julie

Hi Argon Yes, you can do anything on the web on your Fire,but it's not quite as handy or quick --- like they say with the fancy phones which can do all that, it's harder to type out comments, etc on them,due to space for the keyboard I guess . yep,you can also read the paper,or magazines if you like doing that too . All kinda of nifty things . I spend lots of time on youtube ,so sometimes I watch the videos with it . My hubster has a Samsung Galaxy ,which is about the size of my Fire, only thinner a bit I think . His has a camera which he uses frequently ,but he takes more photos than I do . He takes photos on his geocaching hunts ,and also of reunion and family pictures,so he likes having it handy like that,and he carries his everyplace with him so it's always available . I guess that's what is neat about all these gadgets. We all are using them for different things, so it's nice to have a selection of things it can do .

Ritu ! I hope you enjoy it here. Lots of friendly people .

I'd have to go with The Conscientious Reader ,with a little bit of Book snob and Easily swayed thrown in . The older I get the more I like nonfiction or fiction in which I am learning something new or maybe how to handle a situation in real life . I'd have to toss in Book Snob because I usually take note of the latest popular books that sell lots of copies. I figure they must be good or they wouldnt be so popular. I am easily swayed if I hear someone else gushing about a book, I want it too . Sometimes I find out there is no way I would have chosen the book on my own,so this situation doesn't always end well for me .

Laura Welcome to the world of Bill Bryson . I've never met anyone who hasn't thoroughly enjoyed his books, whether you enjoy travel writing or not . Bryson is funny,no matter what he talks about . I think we could now both claim him as an author for our countries . He was born and raised here ( in Iowa, I think) ,but has lived over there for a really long time now . It sounds as if he thoroughly enjoys it over there . I've read the book,too,and it was interesting to me,never having been there before . I'd have to say I enjoyed The Lost Continent more, only because it was from places over here that I'm more familiar with,so maybe it depends on where you are from,as to which book you can associate with . As for the Shrinkage book, something tells me that a lot more ladies than men would read that. Men seem to be overly "touchy" about their Crotchular Area ,for lack of a better way of putting it ,so they probably wouldnt find the book amusing unless they were a closet-shinker themselves,and are curious as to what to do about it . I never could understand the situation myself,when men are adults and still have those issues . Girls are sensitive about their chest size as teens ,but as adults I dont think too many of us find it an ongoing problem . Maybe by my age, you really have lots more things to be concerned with than your body parts and their sizes .

Hi folks Been awhile since I posted in here . I have used my Kindles much more frequently since then,and find that I now prefer them to paper books . It's much easier to hold one with one hand, and prop it up on your knees if you want to eat or do something else while reading . I have the Kindle keyboard and Fire ,so to comment on their good and bad points : The plain Kindle is best for reading ,especially if you read for extended lengths of time in one sitting, because the battery lasts a good long while ,it is much more lightweight ,and probably easier on the eyes . The Fire is so COOL though, You can read on it, of course, and I find the backlight really handly if you are reading at night or in a darker place and dont need the lights on. It has three different shades of backgrounds ,plus you can dim or brighten the light,so it's really nice for those things. It also plays videos, games ,you can go to the internet, etc. so it has COOL written all over it . The downside to it is the fact that it's much thicker and heavier than the regular Kindle . As for the screen, it is a touch screen, but wipes off very easily if you get fingerprints on it,so it's really no big deal I also have a Nook Touch,and must say it is best ,hands down, to the others for READING COMFORT. It is more of a square-shape ( a little shorter than the kindle ),and has a nice thick rubber edging on it,so it is so simple to hold . Very lightweight,LOVE the touch-screen to turn the pages . Fits nicely into just about any purse size ,and somehow feels a bit sturdier than the Kindle. I don't know if it is, but it feels like it . The downside to the Nook ? Not nearly as many freebie books to choose from,and if you do find some, it takes you a long time to sift through them,where with Kindle,the Amazon site makes it so easy to find free or very low cost books . There is a rumor out that Fire 2 is coming shortly,and from all I've heard, it will be thinner and lighter,and will take photos. The photo part is of no interest to me. I don't EVER use a camera, even though my phone has one. It's never been used,so that won't be a selling point to me. I doubt I'd spend the money to get another Fire when the one I have works fine . I would still like a plain old Kindle Touch with a back light. I hear that is also in the future. If it comes out, SOLD to the Couch Potato from Ohio !

Best of luck Miss Poppy You have me beat already,as I have yet to read one Woolf book ,although I have probably had her name on my list of a "Someday Read " for a long time . Maybe you'll be my inspiration to at least tackle one ,then we'll go from there .

Thanks guys I actually did run onto a good one last night. It's another travel one ,so I'll post about it as soon as I'm done. It's really funny,too ~

Hi James Thanks for the review of Little Stranger. I was wondering myself wbout it. Have started it a few times,but didnt stick with it . Now that I know the "action",so to speak ,doesn't start anywhere close to the beginning,maybe I'll give it a go again sometime soon . It sounds like you liked it . I'm a little concerned with the ending though.Miss Poppy sounds like it was less than satisfying,possibly. Funny comment about you not wearing any Knickers at the end. I hope you didn't peel them off at work. That might have gotten you written up .

