Sharing Books
Posted on August 3, 2008
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I saw this today on Best Places to Get Free Books - The Ultimate Guide and I wanted to pass it along to other readers. Some of these are e-books to download, some are free physical books. Check it out! And don’t forget your local library also has free books.
- ManyBooks - Free eBooks for your PDA, iPod, or eBook reader - Thanks Tony Bryan & abben
- BookCrossing - Where real books are released into the wild to be found by others - Thanks Engtech
- LibraryElf - The perfect companion to a public library system - Thanks Engtech
- Scribd - Open library to publish and discover documents online - Thanks CincauHangus
- Word Public Library - 400,000 PDF ebooks for download - Thanks Ellen
- Free Tech Books - Free computer science and engineering books (+ lecture notes) - Thanks Ellen
- Bookins - Swap real books with other readers - Thanks Jimbob
- WellToldTales - Free short story podcasts (like audiobooks, but shorter) - Thanks Kevin C.
- Wowio - Public domain, free legitimate copyrighted materials & one of the only with a selection of Comic Books - Thanks Jane and Art Dardia
- BizBooktalk - Free book giveaway contests on Fridays - Thanks Brandon
- MoochMuch - Organize your book lending with your friends - Thanks Bobby
- CHMPDF - A collection of general interest and technical ebooks - Thanks Manish Garg & Brian Di Croce
- Realtime Publishers - free IT eBooks by many of the world’s best authors - Thanks Kevin
- FrugalReader - Trade Books for free - Thanks Brent
- TitleTrader - Swap books, movies, and music - Thanks Brent
- ZunaFish - Trade your old media and books items for new titles you’d rather have - Thanks Brent
- SwapSimple - Swap your used books here - Thanks Brent
- SwapThing - Community of users who swap items including books - Thanks Brent
- BookCart - Internet paperback exchange - Thanks Brent
- SF-Books - Exchange Sci-Fi Books here - Thanks Brent
- PaperbackSwap - Swap books for free - Thanks jane dough, IBelieveInFairies, & Lauren
- PinkMonkey - 450 Study Guides / Booknotes / Online Chapter Summary Notes and Analysis - Thanks Spellchecker
- eBookWorld - Technical resources - Thanks 5n7p3r
- Flaxx - IT and computer books - Thanks tejinder
- Baen Library - Free science fiction and fantasy novels - Thanks lanthus & Glen Davis
- LibraryThing - Social networking and free books - Thanks Michael
- Online Books Page - Facilitates access to books that are freely readable over the Internet - Thanks Aman
- Podiobooks - free audiobooks that you can subscribe to with iTunes or any other podcatcher - Thanks KJToo
- BookRags - Research material in the form of eBooks - Thanks Henry Delany
- Technical Books Online - Old tech books from the “vacuum tube age” of electronics- Thanks obiewiz
- ebookSearchr - Google powered Thanks Rico & Rokker
- Internet Archive - The Intenet indexed - that includes a vast text library - Thanks jojo
- BookYards - Books, videos, education materials- Thanks Victor
- Memoware - Free books for your PDA - Thanks Doug
Via Best Places to Get Free Books - The Ultimate Guide
Vampire Chronicles
Posted on July 29, 2008
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The movie adaptation of Anne Rice’s Interview With the Vampire made me very much eager to read the book. Lestat’s character is truly very mysterious though a bit scary and arrogant while Louis played something akin to a woman’s role in Lestat’s life. Very gayish as most vampire movies I’ve read take on more of sensual romance rather than sexual. My interest in vampire novels and stories has more than perked up when I read Anne Rice books.
In the Interview with the Vampire, Lestat’s character was more of an antagonist, playing a ruthless vampire master who created his mate in Louis. Louis got tired of Lestat’s abusiveness and manipulations and chose a much nicer vampire master, and betrayed Lestat along the way. The book was very eerie and disturbing, giving us a glimpse of the life of night creatures.
In the book Lestat however, Anne Rice gave readers a better understanding of Lestat’s character. His lifemates, adventures and misadventures. In here, he is no longer the ruthless, manipulative and abusive vampire master. He rather became a figure for hero worship.
Sophie’s World
Posted on July 28, 2008
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Sophie’s World is a novel written by Jostein Gaarder. It was originally written in Norwegian with title Sofies verden in 1991, later on translated into English in 1995.
Sophie is a fourteen year old girl living in Norway with her cat named Sherekan, a goldfish, a tortoise and her mother. Her father is a captain of a tanker and is away most of the time. The teen=aged girl becomes suddenly shaken by two letters she found in her mailbox addressed to her. The letter said “Who are you? Where does the world come from?”. Then on, she has received succeeding letters and then becomes a philosophy student of an anonymous mentor, later on identified himself as Alberto Knox.
An old friend introduced me to this book. After he finished reading, he convinced me to read it myself. But I was just a teenager then, and after reading a few pages on philosophy, I eventually got bored and never got to finish the book. After a few years, I was looking for something to keep me busy while looking after my baby boy. So, I found the book hidden in my closet and I thought of starting to read it again.
I must say that this book is very engaging (maybe it just depends on the age of the reader). It’s a comprehensive major philosophy book, and a mystery novel in one. I definitely like how the story ended and it took me some time before I could figure out how the book will end. This is something I could not just put down.
Time Traveler’s Wife
Posted on July 26, 2008
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A favorite book by Audrey Niffenegger.
