and then next he is using her. I did not like this male lead whatsoever! He was far too commanding and not in the sexy way.
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<br/>I hated how everyone was saying "Marry him" when all he was offering was her to be his mistress. For real!!! I wanted to see a stronger female lead and she had all the potential to be one, but she just didn't get there. I had read Emma and the Outlaw before this and thought that was slightly better. I don't mind a touch of indecisive in characters, but it can't be the whole fecking book.
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<br/>If you need to finish the series then fine read it, but if you want enjoyable characters skip this and go to the other two. I plan on reading Caroline and the Raider and hope that those two are better written than these two.
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/4589120-amanda">View all my reviews</a>Bandgeek252http://www.blogger.com/profile/03167182981966693604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15937277516236774.post-61647069439284642212011-10-17T07:33:00.000-07:002011-10-17T07:33:23.614-07:00Killing Librarianship<a href="http://lisnews.org/killing_librarianship">Killing Librarianship</a><br /><br />This may seem like an hour wasted, but for me it was an hour well spent indeed. I found this on my Google Reader a few weeks ago and just had to share. David Lankes offers some insight into how to keep librarianship alive. This fresh and entertaining perspective was most enjoyable to listen while working on my homework. So well I was able to use it in an assignment that week. Libraries are dying for ideas... dying being the operative word here. If an hour is time you just don't have I recommend the first ten minutes. Check your email while you listen and enjoy some chuckles as Lankes offers options into having libraries not only survive, but thrive with INNOVATION!Bandgeek252http://www.blogger.com/profile/03167182981966693604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15937277516236774.post-79086360032576282502011-10-16T17:02:00.000-07:002011-10-16T17:02:05.190-07:00E-Books: Business Models for the Future<div align="left">
Most everyone wants to get excited about E-Books and who
wouldn't? Those cute little Kindles or swanky new Nooks all appeal to
the avid reader. I wanted a place where I could pick and chose what I
was reading at the time without having to carry eight books with me,
which I have done before. Yet libraries are playing the “Red Light Green
Light” game with the idea of E-Books in the collection especially
public libraries due to the headaches of the digital business models.
When it comes to purchasing and acquiring digital books, it can be
literal nightmare. While publishers and distributors have tried to make
workable business models for the acquisition of digital books, there has
yet to be a model that truly captures what both sides are looking for.
While I will not promote myself as a business model expert here, I offer
these two business models to examine the heart of the conflict and how
it can be improved.</div>
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<div align="left">
First let's look at what is in practice today. In an interview with <em>Library Journal</em>'s
Katie Dunneback HarperCollins's Josh Marwell discusses the current
business model they are using. HarperCollins is using a twenty six
checkout limit model (Carmin, Dunneback, and Sheehan, 2011, October 1).
Even he confessed that it was a “work in progress”, but that is
completely unacceptable for a broad spectrum of books and genres. True
some books may not use up that checkout limit for a few years, but there
are many books especially in the bestseller and children's areas that
exceed that checkout limit very quickly. They admit this model is not
the best. So what are some other options?</div>
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<div align="left">
<strong>Scenario 1: The Netflix Model </strong></div>
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<div align="left">
One of the first ones that popped into my head was
Netflix. Despite being under heavy fire the past few months their
business model was a sound one. Much like how library reference
databases work, libraries who want to use the collective database have
to pay a subscription fee. Netflix took an awkward online database and
made it very user friendly. Users can find exactly what they like and if
it is not offered then the user can recommend it to be purchased. This
aspect of browseability lends itself to be an attractive feature for
libraries who are constantly trying to find that perfect match.</div>
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<div align="left">
The model would be a collaborative feat of epic
proportions bring together distributors and publishers, librarians, and
users to allow licenses for as many digital books that people can
download. This model would offer unlimited check outs for everyone. Two
people can check out the same book at the same time unlike Overdrive
where it is one digital book per checkout. Offering that option to
libraries will mean that users will be able to see what is out there and
do not have to wait for the next person to check it out. Libraries can
subscribe to the service and allow their local branches to use it. The
libraries who benefit the most will be the ones who use it the most. DRM
would be protected by the same software that deletes the E-Book after a
it's checkout time limit. This idea has been explored through the use
of Overdrive, but this would be on a much larger scale. The collection
would be the largest collaborative force ever. Much like Netflix's work
with movie distributors, this business model would work in a similar
fashion.</div>
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<div align="left">
The attractive pros for this feature is fantastic user
friendly browseability that will have patrons looking at the library
with renewed appreciation. One of the most irritating feature of E-Books
in libraries is the confusing and complicated browsing features that
