Good Reads - Discussion of Books, Literature, Reading, etc.

[Pete!]

2 hours ago, zlim said:

Nice site, Pete. Thanks.

I found a Math book that I'm downloading.

Since I found that site, I seldom turn on my cable box.

My 76 year old eyes don't do well with the print size in a typical paper&ink printed book (especially paperbacks), but with an e- book I can select a type size that doesn't have me reaching for the reading glasses.

 

If you don't already have a favorite reader, I recommend the e-book viewer in the Calibre suite.

[V.T. Eric Layton]

3 hours ago, Pete! said:

If you don't already have a favorite reader, I recommend the e-book viewer in the Calibre suite.

 

I second Calibre and its built-in eBook Reader. I rarely read on my computer. I normally adjust/manipulate my eBook library using Calibre and my Nook reader.

 

Calibre can be found HERE.

 

A screenshot of mine...

 

 

 

[zlim]

I actually like the googleplay books for reading. I have both the googleplay books and kindle app on my tablets. I download books on overdrive from my local library.

I don't read on the computer. I might download books but then put them on my tablet or on a micro sd card to read.

 

I have Calibre installed on my laptop but not for reading. I know two seniors who own Kindle devices. I move books on to the Kindles after converting them to the correct format. My sister-in-law's son bought her a Kindle. She doesn't have internet access, has no email address, has never used a computer, so there is no way she would be able to use a Kindle unless I put books on it for her.  Before I did that, the Kindle sat in a box for months. I'm surprised she didn't throw it away.

[abarbarian]

On 3/1/2020 at 2:45 PM, Pete! said:

https://b-ok.cc/book/3872561/237ece

 

Super site mate, thanks.

 

I found a cache of free sci-fi books at https://www.baen.com/allbooks/category/index/id/2012?page=2&pageSize=30&filter=created_at&dir=DESC. Just finished The Northworld Triology by David Drake which was ok I suppose for a light time waster. Next on the list is There Will Be Dragons by John Ringo with a title like that you just have to explore the unknown.

 

[ssherjj]

Thank you guys for posting all those links. Great information and I'll have to check out Calibre as well. Need to bookmark them for sure.

[abarbarian]

Day the World Stood Still by John Cooper Clarke

Quote

 

Deafening whispers loud and clear
The sound of nothing meets my ears
I get the message – i know the drill
This is the day the world stood still

The day the world stood still
The day the world stood still
No traffic noise or sparrows trill
From the dead flowers on the window sill
This is the day the world stood still

 

 

[abarbarian]

Internet Archive Open Library

I did not even realise there was such a library with modern books. Thought the Internet Archive only had out of copyright books. Well worth a look though I have never tried to borrow a book as I have tons of books to read as is .

 

Seems like not everyone is happy with the library,

 

Publishers sue to shut down books-for-all Internet Archive for 'willful digital piracy on an industrial scale'

 

Quote

The Internet Archive invited the ire of publishers and authors back in March when it decided to lift restrictions on the digital copies of library books it has acquired and scanned. Anyone that registers with the site can take out any of 1.3 million books, the complaint states - although the Internet Archive claims the real figure is 1.4 million.

 

[abarbarian]

Not really reading but I guess radio plays are sort of literature so am posting here. If unhappy please do move.

 

Found a couple of neat sites for radio plays.

 

http://www.radioechoes.com/?page=genre

 

Quote

The Fantastic Four Radio Show. A classic radio show from 1975 narrated by Stan Lee and starring Pre-Saturday Night Live Fame Bill Murray as hot head Johnny Storm AKA The Human Torch. It has slipped into the public domain now and we are excited to bring it to you to help fill your now empty days!!!

 

https://oldtimeradiolover.com/the-shadow/

Quote

 

The Shadow

The old time radio show, The Shadow, came about to increase sales of the Detective Story Magazine. James LaCurto was the first narrator for the series, but when Frank Readick, Jr., took over the role, he gave it a new voice that thrilled the listeners. The first run of The Shadow was from 1930 until 1935. It returned in 1937 and this was the old time radio show that became a classic.

Orson Welles played Lamont Cranston who was the rich young man about town. Frank Readick would put a water glass beside his mouth, in order to get the echo effect during the reading of the infamous line, “Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men?”

 

 

Some excellent stuff on both sites. I can recommend this series if you like detective drama with a subtle twist.

 

http://www.radioechoes.com/?page=series&genre=OTR-Detective&series=A Case For Dr Morelle

 

[abarbarian]

5G conspiracy theory books are being sold on Amazon

 

Quote

Unbelievably, the books appear to be listed as ‘factual’ titles.

