The Joys of the e-Reader

To be sure, there are many occasions for hard-copy books.  What could match a little one's delight in lifting a tab and finding Big Bird or Boots behind the flap?  Introducing children to books and reading gives them a window on the wider world.

But, for those of us who love to read, the introduction of the e-reader has been an amazing feat of technology.  According to the Pew Internet and American Life Project, 29% of us own an e-reader or a tablet.  Thanks to holiday gift-giving, that number is an  11% increase over December, 2011's  18%.

Some of us are no strangers to e-readers.  Marty, Sherry, and Joan H. have exhausted their first e-readers and are enjoying their second.  Others of us are new to the e-reading scene, adding to the Pew stats just last month.  For those of us with one foot in the hard-copy world, this is a new adventure-and a welcome one.

Jo, Marty, Sherry, and Barb R. all agree that portability is wonderful.  Having lugged the hard copy of Dances with Dragons in her carry on just last fall, Peggy has to admit that an e-reader would have simplified her life. 

The new e-readers offer so much, including the addition of email and web access as well as the main perk of a treasure trove of reading material.  Jo even uses her e-reader on trips when she wants to pass some time playing games-no need for the Nintendo!Barb is happy about her trips to the beach with a chair, towel and e-reader instead of a huge bag of books for her husband and herself.  She comments that the e-reader is great because of the easy reading in sunlight and the flexibility of print size.

On her holiday vacation, Sherry found that, of 11 beachgoing  reading enthusiasts, 10 were using e-readers with only one holding a hard-copy title.

Another plus for the e-reader is that the book lover can borrow books from the library.  The only downside to that, according to Marty, is that the wait time can be a problem.  Lots of library patrons are signing up to borrow the e-versions of their  library's collection.

Are hard-copy books a thing of the past?  Amazon did sell 105 e-books for every 100 hard-back and paperback books over the holidays.  Still, even with that increase, only 14% of all fiction and non-fiction titles purchased in the past two years were e-books (Claire Cain Miller & Julie Bosman, New York Times, May 19, 2011).

There are many e-readers on the market, but the best known are the Amazon Kindle series and the Barnes & Noble Nook.  Peggy just received the Kindle Fire this past month from her generous children and loves the color, the email access, the web surfing capabilities, and the cloud storage.    So far she's going through the 5-star free library at Marty's suggestion and has not been disappointed.

No e-reader at your fingertips yet?  If you want to determine which product  is right for you, go to the site listed below.  the Configurator is free and will help you by asking questions related to your personal needs.   Questions range from screen size to weight, memory, your limit for expense, free book downloads, and other capabilities.  When you answer the questions, the various e-readers (including the i-pad tablet) appear with a sliding bar to indicate which one meets your needs. Find the Configurator at
http://www.toptenreviews.com/configurator/ebook-reader-review/ 

You can find  Brian Heater's reviews of various e-readers at http://www.engadget.com/.    He does an extensive review of Amazon's Kindle Fire versus  Barnes & Noble's Nook Tablets as well as comparisons  of other products.  Find his reviews at http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/21/barnes-and-noble-nook-tablet-review.

A final consideration that Barb R. mentioned is this:  The Green Factor.  That's right.  We all recycle, but this is a new way of reducing  our carbon footprint.  The carbon footprint of one book is 8.84 lbs. in carbon dioxide terms.  In 2006, the carbon footprint of the book industry in the US was 12.4 million metric tons ("2008 Environmental Trends & Climate Impacts:  Findings from the US Book Industry").

If you're sharing books with children, by all means use the beautifully illustrated, colorful hard copies so that children can touch, manipulate, and discover the world of reading.

But for our own reading enjoyment, the e-reader is a great invention..

Helping Children By Spreading the Love of Those Who Matter to Us

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January is a perfect time to look around for ways to make our living spaces neater.  If you're like some of us, you have a nice stack of Christmas cards from people who mean something in your life.

Recycling all paper is part of our weekly routine, but putting meaningful messages in the recycling bin seems a sad way to deal with the cards from people we care about.

Clay Thompson of The Arizona Republic, January 0, 2012, B10, suggests that we might consider sending those cards to the St. Jude's Ranch for Children, "a home for kids rescued from abusive homes."   According to Thompson's web search,  St. Jude's Ranch for Children is the "biggest recycler of cards."  The children reinvent the cards, earn money for doing so, engage in positive therapy, and learn business skills all at the same time.  (See http://stjudesranch.org/ for more information).

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By boxing up our cards and sending them to St. Jude's Ranch, we can be assured that the good thoughts we felt when opening those messages will continue to do something meaningful for the children who need it most.  And what might be better? 

How about sending out an email or posting a note telling your friends or coworkers your plan.  Take a box to the next bagel- shop breakfast, to your workplace, your book club meeting, your church, or your fitness club to collect cards for you to send.  What a good, simple way to help a child by sending cards touched by the people we love.

