I'm Reading Anna Karenina and Remembering the Timeliness of Great Books

I started reading Anna Karenina (see previous post) on Kindle and learned something right off:  there are certain things I want to read on Kindle (or any screen) and things that I most certainly don't.  Call me Old School, call me picky.

This week, I stopped by the Half Price books and got a great copy of Anna Karenina that is the right size and weight.  It's a big book and I don't want one that is cumbersome; I want one that is easy to flip back and forth when I want to go back and re-read something, and I need quality paper that can withstanding my highlights and note taking (yes, I'm one of those).  Usually, college-targeted versions serve me well, and that's what I got this time.  It's an oversized, quality paperback meant for students and I love it.

The eerie thing about reading Anna Karenina right now - and there are some eerie things - include it's opening sentence:

"All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way."

Wow.  Love it, and it's so topical what with the daily news blast of Casey Anthony's trial, especially since the defense has just begun putting on their case.

The first few chapters delve into a man who has had an affair with the children's governess and now the wife has found out and is packing to leave (though we know she's really not going anywhere).  Suddenly there's a news break about Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver - and the news that he's the father of their former maid's son. 

No, I'm not far enough into the book yet for Anna to appear on the scene.  She should be here any minute; Vronsky's just been revealed as Levin's rival for the hand of Kitty.

It's true, I know it already: this is a great read.  Is it the best book ever written?  I don't know that I can agree with that accolade yet ... but I know one thing: one of the keys of great books, in my opinion, is how they span the ages with truths that are as applicable today as the day they were written.  A great writer's wisdom is timeless and rare, I think.

Anna Karenina in the first few chapters is already resonating with the world I'm living in today.  That's a good sign.

Here's Why I'm Reading Anna Karenina

Roaming around the web this week, I stumbled upon a list of books that famous authors considered to their favorite books, which corresponds with an actual book on these lists-- The Top Ten: Writers Pick Their Favorite Books.

It's only $9.76 for a Kindle edition.  There's a blog, too. 


Anyway, I had discovered the Top Ten list from all their collective selections -- and there was Tolstoy's Anna Karenina at the top.  Number One.  Anna Karenina, really? 

All these different, successful writers had chosen this book as the best of the best, the creme of the creme.  Ever read it? 

No, me neither, I'm not ashamed to admit.  (I did see Vivien Leigh in the 1948 movie version, but I hated the ending and after all, Anna was no Scarlett. I like survivors, I am one.)

Still, here I was - wanting a good book, one of those that keep you up at night, and here this was: this list.  So, I went over to Amazon and guess what?  Right now, Anna Karenina, Kindle version, is FREE. 

It was a sign.  So, right now I'm reading Anna Karenina.  I hope they're all right. 

Book Review: Zoe Winters' Smart Self-Publishing: Becoming an Indie Author

I wish I had stumbled upon Smart Self-Publishing: Becoming an Indie Author by Zoe Winters long before now. If you are researching publishing your own e-books, then this is a must-buy.  (It's less than five bucks if you own a Kindle.)

Zoe Winters writes an easy-to-read, exceptional overview of indie publishing that not only gives a great broad-based education of the whole process but also entertains you with personal tips and asides.

She's funny and informative - a great teacher, a good read.

My only negative: I wish she would write more on the subject, but I understand her announced need to focus on writing fiction. It's just too darn bad that we cannot anticipate a Smart Self-Publishing II.

Soon We Will Check Out Kindle Books From the Library. Good.

This is good news.  Amazon is recognizing the local public library, and "Kindle Library Lending" was debuted a couple of weeks ago by the Seattle-based company which makes the Kindle e-reader.  Before now, Kindles only read books that you purchased from Amazon (or downloaded, it's true that you can get loads of stuff for free from Amazon's Kindle selection).

Kindle Library Lending is going to launch later in 2011 -- I'm guessing late in the Fall.  Once it's up and running, those who own a Kindle e-reader will be able to borrow Kindle books from their local library (assuming that your local library is participating).  What's really happening is that Amazon is working with OverDrive to make its publications OverDrive-friendly. 

