5-star newbies #1

5-star newbies #1

There’s something about reading a newly published book. Personally, I love reading old books…even a century old or more. How exciting would it have been, though, to read Hemingway, Dickens, or Burroughs when they were first being published? That’s before someone else tells you they are classics, before a movie has been made…before your know-it-all cousin says, “Oh, yes, that book made quite a splash…when I first read it ten years ago.” 😉

The problem, of course, is figuring out what books which have just come out are going to be great.

Well, in my ever-expanding quest for book discovery 😉 I tried something new this time.

I looked at books published this month with 5-star (out of 5 possible) customer reviews on Amazon. I have to qualify that a bit: 5-star in this case means 4.6 or higher (they would round to five). New is also new to the USA Kindle store…they could have been published previously in other formats or territories.

I looked through and picked ten of them, and I am allowing myself to be swayed by the number of reviews. A 4.7 average with only five reviews doesn’t mean as much to me as a 4.6 with five hundred reviews.

Outside of that, these are just ones that caught my eye.

First, though, here is the entire list of 5-star (as defined by Amazon) USA Kindle store books released this month, in order of best customer review average:

• January 2014 5-star Kindle books
• at AmazonSmile: benefit a non-profit of your choice by shopping*

—

RAW (at AmazonSmile)
by Belle Aurora
4.8 stars, 766 customer reviews
$3.99
Romantic suspense

Appears to be a stand-out of the genre…but it does look creepy.

Urban Imagination (at AmazonSmile)
by George Zisiadis
4.9 stars, 89 reviews
$9.99
Humor and entertainment

This one looks fun! It’s a collection of child-like cartoons of urban settings with familiar objects transformed into something playful, like a parking meter becoming a gumball machine. Sounds like it would make (or a gift recipient) smile. 🙂

Black Arts: A Jane Yellowrock Novel (at AmazonSmile)
by Faith Hunter
4.8 stars, 129 reviews
$5.99
Urban fantasy

I’ve never read any of these (this is number 7), but the reviews are great and make it sound like a real “page turner”. At one point, people wanted to update “page turner” to “button masher”, but we don’t always have buttons any more either. 😉

Life on Altamont Court: Finding the Extraordinary in the Ordinary (at AmazonSmile)
by Trent D. Pines
4.9 stars, 51 reviews
$6.99
Humor

Based on the reviews, I could see someone adapting this into a TV series. It’s a memoir about a wacky neighborhood, but with a modern make-up.

The Mind Body Solution: Train your Brain for Permanent Weight Loss (at AmazonSmile
by AJ Mihrzad
5 stars, 49 reviews
$2.99
Self help, stress management

Downward Dog
by Edward Vilga
4.9 stars, 106 reviews
$3.99
Contemporary fiction

I’m amazed at how many people comment on where this fits in the “yoga novel” genre. 🙂 Reviews are good..

Secret to Startup Failure: Fail Fast. Fail Cheap. Fail Happy. (at AmazonSmile)
by Sonia Lin
5 stars, 47 reviews
$9.99
Business & investing

The Survival Medicine Handbook: A guide for when help is NOT on the way (at AmazonSmile)
by Joseph Alton, Amy Alton
4.8 stars, 88 reviews
$24.99
Safety & first aid

This is the kind of book I would expect to be over $9.99. Living in the San Francisco Bay Area, we have a relatively high awareness of the possibility of being cut off from help for days. My recommendation for your “go bag”: have your doctor give you a list of your chronic conditions, medications, and allergies. With EMRs (Electronic Medical Records), that’s easier than it used to be.

Style that Sizzles & Pacing for Power: An Editor’s Guide to Writing Compelling Fiction (at AmazonSmile)
by Jodie Renner
4.8 stars, 63 reviews
$2.99
Writing skills

Hollow City: The Second Novel of Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children
by Ransom Riggs
4.9 stars, 26 reviews
$9.17
Teen & young adult horror

Finishing up with the sequel to a well-known book…nice!

So, there you go! You can read them before all of the “cool kids” do, and the reviews suggest they’ll be good. 🙂 Of course, not all of these will become classics…that’s especially true of non-fiction, which can sometimes be very much tied to the time it was published.

Enjoy!

Nominate a child to be given a free Kindle at Give a Kid a Kindle.

* I am linking to the same thing at the regular Amazon site, and at AmazonSmile. When you shop at AmazonSmile, half a percent of your purchase price on eligible items goes to a non-profit you choose. It will feel just like shopping at Amazon: you’ll be using your same account. The one thing for you that is different is that you pick a non-profit the first time you go (which you can change whenever you want)…and the good feeling you’ll get.  Shop ’til you help!  

This post by Bufo Calvin originally appeared in the I Love My Kindle blog. To support this or other blogs/organizations, buy  Amazon Gift Cards from a link on the site, then use those to buy your items. There will be no cost to you, and a benefit to them.

Advertisement

March 2012 Kindle book releases

March 2012 Kindle book releases

These are some of the Kindle store releases scheduled for March 2012 that caught my eye…they aren’t necessarily the most popular. 🙂

You can pre-order them, if you want, or just wait for them to be released.

I haven’t read them yet, of course. 🙂 Remember, you do have that seven day “return” policy…and it doesn’t start until you purchase the book, which doesn’t start on a pre-order until they charge you for it on the day it is released.

These books indicate that they do not block text-to-speech access.

The Thief (An Isaac Bell Adventure)
by Clive Cussler and Justin Scott

Cussler is popular, of course…but this book is $14.99 and categorized as non-fiction…

Star Wars: Lost Tribe of the Sith #8: Secrets
by John Jackson Miller

Lover Reborn: A Novel of the Black Dagger Brotherhood
by J.R. Ward

Betrayal
by Danielle Steel

Elegy for Eddie: A Maisie Dobbs Novel
by Jacqueline Winspear

Infamous: Chronicles of Nick
by Sherrilyn Kenyon

The Emotional Life of Your Brain: How Its Unique Patterns Affect the Way You Think, Feel, andLive–and How You Can Change Them
by Sharon Begley and Richard J. Davidson

The Idea Factory: Bell Labs and the Great Age of American Innovation
by Jon Gertner

Murder at the Lanterne Rouge: An Aimee Leduc Investigation (Aimee Leduc Investigations)
by Cara Black

Due or Die (A Library Lover’s Mystery)
by Jenn McKinley

Discount Armageddon: An InCryptid Novel
by Seanan McGuire

Yep, “cryptid” as in cryptozoology. I may have to try a sample on this one. 🙂

This post by Bufo Calvin originally appeared in the I Love My Kindle blog.

