Books, Books, Books

(Photo courtesy of http://www.hookedonhouses.net )

(Isn't this room amazing?)

I LOVE to read. I'll read anything and everything and frequently ask friends, family, and even customers for book recommendations. And once I find an author I enjoy, I want to read everything they've ever written.

The problem is, buying two or three books a week is expensive. Sure, I've borrowed books from friends and of course, from the library but sometimes, my branch didn't have the next book in a series and truthfully, I constantly forgot to return them on time.

Storing all those lovely books became another problem. Every so often, I'd go through my shelves and box up the books I would never read again only to store them for a future yard sale that I never managed to have. (Our library is extra-picky about which books they'll accept for donations.)

(Photo courtesy of Public Domain)

Back in 2004, way before the Kindle or Nook were invented, I came across a site called, Booksfree.com. NOW, the only books I purchase are reference books, books written by my writing friends, or hardcovers I can't live without.

Booksfree.com is like a Netflix to those of us who don't have an e-reader or for people who enjoy the feel of holding a book in our hands. With 250,000 paperback titles and 36,000 audiobook titles, there's a whole lot to choose from. They offer programs for renting paperbacks, MP-3, CD, audiobook, or a combination of those with rates as low as $14.49 a month. Booksfree even offers a swapping program.

Prepaid mailers are included with your book shipment and you can read as fast or as slow as you like without any penalties. Just send the books back when you're finished reading and they'll send you the next selections on your queue. If you fall in love with one of them, you can also keep it and purchase it through your account.

Booksfree also accepts donations of your old paperbacks. They pay $1.00 per book and put the money into an account used for purchases. Just think, you can make room for new books, share your books, make money, and save the environment at the same time!

So, if you're like me and love to read, why not check out their website and see if you're interested. If you decide to sign up, make sure you tell them I sent you. My e-mail address is deestan62@gmail.com.

I Need A Little Help From My Friends

I've already admitted I'm stubborn when it comes to joining in on the latest crazes. I'm still catching up with the rest of the world's Harry Potter fans and aside from the bits and pieces of info I've seen on television and in magazines, I still know nothing about Twilight. (The books are on my TBR pile.)

But I'm changing my ways. Truly, I am. Well, I'm trying...

So, now I realize I've been quite stubborn on another thing and now I'm wondering if I must cave in, bite the bullet, and take the plunge on an E-reader.

I've seen and actually played around a little bit on a friend's Kindle. My daughter has an E-reader app on her iPhone and I've noticed so many books and publications are available only through an E-reader. All this kind of has me feeling a little left out of the loop.

When E-readers first came out, I was immediately put off by them. I knew their invention and widespread use would drastically change the literary universe in one way or another, but I also felt sad. See, I love, love books. I love the smell of the paper, the sound of pages turning, the texture of hardcover boards (I always remove the dust jackets while reading and recover them for storage, the weight in my hand, and the way they look when I line them up like soldiers (in size order) on a shelf. I can't help it. I will never give up print books. Ever. Even if they become illegal to own, I'll be a criminal.

As E-readers grew in popularity, they piqued my interest. (See, I'm not THAT stubborn) I even seriously debated buying an iPad which would have been so much fun but financially, I couldn't justify the purchase at that time.

Now, I know there are a whole bunch of arguments on both sides of the print books vs. e-readers debates and I understand it all. E-readers are lightweight, (no hand cramps while holding the massive tomes I love reading) have built-in lighting and anti-glare, (great for my aging eyes) almost any book I want at my fingertips, (no more waiting for books in the mail or trips to the bookstore) and I know that anyone who owns an E-reader loves it.

I know, I'll love it, too. (And probably spend a small fortune, 99 cents at a time) But, here's where I need your help.

I want to hear how owning an E-reader will help in my writing career.

Can you help me?