Cool thing:  you'll be able to highlight and note as you read, and even after the book goes back, your Kindle notes and highlights will remain for you to use.  That's nice.

Amazon's press release mentions "over 11,000 libraries in the United States" are on board.  Is that a lot? 

Will it include the San Antonio Public Library? Yes -- because the SAPL offers OverDrive publications - the SAPL branches are considered "digital branches" by OverDrive (go to the OverDrive site and input your zip code to learn if your library will be offering Kindle ebooks to you). 

Six Days And Counting Till My Standing Desk Arrives



From Amazon.com:
Techni Mobili Mobile Laptop MDF Cart
(shown in for setting and standing)

Writing means sitting on your keister for long periods of time, obvious to anything but what is in your mind and on the screen.  Which is great for getting things done, but very bad for your back, your neck, your legs - and fine.  Your butt.

So, I've ordered a standing desk.  I'm so excited about it that I'm not even bothered that the customer reviews discussed around an one hour assembly time.  Eww.  But I'm not thinking about that.  After all, it comes with its own screwdriver.  Isn't that sweet of them?

In fact, it is becoming insane over here on the Planet Reba because I'm actually counting the days till this thing arrives.  I've already rearranged furniture for it.  I'm pondering whether or not it should have a name.  My car does.  My computers do.

And, look!  There's room for my tea mug on that little shelf, as well as my wireless mouse.  (I hate laptop mice.)  Adorable.  And it has wheels! It's so smart, too....

What is the word for giving personalities to inanimate objects?  Because I'm doing this.  It's like my new sidekick is coming.  My executive assistant. 

My own Jeeves. Watson. Friday. Ethel.

I'm only hoping that I don't go all Wintour and end up throwing my coat and purse on this thing.

Being Accountable for your Word Count: The 250, 500, 1000 Words a Day Challenge

From reading Zoe Winters' blog, I've discovered InkyGirl's challenge to us all:  to write a minimum number of words, six days a week. 

Not planning on it. Not procrastinating, running totals to the next day, so that Friday afternoon you're facing a gazillion words to meet your self-imposed word count tally.

Nope.  Doing it.

I write for a living.  However, I have the dream of writing fiction (hence, this blog) and I'm thinking it's a good idea to take up InkyGirl's challenge and Zoe Winter's example and start doing it. 

It will be fun.
It will make me happy (happier).

It's important to move forward in life, and I believe that I have stories to tell.  Things to share that are worth the reader's time.

So, I'm going to commit to 250 words a day.  Fiction.  Six days a week. 

You can see it in the sidebar over there.  And if I can figure out the wordcount measure that Zoe Winters has on her blog, I'm going to include it in the sidebar over there, too. 

No pressure. 
No worries.

Kindle, Nook Color, Sony Pocket: My EReader Conversion

Kindle 3G Wifi
sold at Amazon
for $180 new, refurbished
for much less

Six months ago, I had no ebook reader and no interest in buying one. What with technology advancing so rapidly, my plan was to wait for the next wave - which I assumed would be the next generation of IPad. 

Maybe.  Part of me just didn't like the idea of an electronic book. I'd stick with print, thank you very much.  If tablets advanced that they served other purposes for me and they were great e-readers as a bonus, then great.  I could wait. 

Then I got a Nook Color for Christmas and everything changed.

I enjoyed the Nook Color for the two weeks last December that I went through three different Nooks before getting a cash refund. I liked the color screen, the size, and the ability to immediately download books ... but each time, the Nooks I had went nutzo. They started automatically scrolling ahead in the book, as well as highlighting random words. It was almost as if the Nook Color was possessed, or controlled remotely. Crazy stuff.

But I had the fever after that two weeks with Nook Color. So did I get a Kindle then? Nope. Got a Sony Pocket Reader.

It's cute, and I like the screen on the Sony Reader. It's great that I can download books from the public library. It's terribly bad that there's very little to choose from at the Sony Store. Not much inventory there.