leave most patrons ready to just buy the E-Book outright from either
Amazon or Barnes and Noble. Especially if they have a Kindle since only
until recently Amazon did not let their E-Readers read anything, but
proprietary Amazon approved books.</div>
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<div align="left">
Another pro to this is the Netflix concept of instant
gratification. Netflix started out with DVDs traveling to people in the
mail and then the users were able to keep it for as long as they want
for no late fees which we all remember what a pain those were. Now
Netflix has shifted their business model from a DVD focused to an online
focus. They sought to create a business where all content would be
found online and they are working on that model. This instant
gratification will allow library users the ability to check out E-Books
from anywhere at anytime. From their public library to their home,
patrons will have the opportunity to find a book and check it out
instantaneously.</div>
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<div align="left">
Another pro is the ease of pricing. One price to access
the collection and no check out limits! This way the libraries who use
the service more will reap the benefits of the service. That gives the
librarians an element of control. They can market and promote their
services to boost their uses. This also eliminates the wacky pricing
models that have been proposed before. Instead of complex pricing
strategies there is one blanket price that can be made affordable as
more people join.</div>
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<div align="left">
On the other hand this would be the possible pricing
options headache. Libraries differ in size and budgets, but would have
to either pay the same price or use pay tiers to be able to tap into
this service. This could add some confusion, but allow some latitude
with smaller libraries so they are able to provide the similar services.
Similar to how Netflix uses there Unlimited Streaming package,
libraries could be offered affordable options to the collection. This
may mean limited the amount of uses or the genres of the collection. It
would take negotiations and strong trust to ensure that everyone was
being offered a fair chance at the collection.</div>
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<div align="left">
Another con is who would run it? Netflix is a third
party that negotiates licensing with film companies to add to their
collection. Would this be the best route for an E-Book collaborative
collection? And who would take on such an endeavor as to be the go
between libraries and publishers? To answer that question, I am not sure
who could take on that. If a third party were to take this database on,
there would be a lot more headaches in deciding who got what and how
much. The upside to this would be if there was a third party, they would
be able to negotiate the best deals out publishers and libraries.</div>
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<div align="left">
This brings me to my final con of this scenario and that
is this idea is enormous. So huge that it would take more power than
possible to maintain. While libraries collectively make up large numbers
in the United States, these libraries all act and spend their budgets
in different ways. There is no overlord of the libraries telling them
what individual libraries can and cannot spend their money on. Not to
mention the scores of publishing houses out there. There are many
publishers out there and they all follow their own mission statements
and prospective vision. To seek a distributor such as Amazon to undergo
this project might help, but as we have seen with Amazon thus far is
that they do not like to share either devices or technology.</div>
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<div align="left">
On the other hand, maybe instead of seeing this be the
model we should have in the next four to eight years, a highly unlikely
scenario, we see this as a model to aspire to eventually. This business
model would be a glimpse of the future. A possible future that we could
tweak to our specifications. It is helpful that Netflix has made some
mistakes with this model and so librarians and publishers can learn from
these.</div>
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<div align="left">
<strong>Scenario 2: The Physical Equivalent Model</strong></div>
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<div align="left">
This model is based off the premise that physical and
digital books are equal beings just stuck in a differing format. If the
argument holds water then publishers should not have a check out limit
per say of their digital copies. This means that libraries and even
users should be able to purchase the E-Books out right and own them, not
have them merely licensed to them. One of the biggest annoyances of
digital collections to librarians is the fact that they do not have any
control over the digital books they acquire. Most books come with an
expiration date. A date that under normal wear and tear needs to be
replaced. The number of uses these paperback or hardcover books go
through before the need to be replaced differs with each situation, but
with a little math a number could be found and it would be quite a bit
larger than the twenty six HarperCollins seems to deem appropriate. The
number statisticians would find (and there is a way to figure that out)
would be the number of checkouts a digital copy of a book would be
bought for and then libraries would simply repurchase the book the
again.</div>
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<div align="left">
This gives the library a small sense of ownership. John
Dupuis states that “If I have a digital file and I say I want to share
it, that's great. But to somehow to say I can only share it with a
certain number of people for a certain period of time is absurd.” (2011,
March 3). Digital copies are simply physical copies in a different
format. It is DRM and publishers who want to make everything separate.
