Literary Blog Hop: February 8-12, 2014

 

The Things You Can Read is proud to be joining The Literary Blog Hop hosted by Judith@Leeswammes' Blog.  What does that mean?  It means you have a chance to win some great books or book related prizes, but not just from The Things You Can Read, but from all those participating in The Literary Blog Hop.

We here at  The Things You Can Read will be giving away a free literary Audible.com book of your choice (you must be a member of Audible.com to receive the book) or a $10 gift certificate to Amazon.com to be used for a literary book of your choice .  Here are the rules:

1	The Literary Blog Hop starts February 8-12, 2014
2	To enter write a comment on the official February 8th post and fill out the entry form: Click Here.
3	Now, FOLLOW The Things You Can Read on Google Friends Connect (GFC), by Email or Bloglovin.  If you already follow us, let us know in your official comment.
4	The winner will be chosen by using the RANDOM NUMBER GENERATOR.
5	The winner will be contacted by email after the contest has concluded (February 12, 2014 Eastern Standard Time.)  We will post the winners name and blog (with their permission) when we announce the WINNER.  However you don't have to have a blog to participate.

Don't forget to checkout the other The Literary Blog Hop participants and Good Luck!  The Literary Blog Hop is from February 8 until February 12, 2014! Enjoy, and let us know what new blogs you discover as you hop around the blogosphere!

Here is a list for your hopping convenience:

Leeswammes Seaside Book Nook Booklover Book Reviews Biblionomad Laurie Here The Well-Read Redhead (US/CA) River City Reading GirlVsBookshelf Ciska’s Book Chest The Book Stop Ragdoll Books Blog Nishita’s Rants and Raves Lucybird’s Book Blog Reading World (N-America) Journey Through Books Readerbuzz Always With a Book (US) 52 Books or Bust (N.Am./UK) Guiltless Reading (US/CA) Book-alicious Mama (US) Wensend Books Speak Volumes Words for Worms The Relentless Reader A Lovely Bookshelf on the Wall (US) GOOD LUCK! Happy Reading The Things You Can Read! Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, and the Power of Books!

Fourth Street Review Vailia’s Page Turner The Little Reader Library Lost Generation Reader Heavenali Roof Beam Reader Mythical Books Word by Word The Misfortune of Knowing Aymaran Shadow > Behind The Scenes The Things You Can Read (US) Bay State Reader’s Advisory Curiosity Killed the Bookworm Lizzy’s Literary Life Books Can Save a Life (N. America) Words And Peace (US) The Book Club Blog

And the WINNER of the Literary Blog Hop is...

Congratulations to LaurieC@BayStateReader'sAdvisory, Laurie chose the Amazon Gift Certificate!  Thanks to all those folks who participated in the hop!  We loved all the comments!  A big thank you to our host Judith@Leeswammes.wordpress.com.

Laurie's Comment via Amazon:  Thank you for the Amazon gift card through the Literary Giveaway Blog Hop!

Happy Reading☮

The Things You Can Read!
Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, and the Power of Books!

 





Looking for the Next Hunger Games? Wool By Hugh Howey

We here at The Things You Can Read are hearing all kinds of buzz about a not-so-new dystopian series.  The series has been on the QT because it originally was not published by one of the big publishing houses.. In fact originally it was self published.  Why then are we hearing about it?  Well, the reason for all this chatter has a lot to do with the rumor that 20th Century Fox has bought the movie rights to this series...Looks like this is a case where someone self published and things worked out for them.  Some are even saying this is the new Hunger Games.  Check out Wool-Omnibus Edition and let us know what you think.

Excerpt from Goodreads: 

Also read what folks have to say on Amazon about Wool

What have you heard about this series?  Have you read it?  Let us know here at The Things You Can Read.

Happy Reading!
The Things You Can Read

Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, and the Power of Books!

Amazon's 'Most Well-Read Cities' in U.S.

According to Huffington Post:

For the second straight year, Alexandria, Va. topped Amazon's list of the "Most Well-Read Cities in America," which is compiled from sales data of all book, magazine and newspaper sales in both print and Kindle format since June 1, 2012, on a per capita basis in cities with more than 100,000 residents. This year's top 20 are:

1. Alexandria, Va.
2. Knoxville, Tenn.
3. Miami, Fla.
4. Cambridge, Mass.
5. Orlando, Fla.
6. Ann Arbor, Mich.
7. Berkeley, Calif.
8. Cincinnati, Ohio
9. Columbia, S.C.
10. Pittsburgh, Pa.
11. St. Louis, Mo
12. Salt Lake City, Utah
13. Seattle, Wash.
14. Vancouver, Wash.
15. Gainesville, Fla.
16. Atlanta, Ga.
17. Dayton, Ohio
18. Richmond, Va.
19. Clearwater, Fla.
20. Tallahassee, Fla.

Read the full article:  Click HERE  Is your city on the list?  We are somewhat surprised that ours made the list.

Happy Reading!
The Things You Can Read

Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, and the Power of Books!

Breaking News: Amazon Buys Goodreads

According to Huffington Post:  Amazon Buys Goodreads

NEW YORK -- Amazon.com Inc., the world's biggest online retailer that got its start in bookselling, has agreed to buy book recommendations site Goodreads.  Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Amazon said Thursday that it "shares a passion for reinventing reading," with Goodreads. "Goodreads has helped change how we discover and discuss books and, with Kindle, Amazon has helped expand reading around the world," said Russ Grandinetti, vice president of Kindle content for Amazon. 

