ebooks from libraries

I took the plunge earlier this week and made my librarian walk me through checking out ebooks from the library.

And while the selection isn’t fantastic, it’s still pretty neat. Checking out e-books from the library is like the best of both worlds: instant downloads just like buying an e-book, plus the added fun of browsing for stuff I might normally pass on if I were buying it for myself (just like my library). And yeah, I wish that there was more selection (I blame publishing companies, not the library for this one), but there’s still lots of books to choose from. I haven’t used my e-reader a whole lot lately, focusing mostly on paper books (also from the library, though my used-bookstore has gotten some love, too). I forgot how much faster I can read with e-ink and all the things that make e-readers great: no bookmarks, no heavy hardbacks, having it with me when I get stuck by that ten-minute train (seriously. Why do trains need to stop over the tracks like that? I can’t believe I’m the only one who comes prepared with a book for all the time we spend waiting for that ridiculous train.)

Last night I read Debris by Jo Anderton. If you like your fantasy high-tech and dark, give it a try. I found it a teensy bit slow but the descriptions were phenomenal.

Have you tried ebooks from the library?

win the spirit war by rachel aaron!

Rachel Aaron is giving away copies of The Spirit War (signed, even!), which releases in 25 days.

The Eli Monpress series is a fun fantasy romp and if you enjoy fun fantasy romps (I mean, why wouldn’t you?) then this is a must-read!

Link: Rachel Aaron’s Blog: The Pretentious Title: The Spirit War Giveaway

Good luck.

recommended: Hammered by Kevin Hearne

Okay, fine, I’ll admit it. I have a thing for druids. You see, there aren’t enough books about them. So naturally I really appreciate what Kevin Hearne is doing for the world: giving us more books about druids, like the third book in his Iron Druid series: Hammered.

1. I can’t stop gushing about Hounded, Hexed, and now Hammered (and I’m sure I’ll gush about the fourth book once I pick it up!). They’re funny and the world Atticus lives in is entirely unique.

2. In Hammered we get a little bit more explanation on how druid magic works, versus the snippets in the first two books. I won’t spoil it, but I love how it all works.

3. That’s it. I just loved this book.

recommended: Sacrificial Magic by Stacia Kane

Like gritty urban fantasy with a sex, drugs, rock and roll? Ridiculous question, I know. You should check out Stacia Kane’s Downside Series. The latest release is Sacrificial Magic, which I basically couldn’t put down.

1. No werewolves or vampires here. Just ghosts. Nasty, murderous ghosts and the living, trying to get by.

2. Chess is awesome. Sure, she’s got flaws but that’s why I can’t help but love her.

3. I’m recommending the fourth book in the series but clearly, I want you to check out the first book first: Unholy Ghosts. It’s a great series.

recommended: Hexed by Kevin Hearne

I’m pleased to recommend Hexed by Kevin Hearne.

1. I already heartily recommended the first book in the Iron Druid series, Hounded. Hexed does not disappoint, picking up with some story threads in Hounded and fleshing out a wonderful, complicated world.

2. Love Attitcus. And Oberon. And the widow Mrs. MacDonagh. And Leif… Okay, you get the idea.

3. The prose is wonderful. Okay, I admit this one felt a little episodic (especially the first half) but there’s both finishing ends of Hounded as well as building up the series for the next book, Hammered. Seriously, though. Reading these books is like settling in with an old friend.

4. Have I mentioned lately these books are about a druid?!

5. A warning: technically this book stands alone, in that all the information you need for this story is inside this book. However, a reader would probably enjoy it a whole lot more if Hounded came first.

Hunger Games, Larry Brooks Style

Pardon me while I squee like a fangirl. Larry Brooks is doing a Hunger Games story deconstruction starting this week. The first post is here: the prologue at Storyfix.

Sure, I’ve got my own THG page and I did something similar a few months ago, but there was a whole lot I didn’t say about the Hunger Games. Pretty much, I showed that the structure of THG follows the 4-part structure and has story milestones and all that (architecture with a little bit of scene construction). Which means there were another 4 aspects of storytelling I didn’t even touch on: concept, theme, character, and voice.

So follow along with me. I expect it’ll be a fun ride.

recommended: see what i’m saying

I’m not even finished with this book (got through the first three senses) and already I want to recommend it.

See What I’m Saying: The Extraordinary Powers of Our Five Senses by Lawrence D. Rosenblum on Goodreads

1. Case studies involving vivid characters. This book is chock-full of anecdotes and stories to help the reader understand and remember the important stuff. There’s research but it’s still a fun read.

2. Each sense gets multifaceted treatment. My favorite part, so far, has been reading about sound design in movies and television: to really lure us into the fictive dream, designers must go to absurd lengths to make it sound like we are really in the scene.

3. I tried a couple of the echolocation exercises and was pleasantly surprised how well it went. Though I still can’t “hear” doorframes yet. Must work on that one…

Have you read See What I’m Saying? What did you think?