Recent Kindle Releases #15

Recent Kindle Releases #15

It’s all about the books, right?  So, here is a listing of some recent Kindle releases.   You can see earlier posts in this series here.

I’m trying to show you some real variety.  That’s one of the advantages of the Kindle…you don’t just have to read the tried and true (although you can, of course).   I think I’m safe saying that there is at least one thing on here…that you’d never read in a million years.   😉

A few little caveats:

• Schedules change: books may be added or release dates changed. 
• I don’t deliberately list books from companies that block text-to-speech, although it’s possible something will slip on to the list.  I try to be pretty careful, but things do change
• I don’t list prices primarily because they can change (and do).  However, I’ve gotten from very inexpensive up to more than fifty dollars

If you’d like to check yourself (we may not have the same parameters for book choices), you can use this search:

November Kindle Releases

I list the author, the publisher (some people care about that), the number of device licenses, and the category or genre (which to simplify, I just call “topic”). 

The number of device licenses is the number of devices on which you can simultaneously have the book for one purchase price.  I actually have a question in to Amazon legal right now to pin down a question on that, but that’s the basics of it.   If it says “unlimited”, it was probably published independently through Amazon’s Digital Text Platform. 

I take the genre from the Amazon product page…books often have several categories listed, so I just pick the one I like best. 

Oh, and of course, you can get a free sample first…that may be a good idea if it’s an author you haven’t read before.

You may also want to look at the size of the file…some of these may be quite short.  You can figure a “normal length” book is somewhere around 800 KB.

101 Magic Tricks
by Ivar Utial, B.V. Pattabhi Ram
published by Pustak Mahal (a general interest publisher…India’s largest)
device licenses: 6
topic: Conjuring and Magic

I really enjoy Dunninger’s Encyclopedia of Magic, and I’m not saying this is anything like that, but magic books can be fun.  🙂

Children’s Science Library — Life on Earth
by A.H. Hashmi
published by Pustak Mahal (a general interest publisher…India’s largest)
device licenses: 6
topic: Children’s Non-fiction

This is one in a series of inexpensive ($3.19) science books for kids. 

Don’t Waste Your Sports
by C.J. Mahaney
published by Crossway, a faith-based publisher
device licenses: 6
topic: Sports Psychology/Religion

Advice for Christian athletes on how to integrate their sports with religion.

Amsterdam Travel Guide
by Offbeat Guides
device licenses: 6
topic: Travel

They’ve been adding a bunch of these travel guides to the Kindle store…480 so far!  If your hometown isn’t included, I guess you aren’t in with the offbeat  crowd.  😉

The Amy Ryan Handbook
by Jamie Pilkenton
published by Emereo Pty
device licenses: 6
topic: Celebrity Biography

This is definitely a fan tribute to the actor.  It’s a big file, suggesting pictures.  Weirdly, they say they took high-rated wiki entries. ..that’s a book?  They’ve done a whole series of these…Christopher Walken, Casey Affleck, Ben Kingsley…it would make an interesting dinner party.  🙂

The Art of LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT-G Programming
by Terry Griffin
published by OReilly
device licenses: 6
topic: Robotics

I have to give you a geek book every time, right?  I do know that if the robot rebellion ever happens, there will be Lego Mindstorms leading the way…

Fearless Love 
Immortal Love #2
by Stacey Espino
published by Siren Publishing
device licenses: 6
topic: Romance

Through the Wardrobe
edited by Herbie Brennan
published by BenBella Books
device licenses: 6
topic: literary criticism

This one sounds like it could be interesting.  It’s a collection of essays about the Narnia series…not the movies, the books.  🙂

Twinkie Chan’s Crochet Goodies for Fashion Foodies: 20 Yummy Treats to Wear
by Twinkie Chan
published by Andrews McMeel
device licenses: 6
topic: Crafts

Have you heard of Twinkie Chan?  If so, I’m impressed.  🙂  These are patterns so you can make scarves that look like food.  Yeah…me, too.  😉  Oh, and how do patterns work on a Kindle?  Don’t you cut them out and lay them on the cloth?  Okay, I’m mystified…UPDATE: Thanks to reader Christy Parker of http://learntocrochetinminutesaday.blogspot.com/ the Learn to Crochet in Minutes a Day blog.  I’m always happy to expand my knowledge, and Christy (kindly) explained to me that crocheters (I don’t know if that is the right word) follow instructions more than laying out a pattern.  I should have known that…I’ve seen cats with a skein of yarn.  🙂  Oh, is skein the right word for what the crocheters use?  Sigh…so much to learn.  😉

Alpha-II
by Thomas J. Hubschman
published by Double Dragon Books
device licenses: 6
topic: Science Fiction

A soldier visits a radiated planet and finds child-like adults.

Barking Goats and the Redneck Mafia 
by Dolores J. Wilson
published by Medallion Press
device licenses: 6
topic: Humor

This comic novel sounds like it has a lot personality.

Competing in Tough Times: Business Lessons from L.L.Bean, Trader Joe’s, Costco, and Other World-Class Retailers
by Barry Berman
published by FT Press
device licenses: 5
topic: Business

No question, some companies know how to make it work…but there are clearly different answers.  Trader Joe’s and Costco certainly don’t seem to follow the same philosophy.

Cure Tooth Decay: Heal And Prevent Cavities With Nutrition – Limit And Avoid Dental Surgery and Fluoride
by Ramiel Nagel
published by Rami Nagel
device licenses: 5
topic: Personal Health

Doesn’t it seem like there should be some better technology to prevent cavities by now?  Seriously, just coat the permanent teeth in something that prevents the cavities.  Well, until then, this book might help you out.

The United States Unmasked: A Search Into The Rise And Progress Of These States, And An Exposure Of Their Present Material And Moral Condition 
by Gabriel Manigault
published by Oak Grove
device licenses: 6
topic: Politics and Current Events

First, I couldn’t resist the provenance of this one.  Manigault was an 18th Century American architect who designed…well, he appears to have definitely designed one building and then there are other disputed buildings.  He wrote this book (even though most of the web references I found about him didn’t mention it) which was considered so controversial he couldn’t get a publisher in the US.  So, hang in there social critics!  In a couple of hundred years, new technology may make your book available to your intended audience!  😉  I also couldn’t resist that it was in a “current events” category…taking a geological timeframe of politics.  Talk about Kindleizing the long tail!

