Just because you can, doesn't mean you should

So, I have a new issue to vent about and my mom suggested I stop complaining to her and find someone else who cares. Then she suggested I write a blog about it. Yes! Of course! I'll vent to the masses and find a sympathetic ear, someone who is also disgusted by the boundaries technology has crossed.

Okay, so I went from bookstore to bookstore this week looking for, duh, a book in a series I've been reading. The book was published (according to the author's website) March 1, 2009. No one at any bookstore had ever heard of this book. Finally a salesclerk at Boarder's asked me if it was an ebook. Me = blank stare. Blink. "Huh?" I got home and googled the title and, sure enough!, this book I've been searching for is not a "book," but a manuscript typed up and available for purchase on-line. It will not be available in hardback/paperback, but will remain an ebook. WHAT!? Now, I knew ebooks existed, but I thought they were for psudo authors designed for all the trash editors would never waste time to print. Apparently not.

Now, I'm a tree huger. I see the benefits of not printing millions of copies and destroying trees. I get it. Yet, to me, books are sacred. When movies, music and shopping all became regulated by the internet, I was cool with the change. But books? There is just something about holding a book in your hands and watching the cover crease with each time I read it; about seeing the lovely book on my overflowing bookshelf; about having the ability to share the book with friends who want to borrow it. I do not want my books to jam my memory on my hard drive and become nothing but forgotten GB's taking up space on my computer. WHAT IS THIS!?

And what self respecting author would agree to allowing their books to not be published, but remain nothing but an electronic copy? And here I say, just because you can do something, doesn't mean you should. Meaning, just because we can put books on-line and never print again (don't even get me started on newspapers), doesn't mean that is the right thing to do and we should sometimes refrain. What is going to happen in the future? Will all the books be "ebooks" (grr..) and the once paper books (aka: real books) be relegated to the same uses as paper towels and toilet paper?! Will kids in the future even know what a real book looks like, or will they someday say "Oh yeah, I saw that on TV once."??? This is just a small tragedy in my world.

I'm just disgusted with modern technology sometimes. This is so one of those times!

Much Ado About Books

Publicly tracking my reading progress for the year. Also offering recommendations, and encouraging recs in return! Started this list while in PCP & haven't felt the need to stop.

JANUARY 2009

"The Daydreamer"--Ian McEwan (wonderful short stories!)

"Water for Elephants"--Sara Gruen (love this book!)

"Generation Me" (great non-fiction read. learned a great deal about myself & my generation)

FEBRUARY

"He's Just Not That Into You"--Behrendt & Tuccillo (single girls guide to dating; okay for a 1 time read.)

"Pride & Prejudice"--Jane Austen (really? EVERYONE should read this book. I do every year.)

MARCH

"Twilight"--Stephanie Meyers
"New Moon" (always recommending this series to my girl friends. you'll hate it, straight guys.)
"Eclipse"
"Breaking Dawn"
"Midnight Sun"

"Need"--Jones (really, really terrible. don't bother)

APRIL

The House of Night Series--P.C. & Kristan Cast
"Marked" (really great read for teens. would rec for hs students. pretty juvenile.)
"Betrayed"
"Changed"
"Untamed"
"Hunted"

Wicked Lovely series--Melissa Marr (incredible! my new favorite series. sexy & engaging.)
"Wicked Lovely"
"Ink Exchange"

The Dark Hunter series--Sherrilyn Kenyon
"Fantasy Lover" (the series is packed with series fantasy action, of all kinds)
"Night Pleasures"
"Night Embrace"
"Dance With The Devil" (at this point you're so hooked, it's ridiculous)
"Kiss of the Night"
"Night Play"
"Seize the Night"

MAY

The Dark Hunter series (continued)--Sherrilyn Kenyon
"Sins of the Night"
"Unleash the Night"
"Dark Side of the Moon"
"Dream-Hunter"
"Devil May Cry"
"Upon the Midnight Clear" (this was clearly a short story turned novel to make $$. grr...)
"Dream Chaser"
"Acheron" (my favorite character's story!)
"One Silent Night"
"Dream Warrior" (and now I have to wait for the rest of the series...)

Wicked Lovely series (continued)--Melissa Marr
"Fragile Eternity" (really loved this book!)

June

"Iliad"--Homer (I so love Achilles! And the Greek Gods!)

August

"Bad Moon Rising"--Sherrilyn Kenyon




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