Tag Archives: Reading

Hunger Games Book Review

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My brief book review of Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is at Goodreads. I enjoyed it, but felt a little short on it leaving some things open for the next book. My only complaint is the main character’s (Katniss) inner conflict is not as well told as the action, but it did not detract from the story enough to lower my enjoyment.

I haven’t seen the movie yet.

My review on Goodreads:

Overall a fun and exciting story in a post-appoclyptic-style America where the mortal combat arena has returned as popular entertainment. The intro is short taking us right to Katniss volunteering in place of her sister, Prim, chosen as one of two tributes from District 12. The story fills in more details about Katniss and her family’s past as the story evolves. The pace is great moving from the tribute preparation, building character, into the arena where Katniss deals with survival and also her inner conflict with self-image. Her relationship issues are only partially resolved, but the ending prepares for the second book.

The first-person perspective works well for the most part including pulling the reader into the action, but struggles in other areas in particular to Katniss’s inner conflict with her self-image and relationships. The reader is given too much knowledge about her co-tribute’s feelings that Katniss almost appears stupid. Pulling the reader tighter into her self-image would negate this shortcoming and work better with the first-person present tense. I find this is only a minor bump, not enough to detract from the story.

Source Citation Fail

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While reading a technical book, I came across a footnote referencing a source citation with a Wikipedia URL. I frowned upon seeing an encyclopedia as a source. A book or article would be more useful to me. Ignoring the arguments about the quality of Wikipedia versus other encyclopedias, let’s look at problems on how this turns into a source citation failure.

It turns out the specific URL has changed, and Wikipedia redirects to a the same topic on another page. However, there is no mention of the specific point referenced by the book as someone has since updated the entry. The page also boldly states at the top that the entry “needs attention from an expert on the subject.”

The author of the book is an expert on this topic, but chooses to cite an encyclopedia entry in need of improvement, and the point in question has since been edited out. No value to the reader.

Please cite a solid source that provides more information to the reader.

Books by Friday Flash Authors

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Support authors. Buy a book (or three.)

Below is my incomplete list of ebooks by Friday Flash participants. The best part about Friday Flash is diversity, and the same is true for this list of books. There is something for everyone.

I have read several of these titles, and the rest are on my reading list. Sure, ebooks don’t impress people like print books sitting on a shelf, but you’re a reader! (You could always take a snap of your digital bookshelf like I did.) Even if you don’t have a fancy ebook reader, you can enjoy their books on your PC, phone or iPod (and some are available in print.) Smashwords supports many formats or read online.

If you’re creating an ebook for Smashwords, consider formatting working contents supporting PDF, epub, mobi, and iPad. See my post on formatting.

Books are cheap. Buy them all! (At least sample.)

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13 Horror Stories by John McDonell (McDonnellWrite.) Sample on Smashwords.

A Breath of Life and Other Stories by Eric J. Krause (ericjkrause) is a collection of shorts. Find it at Smashwords or Amazon.

A, B & E by Marc Nash (21stCscribe) is in paperback at Amazon.

Deadlands Hunt by G L Drummond (Scath) is part of a world of stories. Sample on Smashwords .

Don’t Fall Asleep by Laura Eno (lauraeno) begins the Dream Assassin series. Find it on Smashwords or Amazon.

A Fine Cast of Characters by J. Dane Tyler (DarcKnyt) is a collection. Sample at Smashwords.

The First Tale by Icy Sedgwick (icypop) takes place in her Vertigo City from her serial shared on Tuesday Serial available at Smashwords.

From Dark Places by Emma Newman (EmApocalyptic) is a collection available on Smashwords.

Must Love Dragons by Monica Marier (lil_monmon) is a novel available at Lulu.

Password Incorrect by Piotr Kowalczyk (namenick) is a collection. Sample on Smashwords.

Prophecy Moon by Laura Eno (lauraeno) is a fantasy novella about love, wizards, and worlds. Sample at Smashwords or Amazon.

RealmShift by Alan Baxter (AlanBaxter) is a novel. Available at Smashwords and Amazon.

Something’s Not Right by Trevor Mcpherson (3S_stories) is a collection of shorts. Your biggest disappointment might be how short this book is, but the stories pack a punch. Available at Smashwords.

Strange New Feet by Shannon Esposito (soesposito) is a science-politics novella available at Smashwords and Amazon.

You’ll also find some of your favorite Friday Flash authors in these collections:

  • Best of Friday Flash – Volume One edited by J.M. Strother is available at Smashwords.
  • The Yin and Yang Book edited by Jodi Cleghorn and Paul Anderson at chinesewhisperings.com

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Screen shot of iPad bookshelf

Designers: Are You Paying Attention?

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Is the iPad magical? That depends on your definition of magic. Revolutionary? Maybe, maybe not. In under two months, over two million units have sold beating expectations. Why? The iPad is not for Apple “fanboys” or “techies.” The iPad is what computers should strive to be, a device that brings the user closer to their data.

User Case: Non-Techie

I showed a book lover an iPad. At first she almost seemed skeptical. She doesn’t get along with computers. Gizmos never impress her. Copying a file between drives is an advanced concept. After a few minutes, she warmed up to the device—a little. A couple weeks later she put the iPad through a full test.

After a few days, she had purchased books and installed a couple apps. Then she went on a trip. She had no trouble connecting to wi-fi networks at airports or homes of relatives. Not only did she read several books, but she took notes, imported photos, added pictures to her contacts, e-mail, and more! On her return, she showed me a funny YouTube video and had no trouble bringing it back up—a process she’s not as familiar with on other computers. Just a couple taps and we were watching it.

After just two weeks, this person—a technology hater—uses the iPad extensively. She now uses Mail on iPad instead of accessing her e-mail on the desktop computer. Why? Mail for iPad is so much easier. She wants more applications on the iPad, ones that helps her get work done.