This post by Bufo Calvin originally appeared in the I Love My Kindle blog.

Recent Kindle Releases #14

Recent Kindle Releases #14

It’s all about the books, right?  So, here is a listing of some recent Kindle releases.   You can see earlier posts in this series here.

I’m trying to show you some real variety.  That’s one of the advantages of the Kindle…you don’t just have to read the tried and true (although you can, of course).   I think I’m safe saying that there is at least one thing on here…that you’d never read in a million years.   😉

A few little caveats:

• Schedules change: books may be added or release dates changed. 
• I don’t deliberately list books from companies that block text-to-speech, although it’s possible something will slip on to the list.  I try to be pretty careful, but things do change
• I don’t list prices primarily because they can change (and do).  However, I’ve gotten from very inexpensive up to more than fifty dollars

If you’d like to check yourself (we may not have the same parameters for book choices), you can use this search:

September Kindle Releases

I list the author, the publisher (some people care about that), the number of device licenses, and the category or genre. 

The number of device licenses is the number of devices on which you can simultaneously have the book for one purchase price.  I actually have a question in to Amazon legal right now to pin down a question on that, but that’s the basics of it.   If it says “unlimited”, it was probably published independently through Amazon’s Digital Text Platform. 

I take the genre from the Amazon product page…books often have several categories listed, so I just pick the one I like best. 

Oh, and of course, you can get a free sample first…that may be a good idea if it’s an author you haven’t read before.

You may also want to look at the size of the file…some of these may be quite short.  You can figure a “normal length” book is somewhere around 800 KB.

Fit Soul, Fit Body
by Brant Secunda, Mark Allen
publisher: BenBella Books, a “boutique” non-fiction publisher
category: Alternative Medicine
device licenses: 6

This one is about getting healthy not just by exercise and diet, but by including a spiritual element.  Secunda is a shaman, Allen is a well-known Ironman triathlete.  Very well-reviewed on Amazon, with 14 out of 16 5-star ratings.

United Kingdumb: Idiots from the British Isles
by Leland Gregory
published by Andrews Mcmeel (a publisher of general non-fiction, cookbooks, gift books, and humor books)
category: humor
device licenses: 6

Don’t worry, Gregory isn’t anti-England…he’s written books about stupid Americans and Candians, too.   🙂  I have to say, I thought he had a great title with What’s the Number for 911?

Because It Is Wrong: Torture, Privacy and Presidential Power in the Age of Terror
by Charles Fried, Gregory Fried
published by W.W. Norton ( a general interest publisher)
category: politics
device licenses: 6

This one looks at the modern controversies of the uses of power and puts them in the context of past philosophies.  Sounds like it will be a somewhat academic approach, although perhaps not dispassionate.

Halloween in the Catacombs
by R. Ann Siracusa 
published by Sapphire Blue
category: romance
device licenses: 6

Hey, it’s only a $1.20. 🙂  It is a short at 229kb…it’s part of the Tour Director Extraordinaire series.

How to Land a Top-Paying Business Operations, Scientific and Technical Consulting Manager Job: Your Complete Guide to Opportunities, Resumes and Cover … What to Expect From Recruiters and More!
by Brad Andrews
published by Emereo Pty
category: business & investing
device licenses: 6

What, the title didn’t explain it to you well enough?  Just kidding…at 273kb, though, it might be nearly as long as the book.  😉  It’s part of a series…maybe I should have gone with the gaming one with this crowd…

New Latin Grammar – The Original Classic Edition
by Charles E. Bennett
published by Emereo Pty
category: words & language
device licenses: 6

How could a person with a classical Latin first name not list this one?  😉  I’m not quite sure how it is both “new” and “original classic” at the same time…

Obstetric Intensive Care Manual, Third Edition
by Michael R. Foley, Thomas H. Strong, Jr., Thomas J. Garite
published by McGraw-Hill
category: internal medicine
device licenses: 4

Four simultaneous device licenses…there’s your study group!  Good thing, since this is over $100…although that’s a considerable savings over the print edition.  I’ve worked with OBs…that’s a tough specialty!  Most of them cover a very wide range of chief complaints…and do both clinic and surgery. 

Quest for the Crystal Skull
by David Ciambrone
published by L&L Dreamspell
category: mystery
device licenses: 6

This one has a crystal skull, voodoo, Texas and New Orleans…and that’s just part of it.  Claimborne is a solid scientist, with degrees in chemistry and chemical engineering, and is a former professor.

Quick Start Guide to Oracle Fusion Development
by Grant Ronald
published by McGraw-Hill Osborne
category: software development
device licenses: 4

Hmmm…would it be safe to be with a Kindle with your programming buddies?  I’m thinking yes, although you might be cooler reading on one of your four tablets.  😉

Cake Pops
by Angie Dudley
published by Chronicle Books
category: cookbooks
device licenses: 6

Let’s see: fathers of pastries?  No.  Symphonic desserts?  That’s not right…oh, it’s little cakes…on a stick!  Chronicle books always have great pictures…

Eliminate the Impossible: An examination of the world of Sherlock Holmes on page and screen
by Alistair Duncan
published by MX Publishing
category: Sherlock Holmes
device licenses: 6

That’s right…Sherlock Holmes is his own category in the Kindle store!  I’ve written a Holmes Kindle story in this blog, and have a blog that runs the original stories in serial fashion (221B Blog Street).  But I would feel daunted trying to write about all the Holmes books and plays…that’s a very broad topic.

Heath’s Modern Language Series: Spanish Short Stories – The Original Classic Edition (Spanish Edition)
by Louise Reinhardt, Elijah Clarence Hills
published by Emereo Pty
category: Spanish language books
device licenses: 6

Nice to list something in Spanish, even if it is a public domain title. 

This post by Bufo Calvin originally appeared in the I Love My Kindle blog.

Recent Kindle Release #13

Recent Kindle Releases #13

It’s all about the books, right?  So, here is a listing of some recent Kindle releases.   You can see earlier posts in this series here.

