Bitz of Me: kindle

If you have followed me through the years or even just over the past year of the Bitz of Me blog...you know I love to read. Unfortunately during my surgery recovery I was on a LONG round of meds that made me foggy and unable to concentrate for very long...it took me 10 days to get through a book instead of being able to read 3-4 books a week. Grrrrrrr...its been really frustrating as reading is the one thing I like to do just for myself, late at night when no one needs me and my to-do list is semi-quiet. Well I am happy to say that the past week I have read 4 books hahaha...so thankful to be able to focus and enjoy reading again..I really missed it.

So below are the books I just finished up including my BookEndz Book Club book (you can join our club on Facebook here if you would like)...and one I am currently reading now and enjoying!

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A Long Time Gone

I am a HUGE fan of Karen White's writings...I always pre-order her books as soon as they hit Amazon, maybe the second they hit. I follow her on Twitter, Facebook, her blog..yeah I'm a stalker hahaha..the good kind I promise.

Her Tradd Street books are such a great mix of mystery, suspense and page-turners. But I have YET to read a BAD book by her...its just not possible. If you haven't read her yet I encourage you to try her books...they are all really good and usually set in the South. The 'Lost Hours' and 'The Time Between' are probably my top 2 of her's but its so hard to choose. Anywho the above book is her newest, it is excellent and I am halfway through. I'm telling everyone to read it and if you do let me know if you loved it too ok?

China Dolls

If you were a member of BookEndz since the beginning (4 years ago)...Lisa See's "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" was one of our first reads. A absolutely fascinating, sweeping, and cultural awakening of a story that not only educated me but made me want to read more. Her new book above is no less than fantastic...a page turner, it educates, it makes you wonder, its just plain GOOD. Definitely enjoyed this book a lot!

Family Secrets

I've read all of Nancy Thayer's...great reads each one of them. This book above is an older book that was just released on the Kindle and I hadn't read it yet...gasp...so when I saw it was released on Kindle I scooped it up. Starts off a little slow but the story is worthing sticking to, a for sure page-turner and you will want to know what happens to all 3 women by the end of the story!

The Memory Garden

There aren't really words for how much I loved this story, the book, the characters, the writing.

It was beautifully written and a book that will stay with me for a long time.

It's also the JUNE BookEndz selection this month...we will discuss it on the Facebook page at the end of the month too! Enjoy!

Happy Reading Friends!!

Do you like to read? It is one of my most FAVORITE things to do when I have down time. Now I don't have much down-time (LOL) but I do read every night before bed no matter what. The house is quiet, everyone is in bed and no one is needing me....so you can usually find me reading late into the wee hours. I have been known to read a book until 4 am..shhhh..but if its truly a page turner I HAVE to finish it. Books have never ever put me to sleep..instead they keep me awake LOL! I try to read 3-5 books a week...I'm a pretty fast reader and I have a lot of books begging to be read on my Kindle. And I usually have 2 books going on at once...yes I know that's odd but its what I do.

I like to read all types of books-- memoirs, mysteries, fantasy, drama, action, etc....but it MUST have a good compelling story. If its not written well or doesn't have a meaty story than I lose interest real quick. Romances are fine as long as they have a good story along with the romance...I don't like the light and fluffy stuff much any more these days. And yes I read Harlequin romances when I was a teen and they are OK but not something I read these days...been there and read all that. And don't get me started on those 50 Shades of Grey books LOL. I understand the "appeal" but they weren't for me and yes I tried to read the first one but couldn't get through it. I've heard the other two in the series are better but that's ok...I don't feel I'm missing a darn thing by NOT reading them! And that's the beauty of books I do think. There is a book and a genre that suits everyone and you get to choose what you wish and read when you can. And I never judge someone for the books they read...its such a personal endeavor and everyone has favorite genres depending on their place and time in life. One year you may need the excitement of Clancey's Jack Ryan & John Grisham's spy books and the next year need a Christian romance like those of Colleen Coble or a fun memoir of Julia Child. Its ALL GOOD...never be embarrassed by what you read..that's silly and if someone says something otherwise than perhaps they are having a very "stoooopid" moment in their own lives. ;)

To me books are like the best on-going movies in your head...you read the story, you picture what they look and sound like and you pretty much get to be the imaginary set designer. You get to visit all these places you might not be able to in real life, envison what the past may have been like to live in, and wonder what the world may be like in the future. I think that's why so many times the movies based on books are not as good...because we've already set up the characters, the sounds, the sets and more in our heads ever so diligently and beautifully right? And with a book there is so much more description of characters and sets, more back story, so much more emotion going on than can ever be displayed on a big screen. Although some book-based movies take on their own flavor and work their own magic like The Help, Fried Green Tomatoes, Charlotte's Web, and Narnia to name a few.