 

 

Edited July 3, 2020 by abarbarian

[V.T. Eric Layton]

That's actually NOT funny because idiots will buy these books, read them, and spread this BS to other idiots. Disinformation/Misinformation... it's worse than a virus pandemic; spreads faster, too.

[Ed_P]

On 6/9/2020 at 4:24 PM, abarbarian said:

Not really reading but I guess radio plays are sort of literature so am posting here. If unhappy please do move.

 

Found a couple of neat sites for radio plays.

 

http://www.radioechoes.com/?page=genre

 

 

https://oldtimeradiolover.com/the-shadow/

 

Some excellent stuff on both sites. I can recommend this series if you like detective drama with a subtle twist.

 

http://www.radioechoes.com/?page=series&genre=OTR-Detective&series=A Case For Dr Morelle

 

 

I remember The Shadow shows.  One of my favorites as a kid.

[Bookmem]

3 hours ago, Ed_P said:

 

I remember The Shadow shows.  One of my favorites as a kid.

I do too.  I was about ten when we go our first TV and I hated it.  They had a lot of great radio shows at the time but the TV shows were horrible.  There were only two TV channels at the time, and we got the network shows via "kinascope", three MONTHS late.  Christmas shows at Eastertime!!!

Edited July 4, 2020 by Bookmem

[ebrke]

I decided to give myself an early birthday present and went to Alibris. Bought 9 books, all old favorites because I reread a lot. A couple were to replace paperback versions of books that had literally disintegrated. I just don't like e-books and could bankrupt myself on Alibris, but I swallow the cost of shipping because there are no second-hand bookstores in my area anymore.

[V.T. Eric Layton]

Sadly, I had to quit buying actual books. They were taking over my home because I never got rid of any of them. After eliminating 3/5s of my 15K editions a few years ago (just kept the special books ), I decided to just let the local library store my books for me. Heh!

 

Up until this coronavirus fiasco, I was going to the library regularly for all my reading needs. Sadly, the local branches all closed in March of this year. They have not reopened yet. For this reason, I've had to depend on ebooks during this past few months. I still prefer a real dead tree book, but I've been getting good use out of my Nook during this time.

 

Oh, and when I was still buying used books online I had long ago given up on ABE and Alibris and others and purchased from only one place... a place with the best prices, best and fastest shipping, excellent customer support, etc.

 

Thriftbooks

 

I've been buying from them for nearly a decade. I have never had a complaint. I HIGHLY recommend them. Have fun!

[V.T. Eric Layton]

And about The Shadow...

 

It was, of course, waaaaaay before my time, but I remember it because when I was a wee lad in the early 60s, these radio dramas were replayed on a local AM radio station here in Tampa. My mom would have the old Sears Silvertone turned on and tuned in every afternoon about 2PM. She'd listen to the shows while cleaning the house, folding the laundry, etc. I was there in the livingroom in front of that ol' console stereo listening along intently.

 

Ah... the memories!

 

Our old Sears console looked very much like this one, but had the "blonde" wood finish. There was also a satellite speaker, so you could enjoy true stereo using the turntable... or if you could find an FM station back then that was transmitting in stereo (rare until about '65 or '66).

 

[abarbarian]

On 7/3/2020 at 4:11 PM, V.T. Eric Layton said:

That's actually NOT funny because idiots will buy these books, read them, and spread this BS to other idiots. Disinformation/Misinformation... it's worse than a virus pandemic; spreads faster, too.

 

Those are not the least "funny" books amazon sells,

 

Nazi children’s books branding Jews 'devil in human form' on sale on Amazon in various languages

 

I am all for freedom in all forms however I personally think that amazon should not sell or promote books like this. Keep them in a museum or library.

 

 

Quote

“If Amazon can predict what you want buy then they should be able to stop this filth. I cannot understand why the world's richest man Jeff Bezos cannot monitor what is being sold on his company's website.” 

 

Quote

 

Others were critical of Amazon for profiting from the book: “This is an ugly example of a company making money off of racism and of a corporation sponsoring and disseminating Antisemitism. This is despicable. Amazon should know better and must stop spreading hate.”

RT.com has contacted Amazon for comment, but has yet to receive a response.

 

Edited July 6, 2020 by abarbarian

[V.T. Eric Layton]

Amazon (Bezos) could care less about what they're selling. Their ONLY concern is that people are BUYING.

[sunrat]

7 hours ago, V.T. Eric Layton said:

Amazon (Bezos) could care less about what they're selling. Their ONLY concern is that people are BUYING.

 

*couldn't care less* . Think about what it means. I hate when the internet gets flooded with incorrect usage propagated by sheeple who just copy the wrong things other sheeple say. Don't be a sheeple!

 

Another pedantic example is the disappearing usage of the word "who" recently. So often I see written eg. "the person that did the thing". When I was at school, "that" referred to objects and "who" referred to people.