I’m trying to show you some real variety.  That’s one of the advantages of the Kindle…you don’t just have to read the tried and true (although you can, of course).   I think I’m safe saying that there is at least one thing on here…that you’d never read in a million years.   😉

A few little caveats:

• Schedules change: books may be added or release dates changed. 
• I don’t deliberately list books from companies that block text-to-speech, although it’s possible something will slip on to the list.  I try to be pretty careful, but things do change
• I don’t list prices primarily because they can change (and do).  However, I’ve gotten from very inexpensive up to more than fifty dollars

If you’d like to check yourself (we may not have the same parameters for book choices), you can use this search:

August Kindle Releases

I list the author, the publisher (some people care about that), the number of device licenses, and the category or genre. 

The number of device licenses is the number of devices on which you can simultaneously have the book for one purchase price.  I actually have a question in to Amazon legal right now to pin down a question on that, but that’s the basics of it.   If it says “unlimited”, it was probably published independently through Amazon’s Digital Text Platform. 

I take the genre from the Amazon product page…books often have several categories listed, so I just pick the one I like best. 

Oh, and of course, you can get a free sample first…that may be a good idea if it’s an author you haven’t read before.

You may also want to look at the size of the file…some of these may be quite short.  You can figure a “normal length” book is somewhere around 800 KB.

How to Price eBooks for the Kindle: A Pocket Pricing Guide for Authors and Publishers to Maximize Sales and Royalties with the New 70 Percent Royalty Option 
by Stephen Windwalker
publisher: Kindle Nation Daily 
category: e-commerce
device licenses: unlimited

The Dean of Kindle Bloggers is always worth reading.  He’s intelligent, knowledgeable, and entertaining…a winning combination.  🙂  I’m not quite sure that “pocket” is an appropriate description of something without a physical existence (I can put the whole Kindle in my pocket, but that’s not the same), but maybe that’s just me.  😉

Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void
by Mary Roach 
publisher: W. W. Norton (a general interest publisher)
category: Astrophysics and Science
device licenses: 6

Roach is one of the most popular science writers of the past decade.  Getting to Mars is going to take a long time…what will happen to the people during that flight?  Roach is sure to make you think about that question in a new way…and give you the answers.

Sports Illustrated Blood, Sweat and Chalk: The Ultimate Football Playbook: How the Great Coaches Built Today’s Game 
by Tim Layden
publisher: Sports Illustrated
category: sports
device licenses: 6

This one is a big file (5153kb, 256 pages) which suggests a lot of pictures.  This is the story behind the plays…what popular offense was originally created for John Elway?  Where did the blitz originate?  Layden’s been writing for the magazine for a decade and a half…

Secret Historian: The Life and Times of Samuel Steward, Professor, Tattoo Artist, and Sexual Renegade 
by Justin Spring
published by Macmillan (a general interest publisher)
category: biography
device licenses: 6

Slow down and go back over those roles: professor, tattoo artist, and sexual renegade.  One of these things is not like the others…I mean, whoever heard of a tattoo artist who was a sexual renegade?  😉

Give Us Liberty: a Tea Party Manifesto 
by Dick Armey & Matt Kibbe
published by HarperCollins (a general interest publisher)
category: politics
device licenses: 6

Dick Armey is the former Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, and was one of the forces behind the “Contract with America”.  Will this book give the Tea Party the definition that some people have suggested it needs?

The Age of Psiber Knights: A Place to Rule Special Edition 
by Thomas John Moscato
published by: independent
category: science fiction
device licenses: unlimited

Here’s my spotlighted indie for this edition.  It’s alternate history…and science fiction (but not, apparently, fantasy).  Instead of a Revolutionary War, there was a “colonial uprising”…which was defeated.  In 2276, the British Empire rules the world.  Don’t like the Agency Model?  This is another way to go…it’s ninety-nine cents at time of writing.

This post by Bufo Calvin originally appeared in the I Love My Kindle blog.

Recent Kindle Releases #12

Recent Kindle Releases #12

It’s all about the books, right?  So, here is a listing of some recent Kindle releases.   You can see earlier posts in this series here.

I’m trying to show you some real variety.  That’s one of the advantages of the Kindle…you don’t just have to read the tried and true (although you can, of course).   I think I’m safe saying that there is at least one thing on here…that you’d never read in a million years.   😉

A few little caveats:

• Schedules change: books may be added or release dates changed. 
• I don’t deliberately list books from companies that block text-to-speech, although it’s possible something will slip on to the list.  I try to be pretty careful, but things do change
• I don’t list prices primarily because they can change (and do).  However, I’ve gotten from very inexpensive up to more than fifty dollars

If you’d like to check yourself (we may not have the same parameters for book choices), you can use this search:

July 2010 Kindle releases

I list the author, the publisher (some people care about that), the number of device licenses, and the category or genre. 

The number of device licenses is the number of devices on which you can simultaneously have the book for one purchase price.  I actually have a question in to Amazon legal right now to pin down a question on that, but that’s the basics of it.   If it says “unlimited”, it was probably published independently through Amazon’s Digital Text Platform. 

I take the genre from the Amazon product page…books often have several categories listed, so I just pick the one I like best. 

Oh, and of course, you can get a free sample first…that may be a good idea if it’s an author you haven’t read before.

You may also want to look at the size of the file…some of these may be quite short.  You can figure a “normal length” book is somewhere around 800 KB.

Suck It, Wonder Woman
by Olivia Munn and Mac Montandon
published by St. Martin’s Press (a general interest publisher)
category: Biographies & Memoirs
Device licenses: 6

Olivia Munn is the co-host of  G4’s Attack of the Show, and recently became a correspondent for The Daily Show.  This is a series of personal vignettes.  Be prepared for very frank, quite possibly not safe for work, snarky, geeky humor.  I’d download the sample before you decide.  It’s not going to be for everybody, but some people will really like it.

Breaking the Food Seduction: The Hidden Reasons Behind Food Cravings—And 7 Steps to End Them Naturally
by Neal Barnard, MD
published by Macmillan  (a general interest publisher)
category: Diets
Device licenses: 6

43 five-star reviews out of 60? That says something! It has some good blurbs, and does seem to be based on science. Looks like he is moving people towards a vegan diet…that’s tricky to do and make it work.

Creature
by Paul L. Records
published by Tate Publishing (a faith-based publisher) 
category: Religious Fiction
Device licenses: 6

This looks like a creepy psychological thriller…from a faith-based publisher.

Snake Dreams 
by James D. Doss
published by Minotaur (a mystery, suspense, and thriller part of Macmillan)
category: Mystery
Device licenses: 6

This was weird, because the Publishers Weekly review, the customer reviews, and some (but not all) of the cover pictures were for a Sue Grafton novel. I tracked the information down on the paper edition, though. This is the 13th mystery featuring Ute investigator Charlie Moon, and it brings Native American culture to the table.

