Finally! Kindle has a library!

It's here! It's free! (not really)

Almost since the day the Kindle was released, buyers/readers have been asking about a lending library for Kindle users. Naturally the idea of giving away new or recent releases for free would not appeal to a corporate giant, so Amazon's response was always:

"Yeah... about that..."

Now Amazon has found a way to make us e-readers sorta happy by announcing the start of the Kindle User's Lending Library. The idea: you borrow one book a month with due dates, and therefore- no late fees. The catch(es)?

1) You need an Amazon Prime Membership, which is $79/year. Right now you can sign up for a free 1 month trial to check out the service. I did my trial during September to see how Amazon's streaming movies and tv shows stacked up against Netflix in the midst of the tragic/hilarious Qwikster debacle, and found the comparison unfavorable. The free two day shipping is pretty handy though, especially as the gift-giving season approaches.

2) As of right now there are a limited number of "big name" books available. Amazon trumpets news of "over 100 bestsellers" as if that's a massive incentive- but when you realize that about 15 of those could be books from Glenn Beck or Sarah Palin, you calm down a bit.

Overall- I'm not jumping at it right now. I'm on a fantasy kick at the moment (it started with George R.R. Martin's books over the summer, went through the Dragonlance series, and I'm now getting through as many of Jordan (and friends) Wheel of Time books as possible.

Will you be checking out Kindle's Lending Library?

Redwall, Kickstarter, and you

GUYS GUYS GUYS!

you want this!

If you're not familiar with Kickstarter, it's basically awesome. People who are creative and entrepreneurial and stuff pitch you their ideas, and you choose whether or not to give them money. And a lot of times, they give you things! YAY THINGS! And if their project isn't fully funded, you still have your money! They don't get your money unless lots of other people also give them enough money to make their project happen.

But this thing...oh man...Brian Jacques is awesome. Redwall is a classic. I loved how much backstory there was to that book, before we ever read Martin the Warrior. Jacques has a lot of formula to his work, as I think over his books, but there's always a depth to many of his characters, and his world is so well imagined. The stereotypes are clear, but I think back to Mossflower, and how Gingivere is the good fox. (Jeebus, just look at his name! "-vere" = true! And his sister the evil fox? Her name means fortune or fate! HIYA!) Characters waffle and change and run the "D&D" character alignment spectrum

Oh, hey, is my nerd showing?

So, this project is currently fully funded. However, you can still give them money, and get paper mice! And make your own live action Redwall without making your Dad read lines off a sheet of paper and without trying to teach your dog to hiss!

Uh...

/Megs over

All the single Kindles!

I got a new Kindle for Christmas (along with this awesome lighted kindle cover) and while it was a catalyst for my own increased literacy and the inspiration for recording The Library with my friends- I'm beginning to realize I've overlooked a lot of it's features.

Whenever I notice something awesome about my e-reader, I'll post about it here. This isn't a ploy to sell everyone on Nooks, Kindles, iPads, smartphones or whatever knock offs are sitting on the Walmart shelves these days- it's just a way to alert others to (usually free) awesomeness that comes with owning one of these devices.

This time?

Amazon Singles

I'll admit it. When I first noticed the section of the Kindle Store menu, I thought it was an online dating service for book lovers everywhere-- and that's why I clicked (there's an idea for a dating site in this) on the link.

The site didn't lead me to pictures of well-read, employed, mature, and handsome men who also love spending time in libraries smelling old print and binding- but it did send me to a place where you can browse and buy short stories, essays, articles, or even memoirs, like "Project Runway" ringmaster Tim Gunn's Shaken, Not Stirred (Kindle Single). For some reason, Clancy Martin and Hank Chilton's Scalper: Inside the World of a Professional Ticket Broker appealed, and I plunked down 1.99 for the pleasure of a short read.

The story itself was interesting, but even more compelling was the excellent business opportunity for essayists and short story writers. I can imagine joyfully paying 2 bucks to read a new essay by David Sedaris as soon as it is complete. If popular fanfic writers are looking to expand their reach, this could be a great tool as well.

As a consumer, the Amazon Singles are just plain convenient. Like the books, while some Singles are free, most are not- but when I don't have time to devour a whole book, and just want a light snack, I'll definitely tab over to the Singles.

Singles Serving Suggestion:

Oxford Girl (Kindle Single) by Plum Sykes- the author of Bergdorf Blondes writes a short story about her fun college years at Oxford. It's gossipy and posh, but that's kind of Sykes' thing- so go with it. Reviews say the 25 page e-book is a bit too short (but fun) for the $1.99 pricetag, so buyer beware.

Click here to browse Kindle Singles

Episode 5: Anna and the French Kiss

We prefer this French Kiss.

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Kim, Quinn, Rose and Megs chat about our favorite, well, most memorable romantic encounters in Young Adult Literature ahead of our discussion on Stephanie Perkins' first book,Anna and the French Kiss. We stuff ourselves with baguettes and nutella, and chat about life, love, and the ever difficult transition from the land of high school to the great world beyond.

