Heads Up, Bookworms!
Chatty's friend Pat has told her about a nifty new website that you join through your local library. Well, more in conjunction with your local library. What you do is go to the site, join as many of the book "clubs" as you want (they have clubs for lots of genres, including sci fi, mystery, suspense, teen, romance, etc.) and then enter your city and state. Links to your local library system come up. You click on the one closest to you and hey, presto, you are signed up in your area.
The club is an interesting concept. You get "5-minute reads" several times a week in your email box. They will be continuing portions of the first chapter of a book in the genre you have chosen, starting each Monday. Of course, if you are busy, or don't like the book, you just delete the emails. The site stresses the point that this is supposed to be fun and relaxing - not something you MUST do! The ones you do read will give you an idea of whether or not you like the book. It's far better than just reading the description on the dust jacket, because you get a feel for the way the author actually writes, rather than just a plot summary - and the fact that you signed up through your local library means that if you DO like the book, your library will probably have it - or will order it for you. This is Chatty's understanding, anyway.
Also, if you prefer to buy books - this is a way to check out a new author that is more thorough than amazon.com reviews and the like. Because, after all, those are OTHER people's opinions, right? It's much better to be able to form you own opinion. And, Chatty was thinking that this could be a good thing for moms who want to get an idea about a book's content before buying it or getting it from the library for their pre-teens.
They also have a book forum if you like to discuss books, but don't have a group in your area.
It's free, and the woman who runs it also blogs about her life at the start of each email. She's funny and fun to read - but of course you can skip that part and go directly to the 5-minute read if you're in a hurry.
So, when you have a moment, check it out here.
While nothing will ever usurp the place in Chatty's heart occupied now and forever by the "actual" books she loves so dearly, or compete with their qualities - the heft - the smell of ink and paper - the little thrill she gets when opening a book for the first time - the satisfaction of holding and reading it and marking her place with a pretty bookmark...Chatty does want to tell you about something she has discovered that is pretty cool when reading an actual book just isn't feasible - like while you are walking, or cooking, or driving.
Have you heard about "Playaway", available at many public libraries? These are complete, unabridged books that come in MP3 format. You check them out like a regular book or audiobook, and each is a tiny MP3 player with just that book on it. All you have to do is provide your own AAA battery and personal earphones. You keep them as long as a regular book and can renew them like a regular book. The little player remembers where you left off when it turns off, you can fast forward and rewind, and even change the tempo of the reader's voice if you feel it is too fast or too slow.
Chatty loves them! More and more publishers are jumping on this particular bandwagon, and there are new titles available every time she goes to the library, in all sorts of categories.
Ask your library if they have Playaways, and if they don't - ask them why!
That's all from the book nook at the moment...
In a while, crocodiles!
Sneeking an entry from two-legger's blog.
Chatty, I love this idea and its promotion of reading. Yes, I am a beagle so I don't read much but I love to type and give opinions. Of which, IN MY OPINION humans that read make better supporters of canine and feline children. YES I am biased but my two-legger reads all the time and he's so much better, nicer and feeds me better and healthier than those other non-reading bad food eating people I lived with before moving here. I think he loves me, but again, just my opinion and if you didn't want my opinion you wouldn't have left this comment box open.
Wishing You, Cleo, Toot and Him well and looking forward to Toot and Cleo's visit in May.
Love,
Winston
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Dear Chatty~
First of all, love the items in the header. Either they're a new addition, or I am not at all observant!
Secondly, I think the library ideas are fabulous. There may be some sharing with some pals of mine from the local libraries around here. Thanks for sharing!
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Thank you for noticing the new header! Chatty is quite proud, actually, because it took her quite a bit of time to figure out how to change the picture - Chatty is not a techno kind of gal!
And, PLEASE pass ththe book club site on to anyone who might be able to institute the program at your libraries! I know you run a children's museum - you know how important it is to be able to assess what our children are reading...
And the MP3 thing is just wonderful - although Chatty has NO idea if it costs the library extra money to stock the Playaways. But at my library, they fly off the shelves, so the expenditure would seem to be worth it.
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Winston - you are Chatty's very favorite beagle! Thank you for your input - it is always welcome. And you are wise beyond your years (and your breed) to realize the importance of reading.
Chatty had NO idea that you lived with people other than your current two-legger when you were younger. Thank heavens the two of you found one another, because you are the best companions ever.
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Chatty I love the new header.
I had the most relaxing morning today, sitting in a quite corner reading my accumulated emails for this weeks book Cat Sitter on a hot tin roof by Blaize Clement. The book starts out wonderful and I really enjoyed the quiet and peace to drink tea and quietly read. It seems to me that when I have the time, I never have the book with me, but the emails are convenient.
P.S I think I am in love with Winston--does he inter species date? Pat
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Well, Winston IS a single dude, and he DOES like two-leggers, but he doesn't travel. YOU would have to come see HIM - and think of it - you could see Chatty while you were here! What fun!
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Chatty, I read this entry in my e-mail last night (when I should have been sleeping) but what I couldn't see in my e-mail is YOUR NEW HEADER!! Wow - Great job!
I'll have to check and see if our library does this. It sounds like a great idea!
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CROCODILES?
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Thanks for two things I didn't know. The book club sounds great and the little audio books even better. I guess its off to my library.
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