The Adventure Heroes Edition EZ Guide 
by Cheatmistress
published by M-Y Books (there is an M-Y Books in the UK, but the website didn’t list this book series)
category: Video Games
Device licenses: 6

Videogame cheats!  I’m an honest guy, but that’s not really what cheating means in these kind of books.  😉  There are often little secrets built into videogames, sometimes to help the developers (they need some way to get to the next level to test it…and a superweapon might not hurt).  This book has cheats for Red Dead Redemption, Batman Arkham Asylum, God of War 3, and more.

Against All Odds 
by Chuck Norris and Ken Abraham
published by B&H Books  (a faith-based publisher)
categories: Theatre, Entertainers, Religious, Martial Arts
Device licenses: 6

Did you notice those categories?  Go ahead, make your Chuck Norris jokes…just don’t say I didn’t warn you.  😉

American Government and Politics Today: The Essentials 2009 – 2010 Edition, 15th Edition 
by Steffen W. Schmidt, Mack C. Shelley, Barbara A. Bardes
published by Wadsworth (an educational publisher)
category: Politics
Device licenses: 6

Well, this isn’t going to work for those of you boycotting books over 90 dollars.  😉  Three professors stress critical thinking in a mighty tome (part of a series).

The Book of Uncommon Quips and Quotations 
compiled by Bollimuntha Venkata Ramana Rao
published by Pustak Mahal (a general interest publisher)
Device licenses: 6

As those of you who read one of my other blogs, The Measured Circle know, I like quotations.  🙂  I’ve been publishing a series of them there.  It’s always nice to see books of quotations…I’ll at least get the sample of this one (even though I collect mine from primary sources).  Oh, and Pustak Mahal is one of India’s largest publishers.

Character Animation with Direct3D 
by Carl Granberg
published by Delmar (Delmar specializes in healthcare books, so I’m not sure this is the famous one…unless I’m missing something)
category: programming
Device licenses: 6

Always like to get a computer/programming/tech book on the list.  This one is for making characters for videogames…um, and then the people above can publish cheats for them.  😉

Deadline Zombies: The Adventures of Maxi and Moxie 
by Teel James Glenn
published by Fantasy (this looks like it came through Amazon’s Digital Text Platform…”Fantasy” may be a generic)
Device licenses: 6

I always like to find an indie to feature, and this is my Indie Featured Title for this time.  This one sounds like fun: a pulpish work with a newspaper reporter named Moxie Donnovan, a “spitfire redhead actress” named Maxi…and an Irish Sidhe.  I’m a huge Doc Savage fan, and do like the pulps…I’m definitely going to sample this.  The cover is good with a looming Bela Lugosi-type face behind out heroes.  Don’t like the Agency Model?  This is another way to go…it’s $3.19 at time of writing.

This post by Bufo Calvin originally appeared in the I Love My Kindle blog.

Recent Kindle Releases #11

Recent Kindle Releases #11

It’s all about the books, right?  So, here is a listing of some recent Kindle releases.   You can see earlier posts in this series here.

I’m trying to show you some real variety.  That’s one of the advantages of the Kindle…you don’t just have to read the tried and true (although you can, of course).   I think I’m safe saying that there is at least one thing on here…that you’d never read in a million years.   😉

A few little caveats:

• Schedules change: books may be added or release dates changed. 
• I don’t deliberately list books from companies that block text-to-speech, although it’s possible something will slip on to the list.  I try to be pretty careful, but things do change
• I don’t list prices primarily because they can change (and do).  However, I’ve gotten from very inexpensive up to more than fifty dollars

If you’d like to check yourself (we may not have the same parameters for book choices), you can use this search:

July 2010 Kindle releases

I list the author, the publisher (some people care about that), the number of device licenses, and the category or genre. 

The number of device licenses is the number of devices on which you can simultaneously have the book for one purchase price.  I actually have a question in to Amazon legal right now to pin down a question on that, but that’s the basics of it.   If it says “unlimited”, it was probably published independently through Amazon’s Digital Text Platform. 

I take the genre from the Amazon product page…books often have several categories listed, so I just pick the one I like best. 

Oh, and of course, you can get a free sample first…that may be a good idea if it’s an author you haven’t read before.

You may also want to look at the size of the file…some of these may be quite short.  You can figure a “normal length” book is somewhere around 800 KB.

Backpacker Magazine’s Outdoor Survival Skills 
by Molly Absolon
Published by Falcon
Category: Outdoors
Device licenses: 6

This is one of a couple of books from Backpacker that have recently been Kindleized.  This one looked of broader interest than the cuisine thing, though.  😉  Of course, if you are in a survival situation, you are going to turn to your Kindle, right?  😉  Even better…you are lost in the jungle with those army ant things from that Charlton Heston movie coming at you, and you quickly download the book…I’m sure they’ll have army ant defenses, right?

How to Start a Home-Based Web-Design Business (4th edition) 
by Jim Smith
Published by Globe Pequot
Category: Entrepeneurship
Device licenses: 6

Cool!  I love books aimed at the arachnid market…Charlotte’s Web, The Golden Scorpion…oh, wait.  Not that kind of web…sorry.  Still could be cool, though.  😉

The Representative Claim 
by Michael Saward
Published by Oxford University Press
Category: Politics
Device licenses: 6

I honestly thought this one might be about insurance, but it’s about politics.  When someone claims that they represent the opinion of a group of people (and we see that all the time), what does that mean?  How should it be treated?  I see that even in the e-book world: “The average person doesn’t want that.”  That often makes me curious about the polling method used.  😉

VBA and Macros: Microsoft Excel 2010 
by Bill Jelan, Tracy Syrstad
Published by Que
Category: computers
Device licenses: 5

I’ve taught VBA myself…that’s the programming language you can use to get Excel to do interesting things it usually won’t do, or just to automate the things it usually does.  I used to set up a practical joke for our Excel classes on April Fool’s Day.  The trainer would have the students do a key combination, and a message would appear that would say, “System Crash Imminent”.  Clicking that one got you the second message: “Radiation Hazard”.  The third message? “Your car has been towed”.  The fourth?  “April Fools!”  If it was an advanced class, we’d teach them how to do it.  🙂  So while you can use VBA to irritate your coworkers, it does have many practical purposes as well.  This is also over 22000kb…quite large, although that might mean illustrations.