Our Celebrity Scribes book is somewhat less stimulating as Megs and Kim somehow made their way through A Shore Thing by Nicole "Snookie" Polizzi.    How to sum it up? 


 GTL, baby. G-T-L.   

 New feature: Literary trivia! Question: Name the book that contains this opening line: "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife. "

Put the correct answer in the comments!

Last week's winner: Tarp!  Congratulations!

We also tell you how to get a free audio book from Audible.com (hint: http://www.audibletrial.com/thelibrary). (Note: we repeatedly gave the wrong address on the show- this is the correct one)

Upcoming books are The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and Unbalanced by Cindy Lynn Speer.

Vote for the show on Podcast Alley!  Click here: VOTE.

Call (646) 926-READ and leave us a voicemail with your reactions to the books, some feedback about the this show, or (as always) suggestions for books to read in the future!

Follow us on Twitter for updates! We're @thelibraryshow.

Music Credits: Alex East, The Twelves, Paul Johnson

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Rock the Drop! Support Teen Lit Today!

Many of my friends blanche when I mention the Twilight series (I inwardly barf a bit myself), but I can't help but love it for its ability to get younger "non-readers" to respect the written word.

So thanks, Meyer. Thanks for that. It doesn't make up for the plethora of middle aged women wearing fangs and glitter painted "Team Edward" shirts though. Not by a long shot.

Now that we have the people hooked, it's time to trick them into reading MORE. What better way than by literally dropping a book in their path? In my previous post about ways to get free books, I mentioned some cool and innovative ways to share and recieve books. The idea of spreading the book love is also in this latest effort from Readergirlz, a literacy project:

Readergirlz and Figment are going to ROCK THE DROP in honor of Support Teen Lit Day on Thursday, April 14th. We can't wait!

Here's how you can get involved:* Snag the banner, created by the uber-talented David Ostow (who blogs hilarious cartoons here), and add it to your website, linking back to thi

s post to share the love, and proclaiming that you will indeed ROCK THE DROP!
* Print a copy of the bookplate below and insert it into a book (or 10!) that you'll drop on April 14th. Drop a book in a public spot (park bench, bus seat, restaurant counter?) and you're done. Lucky finders will see that the book is part of ROCK THE DROP!
* Snap a photo of your drop and email readergirlz AT gmail DOT com with the pic -- we'll be posting lots of pictures of drops happening all over the world at the readergirlz blog, and our friends at Figment will also be featuring the event!

Imagine people around the globe finding copies of amazing books in unexpected places, gifted out of love for YA lit. Everyone can participate to raise awareness of the day!

I'll post a pic of my own book drop later! Get out there and (passively) recruit more readers!

::Kim::

A Disgruntled Review: Candace Bushnell's FOUR BLONDES

Whilst searching Atlanta's Freecycle listings for office furniture (sprucing up my home studio with a bit of luck and inspiration from DesignSponge), I found this gem:

Offer: Candace Bushnell's 'Four Blondes'

Message #48745 of 48751 |

From the author of Sex in the City comes this incredibly vain and superficial, nonsensical story of four women with too much money and too few morals. It's yours, if you want it. I'll leave on front porch. Reply with pick up time. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed

I have to ask: What the hell was this person expecting?

Had she only watched the heavily santized episodes of "Sex and the City" that aired on TBS (and now the Oxygen network)? Also, having read 4 Blondes back in my "fabulous" college days (undoubtedly with a cosmo in hand, and eyeing a firefighter over the top of the book cover), I found it less racy, less interesting, and a lot more depressing than the HBO series it spawned.

Ah well. If someone goes to pick up the book, they should leave a 4 Non Blondes cd/cassette behind.

As least we can be sure Bushnell will never respond to this woman's review. Or if she does- it won't be like this.

Episode 4: The John with the Dragon Tattoo

John Lennon and Cynthia

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In this show we discuss the "F-Word".


That's right: FEMINISM.


Kim, Rose and Megs discuss what feminism means to us, what it may mean to others, and what it means for the books we read this week: John by Cynthia Lennon and The Girl with the Dragon Tattooby Stieg Larsson. We shake our heads at John Lennon's antics and gasp aloud at a revelation about Lisbeth Salander. We also announce which of the hosts is going to Africa!


 New feature: Literary trivia! Question: Agatha Christie wrote some books under a different name.  What is the name?  


Put the correct answer in the comments!


We also tell you how to get a free audio book from Audible.com (hint: http://www.audibletrial.com/thelibrary).


Upcoming books are Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins and A Shore Thing
by Nicole "Snooki" Polizzi for the Celebrity Scribes Review.


Vote for the show on Podcast Alley!  Click here: VOTE.


Call (646) 926-READ and leave us a voicemail with your reactions to the books, some feedback about the this show, or (as always) suggestions for books to read in the future!


Follow us on Twitter for updates! We're @thelibraryshow.


Music Credits: Alex East, Toto, John Lennon (dubstep remix), Paul Johnson


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