Interested?  Here's the address:

St. Jude’s Ranch for Children
Recycled Card Program
100 St. Jude’s Street
Boulder City, NV 89005

An Easy Way to Help Homeless Vets

We have read accounts and seen news coverage of the plight of homeless vets.  Over the holidays, various malls had collection sites to drop off clothes for women vets and their children who are homeless.

An easy way for us to help the Veterans Behavioral Health Services is to collect coupons for personal care items so that the VA can increase its supply of those items to help these servicemen and women. Wherever we happen to be, we can find coupons in the Sunday newspaper, in magazines, and online.  For those of us who are accomplished coupon clippers, more sources than those listed here are coupon goldmines.

 Coupons that you can clip for razors, shaving gel, body wash, soap, lens cleaner, shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpaste, wipes, feminine products, deodorant, body lotion, and other personal care items make it easier for the VA to provide for the veterans who have come back to face homelessness.

One address to use when you want to send an envelope of coupons, is the following:

Jamie Zewe, MA, LPC

Assistant Chief, Behavioral Health
Erie VA Medical Center
135 E. 38th Street
Erie, PA 16504
814-860-2039

According to Sarah Gudgeon Public Affairs Specialist/My HealtheVet Coordinator, the following link also  provides information:  http://www.erie.va.gov/pressreleases/couponingteam.asp

What could be easier for us to do?  Let's take a few minutes each month to clip coupons.  In a small way, this easy act might help someone who has served our country in dangerous countries abroad  and now finds himself or herself homeless back in the US.

Our Health: New Information on the Benefits of Shopping, Yoga, SuperFoods, and The Occasional Hangover

We've all known that we can add years of good health by staying active, following a good diet, limiting alcohol to a drink a day, and kicking the smoking habit.  But every day, new information comes out to help us to enjoy life and to stay healthy. More:  The Magazine for Women of Style and Substance gives great insight that can lead to better living.

Saving money can make you happier.  Of course!  But healthier?   What's the latest?  Plavix lost its patent protection at the end of 2011. Those of us who include the blood thinner in our 'stay healthy' arsenal will save considerable money now that the generic is available.

Most of us like to shop, but does it help our health?  The Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health says, "Absolutely!"  According to the study,  shopping can actually lower the possibility of untimely death by 23%. Wonderful!   Isn't this what we've been saying all along?  But why does it help our health?  How?

The researchers include the benefits of physical activity, socialization-either with shopping pals or with the salespeople we meet-time away from the house in the fresh air, the psychological lift of fresh veggies in the frig or new stuff to wear to work tomorrow, and to top off the health and happiness fix, the discovery of bargains to stretch our money a little.  

At least one of our group suffers from atrial fibrillation-that very serious condition causing irregular heart beats.  It's a danger because it might lead to stroke or to heart failure.   In the study by Dhanunjaya Lakkireddy, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Kansas Hospital, Kansas City,  a group of a-fib sufferers were able to reduce episodes by 50%.  How did they do it?  A new med?  No.

They were able to reduce their episodes of a-fib dramatically by following a plan that included participation in 45-minute yoga classes 3 times a week for 3 months.  According to the researcher, this treatment also avoided side effects of those drugs usually prescribed for the disorder.

Are you living with aching caused by inflammation?  Cherries have been noted as a good preventative.  More suggests that we give aloe and/or prickly pear juice a try.  Since recurring inflammation can lead to even more serious health issues such as heart disease and/or cancer,  adding one of the juices listed might reduce the inflammation.  And here's an unexpected plus! (One that we don't need, of course, but one that we can pass on to our imbibing friends.) 

The prickly pear extract could help a hangover by attacking inflammation induced by alcohol.

And how about this nutrition booster:  Sea buckthorn berries.  What?  Here's another edible that few of us have heard of.  It is also known as the havtorn berry.   These small berries are packed with Vitamins C and E, omega fatty acids, and beta-carotene.   According to Washington, DC, dermatologist Noelle Sherber,  these fruits "are powerful neutralizers of free radicals, and including them in your diet will minimize disease-causing inflammation and wrinkle-creating collagen breakdown." A berry that minimizes collagen breakdown?  Hmm...now that's a bonus!

Wow! What a lot of information.  No wonder I'm grateful to Dawn for steering me to this worthwhile publication.  More focuses on those of us over 40.  Of course,  some of us are under that age, and many of us were 40 a few decades ago, but we can all enjoy the worthwhile info in  a journal describing itself as the publication for "Women of Style and Substance".

January: A Time for Reflection and Relaxation

Are you facing the current snowstorm?  Have you just come home after fighting the slippery road?  Is this the scene from your frosty window? Do you want to just relax and forget about that blizzard?

If not in the snow, are you looking out on sunshine and feeling warm breezes coming through your window?  Lucky you!