The Best of Czech Cooking
by Peter Trnka
Published by Hippocrene Books
Category: cooking
Device licenses: 6

You know, it’s always better to cook this kind of food at home.  I was at a restaurant that specialized in this cuisine, and when I offered to pay for everything, somebody accused me of hitting on their date.  All I said was that I’d “pick up the check”…  😉  (Just kidding…couldn’t resist the pun)

Katatonic, States of Depression in General Paralysis, and Epileptic Insanity
by Emil Kraepelin
Published by Oak Grove
Category: Disorders and diseases
Device licenses: 6

If you took Psych 101 (well, maybe 201), you probably ran into Emil Kraepelin’s name.  He’s really a founder of modern psychological theory (pre-Freud).

Kindle Calendar and Day Planner for Year 2011 (United States) – Includes all National Holidays, Various Ethnic and Religious Celebrated Occasions 
by Errol R. Williams
Published by Ailax Merchandise
Category: Reference
Device licenses: 6

For those of you who want Kindle utilities, that’s partially what this is.  I do make notes on my Kindle.  For example, I put in the parking space when we left the car at the airport for days.  Having a separate page for each date would certainly make things easier.  At the same time, you get national holidays and such…so you can explain why you have to take the day off to read.  😉

A History of Sports Highlights: Replayed Plays from Edison to ESPN
by Raymond Gamache
Published by McFarland
Category: Sports
Device licenses: 6

I’ve mentioned McFarland before: they are a great media reference publisher.  This one has to do with media and sports…and in paperback, it’s $45.  Not only that, the paperback is out of stock.  The digital list price is $29.99, and Amazon is selling it for $16.49.  This is one of those reference books where I think a higher than $9.99 price is justified, but up to you.

Bye Bye, Miss American Empire: Neighborhood Patriots, Backcountry Rebels, and their Underdog Crusades to Redraw America’s Political Map
 
by Bill Kauffman
Published by Chelsea Green
Category: Politics
Device licenses: 6

This looks like an interesting one on secessionist thought and movements in the USA, both now and in history.  My state, California, often talks about splitting into several states, and less often, withdrawing from the union altogether.  We’re one of those states that supposedly sends more to the Federal government than we get (even if we are sort of broke right now).  Oh, and Northern California and Southern California really don’t have that much in common.  It would be complicated, certainly, but the idea is out there.

Rescuing a UFO: Close Encounter of the Fifth Kind 
by Gregory Paul Dail
Published by Pandora Project
Category: Science Fiction
Device licenses: 6

This one is apparently short (only 80kb…a tenth the size of a typical 800kb Kindle store novel).  It’s also, though, inexpensive: eighty-three cents at time of writing.  I like to spotlight indies…

This post by Bufo Calvin originally appeared in the I Love My Kindle blog.

Recent Kindle Releases #10

Recent Kindle Releases #10

It’s all about the books, right?  So, here is a listing of some recent Kindle releases.   You can see earlier posts in this series here.

I’m trying to show you some real variety.  That’s one of the advantages of the Kindle…you don’t just have to read the tried and true (although you can, of course).   I think I’m safe saying that there is at least one thing on here…that you’d never read in a million years.   😉

A few little caveats:

• Schedules change: books may be added or release dates changed. 
• I don’t deliberately list books from companies that block text-to-speech, although it’s possible something will slip on to the list.  I try to be pretty careful, but things do change
• I don’t list prices primarily because they can change (and do).  However, I’ve gotten from very inexpensive up to more than fifty dollars

If you’d like to check yourself (we may not have the same parameters for book choices), you can use this search:

July 2010 Kindle releases

I list the author, the publisher (some people care about that), the number of device licenses, and the category or genre. 

The number of device licenses is the number of devices on which you can simultaneously have the book for one purchase price.  I actually have a question in to Amazon legal right now to pin down a question on that, but that’s the basics of it.   If it says “unlimited”, it was probably published independently through Amazon’s Digital Text Platform. 

I take the genre from the Amazon product page…books often have several categories listed, so I just pick the one I like best. 

Oh, and of course, you can get a free sample first…that may be a good idea if it’s an author you haven’t read before.

You may also want to look at the size of the file…some of these may be quite short.  You can figure a “normal length” book is somewhere around 800 KB.

Rajmahal 
by Kamalini Sengupta
published by The Feminist Press at the City University of New York (a nonprofit literary publisher)
Device licenses: 6
Category: Literary fiction

This one sounds like it could be really good, although you might think it has an agenda.  I’m just interpreting from what I’m reading about it. 

Something Borrowed, Something Bleu 
Home Crafting mystery #4
by Cricket McRae
published by Midnight Ink  (a mystery publisher, part of Llewellyn)
Device licenses: 6
Category: mysteries

Yes, bleu…as in cheese.  I could say that makes this a cheesy mystery, but I wouldn’t do that.  😉  Sophie Mae Reynolds, hero of the Home Crafting mysteries is getting ready for marriage.  This book takes place in Colorado, giving the series some fresh scenery.

A Theology of Christian Counseling 
by Jay E. Adams
published by Zondervan (a faith-based publisher)
Category: religion
Device licenses: 5

How to use theology to inform your counseling.

Third Class Superhero 
by Charles Yu
Published by Houghton (?)
Device licenses: 6
Category: short stories

Well, when I saw the title, I figured this was a kid’s novel  When I saw the cover, it looked like a graphic novel.  Fortunately,  I dug up a bit on the book.  It’s a collection of “Kafka-esque” short stories, with a geeky twist.  Well-reviewed.  I’m not positive on the publisher.  On the Kindle book, it just says Adult, but the paperbook is published by Mariner, which is part of Houghlin.  Oh, and its only 164kb, which sounds quite short.

On the Ground: The Black Panther Party in Communities Across America
by Judson L. Jeffries
published by University Press of Mississippi
Device licenses: 6
category: social science

This sounds like an interesting read!  I do have an image of the Black Panther party, but this book covers an actual oral history of all the other things they did and places they were.  I vaguely knew that community service was part of the philosophy, but that’s not my first thought.  Things are often worth a second thought…and a third…

The Path of a Christian Witch 
by Adelina St. Clair
published by Llewellyn (a New Age publisher)
Device licenses: 6
category: Wicca/Christianity

Can you be a Christian and a Wiccan?  There would be a lot of history you’d have to put behind you…and you’d have to forgive that whole “thou shalt not suffer” thing.  The author shares her personal experience.

