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Free wheelingI don’t have a particular topic to write about this week so I’m going to do a bit of free wheeling. Hold on to your hat.
— Amazon continues to replace my default device with KINDLE LIBRARY. If you aren’t going to honor my wishes, don’t give me the option to choose!
— The Kindle Reading Challenge has been fun. I’m doing quite well according to Amazon. Shout out to my sister who reads on a device on my account.
— A major publisher announcing a contracted book will not be published because of the author’s position in a political process should scare all of us. Who really controls the decisions in these companies who are small parts of large global corporations?
— I read Joe Foss Flying Marine (99 cents), the autobiography of the first pilot to equal Eddie Rickenbacker’s American WWI record for air combat victories. Joe Foss was a patriot.
— A few weeks ago I listened to The Lake Wobegon Virus ($9.99 Kindle version) by Garrison Keillor. It’s classic Keillor with a few re-told stories to create a story for today’s pandemic times with a few laughs and the usual quirkiness. Even during these perilous times in Lake Wobegon all the women are strong, all the men are good-looking, and all the children are above average.— The buzz is all about Virgin River and The Bridgertons series on Netflix. I read (and enjoyed) every book in each series years ago. The books were so good I have no desire to watch the film version to ruin the perfect image in my mind.
— Last fall I read four books in the Theodore Boone series by John Grisham before taking a break to read Christmas novels. I need to download the next book to learn if the guy on the golf course is convicted of murdering his wife. Great series for tweens, teens and adults.
— If you are an Audible member, there is a 2-for-1 sale through January 31. The best sale offering is the Harry Bosch Box Set which includes The Narrows, Echo Park, and The Overlook. Use one credit to buy the box set and then pick up another great listen for free in the 2-for-1 deal.
— Do not read books by Brandilyn Collins if you are in your house alone. She scares my socks off. Who’s your favorite author to keep you awake nights?
— Want to share a free wheel thought with us? Click on the READ MORE…. button at the bottom of this post and leave a comment. I’ll try to approve quickly and reply.
Scary book: Peter Straub’s Ghost Story. Read it in my twenties, told myself I wasn’t scared, and never read another one of his books.
Steve –
LOL! Sounds as though you learned your lesson.
I worry about authors who can write such things. What are their lives like? How do such ideas formulate? Do they ever scare themselves? Brandilyn Collins’ books are very well written, just spooky scary as the events in the stories could happen. I’m shivering just thinking about them. (Yes, I’m a fraidy cat!)
–Paula
Oh boy, lots to unpack today! First off, my Kindle books are still showing Kindle library too. Can you spell ANNOYING?! Another pet peeve of mine is the pricing on series books. I love cozy mysteries and I like to read series. Today there is a Book 1 of a series for $1.99… but the second book is $12.99 and the third is $2.99. Hey book publishers, we know what you’re doing there, we are not stupid. I will absolutely not buy Book 1 of a series unless the rest of the series is priced accordingly. A $12.99 price point for a cozy mystery is way out of line, in my humble and inconsequential opinion! I also read the Virgin River series many years ago, they were great books. Haven’t read any of the Bridgertons yet, nor watched the series on Netflix. So I have no image in my mind to spoil on that score, I suppose!
Hi, Donna C –
You have brought up an excellent point about the series pricing. Whoever in marketing came up with this genius pricing plan is short-sighted. They must be hoping that consumers will think it is $18 for the series, so only $6 per book and will jump at the chance to get the series.
I will say this at the risk of offending some: I believe that libraries help keep books high. Many are very price conscious but they want to have the latest releases to satisfy their tax-paying citizens. Publishers know they will buy them at whatever price they set and they gleefully put $12.99; $15.99 or more as the price for the first weeks. If the large buying bloc of libraries would refrain, there might be an easing of the price.
NOTE: I’m not an economist. I’m just expressing an opinion.
Enjoy the Bridgertons on Netflix. The reviews rave about the series.
–Paula
That’s a great point, which I’ve never really thought about. I always assume that the libraries get a special “deal” on these books but apparently they do not. Interesting!
GM, Donna C –
Happy Friday!
If I look hard enough I can probably find an article by someone who knows who will either support or refute my idea. I’ll see if I can find a reputable article. I’ve heard that not everything you read on the internet is truth.
–Paula