To the user a digital copy is not all that different from a physical
copy. They buy the digital copy and get for how many uses they would get
out of the physical copy. This would keep the publishers from robbing
libraries blind by forcing them to constantly repurchase books they
already had bought. The good and bad thing about digital books is that
they are intangible so they cannot get ripped or torn or wear out like a
physical copy can. This has publishers crying and gnashing their teeth
at the thought of not being able to sell more copies later down the
road. Dupuis also noted that “Libraries potentially blow up the scarcity
of digital content by mutualizing community resources to share
purchased or licensed digital content.” (2011, March 3). Libraries offer
options that oppose publishers monetary aims and that can cause some
tension. While understandable, it can get a little silly when they
restrict E-Book circulation and not a physical book's circulation.</div>
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<div align="left">
This is a chart of librarians' opinions across the board
for models preferred. Most of the offered models today have a 32%
preferred rating for Public Libraries and less for both school libraries
and academic libraries. This shows that librarians would like more
access and freedom when it comes to their collections. The best models
libraries like seem to be where they have unlimited access or have the
digital book treated like its physical counterpart.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSz1tu5A5PgNfzaM_VNXpIuXuXuKBsvJRnRQGzj4awPeIAJ1w7tMq2zc7yTlVQX2-T7nQDkQ6lgunx8Ga8f4NCt4Z-Wj2ZcMbOfmlKPt_lyBN3ZWP8wedauUn0cqq8FtgvZc91CA3-9w/s1600/pic+for+wiki.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSz1tu5A5PgNfzaM_VNXpIuXuXuKBsvJRnRQGzj4awPeIAJ1w7tMq2zc7yTlVQX2-T7nQDkQ6lgunx8Ga8f4NCt4Z-Wj2ZcMbOfmlKPt_lyBN3ZWP8wedauUn0cqq8FtgvZc91CA3-9w/s320/pic+for+wiki.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="left">
(Singer, I. 2011, October 13).</div>
<br />
<div align="left">
Now it is true that many librarians do believe that
digital content is different than physical copies, but I would argue
that to the user they are not and to really ensure a good business
model, publishers and librarians need to think and see this from a
user's perspective as well. This was what caused Netflix so many
headaches in the past few months. They stopped looking at how their
customers were going to perceive their big transition (Bohyun Kim, 2011,
September 19). To avoid that, librarians and publishers must work
together to see that not only do they need to make good business
decisions for themselves, but also for the users. Patrons do not see a
difference between a physical copy of <em>Pride and Prejudice </em>and a digital copy. They are essentially the same thing.</div>
<br />
<div align="left">
The pricing would be different for Hardcovers and
Paperbacks since there is a difference in the physical copies in
quality. Hardcovers typically hold up longer than their paperbacks
counterparts. This could cause some confusion when placing orders, but
would be much easier to gauge by since E-Books essentially cost less to
produce.</div>
<br />
<div align="left">
There are some negatives to this scenario and one of
them is the individual purchasing. Not only do libraries have to
purchase an individual physical copy, but also a digital one. For a
library to purchase a book, they have one set of procedures to go
through, but to buy a digital copy they have a completely different
procedure to go through. Not only that, but keeping track of those
circulation end dates would be difficult to maintain. It is not like a
physical copy where the librarian can plainly see if he or she will have
to buy a new copy. A way to ease that would be to have strong
communications with publishers and distributors of the digital copies
and possibly some combination sales packages that publishers could offer
libraries.</div>
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<div align="left">
Another negative would be the math. The math would need
variables and those variable vary from library to library. While some
communities are able to keep books in good condition for years, other
communities may be quicker at destroying materials. This would have some
arguing that since these libraries repurchase items more frequently
than say another library that they should have less checkout times than
others. Since the digital book is not going to undergo any kind of 'wear
and tear' then all libraries should use the digital book the same.</div>