So, I bought a Kindle 3G with WiFi one afternoon at Best Buy.

And, I adore my Kindle. I love the selection available to me. I love that at three in the morning, I can shop Amazon for books. I love that there are great books for free or very, very low cost. Connecting to the internet is fast, downloading is fast. The battery lasts a good, long time -- I'm thinking that I recharge once every 2-3 weeks (lasts longer if you keep the wireless connection turned off until you need it).

Do I still use the Sony Reader?
Yes. I like it, too.  I prefer using the wand to highlight sections of the text that Sony lets me do over the Kindle's text blocking.  Easier, faster.  Plus, I want to support the local library's expanding ebook collection and I can download the borrowed ebooks via Sony's ereader (no can do with Kindle). 

Do I buy more books because of Kindle?
Yes. Full price, 99 cents, free. I'm reading more because of Kindle (and I read a lot before).

Do I buy less print books?
Nope. In fact, I'll buy a book in print after reading the ebook because I want the print version. Never before did I routinely buy the same book twice, just for me.

Book to Read: Newbie's Guide to Publishing

Don't stop reading the blog, but don't miss this book!
For only $2.99 at Amazon.com.
Newbie's Guide to Publishing by J.A. Konrath

Earlier this month, I recommended reading Joe Konrath's blog daily if you are interested in ebooks, publishing, self-publishing, yadda, yadda, yadda ....Don't stop doing that, but do go and check out this book (see it on his blog sidebar, or just go to the Amazon site).  Chock full of great, helpful information.  

Don't know about you, but I really respect pros who share the wealth - like Mr. Konrath, and Lynn Viehl/Sheila Kelly over at Paperback Writer. 

The Big 6 in Publishing: Who They Are, and Why Their Days May Be Numbered

This month, Write it Forward's Bob Meyer interviewed Randy Ingermanson to discuss the impact of electronic publishing upon the Big 6 - and it's a good read, since they ponder things that seem suspicious, like the reported statistics about the number of ebook sales versus printed versions (hardback, paperback).  Am I the only one who thinks some of those numbers are fishy?  Nope. 

Another good read: last fall's panel discussion on the profitability of ebooks and how this impacts the Big 6, over at Publisher's Weekly.  Very nice info here on the ratio of profit to author versus profit to publisher in hardcover sales, wholesale ebook sales, agency ebook sales, etc. provided by Paul Aiken, executive director for the Authors Guild.  Especially interesting when you've been reading Joe Konrath's blog for awhile (see previous post). 

So, who are the Big 6? 

The Big 6 in publishing are the six North American publishing houses that make the most money, year in and year out.  Some of them are owned by even bigger powerhouses; for example, HarperCollins is owned by NewsCorp. (whose chairman of the board is Rupert Murdoch) (fyi, NewsCorp. owns Zondervan, the Christian publishing house, too).

As of February 2011, here are the Big 6 Publishing Houses (with links to their web sites): 

Hachette

Harper Collins

Macmillan

Penguin Group

Random House

Simon & Schuster.

 

Within each of these big conglomerates are a variety of imprints, whose names may be more familiar to you.  For example, Harper Collins imprints include (full list here) Avon, William Morrow, and Walden Pond Press.  To learn the complete listings of all the other imprints for the remaining Big 6, visit their sites (linked above). 

Blog Recommendation: A Newbie's Guide to Publishing

If you are curious about self-publishing, or if you're wondering how successful anyone might be rebelling against the traditional publishing model, then you must read Joe Konrath's blog, A Newbie's Guide to Publishing. 

Must. Read.

Not only does Mr. Konrath share his personal experiences - including his financial details - but he also welcomes guest posts by other authors who have their own tales to tell.  People like Lee Goldberg.

Great stuff, if you're any kind of maverick.  Absolute manna from Heaven if you're writing something that you want to have published, and you'd like to make more than a nickel per copy (and maybe avoid all that book signing mess, too). 

Go read it here.