E Readers

Here is something I would have never thought I would end up buying. I like having a physical book to read. Flip through the pages, and heft when I'm reading. There was just something satisfying about it. Even though the larger books would sometimes make my wrist sore holding it up just so I could keep reading.

After a short couple weeks reading up on them, having only really having any brand awareness about the Kindle and the Kindle Fire. I ended up with a Kobo Touch. Once I found out that it was essentially 'Region' free there was little other choice.

I certainly didn't want to be locked into any formats. And the Kobo would read the current comic book formats. As it has turned out, I am almost done reading my second novel on it. And won't be reading any comics I don't imagine.

The screen is fantastic, bit of a matte finish which is awesome, I was concerned about the visibility of fingerprints like my iPod Touch. And that is not a problem. And the look of it is just like paper. It's rather amazing how they have made it look just like a book page. It's light weight, and has a rubber coating on the whole thing to make it easy to grip and hold onto. The only real gripe I had, and it pretty much vanished once I got used to it. Was the slight delays with the touch screen. It messes me up still when typing, but now that I have gotten used to it. It's not a problem flipping pages.

It has 2GB of ram, only 1GB available to the user. I installed a 4GB Micro SD card and will be plenty since I won't be carrying my comics around. The problem with them is that they don't display as they would on the PC. You can zoom in, and scroll about the pages. But I find the text hard to read, and would have preferred it to operate the way the PC readers do. Displaying each page in halves, zoomed in. So when you flip pages it just goes from the top of the page to the bottom. So each comic page is presented as two full screen pages. This is something I would think could be address in an update if they so choose.

A great part of my satisfaction with the device I don't doubt is the Targus Black leather case I got for it. It makes the kobo look and feel like a real leather bound book. It has pockes for cards inside, and has two bands and a slot / pocket at the bottom to hold the device. And with the rubberized exterior it just kinda sticks in place. The case was originally designed for the Kindle. But is great for the Kobo. If I didn't have a great case for it, it would probably stay on my desk. And I would never carry it around or get any use out of it.

So it has been a surprisingly good purchase. And if I finish the other half dozen or so books I plan to read in the short term. It will have been worth the cost to get into.

4 out of 5 stars

The Ruins

Is a horror novel written by Scott Smith. I would call it more of thriller or survival horror novel myself, now that I've managed to finish it.

A typical setup, kids on vacation in a foreign land end up going into the jungle, and become trapped and slowly killed / picked off by some terrible presence in the jungle. They can't leave, and can't contact help. Their only hope is to try and conserve their resources until help can come to them. Hopefully before it's too late.

The bulk of the novel deals with the stress and condition of the people stuck together, as the try and cope with the hardships of their predicament and running out of supplies. Not too mention the thing that creeps around the edges.

I didn't have much trouble figuring out what the evil thing was, and I would give credit for being different about it. Rather than going with something more 'normal' so to speak.

I would think this would make a fantastic movie, and it would follow the usual tropes quite well. If they wouldn't muck with it too much. But, it would probably be better suited as a mini series for cable. Maybe one of the things they did twenty years ago.. Make it five parts, Monday to Friday and run an hour a day.

But I can't think of anything right now since V first aired in the early 1980s for that.

Anyway, it was a good book. And the fact that I picked it up blind on a used book shelf for like $3 was even better.

4 out of 5 stars

Flash Forward The Novel

Just finished reading the book for Flash Forward. I haven't seen any of the tv show. But after reading the book, I would think that it should have worked. Or maybe even better as a mini series. Six or twelve parts.

With the way things tend to get twisted around when made into movies or TV or even games. Maybe the show strayed quite far from the book. I don't know. Maybe I will rent it if it ever comes out, or lands on Netflix or in reruns sometime. And see how close or different it actually was.

3 out of 5 stars

Undisputed

How to become world champion in 1,372 easy steps

Just finished reading this book today. Was every bit as good as the first one, and with the book ending a lot like the previous. Hopefully he is making notes to write his third book.

This book was split between his time in the WWE and Fozzy. You get to see some insight on wrestling stardom as well as being a rockstar.

Lots of great stories from the road, the ring and the stage.

Any fan of Jericho, Fozzy or the Wrestling should love the book.