I am a Kindle addict although I will admit when they hit the market a few years ago I was skeptical. But my husband got me my first Kindle for Christmas that year and I was hooked within hours. Yes there is nothing like the FEEL of a book or the smell of an old book...but there is also nothing like being able to download a book in 5 secs and easily carry 200 books in your purse ;) Ask my mom..she was a slow convert but she's hooked now hahaha! I've graduated from that first Kindle to a Kindle Fire and Alexa has one as well...we both are the readers in our family. My son and husband do not read for pleasure and I always thell them they are so missing out. I also share books with my mom and sister as well, they are linked to my account so I can easily do that. So if you share books with your family you may want to link accounts and there is more info on Amazon Help about that.

Work the System---Free/Discounted Books

There are a ton of great sites where you can get FREE or discounted books online and I've listed some of my favorites below. I also recommend you sign up for the Amazon Kindle newsletters for daily discounted books as well. I have gotten many books for free or under $2 so don't think you have to pay full price all the time. I've also found new authors through free books offered on Amazon like Sarah Addison Allen. I'm reading her new book right now but her very first book was free on Amazon the first year I had my Kindle and she's now one of my favorite authors. So don't think just because its "FREE" that it isn't good or not worth reading...go ahead and try it out..its not like you are paying for it and you may be happily surprised.

SAMPLE a book...if you aren't sure of the author, the way they write or how the story will flow then click on "SEND SAMPLE NOW" and Amazon will send a sample of the book to your Kindle. Usually 1-2 chapters so you can check it out before you purchase.

Lending Library: If you are an Amazon Prime member you can also "borrow/rent" books through Amazon's Lending Library. There is no deadline date for reading it however you can only loan one out at a time. See more info on that HERE.

A lot of Classic novels are offered for free on Amazon and other websites as well. So if you want to read Pride & Prejudice or Call of the Wild you can find them for free or under $3.

Most libraries do loaning of books to those with E-Readers...just check with your local library to see how to sign up and what they have to offer.

FUN TIP: in the Amazon or Barnes & Noble search box type in 0.00 and a list of all free books will come up at once

Some authors do pre-book stories or short stories and offer them for free on Amazon. Lots of times these are lead-in stories for their next book and usually very good. Or they may just be some short stories the author wanted to share. I'm reading Sarah Addison Allen's new book "Lost Lake" which came out a few days ago. But in December she offered a FREE story "Waking Kate" (still free) that was a lead-in to the book I'm reading now. So it gives a bit more back story and prepares you for the book to come.

I do pre-order books from my favorite authors on Amazon..there is something super exciting about getting the book at midnight before its even hit the shelves..its gives me a bit of a thrill. Because I am THAT book geek kinda gal! So if you know your favorite author has a book coming out, check to see if you can pre-order it. Do NOT ask me how much I spend on books and magazines...its not pretty...however it is something I enjoy and something I've always budgeted for.

Bookbub

discounted books daily

Hundred Zeros

lists all the free Kindle books offered up daily

One Hundred Free Books

free and discounted books daily

Amazon Matchbook

If you've bought ANY hardcover books thru Amazon from 1995 till now, they

offer the E-Reader version heavily discounted if you want to get it for your Kindle.

Many Books

Free copies of classic books and many others

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GOODREADS & AUTHORS

I list a lot of the books I've read, want to read or am currently reading on Goodreads...if you aren't a member it is free to join and you can follow friends and others to see what they are reading. Its great for new book and author recommendations as well. I have also gotten free books from new authors on that site as long as I review it when I'm done.

If you really love, love, love the author or book you've read go and LIKE them on Facebook so you can keep up with them and any new releases or snippets of new books. They also list any book signings or places they may be to meet them..that's always fun. One of my fave authors who isn't hugely known is Kathryn Wall and her books are all set in Hilton Head, SC (one of our fave vacation places that we visit each year)..she writes mysteries with a woman heroine named Bay Tanner and they are really good, but read them in order..I believe there are 12 so far! She goes to a local restaurant (Jump & Phils) some evenings and signs books and chats with readers...she's a hoot and I so enjoyed meeting her. We were lucky that we were the only ones there that particular night so she joined us for dinner and a nice chat...very memorable!

Most authors are on Twitter as well...if you tweet that is..and I've conversed with many of my fave authors on there. They like to hear from their readers I assure you and its fun to pick their brains a bit as well! :)