<br />
<div align="left">
All in all, I really like this business model, because
it helps everyone. Publishers win, because they get to place end dates
for their digital materials and DRM would still apply outside of library
circulation. Libraries would also win, because they would be able to
have some small sense of ownership for they would be able to add a
digital copy of a book to their collection and have for as long as their
physical counterparts. Since digital copies are typically less
expensive to create, the library could save money by investing in some
digital copies of their most popular books. Best of all, the users win,
because we get the greatest collection our library can offer for an
affordable price tag. If libraries offer more E-Books with an easy to
use card catalog, then users will use the library more often and that is
great for everyone.</div>
<br />
<div align="left">
Are these business models perfect? Heavens, no, but they
do offer some options and shed some light on the growing concerns of
librarians and publishers. The key to both of these scenarios is to work
together. Stop being greedy and work to provide the best possible
services for the users. Librarians have complex models for purchasing
and acquiring materials, but most are willing to brave the dark depths
of the digital world for their patrons. Publishers do not want to get
left behind in the dust by E-Books, but have to remember that libraries
do provide a great service and if a patron really likes a book then
chances are they are going to buy it. Despite my love of free services
at the library, I have purchased several books because I loved it so
much. These models offer food for thought. Who knows, my posting here
might inspire someone else who then inspires someone else and from there
launches one of these models better than I ever imagined.</div>
<br />
<div align="center">
References</div>
<br />
<div align="left" style="margin-left: 40.8px;">
Albrecht, C. (2009, February 6). Netflix: It Feels Like the First Time. <em>Bloomberg Businessweek</em>. Retrieved from: <a href="http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/feb2009/tc2009025_446813.htm">http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/feb2009/tc2009025_446813.htm</a></div>
<br />
<div align="left" style="margin-left: 40.8px;">
<span style="color: black;">Carmin, J., Dunneback, K., Sheehan, K. (2011, October 1). Our Ebook Future, The Digital Shift. </span><span style="color: black;"><em>Library Journal.</em></span><span style="color: black;"> Retrieved from: <a href="http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/home/891898-264/our_ebook_future__the.html.csp">http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/home/891898-264/our_ebook_future__the.html.csp</a> </span></div>
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<div align="left" style="margin-left: 40.8px;">
<a href="" name="a169309"></a> <span style="color: black;">Dupuis, J. (2011, March 3). Towards a library ebook business model that makes sense. Retrieved from: <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/confessions/2011/03/towards_an_ebook_business_mode.php">http://scienceblogs.com/confessions/2011/03/towards_an_ebook_business_mode.php</a> </span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" style="margin-left: 40.8px;">
<span style="color: black;">Kim,
B. (2011, September 19). Netflix and Libraries: You Are What “Your
Users” Think You Are, Not What You Think You Are. Retrieved from: <a href="http://www.bohyunkim.net/blog/archives/1474">http://www.bohyunkim.net/blog/archives/1474</a> </span></div>
<br />
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-size: 100%;">Singer, I. (2011, October 13). </span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"><em>2011 Ebook Survey Overview Public, School and Academic Libraries</em></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-size: 100%;"> [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from: <a href="http://www.thedigitalshift.com/events/e-book-summit/">http://www.thedigitalshift.com/events/e-book-summit/</a> </span></span></span><div align="left">
<br /></div>Bandgeek252http://www.blogger.com/profile/03167182981966693604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15937277516236774.post-85001419445887128382011-10-16T16:57:00.000-07:002011-10-16T16:59:04.118-07:00DRM: The Darker Side of E-Books<div align="left">
There has been an explosion of new technologies in the
association of E-Books. Several years ago, it was nifty or kind of fun