3.5 stars out of 5

The Dirt

Confessions of the worlds most notorious rock band

What a fantastic read this book was. It is basically the biography of Motley Crue. From the beginning to the end.. mostly. Written like a first person tell all journal from the main players of the band. As well as some of their managers and associates.

It has to be read to be believed, or then again maybe not if you grew in the 80s like I did and had some vague familiarity with the Crue (We didn't really pick on them until Dr. Feelgood. And by then they had already been around awhile) I managed to read the book in about a week. Very much like some of the biographical tell all books about their wrestling careers and respective industries (Chris Jericho, Mick Foley and Bret Hart mainly) If you ever wanted to know first hand what it was like to be one of the most decadent and successful Rock Stars of all time. And what it was like on the inside. That this is your window.

The chapters alternate between people, and sometimes overlapping so you get more than one perspective on some situations. And there doesn't seem to be much if anything held back. With a free, open, casual speaking type of writing style I just breezed through the chapters.

Highly Recommended
4.5 stars out of 5

The Fall

Finished reading book two in the new Modern Vampire trilogy by Del Torro and Hogan. Was a great book, and once again will be a long wait for the final chapter.

The book made me a little nervous when they started with the ancient group of master vampires. I was more interested in their being a lone ancient who was going to corrupt the earth. But, I had nothing to be concerned with. Since the rogue master eliminated them rather quickly. And the Earth is collapsing into some kind of post apocalyptic future.

Rumors were that there will be a movie in the works. Hopefully he gets to do it himself, which I presume is the plan. But stranger things have happened in Hollywood.

But, this really kicks the snot out of everything vampire related I've seen or read recently. This series would be my #1 followed by True Blood and then Twilight. I will admit that could arguably be three different genres catering to three different audiences. But from the vampire aspects this is my order. And I did enjoy them all for different reasons.

4 out of 5 stars. Read it immediately.

Twilight Saga - Revisited

Just finished reading the books for the Twilight Saga, all five of them. Which should be no surprise to anyone who reads books and then sees the movies based on them. Generally the books are much better than the movies. Not always, but a majority of the time.

I've seen all the movies so far, and they have gotten progressively better. But the books for obvious reasons are just more detailed, and deeper. The movies seem to be tightly focused on the romantic relationship between Bella and Edward. And that's how it starts, and never disappears. But there was a lot more stuff going on beyond just that.

I kind of hope there would be another book, but so far doesn't seem like it. And the story seems mostly complete at the end of Breaking Dawn and so be it.

The Historian

Just finished reading this book. It was a fantastic read too. From what I've found out, it was a first novel from Elizabeth Kostova. The movie rights have been picked up, but that's always a roll of the dice on how Hollywood treats stuff.

The book basically revolves around the idea that Dracula is still alive. But the book isn't what you would call a vampire novel. Apparently there was a bidding war when the book was published, as they all thought they had the next Da Vinci Code on their hands.

This book is more about the search for the clues that Dracula is still alive, and where he might be. And the evidence of the existence of what could turn out to be vampires. It's more of a Mystery / Thriller. With the disappearances, and cover up the evidence and the race across Europe trying to tie together the clues to locate him. Dusty old libraries, tombs and events taking place in a couple time lines. As the plot continues from a father down to his daughter.

Highly Recommended. Was much better than the last Dan Brown book, which I found to be a big disappointment really. And hopefully no movie version coming. Or then again, maybe this time the movie would be better.

Death in the Sand

Prince of Persia

Once again, what can you say.. Not much of a movie. Plot was paper thin, a lot of action running sequences. Movie was more Assassins Creed feel than anything else. If Jake had of been dressed in white I could have mistaken him for Ezio. If not for the desert surroundings. I liked the cast though, and the FX was good. Just no plot and no story to speak of. So, pretty typical of a big summer action movie. Seeing as how they released in the late spring, I guess they didn't want to risk it going up against the real summer mega blockbusters.

Death in the Family

Book 10 of the Southern Vampire Mysteries series by Charlaine Harris. The series that True Blood is based on. And thankfully the book series is so much better. The show is taking some departures. I may have beat my record for fastest read of a hardcover novel. Unfortunately it's going to be a long wait for the next book as this one just came out. At least Guillermos book II of the Strain is coming out in September.

So, in summery Vampires good (Buy the book) and Prince of Persia bad (don't even bother renting)