Pretzel 
by H.A. Rey and Margaret Rey
published by HMH (?)
Device licenses: 6
category: children’s

The Reys are the folks behind Curious George.  This one is about a dachshund, not a monkey, but it’s a classic going back to the 1940s, I think.  Amusingly, it says it is optimized for larger screens…which makes sense with a dachshund.  😉  It’s also going to look better in color, I think…PC, Mac, iPad.

Quick Escapes from Philadelphia 
by Marilyn Odesser-Torpey
published by GPP Travel
Device licenses: 6
category: travel

No, this is not the next Snake Plissken movie (although there is a new one in the works for 2013).  😉  It’s a travel book (for weekend getaways) and up the 4th edition, which is a good sign.

Illegal: Life and Death in Arizona’s Immigration War 
by Terry Greene Sterling
published by Lyon’s Press
Device licenses: 6
Category: emigration and immigration

This appears to be solid, but human-focused reporting.  The blurbs are impressive.  This looks like a tough, but informative read. 

The Great Match Race: When North Met South in America’s First Sports Spectacle 
by John Eisenberg
published by Houghton (?)
Device licenses: 6
category: sports

Sports have been huge in America for a very long time.  This was a horse race that took place in 1823 (decades before the Civil War) between the North and the South…and 60,000 people witnessed it.

Harlequin comics: Keeping Luke’s Secret (Hindi edition)
 by Hinoto Mori, Carole Mortimer
published by Harlequin (a romance publisher)
Device licenses: 6
category: romance

Whew!  I didn’t think I was going to get something unusual enough this time.  😉  It’s funny, a question just came up recently about Kindle books in Hindi, and their are a few.  The Kindle doesn’t support the character set, of course, so these are done by using illustrations.  This one is 7464kb…close to ten times the size of a typical novel.  That works, though.

This looks like there are some really solid titles in this group.  Maybe the mainstream is getting to be more onboard with Kindle publishing…could the stigma be fading?

This post by Bufo Calvin originally appeared in the I Love My Kindle blog.

Recent Kindle Releases #9

Recent Kindle Releases #9

It’s all about the books, right?  So, here is a listing of some recent Kindle releases.   You can see earlier posts in this series here.

I’m trying to show you some real variety.  That’s one of the advantages of the Kindle…you don’t just have to read the tried and true (although you can, of course).   I think I’m safe saying that there is at least one thing on here…that you’d never read in a million years.   😉

A few little caveats:

• Schedules change: books may be added or release dates changed. 
• I don’t deliberately list books from companies that block text-to-speech, although it’s possible something will slip on to the list.  I try to be pretty careful, but things do change
• I don’t list prices primarily because they can change (and do).  However, I’ve gotten from very inexpensive up to more than fifty dollars

If you’d like to check yourself (we may not have the same parameters for book choices), you can use this search:

June 2010 Kindle releases

I list the author, the publisher (some people care about that), the number of device licenses, and the category or genre. 

The number of device licenses is the number of devices on which you can simultaneously have the book for one purchase price.  I actually have a question in to Amazon legal right now to pin down a question on that, but that’s the basics of it.   If it says “unlimited”, it was probably published independently through Amazon’s Digital Text Platform. 

I take the genre from the Amazon product page…books often have several categories listed, so I just pick the one I like best. 

Oh, and of course, you can get a free sample first…that may be a good idea if it’s an author you haven’t read before.

You may also want to look at the size of the file…some of these may be quite short.  You can figure a “normal length” book is somewhere around 800 KB.

How to Write a Proper Resume (college edition)
By Student’s Academy
Published by Rajasir
Device licenses: 6
Topic: Test prep

Is it weird that a book on writing resumes doesn’t have a summary? Yeah, I thought so too.  😉

Boogie Woogie Hanon 
By Leo Alfassy
Published by Music Sales
Device licenses: 6
Category: Music

Want to play it eight to the bar?  This is a set of piano exercises (it includes theory and such) so you can be the cat’s pajamas on the eight-eight, gate!

David Busch’s Canon EOS Rebel T2i/550D Guide to Digital SLR Photography, 1st Edition
By David D. Busch
Published by Delmar Learning
Device licences: 6
Category: Digital photography

Well, I usually get a computer book in here, but this is cool.  I really like my little FlipCam, and I pull stills off that.  I know, that’s not the same thing.  Cisco has to be worried about the iPhone 4, though, since that’s going to do HD video…and it’s “retinal display” is basically superhuman (more pixels than you can see, as I understand it). 

Demon Scorned 
By S.K. Yule
Published by Amira
Device licenses: 6
Category: Erotica

Let’s see…the Demon of Justice is imprisoned by the Demon of Scorn, and tortured, but starts to fall for her…um…does it help that I sent out Christian freebies earlier today?  Just trying to cover all tastes…  😉

Dirty Korean: Everyday Slang from “What’s Up?” to “F*%# Off!” 
By Haewon Geebi Baek
Published by Ulysses Press
Device licenses: 6
Category: Languages

Hmmm…do I want to learn words in a foreign language which I don’t even use in my own?  Might be interesting to read about them.  Of course, you may be thinking you could use it figure out what somebody else called you…but I’m trying to picture a circumstance where that would be happening, and I’d be looking up the word on my Kindle.  🙂  I’m thinking my attention might be elsewhere.  On the other hand, now that Lost is off the air, I need to get my Korean language fix somewhere…  😉

Employees First, Customers Second: Turning Conventional Management Upside Down
By Vineet Naya
Published by Harvard Business Press
Device licenses: 6
Category: Management

Read that title twice.  Nayar is the very buzzy CEO of HCL Technologies.  Look at some of the people endorsing this title, including effusive praise from Tom Peters (In Search of Excellence).  The world of business is changing…looks like Nayar may be seeing the path through the alien trees.  I’m sampling this one…

no face charlie (sic)
By James R. Coffey
Published by Pandora Project
Device licenses: 6
Category: Horror

This is a short work at a low price…might appeal to some folks.  🙂

Wytham Woods: Oxford’s Ecological Library
By Peter Savill, Christopher Perrins, Keith Kirby, Nigel Fisher
Published by Oxford University Press
Device licenses: 6
Category: Science

This particular woodland has studied by scientists since at least the 1920s.  Buy it on the Kindle, and save $22.23 at time of writing…it’s only $76.77!   I absolutely would expect this to sell, though…it’s for a particular market that may consider that a more than reasonable price.

