Darn that Amazon.com! Every time I go to their website there's that annoyingly sleek and now-even-cooler Kindle reader. The Kindle 2 has arrived and I am lusting after it in my heart. Unfortunately, at $359 (with a waiting list), the lust does not extend to my wallet. Still, it calls to me. A friend at work and I discuss the appeal often and have determined that, for those of us who work at libraries, a Kindle might not be so cost-effective. We get books for FREE so new titles even at $9.99 is not a bargain. We decided that what appeals to us is that we want to be THAT woman in the picture reading from her Kindle. Just look at how cool and sophisticated she is! Chalk it up to great marketing. In my case, at least, even with a Kindle I would probably not be in full makeup with the pillows arranged so neatly under me. I'd probably be schlepping on the couch in flannel pj pants and holey socks with a bag of cheetos in the other hand. *sigh* Maybe the Kindle price is NOT the real problem...hmmm... Okay, on to the exercise. There were some great sources listed for on-line searching. I admit, if I must OWN it today, I'll check out the local Barnes and Noble first and just pick up the book on the way home. If I can wait, of course I'll order it from the library. I searched for The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society at several nearby locations via their online links. Barnesandnoble.com gives the list price ($22.00) as well as the online price ($14.37) and the membership price ($12.87). I am not a member of B/N since I can't justify $25 fee when I can get the books free from the library so that leaves me at paying the online price, not including shipping. Another bookseller in close proximity is Katy Budget Books which does have an online option and just so happens to currently feature the book I had in mind on their homepage. They only offer the list price so forget that. I do like KBB's quaint small-town-i-ness and the fact that they take/sell used books as well. They also have very fun n' freaky Halloween displays. And the staff seems to know their stuff, unlike at Half Price Books, which has a website but no way to search for anything since they don't catalog their collection and whose staff is filled with tattooed, black garbed, multi-pierced teenagers who didn't know who W. Somerset Maugham was. ("What? WHOSE mom??" jeez...) I did find Guernsey online at hcpl.net in audiobook format but there's a waiting list. Speaking of downloading e-books.... This was my first time attempting to download an audio or e-book from our website and it was a little frustrating. Audiobooks were fine but I have to admit, regarding books on tape, I am a paper snob. I guess I read far faster than I can listen because FIVE hours to hear The Aurora County All-Stars by Deborah Wiles, a 243-pg juvenile fiction book is redonkulous (it's a word...). Every time I see people check out 32 disc audiobooks I just want to say, "Oh for God's sake...just read the damn book!" but I don't. Regarding the e-book download I guess I didn't realize that you have to have a *certain* version of Adobe Reader and I have the updated one which doesn't work. My fault entirely since it clearly states this on the fact page. Still, downloading Adobe's Digital reader was one more thing to wrestle with. Finally figured it out, located the e-book in my download folder and read for a half hour. But when you're pulling your hair out in frustration, there's no way you can look like the lady in the picture. Well, maybe if that Kindle of hers short-circuits in her hand..... (Uh oh, envy heads it's ugly rear).
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