KindleBoards Anniversary Contest!

[Cindy416]

Dear Mom,

Please see page 1 of this thread.  You're such a copycat.    And it just proves that we're as telepathetic as ever.

Love, your daughter,
Megan

p.s.  To anyone reading this who isn't in my family, we made up the word "telepathetic" because it's pathetic how often our family is seemingly telepathic with each other.

I have learned my lesson, Megan. The next time I enter a contest here, I'll read all of the previous posts before making my own. The sad thing is that three of the top four books that we would have chosen were the same, so we very well could have posted other nearly identical paragraphs. At least this proves you're my daughter, as if we had any doubt.   Love ya, too.

[shutrbug]

This sounds like a fun contest.


The basic premise of this book, primarily aimed at business professionals, is that using a single average value in your estimates and business forecasts is wrong and that you underestimate the risks if you do so.  This book has a lot of figures that are key to understanding the points that the author is trying to make, and unfortunately the figures are generally illegible on my K2.  Hence, I don't recommend the Kindle edition of this book; instead the DTB version would be better.  Perhaps the situation will improve when Kindle for PC is released.

[davem2bits]

Confederacy of Dunces




Great coming of age story for all those late bloomers out there.  Funny, funny story.  

[RangerXenos]

Through Wolf's Eyes is the first book in one of my favorite Fantasy series, and one that I think is overlooked by a lot of people.  The main character, Firekeeper, is rescued as a lost child by a pack of wolves and raised as one of the pack.  She can communicate with both them and other animal races.  She is found as a young adult by humans, and decides to try and live with humans rather than the wolf pack.  The series centers around Firekeeper and her wolf packmate Blind Seer, and their struggle to fit in with both humans and animals.  

[Geoffrey]

The Distance Between Us


Hester Donovan is a complex character; she's an elderly woman, a musical prodigy, a mother and a college professor.  At the same time she is a sympathetic character trying to keep her life from spinning out of control and a raging harpy getting revenge on those family members - everyone by now - who do not do as they are told. I wanted to slap her and I wanted to hug her and that's always a good sign.  This book has a 'happy' ending. However, the entire universe is not wrapped up in bright ribbon and put on a shelf. There are still the messy strings that can be examined and accepted but never completely put away and forgotten.

[MeganW]

I have learned my lesson, Megan. The next time I enter a contest here, I'll read all of the previous posts before making my own. The sad thing is that three of the top four books that we would have chosen were the same, so we very well could have posted other nearly identical paragraphs. At least this proves you're my daughter, as if we had any doubt.   Love ya, too.

I don't mind.    Now, back to the contest!

[elphaba826]

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire

Wicked has been one of my very favorite books for a number of years, even prior to its recent rise in popularity due to the hit Broadway musical loosely based on this wonderful novel. It's the classic Wizard of Oz story retold with a twist from the Wicked Witch's point of view. Did you know that the Witch's real name is Elphaba (aptly named by Maguire by taking the sounds of the initials of the original Oz author, L. Frank Baum)? Did you know that she knew and was friends with Glinda the Good Witch for a time? Did you know she had a son? Did you know that she really had a good heart and was just sadly misunderstood? Maguire has a true gift for retelling the story we all grew up loving. I find it fascinating how he can take a character so decidedly evil and turn her around in such a way as to instill a sense of empathy for her in the reader. Despite being based on a popular children's book, this is decidedly a book for adults. There is a bit of politics, a little sex and violence, etc. Overall it's a very intriguing read that I just couldn't put down (unlike some of Maguires other books, unfortunately). I find myself rereading it about once a year, and I still find it just as captivating as ever.

[ktwac]

This is a great idea for a contest...I already have a bunch of new books that I want to check out from this thread

One of my favorite things about the boards and my Kindle is finding new books that I never would have thought I would enjoy.
This is one of them


This is the story of the beginning of Genghis and his empire. The story really drew me in. It describes his childhood and motivations that led him to become a leader. There are plenty of descriptions of weapons and battles and the characters are well developed and interesting. I also read the 2 sequel stories..one right after the other. This sparked an interest in me about this period of time and now I am planning on taking my family to an exhibit at a museum featuring Genghis Khan. I love to find gems like these that encourage me to expand and make me want to learn more.

