Wednesday, April 7, 2010
My Latest Read: American Gods by Niel Gaiman
So for the past few years...or I guess I should say since I was a high school student, Niel Gaiman has been my favorite author. He has an interesting style of combing real world elements with a bit of a "fantasy" flavor. I guess the reason that this appeals to me so much is that I still have a bit of a fear of picking up a true fantasy genre book and reading it cover to cover. I can't really explain to you why that is other than to say that I feel like as soon as I do I'll never be able to go back to that point in my life when it is possible to say that I've never actually read a fantasy book. Just like the kids that watch anime, and play magic, will never be able to tell anyone (without lying through their teeth) that they don't do those things.
The first book that I ever read from Niel was a book called "Neverwhere", a book about a Londoner that helps a stranded street urchin who turns out not to be a street urchin at all. When he helps her he finds that he disappears to the "normal" world. His life, girlfriend, friends, and job are all gone and he is left to help the girl, and try to get his life back. It's a great read and consequently one of my favorite books. Gaiman has also written books that have gotten attention from movie makers as well. His bestseller "Stardust" was recently made into a movie and starred many well renound actors such as, Michelle Phifer and Rupert Everett. The animated film "Coraline" was also written by Gaiman.
I haven't found a book by Gaiman that I didn't like, however his book "American Gods" was one of my favorites to date. The novel does feature some adult language and should be read with discretion. the novel follows the story of a man named Shadow, or at least that's what everybody called him. He has recently been released from prison and he is approached by a mysterious man named Wednesday. Wednesday has an interesting proposition for shadow and at length with much persuasion Shadow comes to be he employee. As the story progresses we find out more and more about Wednesday and the kind of man he is...or perhaps he's more than just a man.
"American Gods" is a book that will challenge your perceptions and make you think. It is suspenseful and thought provoking. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a bit of fantasy thrown in with real life. you know...so you can still admit that you've never actually read a "fantasy" novel.
The first book that I ever read from Niel was a book called "Neverwhere", a book about a Londoner that helps a stranded street urchin who turns out not to be a street urchin at all. When he helps her he finds that he disappears to the "normal" world. His life, girlfriend, friends, and job are all gone and he is left to help the girl, and try to get his life back. It's a great read and consequently one of my favorite books. Gaiman has also written books that have gotten attention from movie makers as well. His bestseller "Stardust" was recently made into a movie and starred many well renound actors such as, Michelle Phifer and Rupert Everett. The animated film "Coraline" was also written by Gaiman.
I haven't found a book by Gaiman that I didn't like, however his book "American Gods" was one of my favorites to date. The novel does feature some adult language and should be read with discretion. the novel follows the story of a man named Shadow, or at least that's what everybody called him. He has recently been released from prison and he is approached by a mysterious man named Wednesday. Wednesday has an interesting proposition for shadow and at length with much persuasion Shadow comes to be he employee. As the story progresses we find out more and more about Wednesday and the kind of man he is...or perhaps he's more than just a man.
"American Gods" is a book that will challenge your perceptions and make you think. It is suspenseful and thought provoking. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a bit of fantasy thrown in with real life. you know...so you can still admit that you've never actually read a "fantasy" novel.
Listening by: Mikal Rex
I am a listener; not the kind of listener that people come and dump all their problems on and then walk away saying, “You are such a good listener.” I listen to books. I can eat up an audio book in a day, even if it is a 30 hour book, well then it would take me 30 yours to listen to, but you get what I mean. Back home my public library had a smorgasbord of delicious books 0on tape and CD just begging to be devoured, and I did partake. Walking to class, commuting to work, jogging, lifting weights, doing homework, each activity was done to the beautiful sounds of literature piped into my brain through my head phones. Bliss!