To view  the full article on Huffington Post: Click Here
To view Goodreads press release: Click Here

What are your thoughts on this acquisition?


In the March 29, 2013 edof Shelf Awareness several reactions were shareed:

But judging from the reaction of booksellers, publishers and some Goodreads users, the process may not be so easy. The overwhelming feeling expressed yesterday on Twitter and Facebook was surprise and disappointment. ‏@NextGenAuthors tweeted us: "Hey, your April Fool's edition doesn't come out until Monday!" Many indies and their fans promptly cancelled their accounts.

Happy Reading!
The Things You Can Read

Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, and the Power of Books!

Amazon Smart Phone? Release Pushed Back

According to a recent blurb on Shelf Awareness, Amazon has delayed the release of its, "...long-awaited and oft-rumored smartphone, originally scheduled for the second quarter of 2013, Digitimes reports."  

I don't know about you, but we had no idea that such a project was in the works.  Again, according to Shelf Awareness, "The delay stems from manufacturing challenges at Foxconn, where the phone is still undergoing its EVT, or engineering verification test, according to Digitimes' sources. Amazon had planned for the phone to go into mass production by Q2. Amazon"  

We are big Kindle (we also own a Nook Color, but prefer the Kindle White), and Audible.com fans, so such a device would increase our reading and listening pleasure threefold.  Would you be a customer for such a device?  We would.  We wait with great anticipation the release of this new product.

Happy Reading!

Things You Can Read

Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, and the Power of Books!

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore
Image Credit: Amazon.com

If you are an old movie buff, now we're talking old-Buster Keaton kind of old movie buff, and you love books, here is just what the doctor ordered.  A children's picture book that has been turned into an Academy Award winning animated short, The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore.  We can't wait to use this one in the classroom.  Look for a future post that shares my teaching experience using The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore with my English class.

Here is the short film that won the 2011 Academy Award for Animated Short...After viewing make sure you go get the book, because everyone knows the book is always better!

Let us, here at The Things You Can Read, know what you think of The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore!  If you are a teacher, let us know how you use this intriguing book or plan to use this book in the classroom.

Happy Reading!

Things You Can Read

Believe In Truth, Beauty, Freedom, Love, and the Power of Books!

Summary Courtesy of Goodreads:

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore

by William Joyce (Illustrator), Joe Bluhm (Goodreads Author) (Illustrator)  

Morris Lessmore loved words.
He loved stories.
He loved books.
But every story has its upsets.

Everything in Morris Lessmore’s life, including his own story, is scattered to the winds.

But the power of story will save the day.    (less)

Hardcover, 52 pages

Published June 19th 2012 by Atheneum Books for Young Readers (first published 2011)

ISBN

1442457023 (ISBN13: 9781442457027)

edition language

English

The Voice of Count von Count on Sesame Street, Dies

Image Credit:  Gil Vaknin, Associated Press - Ap

We, here at The Things You Can Read, are saddened by the news that one of the great voices of our generation has died, Jerry Nelson, the man who gave voice to Count von Count on Seseme Street.  We have witnessed the magic of Count von Count's ability to teach children how to count, while having fun learning how to master the concept.  Not only has "The Count" helped children learn to count by watching Seseme Street, but he has also helped those who have read the many counting books, which use Count von Count's  image to teach the concept in print.  You can still hear his voice this season on Seseme Street, but his voice in future seasons will be missed.

Image Credit: Amazon

To read more here is the link to the Star Tribune article.

Give a Book for Special Occasions--Having Fun with Birthday Books

My twins will be having a birthday in two weeks and being the crazy book mom that I am, of course, they are receiving books for their birthday.  My mother always made sure that I received my very own copies of books on special occasions, such as birthdays, Christmas, Easter...I am sure that is why, as an adult, I value having my own copy of a treasured book.  

Well, back to the twins...The picture above shows what was in the Amazon box that arrived for them Wednesday.  I was so excited to see the big heavy box the mailman was scanning when I opened our front door.  After the pass off of the box from mailman to mom, I hustled to the kitchen, grabbed the scissors, and sliced through the clear tape that was holding the edges of the box together.  By now the twins were excited too, following right behind me.  Placing the opened box on the floor and removing the packaging the three of us slowly examined each item.  Squeals of delight could be heard throughout the house as the spines of new books were cracked opened, and the that "new book" smell filled our noises like perfume.  After our perusal of each of the books, I quickly gathered their gifts up and promised to read one of them before their nap.

Well, it is now two days later, and we have already finished two of the birthday books:  Me, Frida (see my review) and The Dog Who Sang at the Opera (review coming soon), both of which were wonderful.  As you can probably already tell, I am not good at holding back gifts, I get as excited as my children.  My daughter and I are also working our way through Invitation to Ballet (a longer book).  Her twin brother is not too interested in ballet, so he took a pass on this one.  Needless to say, I can't wait to share the rest of their birthday books with the them.

Equally as important as sharing the actual book with the twins, I am also excited to share my reviews with the readership of The Things You Can Read.  Make sure to check back with The Things You Can Read for reviews of the rest of the birthday stash!

One more thing, if you have a personal favorite from your childhood that you think I should add to the twin's library I'd love to know.  Leave me a comment with your suggestion.  Happy Reading and a Happy (early) Birthday shout out to the twins. 

•