to have an E-Reader and buying digital copies of books. Now E-Books are
finally hitting their stride, strutting about like the cool new kid on
the block. E-Books have found themselves a cozy home in American
society. Despite their appeal there is a dark side to this new format
and that is Digital Rights Management, known as DRM, which is
challenging libraries in their pursuit of information for all.</div>
<br />
<div align="left">
A lot of people may be confused about DRM. Its premise
is simple: it is the technologies put into digital media formats to
control who, how, and when digital formats may be used according to
their distributors (Agnew 2009). The goal of DRM is to protect the
creative copyright of the author/artist and the companies who hold the
rights to that. The danger that lurks with DRM is when those companies
who hold the copyrights begin to censor what users and libraries are
able to obtain.</div>
<br />
<div align="left">
For libraries, copyright and DRM have slightly different
meanings. According the American Library Association, libraries are
more affected by the business models those companies who hold DRM chose
to use than DRM technologies themselves (2011). The government
supporting these business model practices such as 'pay-per-use' in the
information industry is crippling libraries and other public
institutions ability to provide information for all (2011).</div>
<br />
<div align="left">
Distributors of media such as Apple or Amazon are very
particular when it comes to users using their products. Instead of
buying a CD or a book, you are licensing out the song or E-Book from the
distributor. That means when you buy something you still do not own it,
you are simply licensed to have it (Doctorow 2009). This is exactly
what distributors and publishers have done with E-Books. They use a 'pay
per use' license where libraries pay for a title to be used only a set
number of times and then they have to buy the title license again. A
library can purchase the physical book <i>Pride and Prejudice</i>, a
must have in a public library, and it can be checked out thousands of
times, but a digital copy of the same title-the exact same book in a
different format is only licensed to be checked out a set number of
times. This begs the question,where is the sense in all that? This
probably explains the on going headaches librarians are experiencing
when trying negotiate with publishers and distributors for E-Books.</div>
<br />
<div align="left">
To counteract with this massive 'control freak' vendetta
libraries are using multi-publisher to make E-Books available to the
public. Platforms like MyLibrary, OverDrive, EBL (recently purchased by
ProQuest), ebrary, and Net-Library (Herther, 2011). These services give a
small taste of digital books to library users, but as digital
collections grow these platforms may not be able to service the users'
demands. With publishers and distributors heightening their DRM control,
growing E-Book collections may come to a slow petty pace.</div>
<br />
<div align="left">
There is a certain amount of control people are
generally willing to accept, but push too far and these distributors and
publishers will have severe backlash. Just ask Amazon two years ago
when they deleted George Orwell's <i>1984</i> and <i>Animal Farm</i>
from people's Kindles despite the fact that the users had purchased the
E-Book legitimately from Amazon (Davies 2009). This blew up in Amazon's
face. People not only noticed their E-Book was deleted, but the title
was very telling as well. Most were offered an apology and a thirty
dollar check, but Michigan teen, Justin Gawronski, found that was not
enough when not only his copy of <i>1984</i> was deleted without
warrant, but all of his notes and annotations were deleted with it. He
sued Amazon and received a $150,000 settlement (2009).</div>
<br />
<div align="left">
How was Amazon able to do delete E-Books that people had
already paid for? That is part of DRM technologies. Now Amazon has put
into policy that they will not delete a product from Kindles without the
user's consent. Despite their policy they still have the ability to
delete items in certain circumstance which is quite an eye opener for
libraries. The implications of having that much control over purchased
materials is disturbing to libraries to say the least. This is just
another reminded that users do not actually own digital material, they
are licensed to have it. This begs the question what would it take for a
publisher or distributor to remotely at random delete a book from a
library collection?</div>
<br />
<div align="left">