Hi Claire I'll add my congrats to you as well ! You have really done some major reading this year ,and it's not over yet ! Wow, you are speedy ! Will also be interested to see what you choose for your new books to start with . Have fun

Hi Kat Just checking in with you to make sure all is ok down your way . Hope the storms didnt hit your area too badly . Take care --

The Story and Trials of Adolph Julius Weber -Lewis Swindle 1/5 Doggone, this book was such a disappointment . I purchased it in 2010 for my Kindle and just now got around to it . I was excited to find it originally,being a true crime case I'd not read about before. It was low cost, $3.99 --but that was $4.00 too much . I have read kindle books before that had some errors in spelling ,but nothing to this level. This book had mistakes in every paragraph .Spelling ,grammar, punctuation . Ridiculous . It was also written poorly because from the beginning you already know who the "bad guy " was ,what he had done,and why,but the author drags it out page after page . The majority of the book was just transcripts of the trial,or notes on the newspsper clippings about it . Why did I keep reading it,you may ask ? I guess I was hoping that there'd be some type of twist at the end and someone else would have been shown to have taken part in the crime or comitted it,and they had the wrong guy all along. No such luck. You know from looking at the title who is guilty ,so all my bumbling through the book ,trying to overlook mistakes and keep reading were all for nothing. Very poor book,probably worst of the year . On to something bigger and better, I hope !

Kat - Stay safe down there ! Do you guys usually try to stick it out when the storms come your way,or leave ? I know one year we went to Myrtle Beach for vacation and they had a severe storm like that headed that way. We asked people in the restaurants and stores about it and if we should leave, or if they were leaving,and they all just kinda chuckled and said ,no,they werent gonna leave, they stayed during the storms ,so it seems that lots of people that live in those areas with the bad storms kinda get used to them and stay . Whatever you decide, be safe and keep in touch so we know you're ok . ClaIre Thanks for mentioning that book. Maybe I can hunt it up. It was interesting learning more about Leprosy . I was like you, I didnt think it was a disease that people even had anymore .It sounds like a really horrible illness . According to what I have found out, it is most commonly found ( in the US) in Louisiana, Texas,and ??? one other state ,and ARMADILLOS are carriers of the disease . Odd fact .... Maybe kinda like up here we have lots of raccoons and possums --they are carriers of rabies . I think it has decreased a lot,and they now have meds to take for it so it isn't as easily spread and maybe a little bit better controlled than it was at one point . Always good to read a book and learn something new, isn't it ?

Wow, Kat Anyone calling a spouses' books CLUTTER ... That is grounds for divorce . I'm sure the lady had lots of CLUTTER of her own . Books are at least useful and entertaining and educational. Lots of reasons to keep them around,but the guy getting a Kindle would solve all her complaints I guess. It certainly doesnt take up much space . I qualify on lots of your questions, didnt count how many,though .

Miss Poppy Yes, definitely , I loved Shipping News. Wonderful characters in that story . A Fine Balance took every bit of gumption I had to stick with it. The writing was excellent,but the subject matter was very hard to get through . It's a good thing I BOUGHT the book,because if I would have borrowed it, I probably wouldnt have finished it . I'm a cheapskate when it comes to buying books,if I buy them, then I feel more like I HAVE to read them ,so I'm not wasting money. Sounds stupid, but that's the way I am . I actually had to lay it down several times during the time I read it . So it was a challenge, but one well worth it .

Yep, you got it, Kat ! That's the place ,Carville . And at the end , the future for the building was uncertain .There were rumors it would be turned into a prison ,and the Leper patients would have to be moved to nursing homes ,or places like that . This story took place and ended in 93 --then the author updates you on his life some 15 years later,and also on the lives of some of the people he talked about in the book,so you know the ending to some of their stories . I wonder what they ever decided to do about the building ? Is Carville anyplace close to your area ?

Thanks for the list, Miss Poppy I have read 20 books on the list,some so long ago, I barely remember what they were about .. The few that really stick in my mind are : A Fine Balance The Shipping News Lonesome Dove East of Eden The Go-Between The Executioner's Song The others were varied,some I liked ,others I have no clue what they were even about,it was so long ago since reading them.They must not have had as much an impact os the above books did . The books above, I'd give all if them a 5/5 .