My love for audio books started out when I was a little boy. My mother frequented the local library in Port Angeles, WA. And it was my favorite thing to do, exploring that massive library; it was two floors of pleasure. I would pick out huge volumes on pirates and Robin Hood and knights in shining armor and make my mother read them too me. She tells of one book I got that was the size of a large bible in 9 point type. It was a textbook on pirates. I crawled up on the couch next to her and made her read this book. There is no way my five or six year old mind was able to comprehend this book, but I didn’t care, I was being read to.
Hours and hours, book upon book, Beverley Cleary, was out favorite. My mom loved reading and I loved listening. It was so much more fulfilling than television, and so much more connecting. There is warmth and comfort in having your mother’s voice telling stories of adventure, and while I listened my mind raced with imagination.
As I grew older my mother had more children and I switched to audio books. I would spend hours listening to books on tape while drawing pictures or when I was supposed to be doing homework. I can remember when my parents bought my brother and me a little CD/Tape player. It instantly became MY CD player and I would have it next to my bed and stay up till the early hours of the morning listening to books while my brother slept in the top bunk. My father would come downstairs to check on us and I would hurry and shut off the tape player then roll over and pretend to sleep. When his footsteps could be heard going back up the stairs I rolled right back over and kept listening.
Now I don’t have the time to listen to all the books I would like to, and it seems that the Rexburg library is trying to keep me from as many books as possible. True it wouldn’t kill me to actually pick up a book and read it, but when the heck would I finish it. The last book I finished was last winter semester. It was The Stand by Stephen King. It was an awesome book but it took far too long to finish. This semester however I have listened to five or six books and I plan to keep listening to more. I just find it sad that people will walk around with headphones in re-listening to the same songs over and over again, drowning their imaginations in pop drivel when instead there are worlds of literature waiting to be discovered. And in those long walks from the Spori to the Ricks wars are won, hearts are lost, murderers are caught, and adventure is found. I am still that little boy walking the halls of fiction discovering worlds without end.
My love for audio books started out when I was a little boy. My mother frequented the local library in Port Angeles, WA. And it was my favorite thing to do, exploring that massive library; it was two floors of pleasure. I would pick out huge volumes on pirates and Robin Hood and knights in shining armor and make my mother read them too me. She tells of one book I got that was the size of a large bible in 9 point type. It was a textbook on pirates. I crawled up on the couch next to her and made her read this book. There is no way my five or six year old mind was able to comprehend this book, but I didn’t care, I was being read to.
Hours and hours, book upon book, Beverley Cleary, was out favorite. My mom loved reading and I loved listening. It was so much more fulfilling than television, and so much more connecting. There is warmth and comfort in having your mother’s voice telling stories of adventure, and while I listened my mind raced with imagination.
As I grew older my mother had more children and I switched to audio books. I would spend hours listening to books on tape while drawing pictures or when I was supposed to be doing homework. I can remember when my parents bought my brother and me a little CD/Tape player. It instantly became MY CD player and I would have it next to my bed and stay up till the early hours of the morning listening to books while my brother slept in the top bunk. My father would come downstairs to check on us and I would hurry and shut off the tape player then roll over and pretend to sleep. When his footsteps could be heard going back up the stairs I rolled right back over and kept listening.
Now I don’t have the time to listen to all the books I would like to, and it seems that the Rexburg library is trying to keep me from as many books as possible. True it wouldn’t kill me to actually pick up a book and read it, but when the heck would I finish it. The last book I finished was last winter semester. It was The Stand by Stephen King. It was an awesome book but it took far too long to finish. This semester however I have listened to five or six books and I plan to keep listening to more. I just find it sad that people will walk around with headphones in re-listening to the same songs over and over again, drowning their imaginations in pop drivel when instead there are worlds of literature waiting to be discovered. And in those long walks from the Spori to the Ricks wars are won, hearts are lost, murderers are caught, and adventure is found. I am still that little boy walking the halls of fiction discovering worlds without end.
Monday, April 5, 2010
iPad will revolutionize the way we read books
Penguin Books is one of many publishing companies that is looking forward to using new media like the iPad to make their products more appealing to their audiences. This video shows how they are implementing the iPad technology into their books for kids.
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