E-Books: How Your Use Has Changed

I was a relatively late adopter of e-books. I didn't get an iPhone until October 2011 and my previous smartphone didn't support the Kindle or Nook apps. Once I got my iPhone and then an iPad, I downloaded both the Kindle and Nook apps, as well as the Bluefire, Kobo, and Sony eReader apps. I started reading more e-books but my preference was still for print.

Over the past six months to a year, I've started reading a lot more e-books. And to my surprise, I prefer them. Don't get me wrong - I love the feeling of holding a book in my hands; I love walking into a room and seeing shelves lined with books; I like being able to easily flip back and forth between pages; I love having books signed by authors. But e-books are so convenient. It made me wonder whether other people's feelings toward e-books has changed as they've become more prevalent.

Are you using e-books more? Do you like them better than you used to?

I still don't have a dedicated e-reader. I have both an iPad and an iPhone, but I read nearly everything on my phone. I like reading on an iPad better in theory due to the larger size, but the iPhone is much more convenient. That's what I like about e-books the most: the convenience. I can read a book no matter where I am. I could and sometimes do pull a print book out of my purse and read it while I'm in line at the grocery store or in a doctor's office, but it's bulky and sometimes people look at you funny.

What do you use to read e-books? Which brand do you prefer?

I split between using the Kindle app and the Nook app on my phone. In general, I prefer the Kindle app, because it's so easy to buy things on Amazon. However, I share a Nook account with my parents, so for books that all three of us want to read, I buy books on the Nook.

Part of me thinks that I should buy more print books on principle. Not that I think that print books are going to go extinct, but more that I want to support physical bookstores, be it independent or Barnes & Noble. That being said, I buy most of my books - print and digital - from Amazon. Out of habit mostly. I would like to support independent bookstores more. Luckily, Kobo made a deal last year with independent bookstores so the stores could sell e-books using the Kobo system. I should get in the habit of supporting one of my favorite stores.

One of my favorite developments in the e-book world has been the library system. Now most libraries have decent e-book collections. You can download e-books as well as audio-books. I love the Overdrive app for my iPhone which allows me to easily store all my library purchases. I also like that most library books are available for download via Kindle. It's so much easier to have a wifi download instead of having to plug my phone into the computer.

Do you read library books on your e-reader?

I think there's great potential for e-books in the future. I'd love to see more enhanced content, like video alongside recipes in a cookbook. This exists in a few books, but I'd love to see it more widespread. Also, a way to sync audiobooks with e-books. This does exist currently with Amazon's Whispersync for Audible, but I've heard it can be clunky (let me know if you've used it, because I'm interested in trying it).

I do have some concerns for what happens to your e-books if the company goes under. What happens if Barnes & Noble goes out of business? Presumably, someone would buy out the Nook division and the books would stay as they are, but what if they didn't? That's the problem with not owning physical copies. It's almost like the company still owns them and one day they could take them back.

What do you see for the future of e-books? What concerns do you have? What excites you?

Manga Mondays #150: Swan vol. 8 by Kyoko Ariyoshi

Manga Mondays Meme

I've been doing Manga Mondays every week since I started my blog 3 years ago. It started out as a personal feature, but I decided to turn it into a meme last year. There are quite a few people who do Manga Mondays. I don't claim by any means that I owned or created the idea of Manga Mondays - it's an obvious choice given the alliteration. I think a meme is a great way for everyone to publicize their own Manga Mondays and get a little more publicity.

The linky will be below my review.

Swan vol. 8 by Kyoko Ariyoshi

Summary

The trials and triumphs of hopeful prima ballerina Hijiri Masumi continue in the CMX version of this beloved international hit. When the naturally talented Kyogoku Sayoko injured her ankle, the chance of a lifetime fell into Masumis lap. Shes now faced with the challenge of representing Japan in a competition in Russia, far from home. Masumi is up against two of the finest Russian dance prodigies, but the tremendous stress and fear cause her to lose her hearing. Can Masumi dance the finest performance of her life without music to inspire her? (courtesy of Goodreads)

Review

*Warning: Potential spoilers. My manga reviews tend to be more of a summary than a review. I find it hard to review manga in the same way I do regular books.

The first half of this volume is a ballet. Hijiri and Kusakabe are performing the lead roles in a ballet and the pages show their movements and emotions for basically ever second of the show. I can't decide what I think about this. One on hand, this focus on the minutia of every ballet performance distracts from the plot, which I see as the backstage life of the dances. On the other hand, ballet is a central character in this manga, just as much as the individuals. And having such a large focus on ballet performance makes the manga different from others that I've read.

Feature and Follow Friday #149

Welcome to the Feature & Follow

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Gain new followers and make new friends with the Book Blogger Feature & Follow! If this is your first time here, welcome! You are about to make some new friends and gain new followers -- but you have to know -- the point of this hop is to follow other bloggers also. I follow you, you follow me.

The Feature & Follow is hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee of Parajunkee's View and Alison of Alison Can Read. Each host will have their own Feature Blog and this way it'll allow us to show off more new blogs!