Some Questions for Software Engineers and Designers

  • Why does MS Windows make it so difficult to connect to a wireless network?
  • Why are so many applications cluttered with buttons, menus, bells-and-whistles, many of which never get used?
  • Why are users more concerned about file systems and CPU stats than using their data?
  • Why do so many basic applications consume so much memory and run slow?
  • Why do computers still use the same design; file systems, windows concept, a mouse since the 1960s?
  • Why is your OS or application hard to use?

Software engineers and designers: Are you paying attention?

Evolution

We are at a major transition point in computer evolution. Users want to get closer to their data and work more efficiently. Let’s move away from the large applications that try to do everything and come up short, and move to applications that do a few things very well. And let’s get things done on computers that are easier to use. The iPad sales show that consumers are ready for the transition. The iPad may not be the future, but it marks the a step in the evolution of the computer.

Is the iPad magical? You bet your butt it is.

Hear the origins of the iPad from Steve Jobs on this D8 video.

B&N eReader

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B&N eReader for iPad screen shot

Barnes and Noble released their eReader for iPad a few days ago. Similar to the Kindle Reader, B&N eReader uses Safari to find and purchase books. Only books purchased from B&N are available on supported devices. Even though eReader uses the ePub format, there is no support for reading DRM-free ePub books from other sources. Which is fine since iBooks allows this. B&N eReader covers the basics including text search, bookmarking, and built-in dictionary. The table of contents is a nice looking pop-up. Where the eReader excels is in thematic presentation allowing shades of colors for when black-on-white might be too much contrast. There is also a button for publisher’s choice theme keeping the presentation closer to the intended look, or a “Night Light” which uses a black background to keep the light level low. Missing is a built-in brightness adjustment as in iBooks, but the themes nearly make up for it. The big feature B&N supports is book lending, but not all books are available for lending.

I like the B&N eReader over Kindle Reader. Choosing between iBooks and B&N will likely depend on availability and price of the book. That’s the best part: choice. With several book readers and a huge selection of books, the iPad is looking like one darn good reading device.

See the review on Gizmodo.

Find eBooks

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If you’re new to digital books or have a shiny new digital book reader, you may be wondering where to find books. Some stores use DRM that may limit the book to a device, while others sell DRM-free books allowing you transfer the book to a new device. Below are some quick lists to help get you started.

eBook Stores

The iBookstore provides searching Project Gutenberg, but if you are shopping elsewhere you may find it easier to download an ePub using your PC then import the book using iTunes same as a song.

iPad reading software

iPhone / iPod Touch reading software

Android reading software

PC reading software

Digital Reading

Until recently, I considered myself a traditional reader especially with technical books. I preferred using the physical book, marking pages and quickly flipping through to find something. PDF documents on the PC are difficult to work with, and many eBooks on the PC aren’t much better with the ability to search as the only benefit. Searching usually just jumps through the document, but the iBooks search reveals a list of results showing surrounded context. Some of my technical books are full of sticky notes, many of which I’ve forgotten their purpose for being there and end up checking each one. Digital readers make bookmarking cleaner.

The iPad using iBooks and GoodReader has changed my opinion. The iBooks bookmarking tool is handy. I highlight as much text to give me enough information, a reminder that may be all I need in a pinch. If I need to read more, I can jump to the page. Devices like Kindle and iPad allow the reader to hold and carry the device like a book, even leaf through pages. Even better, I can now carry my 1,500 page technical book around without breaking my back. Another great bonus: some technical eBooks get updates downloaded straight to my reader. No need to visit the web for corrections.

The pages of my favorite book has turned yellow and the spine is falling apart. I read it too much. When I replace it, I will get the eBook.

iPad vs e-Ink

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The iPad works great as a reader allowing hours of comfortable reading using iBooks. Some avid readers using e-Ink devices may be hesitant about considering LCD screen due to eye fatigue. Don’t be. With proper brightness adjustment, the iPad is perfectly suitable for hours of reading.

Problems with e-Ink

The technology e-Ink uses still has a ways to go before it is ready. Faster refresh, improved graphics, and color are necessary for the demands of daily reading and computing. Think about all the textbooks with illustrations and diagrams. The slow refresh and lack of graphics severely limits interactive applications; no interactive or multimedia storytelling.

Problems with LCD

Three primary reasons for eyestrain, headaches, and fatigue when viewing a monitor: flicker, poor lighting, and low quality (low res or blurry) screen. LCD screens don’t flicker. Apple only uses good quality screens, and the iPad produces sharp enough text. That leaves lighting.

Lighting is key when working at a computer for many hours. I see too many super-bright screens especially at night. Some screens—including the iPad—automatically adjust for room brightness, but screens need initial calibration for the user and may need adjustments in extreme lighting situations such as direct sunlight or a dark room. Lower the brightness.

Keep reflections away using proper lighting and screen position. The iPad screen is only moderately reflective, and I barely notice it.

The iPad includes a brightness adjustment in settings, and iBooks includes a quick brightness adjustment during reading. Eyes should never squint or become tired at the proper brightness. Like reading physical books, looking around occasionally keeps eyes from becoming fatigued.

My book in iBooks

Why I prefer the iPad

The iPad is a truly portable computer. I can do work including write this blog. Apps allow many possibilities for storytelling that we haven’t even thought of yet, and iBooks is currently the best eReader for traditional book reading. The touch technology and interface of iPad and iPhone is a joy to use. And my story, Dunston Monster, looks great in iBooks.

Someday we may have a “screen” that is a flexible paper-like colored touch display, but until then I’ll stick with touch LCD display.

This post produced using iPad: Written in iWork Pages then pasted into WP dashboard using Safari and edited.