This backlash is an example of when a copyright holder
takes DRM too far. Libraries should not be afraid to dive into E-books,
because they are a part of our patrons and users' lives and are going to
be a part of their future. That does not mean that libraries should
just tow the line and follow along to whatever distributors and
publishers demand. Libraries and librarians are collectively massive and
can use that to their advantage. Making sure that publishers and
distributors remember that while piracy is a big issue, they only
hurting themselves by not working with users and libraries. By molding
new business models librarians and publishers can find a middle ground
to improve browseability, increase collections, and possibly get rid of
the 'pay per use' model.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/aRfX2gPwXMo?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div align="left">
DRM has its place and libraries respect that, but not at the cost and freedoms of our users and patrons.</div>Bandgeek252http://www.blogger.com/profile/03167182981966693604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15937277516236774.post-69992637202895230622011-10-15T19:55:00.000-07:002011-10-15T19:56:37.163-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-mkp_RntUDfTsTOHmkizzZRIdkFmEKR4p3Hy3wVAC1o9M_HGO2r0T1Vnl_ADRii6SfZq1SVGHb7BnSSgXJDHFmjM26QXsFwHaL934UkAYPjMfnx6vNNXQrpLPLy-8RFTJSnks7jrWpA/s1600/pic+for+wiki.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-mkp_RntUDfTsTOHmkizzZRIdkFmEKR4p3Hy3wVAC1o9M_HGO2r0T1Vnl_ADRii6SfZq1SVGHb7BnSSgXJDHFmjM26QXsFwHaL934UkAYPjMfnx6vNNXQrpLPLy-8RFTJSnks7jrWpA/s320/pic+for+wiki.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663918490531606978" border="0" /></a>Bandgeek252http://www.blogger.com/profile/03167182981966693604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15937277516236774.post-2332580594566054902011-01-08T08:55:00.000-08:002011-01-08T09:43:48.752-08:00E-book fans rejoice<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirWQ7yx1W4UaZFkhS-EgD8i4WSmzvRqyCGnYY-8t_tnhNpg6m8_Tx9A2yxwBFYO5uQWIHFjcFo7DU9Ndc2Pc9dHzjq5GhllJgXGY_v9nhMCfngI_G309yXPYE4RFHoBQKe12nyFdCVZw/s1600/ion_1.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 310px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirWQ7yx1W4UaZFkhS-EgD8i4WSmzvRqyCGnYY-8t_tnhNpg6m8_Tx9A2yxwBFYO5uQWIHFjcFo7DU9Ndc2Pc9dHzjq5GhllJgXGY_v9nhMCfngI_G309yXPYE4RFHoBQKe12nyFdCVZw/s320/ion_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559871303300161490" border="0" /></a><br />Let me start by saying how much I am in love with the e-books. Now before everyone of the old school persuasion starts waving their pitchforks at my disregard for the physical presence of books, I love books... period! I own several bookcases full and love to have precious physical copies of my favorites, but digital books are a speedier way to pass on the written word. And I love the technological advances to copying and digitizing your book collection.<br /><br />There are so many books that I own which would be easier if I could put them in e-book form. I have so many mangas and small volumes of graphic novels which take up so much space in my bag. With this new machine coming out in March or April will make scanning your physical collection much easier.<br /><br />" Tap the Scan button and the spread is digitised and dropped onto an SD card, ready to be transferred to your computer. Each page is saved separately, thanks to the unit's two flash-equipped cameras." (Smith, 2010 para. 2).<br /><br />This will not only quicken the process of scanning your books, but also make it easier by having the scanned pages fall into a SD card which can easily be placed into most e-readers out there today! Although I seriously look forward to the premiere of this neat little gadget, I don't look forward to the price tag.<br /><br />For more information check out: http://www.reghardware.com/2011/01/07/ion_book_saver/Bandgeek252http://www.blogger.com/profile/03167182981966693604noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15937277516236774.post-72773482078337086842011-01-05T17:30:00.000-08:002011-01-05T18:25:05.330-08:00Stepping on Roses vol. 4: Every rose has its thorn<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhz_D4PfLjqBK2JYbZnFvgXeEku2lFl6dyJo_jGRlPoqncgJY0Glj6ym0HBZhiEoRqYcPWIaXyVzUp9YtrwO3cRfKZcfk94KK-cUIrkq3LUlIlrnbipqgNy-rC8toaU09-lFwKjNx0_w/s1600/51Wpy-l509L.