How does this work? First you leave your name here on this post, (using the linky tools -- keep scrolling!) then you create a post on your own blog that links back to this post (easiest way is to just grab the code under the #FF picture and put it in your post) and then you visit as many blogs as you can and tell them "hi" in their comments (on the post that has the #FF image). You follow them, they follow you. Win. Win. Just make sure to follow back if someone follows you!

What sets this Hop apart from others, is our Feature. Each week we will showcase a Featured Blogger, from all different genres and areas. Who is our Feature today? Find out below. Just remember it is required, if you participate, to follow our Features and you must follow the hosts (Parajunkee & Alison Can Read) as a courtesy. How do you follow someone? Well, if you have a preference, state it in your #FF post. A lot of blogs are transitioning to Wordpress in which they do not have the luxury of GFC, so an RSS subscription is appreciated or if you choose an email subscription. If you don't have GFC please state in your post how you would like to be followed.

Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins

Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins
Release Date: April 30, 2013
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Publisher

Summary

Anna Whitt, the daughter of a guardian angel and a demon, promised herself she’d never do the work of her father—polluting souls. She’d been naive to make such a vow. She’d been naive about a lot of things.

Haunted by demon whisperers, Anna does whatever she can to survive, even if it means embracing her dark side and earning an unwanted reputation as her school’s party girl. Her life has never looked more bleak. And all the while there’s Kaidan Rowe, son of the Duke of Lust, plaguing her heart and mind.

When an unexpected lost message from the angels surfaces, Anna finds herself traveling the globe with Kopano, son of Wrath, in an attempt to gain support of fellow Nephilim and give them hope for the first time. It soon becomes clear that whatever freedoms Anna and the rest of the Neph are hoping to win will not be gained without a fight. Until then, Anna and Kaidan must put aside the issues between them, overcome the steamiest of temptations yet, and face the ultimate question: is loving someone worth risking their life? (courtesy of Goodreads.)

Review

The Sweet Trilogy and I got off to a rough start, because I didn't like the performance on the audio version of Sweet Evil. But I sensed the potential of the words, the plot, and the characters and promised to read the second book in print. What a difference! Sweet Peril is a great follow-up to Sweet Evil and cemented my attachment to this series.

Waiting on Wednesday: The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine!

The Dream Thieves by Maggie Stiefvater

Publish Date: September 17, 2013

Publisher: Scholastic Press

*I loved Raven Boys. I can't wait for the second installment. I'm hoping it's at BEA.

Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins

Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins
Release Date: May 1, 2012
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Bought via Audible

Summary

Embrace the Forbidden

What if there were teens whose lives literally depended on being bad influences?

This is the reality for sons and daughters of fallen angels. Tenderhearted Southern girl Anna Whitt was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She's aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but it isn't until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage and her willpower is put to the test. He's the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna.

Forced to face her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns? (courtesy of Goodreads.)

Review

My friends have been raving about Sweet Evil for such a long time that I kept kicking myself for not reading it. So I finally decided to pick up the audio book and see what I'd been missing. Sweet Evil is an enticing story with both lovable and hate-able characters, a complex paranormal world, and hot romance. Unfortunately, it did not work well as an audio book. It's a tribute to the story's innate strength that I still managed to enjoy it.

Manga Mondays #149: Swan vol. 7 by Kyoko Ariyoshi

Manga Mondays Meme

I've been doing Manga Mondays every week since I started my blog almost 3 years ago. It started out as a personal feature, but I decided to turn it into a meme last year. There are quite a few people who do Manga Mondays. I don't claim by any means that I owned or created the idea of Manga Mondays - it's an obvious choice given the alliteration. I think a meme is a great way for everyone to publicize their own Manga Mondays and get a little more publicity.

The linky will be below my review.

Swan vol. 7 by Kyoko Ariyoshi

Summary

As the only exception to the Japan Ballet Association's scholarship program, underdog dancer Hijiri Masumi trains hard every day with other students who have all won the right to train under the best dance instructors. Because Masumi's technique leaves much to be desired, master instructor and genius dancer Alexei Sergeiev demands that she return to the basics to improve her technique. Masumi practices diligently, so that she will be chosen as one of three student performers in the Japan Ballet Company's special performance in Moscow. Eventually, some of the ballet students depart for various destinations around the world to further their dance careers. As Alexei leaves for Moscow, he reminds her once again to master the basics, because her journey has just begun. Hearing this heartening message, Masumi vows to work hard, and returns to the ballet studio to practice, only to find a handsome new foreign student has arrived. Will this newcomer support her in her quest to develop as a dancer, or will romantic entanglements become an obstacle? (courtesy of Goodreads)

Review

*Warning: Potential spoilers. My manga reviews tend to be more of a summary than a review. I find it hard to review manga in the same way I do regular books.

The volume starts out after Aoi confessed his love for Hijiri. She didn't believe it at first - I think she thought he was just saying things to bring out the emotions in her dance. But once she figured out that he really was in love with her, there was nothing. She didn't talk to him or seem to react much herself. It was essentially like, "Wow, he really is in love with me. Huh." Meanwhile, she's still agonizing over the fact that she loves Kusakabe but he does not love her.