 

I also read recently a Swedish study which found an average decline of 7 IQ points per generation. Confirms my unscientific observations that the world is getting stupider.

 

Now git orf ma lawn!

[zlim]

Confirms my unscientific observations that the world is getting stupider.

Sadly, I've observed this also.

[Bookmem]

1 hour ago, zlim said:

 

Sadly, I've observed this also.

What else would you expect from a society that discougages reproduction except from is poorest members?

[ebrke]

My pet peeve, and I hear it from people who should know better, is "returned back to . . .".

[Cluttermagnet]

This is an interesting thread. I've seen several opportunities to step in and 'set things straight'.

Yeah, right. I rarely could resist the temptation of a 'tar baby' set before me, but in this case I

did decide to pass (mostly). So I settled for checking out Eric's ThriftBooks reference, where

I did a quick test search and found Jack Williamson's "The Legion of Space". Great old pulp

SF fiction that got many a boy's heart pumping back in the day. (Probably contributed to my

later electronics engineering career). I was first exposed to the SF genre as a young boy,

age 7 to 10. "The Legion..." was it. Changed my life, it did. Talk like Yoda, I sometimes do...

 

A parting comment, however- there are many possible definitions of 'sheeple', depending on

your orientation. I submit that for a vast majority of mankind, myself included, the old addage

is so true: "Look in a mirror- there you will be looking at the source of all your problems".

Remember, those 'sheeple', supremely confident in their erroneous ways, believe you are the sheeple.

Heh! Dang, I wish everyone could be as perfect as me...

</sarcasm>

 

Clutter

 

[V.T. Eric Layton]

On 7/6/2020 at 7:31 PM, sunrat said:

*couldn't care less* . Think about what it means. I hate when the internet gets flooded with incorrect usage propagated by sheeple who just copy the wrong things other sheeple say. Don't be a sheeple!

 

 

Yeah... Yeah... irregardless of that. ;)

[ebrke]

4 hours ago, Cluttermagnet said:

I was first exposed to the SF genre as a young boy,

age 7 to 10.

I started reading years of back issues of monthly publications like Nebula and Galaxy and many others, all tied up in bundles by year in the attic of a friend of my mother. It started when I was about 12. She talked in the kitchen and I climbed up into the attic to read year after year of great stories.

[abarbarian]

 

If you like alternative humour this might be a good read.

 

Quote

 

From the heart of the Western Queensland Channel Country, Australia's oldest and favourite newspaper details our country's very rocky start to a new decade that was supposed to be one of great optimism and innovation.

 

But fate had other plans, starting with the worst bushfires in human memory. While large swathes of the country burned, our politicians were either on holidays or giving their mates grants to build indoor pools in blue-ribbon seats. Surely, it couldn't get worse.

'ken oath it could. Mother nature arrived as COVID-19, and told us all to go to our rooms.

 

 

Quote

 

About the Author
AUTHOR INFORMATION

The Betoota Advocate is a small and independent regional newspaper from far west Queensland. We pride ourselves on reporting fair and just news with an authenticity that rivals only the salt on the sunburnt earth that surrounds us here in the Queensland Channel Country. Established in the mid-1800s, we are arguably Australia's oldest newspaper and have always taken pride in our ability to report both regional and metropolitan news. Recently, our popularity has grown immensely as a result of a bold online revival.

 

 

[sunrat]

Haha awesome. You realise the Betoota Advocate is none of those things it claims to be in that quote. It's an internet news satire site. Funny as he11 most of the time. Very Aussie.

https://www.betootaadvocate.com/

[crp]

On 7/10/2020 at 1:16 PM, V.T. Eric Layton said:

 

 

Yeah... Yeah... irregardless of that.

regardless and irregardless are both legitimate words. irregardless is supposed to indicate "end of discussion" but otherwise has same meaning. So regardless of what you may have seen on the interweb, irregardless is regard.

 

[abarbarian]

On 10/3/2020 at 2:45 PM, sunrat said:

Haha awesome. You realise the Betoota Advocate is none of those things it claims to be in that quote. It's an internet news satire site. Funny as he11 most of the time. Very Aussie.

https://www.betootaadvocate.com/

 

Yeah I worked out that it is similar to Punch or Private Eye. I do love staire.

[sunrat]

1 hour ago, crp said:

regardless and irregardless are both legitimate words. irregardless is supposed to indicate "end of discussion" but otherwise has same meaning. So regardless of what you may have seen on the interweb, irregardless is regard.

 

 

I know it's accepted these days but it doesn't make sense. The first and last syllables sort of cancel each other out so it should be a double negative. Stupid millennials, shame on the education system.

[V.T. Eric Layton]

4 hours ago, sunrat said:

shame on the education system.

 

There's a system?