Abner Doubleday, Boy Baseball Pioneer
By Montrew Dunham, Cathy Morrison
Published by Patria
Device licenses: 6
Category: Children’s books – biographies

I still people asking if there are books for children on the Kindle…here’s one!  Hey, can this also count as my sports book this time?  😉

Bigfoot War 
By Eric S. Brown
Published by Coscom Entertainment
Device licenses: 6
Category: Genre fiction

So, do they put a rocket launcher on the monster truck and it drives over generals’ jeeps and such?  Oh, wait…not the truck, the hairy biped…hey, that’s better!  I’ll sample this one.  The author has been involved with a bunch of horror books, by the way, and a mash-up of War of the Worlds, apparently.

Bowie Style
By Steve Pafford
Published by Omnibus
Device licenses: 6
Category: Musicians

I never thought of Jim Bowie as much of a fashion plate, although I understand the knives are stylish, and– Oh, David Bowie.  That makes more sense…yes, all the pictures, sure.  One more thing…this says black and white and color pictures.  Why color pictures in a Kindle book?  They’ll probably look great in the Kindle for iPad app, for one thing, and on Kindle for PC or Mac.  Kindle books aren’t just for Kindles any more…

This post by Bufo Calvin originally appeared in the I Love My Kindle blog.

Recent Kindle releases #8

It’s all about the books, right?  So, here is a listing of some recent Kindle releases.   You can see earlier posts in this series here.

I’m trying to show you some real variety.  That’s one of the advantages of the Kindle…you don’t just have to read the tried and true (although you can, of course).   I think I’m safe saying that there is at least one thing on here…that you’d never read in a million years.   😉

A few little caveats:

• Schedules change: books may be added or release dates changed. 
• I don’t deliberately list books from companies that block text-to-speech, although it’s possible something will slip on to the list.  I try to be pretty careful, but things do change
• I don’t list prices primarily because they can change (and do).  However, I’ve gotten from very inexpensive up to more than fifty dollars

If you’d like to check yourself (we may not have the same parameters for book choices), you can use this search:

June 2010 Kindle releases

I list the author, the publisher (some people care about that), the number of device licenses, and the category or genre. 

The number of device licenses is the number of devices on which you can simultaneously have the book for one purchase price.  I actually have a question in to Amazon legal right now to pin down a question on that, but that’s the basics of it.   If it says “unlimited”, it was probably published independently through Amazon’s Digital Text Platform. 

I take the genre from the Amazon product page…books often have several categories listed, so I just pick the one I like best. 

Oh, and of course, you can get a free sample first…that may be a good idea if it’s an author you haven’t read before.

You may also want to look at the size of the file…some of these may be quite short.  You can figure a “normal length” book is somewhere around 800 KB.

2013 Mayan Sunrise
by Sri Ram Kaa and Kira Rae
Published by Ulysses Press
Category: New Age

So, you may have heard about December 21, 2012, supposedly being the end of the world, right?  That’s not really the way I understand the Mayan calendar (well, what I understand of it).  These two, though, have information about how to make it through…I’m kinda guessing it might work.  🙂  An excerpt from the description:

“Using the wisdom and predictions from Mayan high priests and revelations from Archangels, the authors have created this guide to surviving and thriving in the approaching new age.”

Che Guevara
By Jon Lee Anderson
Published by Grove Press
Category: Biography

Che has a fascinating story, that’s been told different ways…you know, besides t-shirts.  😉  This one has good reviews.

The Cruise of the Snark
By Jack London
Published by indypublish.com
Category: Travel

I’m just listing this one because it’s in the “What the–?” school of e-book pricing.  This company just added a bunch of books to the Kindle store which you can get for free..and priced them at more than $35 each…for e-books!  Hey, maybe it’s just a cover group for Penguin, so Atlas Shrugged looks cheap.  😉 

Dear Money
By Martha McPhee
Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Category: General fiction

This sounds like it could be a good mainstream novel…you now, if you are into that sort of thing.  😉  A financial whiz turns an author into a bond trader…maybe…in a story about identity.

Forbidden Creatures: Inside the World of Smuggling and Exotic Pets 
By Peter Laufer
Published by Lyons Press
Category: Animals

This is a big interest of mine.  I saw a special years ago on animal smuggling, and it still bothers me.  At that point, profit margin on animal smuggling was higher than the profit margin on drug smuggling.  One reason was that the penalties for animal smuggling were so low.  If people got caught, it wasn’t really a deterrent.  I don’t now if that’s still the case, but there were horrible stories of the treatments of animals.  Um…I’m not sure I’m making this sound like an attractive read…but it may be enlightening.

From the Closet to the Courtroom: Five LGBT Rights Lawsuits That Have Changed Our Nation
By Carlos Ball
Published by Beacon Press
Category: Law

This is a developing area of case law, and there will be other legal challenges in the future.  This is a book by a Rutgers Law professor…but I have to say, it doesn’t look like a dispassionate history…

God’s Many Splendored Image: Theological Anthropology for Christian Formation
By Verna Harrison
Published by Baker Academic
Category: Religion

The author is an expert in the early “Christian world”, but appears to bring the information in a way that is accessible to contemporary audiences.

The Game of Sunken Places 
By M. T. Anderson
Published by Scholastic
Category: Children’s books

From the American publisher of Harry Potter, this is a well-reviewed book for grades 5-9.  It seems to have a bit of Jumanji-twist, but sounds like it may be complex enough to stand on its own.

How the Saints Went Kicking In
By Jeff Duncan
Published by FT Press
Category: Sports

Who dat?  Well, it’s only 95kb, which is small, but hey, I got a sports book on the list!  😉

It’s Easy to Bluff Metal Guitar
By Joe Bennett
Published by Wise Publications
Category: Music

Well, yes…I wouldn’t expect a wooden instrument to have much perspicacity…oh, wait.  Not how to bluff A metal guitar, how to pretend that you know how to play.  😉  That’s not the only book they have on bluffing in the Kindle store, by the way.  I don’t think they are quite the same as the David Frost “bluffer’s guides”, though. 

Modern Japanese Literature 
By Donald Keene
Published by Grove Press
Category: Anthologies

From 1868 until the present day, this is an anthology of one of the great literatures of the world.  Definitely sounds like it is worth trying.

Well, there you go…a pretty broad selection.  One of the nice things about the Kindle…there’s always something to read.  🙂

This post by Bufo Calvin originally appeared in the I Love My Kindle blog.