This is not your typical love story.The book talks about how one’s love can really stand the ultimate test of time. Claire Abshire found her soul mate in Henry DeTamble - a man he knew when she was still a child. She is an ordinary girl, and he is not; but attraction and destiny conspired to make their love story come true. Henry, the man Claire admired when she was still 6 year old and loved even more throughout her fading life, time travels. Claire fell deeply in love and managed to live with a husband who seldom lives in the now and occasionally goes back to the past and travels to the future. They shared a great love that allowed them to overcome every distress, nightmare, and sorrow in every single test of time.
Although the book generally gives the reader a heart-rending end, the excitement of love and the joy of loving are always present in almost every page. Definitely this is a book a true lover should read; and this is a story for every one who has loved, been loved, wanted to love and still loving.
This favorite love story will be on film this year according to the Internet Movie Database and will star Rachel McAdams and Eric Bana as Claire and Henry. Grab you copy of Time Traveler’s Wife and let yourself enjoy the thrill and happiness love brings.
Me of Little Faith
Posted on July 22, 2008
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i’ve just stated reading this book and i’m already in love with it. i’ll write more when i’m done but for now Lewis Black remains my hero.
Because Dragons Are Real
Posted on July 22, 2008
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Why travel in China is like being the protagonist in a fantasy novel… Not a comparison that leaps to mind, but here are some convincing arguments!
I’ve noticed a certain similarity between my reading matter and my life. Some of the reasons overlap with Sinoplice’s brilliant “Why China Is Like An RPG”. Travel in China, like fantasy books, offers an escape from a monotonous life. Money is counted in “pieces” and dragons are real.
1) The way is fraught with peril. There’s no quick travel, the path from point A to Point B is always full of adventures. Come on, Frodo couldn’t just hop on the next plane to Mordor!
2) Dire predictions of doom. In fantasy stories, the protagonists are constantly warned about their destination, just like in China. “I heard of a foreign traveler who tried to reach Penglai by bus. We never saw him again.” or “You seek to visit Beijing? In October? Turn back while you still can!”
Via Why Travel In China Is Like Being the Protagonist In A Fantasy Novel
Learning To Read In China
Posted on July 22, 2008
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Learning to read in China… or at least trying.
“You should teach them to put their finger under each word when they chant, so the parents will know their children know English,” one of the TAs suggested yesterday. She went on to explain that this is not reading, and any further attempts by me to teach the children to read will not be appreciated.
She needed to add that, because I have already been reprimanded for starting to teach my kids to read, which is forbidden for year one. Obviously. And the whole phonics thing? Why I am making noises with my mouth when I should be having my 6-year-olds memorize for their exams? Seriously, I claim to have teaching experience and this is what I come up with?
Via The Four Humors
Dan Brown: Digital Fortress
Posted on July 21, 2008
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This is the first Dan Brown book that I’ve read and I think the author really deserve that much commendation not only for his every famous Da Vinci Code (which I haven’t read yet) but also for his other books which I believe would be as good as the others.
Digital Fortress is said to be a techno thriller that tells a story about a virtual attack on the National Security Agency’s baby - the TRANSLR which aside from decoding encrypted emails from terrorist that could inevitable endanger the country. This powerful machine can also intercept emails from private citizens so this machine’s ability drove former NSA employee and brilliant programer Ensei Tanakado to paralyze its operation. The story revolved around the characters Stratmore, Susan and her fiance` David and the death of Ensei Tanakado that brought about the problems in NSA that Stratmore was so eager to solve and in the way pulled in the efforts and talents of Susan Fletcher while dispatching her linguist fiance to find the key that would solve the problem.
The book is a gripping story that would bring about suspect twist and surprises. You wouldn’t want to put it down till you’re finally done.
On the Redwall Series
Posted on July 16, 2008
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I do not know what it was that had me hooked. Was it the idea of anthropomorphic furry woodland critters? The sense of adventure imbued on every page? The mouth watering descriptions of feasts?
Since I was young, I found immense enjoyment in Brian Jacques’ Redwall series. I do not remember which book I read first, but I recall that it was written by a master of description. Soon my mind was spurned to imagine the banter and banquets and battles that spread throughout the pages and throughout all the books. I would read and re-read, taking in every meticulously described detail, rejoicing with every new book added to the series.
And there I had it. What I enjoyed most was that the story went on. That every year or so, a new book was added to the series. Maybe not always in chronological order, but that did not matter. The continuity of the story reflected my own desires, to realize that one mattered. That one’s own story mattered, just as every part of the Redwall epic made a difference on the grand scale.
Even now, picking up a Redwall book, after years of abandonment, I retain the fondest memories, and feel fulfilled again as only a child could. I strongly recommend the series, even if just as a leisurely read, to readers of all ages.
Hero/Heroine Crushes
Posted on July 13, 2008
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Do you get crushes for a hero or a heroine in books that you read?
I do. Authors that has this great talent for conjuring up a very likeable - meaning sensitive but masculine, sweet and caring and other characteristics makes them almost perfect. I have a weakness for them, yup them knight and shining armour kind of heroes and dainty yet strong, willful and beautiful heroines.
I have collected books of Judith McNaught since I first read her Book-Until You. I then decided that my favorite genre would be historical romances and her books are my favorites. I love and got crushes for the heroes in her book and felt that I am their heroines! haha
Aside from Judith McNaught I also love historical romances of Jude Deveraux. I had crushes on her taggert-montgomery characters. Funny I was reading from a forum that it really hard to get crushes for these fictional characters coz they’re so perfect and one might just compare and not get satisfied with what they get coz they would never measure up to these heroes’ qualities and personalities.