[Casse]

Kindred in Death by JD Robb is the latest release in the futuristic series staring Lieutenant Eve Dallas and her husband Roarke. In this installment Dallas and her team investigates the murder of a fellow officer's teenage daughter. I can't wait to try to figure out whodunit when it's released on Nov 3rd - Kindle edition already pre-ordered 

[jgbex]

This is the book i am currently reading and enjoying very much. It even seems to fit this time of year -- Holloween

[talleylynn]

Crooked Moon by Lisette Brody

This is a book about two best friends who grew up living next door to each other. When the story starts, they are adults and haven't seen each other in years. Their lives have taken radically different courses and they have a lot of catching up to do and old issues to work out as circumstances bring them back together. This is a cozy book and the characters are well-drawn and interesting to get to know.

[The Hooded Claw]

http://www.amazon.com/Ota-Benga-Phillips-Verner-Bradford/dp/0312082762/ref=ed_oe_h

Ota Benga: The Pygmy in the Zoo by Phillip Verner Bradford

For years I'd read vague references to an African pygmy being kept on exhibit in The Brooklyn Zoo in the early 1900s, but I never really investigated till hearing a song about him by a group called Pinataland.  This book seems to be the only adult book on him, and it is quite an interesting story, even though a sad one. Events beyond his control put Ota Benga in a position where his life was surely going to be an unhappy one. Being brought from Africa to the USA actually probably made Ota Benga happier for awhile, but he was eventually abandoned and for awhile was indeed living in the zoo, but his story didn't end there.  If you check out the reviews at the Amazon link above, the second review "Worthwhile if the Topic Interests You" dated June 10, 2006 is my review, with more information (alas, the book is out of print and not available on Kindle--So you'll have to buy an inexpensive used DTB copy for $2.19 if you want it). My review title is quite accurate, if you find this subject intriguing, I predict you'll like the book!

[JamieLynn832002]

I saw the first movie before reading any of the books and after that it took me a little over a week to read The Hobbit and the trilogy. I love the movies but I think the books are better.

[Ann in Arlington]

As a mod I can't win but I do want to say that The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield is, by far, the best book I've read in a long time.  Wonderful writing.  Well developed characters.  A story that keeps you guessing and reading but with a very satisfying ending.  It's one of those books that you just want to read and read but you go slower and slower because, as much as you want to find out what happens, you just really don't want it to end.



Read. This. Book.

[kimbertay]

I am totally hooked on vampire stories and for the past year I've read everything vampire that I could get my hands on. Recently I've been suffering a little burn-out on the subject.  The Almost Human Trilogy by Melanie Novak revived me though.  I found it fresh and interesting and since it was an author that I had never read before I didn't know quite how it would end.   I'm currently on the third book in the trilogy so I still don't know how it's going end yet.  I have really enjoyed it though and would recommend it.

[ellesu]

The Spellman Files: A Novel

The Spellman Files novels are smart and funny, but....not too involved.  So, if you're looking for a fluffy read, I'd certainly suggest these books.  There are three of them, and even though the second one had me involking the fifty-page rule, I managed to get into the story and ended up having an enjoyable read.  IMO, a certain type sense of humor adds to the enjoyment of these books, but if you find yourself laughing out loud while reading Fanny Flagg, The Spellman Files may be your cup of tea.

[BeastMD]

The Stand

One of my fav books of all time. Has a great storyline and King makes every character memorable. Shows you the frailty of sanity and the amazing powers people have when they are put in terrible tragedies and extreme conditions. Its a bit on the long side but it a real page turner and has only a few slow spots where King gets a little too wordy. Get it!

[LauraB]

My book pick:


A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.  I read it the first time when I was about 11 and have read it many times since. It was a comfort to me in adolescence because I had many family challenges just like the main character.  I found her survival inspiring, and even though I knew it was fiction, I found courage in her resilience.