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" 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Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">From fantastic manga artist, Rinko Ueda comes the story of Sumi Kitamura. From the back of the book, "When Sumi Kitamura's financial problems become dire, wealthy Soichiro Ashida enters her life with a bizarre proposition: he'll provide her with the money she so desperatrely need is she agrees to marry him. But is it worth giving up everything for this sham of a marriage?" </p> <p class="MsoNormal">After Natsuki, Soichiro's spying and manipulative cousin, sets his sights on destroying Soichiro's position as president and potentially ruin Sumi in the process, he looks to encourage Nozomu obsession and infatuation with Sumi. While Sumi and Soichiro's relationship seems to be become more tender and compassionate, Natsuki sends a spy disguised as a maid, Keiko is determined to find some dirt on Sumi and Soichiro. 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mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> </p><p class="MsoNormal">I have been looking forward to this issue for three to four months. I enjoy the budding romance of Soichiro and Sumi. The mystery thickens as Natsuki threatens to destroy all that Soichiro has been plotting and planning for years leaves the reader hopeful yet sullen over the success of Natsuki and Keiko. I anxiously await the next volume which is due out April 5, 2011. It's already pre-order! </p>Bandgeek252http://www.blogger.com/profile/03167182981966693604noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15937277516236774.post-7893874766563018782011-01-05T09:25:00.001-08:002011-01-05T09:28:39.530-08:00Head in the Clouds and reality too<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVLQAgcy6LmXoJEWZAMPIPJxm9xBaQRSrmUmjBgjUYtXpaE2B7wmYeBnKD8CchkkVLKYOAYnfGNLhtToYLAtoFVRcoh0LssXy7EdeAmWfih-gW_elS9x7gmAWPbCz8YyR_cg2iSaCOIw/s1600/53322306.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 207px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVLQAgcy6LmXoJEWZAMPIPJxm9xBaQRSrmUmjBgjUYtXpaE2B7wmYeBnKD8CchkkVLKYOAYnfGNLhtToYLAtoFVRcoh0LssXy7EdeAmWfih-gW_elS9x7gmAWPbCz8YyR_cg2iSaCOIw/s320/53322306.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558755028582725538" border="0" /></a><br /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> 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font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">A romantic idealist leaves everything she's ever known including a nice teaching position and hops on a train hoping to surprise her beau in his hometown, but what looks like a picture perfect romance turns horribly embarrassing for Adelaide Proctor. Alone in a strange city she finds an ad for the position of governess over a ward of Mr. Westcott on a sheep ranch. <span style=""> </span>She is chosen to watch over Isabella a five year old mute and is almost instantly infatuated with her employer, Gideon Westcott. As Adelaide slowly or rather quickly, in my opinion, opens up the world to, Isabella's villainous Uncle Reginald reappears to seek the fortune that his late brother and sister-in-law denied him. Reginald's mercenaries attack Gideon leaving him with an abdominal wound. About to die he marries Adelaide in a very unemotional and artificial way. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">The romantic appeal is limited at best for her relationship with the rancher is rather forced and not of a natural feel. Her romantic notions seem to carry her away, but the author tries not to let her which feels forced. The only authentic relationship formed throughout the book is the relationship she has with the little girl. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">While I don't have a issue Christian writers, she writes over the top God language. Christian historical fiction should have a particular amount of religious speak, but the problem with most Christian writers especially Karen Witemeyer is that they overload the story with spiritual jargon. Historically speaking religion is a part of the everyday American life, but it is not drawn out into an entire page or two of spiritual thoughts. When something is a part of everyday life it isn't drawn out and rehashed fifteen different ways. This will probably overwhelm the readers and take away from the actual story.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">With artificial romance and forced spiritual journey of the characters, I say skip this and go read something with real human connection and emotions.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p>Bandgeek252http://www.blogger.com/profile/03167182981966693604noreply@blogger.com0