In the Sanctuary of Outcasts ----Neil White 4/5 At the beginning of this book, this young man, Neil, is on his way to prison for check frad, embezzlement ,etc. He is from Louisiana and grew up in a fairly well-to-do family,so he wanted to keep up that lifestyle as an adult. He married and had 2 kids and became involved in magazine production. He seemed to always be striving for more in his life,wanting more "things",spending money he didn't have ,etc. He made many huge risks with his (and other people's) money ,to get all his ideas off the ground and keep on living a wealthier lifestyle. In the end, he got caught and got sent to prison . The "prison" was a beautiful area with several large buildings ,that he soon found out was a partial prison and partial home for Leprosy patients . In the beginning, he had a very hard time, mainly knowing that he lived in a confined building with patients who had a horrible illness,and he didnt really want anything to do with them,thinking they would give him their illness . Most of the men in jail with him were in for sort-of the same type things, money issues mainly, or cheating people to get money . When I first began the book, the writer really didnt sound like the type person I'd like . He sounded very snooty and high class ,and sounded realy like he would come out at the end of his sentence (1 1/2 years ) and be on the lookout for ways to get back up to the rich living he had done before . During the book, you begin to see a transformation in him,and he begins to find out that living with "outcasts" has probably taught him more about life than anything else has . I won't ruin the end in case someone else reads it . I thought it was an interesting book and never realized they had places like that ,where inmates are put into a "hospital -type " setting ,so it was interesting to see how they were able to do that and make it work . I also learned more about Leprosy ,never knowing much about it before . The people who were diagnosed with it were usually shunned by society and their families too ,so the people in this place had to survive by themselves (and each other),since it seemed the rest of the world had given up on them. I liked the book a lot because it teaches you that sometimes people with "nothing" ,are better people inside and have more caring and wisdom than people who grow up wealthy and never have to struggle in life .

Well, you get a Gold Star for completing it ! Good job !

Wow, Kylie It certainly sounds like they are trouble . That would irritate me too. People with kids who don't make them mind, especially by disrespecting adults and invading your privacy. I wouldnt like that either . No matter what age the kid, if they were staring in the window at me, I'd tell them to stop and if they didnt,the parents would get a visit next. I am like you, I like my privacy and quiet . It sounds like you have some type of regulatory group that is in charge of situations like this, so I hope they do the right thing and either reprimand them harshly or send them packing . We don't have things like that here unless you live in a gated community type place. If it is apartment buildings, usually the landlord is the one who would be in charge . Lots of landlords dont really get that involved unless it is something to do with property damage . We've met people like your neighbors ,though,who really have no worries if their kids misbehave or act improperly. They just let them keep doing it . Sounds like you definitely need a vacation ! Kick back,relax and listen to the quiet ! Enjoy every minute .

Kylie I might be too late to wish you a happy trip,since you may have already left by now. The above note caught my eye . I'm not single,but I had a run-in with a neighbor guy several years back . I don't know if the Hubster was even home that day,but it wouldn't have mattered to me whether he was or not . We had a neighbor guy who was always complaining about something and chewing out the neighbors for stupid stuff. One day, I got mad and went out after the guy . He is about the size of a mosquito ,and only has one arm,but he is meaner than a rattlesnake ,plus he was drinking that day,so add Budweiser to a rattlesnake and it's not a good combo. I went over after him and cussed him out big time . Now that I think back on it ,it really wasn't smart. On top of him being mean and drunk, he was also a hunter and always had his shotgun in his truck . Would I do it again ? YEP . If someone makes me mad, i'll nail them . ( To add a little footnote to the story, he actually got so mad at me for yelling at him that he drove to the police chief's home and demanded the police come and arrest me for talking to him like that . the police chief refused and told him to go home and sleep off his Budweiser .) Moral of the story -- Don't back down from the neighbor guy,chew him out and send him home . What could you have possibly been doing to irritate him ?

Miss Rena and Me --Hyacinth Andersen 1/5 This book was a freebie for the kindle ,and it was worth what I paid for it . A VERY short story about a little girl who visited her elderly neighbor lady and learned to cook,etc . Very boring book. If it would have been one more sentence long, I would ask the author to pay ME for reading it .

Thank you for the reference on this book . I put it on my wish list .It's coming out for kindle next month,so will pick up on it .

Sorry,but I got a chuckle out of that comment ! You must have much more patience with books than I do. If I don't like it,I don't read it .

Thanks guys Look out if you welcome me venting. You might be sorry you made that offer ! My moods are sometimes like a volcano. Most of the time, I manage not to BLOW,but look out when I do ! Not pleasant . It helps coming in here to have someone else to YAK to. The poor Hubster, I think his ears probably bleed sometimes just listening to me . I was joking with him yesterday and told him I need to get a pet .Something with EARS,so I can talk to IT during the day. The Hubster's response was : That would be cruelty to animals. ( He was joking, we both say things like that all the time to each other . ) We met when we were 13,so we've grown up and grown old together . And yep, he's a Keeper . I wasn't real sure for the first 34 years,but this past one, he really convinced me to keep him . JOKING ... Kat Yea, that book may have been the same one you read. Which occupation would YOU like ?

Chrissy It depends on the day .Sometimes I do better than others . I have really bad days where I'm crabby or really discouraged . Others. I try to keep being tough . I've always done that, when things get bad , i joke or yak a lot just to keep myself occupied I guess. Maybe my way of coping ? Not much choice in the matter, you either face things head on or hide in a hole .