[cat616]

Patrick F. McManus is an excellent writer of comedy disguised as outdoorsman stories.  If you are in the mood for a good belly laugh this book or any of his other short story compilations is for you.  Pat would like to be the "Original Outdoorsman", yet whatever he puts his hand to turns into an hilarious adventure.  The stories are mostly in the setting of camping, hunting, fishing or getting ready for another hunting, fishing or camping trip.  The stories are about all the things that can and will go wrong no matter what he is pursuing.  McManus handles each setback with great humor and tells his stories in such a way that your belly aches and tears are streaming from your eyes because of the laughter.

[elbereth]

Great idea, Harvey!  Well, since JamieLynn beat me to the LOTR books, I'll post about one of my other all-time favorites.  The God of Small Things is a novel about a family in India in the 60s.  The story is told from the perspective of the children, and she does it well, but through their eyes does a lovely job reflecting on national and international politics, power dynamics, and the meaning of family.  And the way Arundhati Roy uses languge and the written word is absolutely mesmerizing. 

[Tippy]

Peony In Love is a wonderful book that takes place on 17th-century China.  The narrator is a young woman who died of love-sickness at the age of 16.  Peony In Love describes the many faces of, and the difficult journey of love.  Ms. See provides insight into the religious and social life at this period in Chinese history.  Her descriptions and rich and vivid.  It is an amazing book and has made me a devoted fan of Lisa See.

(Modified as I had a problem with Link Maker.)

[loonlover]

As a young reader, any thing British was enthralling.  This is a book I have re-read many times through the years.

This was the first book I read of this genre/time period.  It introduced me to the Bronte sisters and from there I moved to reading Jane Austen.  Always enjoyable reads as I was fascinated by the British class system.

[LCEvans]

Here's a great book with an intriguing concept.




How would you like to leave your money and possessions to your future self? The Soul Identity Organization makes it all possible--until someone with a big grudge and a killer case of greed decides to steal everything for himself. Hero Scott Waverly is a security expert who must find a way to stop villain Andre Feret. The action is fast-paced and the characters and technology are believable. The premise about soul tracking is intriguing and really made me think. If you didn't believe in reincarnation before, you will at least consider it in a different way after reading Soul Identity.

[Figment]

The problem was in choosing only a single book about which to write...coupled with the fact neither of the two I chose have yet been mentioned.  That said, the book I chose is:  



The book retells the changeling legend from a modern perspective. A human child in a farm community is swapped with a hobgobblin, himself originallyl kidnapped by a wild band of faeries in the 19th century. The human child, Henry Day, becomes the changeling, Aniday. At the same time, an aged hobgoblin, originally a German child named Gustav, takes Henry Day's place. The ensuing parallel narratives tell the stories of Henry Day and Aniday, exploring their differences and commonalities. The ultimate conclusion is that the child and the changeling both desire love, understanding and personal distinction.

The Stolen Child is a good read due to its originality, its frightening juxtaposiion of the magical and the ordinary, and its conclusion that faeries and ordinary beings seek similar validations and life experiences.

(And if someone doesn't hurry and write about Snow Flower and The Secret Fan soon, I'll probably be back with a second review!)

[B-Kay 1325]

I had a hard time trying to decide which book to include (there are so many) but decided to go with one of my all time favorites.  I have not read this book on my KK Aurora but I have read this book in paperback form about 12-13 times.  I don't have any other book that I can say that about.  I'm sure most people already know what this book is about so I will tell you why I love it so much.  This is just about the first book I ever read where the heroine was a strong woman.  She was the pampered oldest daughter of a southern gentleman and extremely spoiled and indulged, then the Civil War changed everything she knew.  Throughout her life she had a slew of people who depended on her to "take care" of them and even though she did so while stepping on lots of toes (to put it mildly) she remained determined to do whatever it took to get them all through this horrible time in their lives.  Her strength and will to do anything necessary was in many ways how I wanted to live my own life.  Even though I don't think that our lives paralleled in most ways, I have also taken of care of my family and had to be strong when I would have preferred having someone to take care of me.