 Wherever you are, you will enjoy fixing a hot cup of tea or coffee or sipping a cold iced tea, sitting back and enjoying "Symphony in White" sent to us by Bob A.  

It's a perfect way to wind down after the holiday rush.

Check out this video on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZBZi0haRnU&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Created by Michelle Sherliza with music by Ernesto Cortazar

Want to Get Away? Places to Visit

The fall is a perfect time to reflect on your next travel destination.  Here are some places to think about.

Travel Recommendation:  SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA

For those seeking warm sunshine this winter or spring, Cheryl A. recommends, " Scottsdale, AZ. Since it is also my former home for 11 years, I may be partial to this southwest city, however, I can guarantee that there is something in the area for almost every traveler.

If you enjoy warm weather, appreciate the beauty of the desert and like to site see, this may be your place. You can horseback ride, eat and drink well, relax by a resort pool, watch spectacular sunsets over the mountains which surround the Valley of the Sun, eat any meal outdoors most of the year and even visit a casino. Several hundred golf courses and free recreation parks with walking paths, biking trails, exercise stations are part of the attraction. Museums, theatre, symphonic and two stepping music await you. Wear your cowboy boots, hat and jeans or dress up with mink and diamonds depending on which culture you select. If you forget something, then shop until you drop in large malls or small boutiques.

June through early September can be beyond hot for many (116 degrees is not unusual), however, late September, November and even December are more moderate. If you want to see cactus bloom then March or April is your month. "

Travel Recommendation:  BEND, OREGON

Travelers for winter sports or summer fun might look at Cheryl's recommendation:

"Bend Oregon is an outdoor-lovers retreat! We visited there for the first time this summer and saw beautiful scenery driving up the mountain and down into the town. Locals and visitors alike are hiking, biking, walking, paddle boarding, tubing, canoeing, camping, etc. It is a Mecca for micro breweries, too.

Only drawback is how to get there. We drove up/back from Arizona and it is a long 2 day marathon. Few gas stations along the way and only mom and pop 50 style motels.

If you fly, you can go into Portland and rent a car or fly directly into Redmond Airport via 2

or 3 other stops.

Plan on at least 5-7 days to see it all – Lava Land, Mt. Bachelor, Sun River Resort,

Deschutes River area, boutique shopping, Harley shop.

Winter is snowshoe time or skiing; while summer is floating on the rivers, hiking and shooting.

Great for families or couples.

Travel Recommendation:  ALASKA

 Pearl recommends, "Alaska, particularly Denali National Park. If you combine

the inland and crurise tour, we found that going north first for the inland part of

the tour before the cruise works best. First of all it is cheaper, secondly you know

people of the cruise ship."

Others who have also made the 'once in a lifetime' trip to Alaska agree.  Beautiful scenery, glaciers, eagles' nest, whales, so much to see.  Plan now if you want to make the trip next summer.

Travel Recommendation:  STAYCATION

For those looking to enjoy this week in Pennsylvania, the scenery is still spectacular.  From the Kinzua area of the Allegheny National Forest south through the Pittsburgh area, trees are still showing their fall colors. 

In your area, the trees may look bare, but a short drive north, south, east or west produces some surprises.  As you round a bend in the road, a beautiful stand of red and yellow-leaved trees appears. Enjoy!

Travel Recommendation:  MENTAL GETAWAY
Can't leave the area?  We have the perfect way for you to relax.  You can tone up, gain strength and flexibility, and also reach that supremely relaxing meditative state.  Sign up for a yoga class with Jean F and float away to your very favorite place. Want an endorsement of the powers of yoga?  Ask Marty, Julie, or Linda L.

Thanks to Cheryl A. and to Pearl B. for recommending Scottsdale, Arizona,  Bend, Oregon, and Alaska. And to Pearl for the great pictures of Alaska.  We're grateful to both of you.



Finally! Time to Read: 35 Suggestions For Your Next Reading Experience

We’re all addicted readers so this time we’re listing what we’ve been reading. Fortunately, many of us are willing to take a few minutes to rate and recommend (or not) what we’ve read lately.  We're using a simple ranking format of 4 to 1, with 4 as the best of the best.

(4) must read (3) worth the time to read (2) read only if you have no other reading material of any kind (1) don't bother reading at all,



Non Fiction Suggestions with a Rating of 4-Must Read



• The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba-as suggested by Marty J.

• The Garden of Beasts by Erik Larson. (Suggested by Joan H.) Joan writes, “ If you are into the history of the German takeover by Hitler you will love this book.  This is the story of a small southern professor who becomes the Ambassador from the US to Germany and his alerts to the US Gov. about what was happening in Germany as Hitler was coming into power. Great read!”

• Helmet For My Pillow:  From Parris Island to the Pacific by Robert Lecke. This is an autobiography listed by Bob A. who writes, “ After viewing the HBO miniseries entitled The Pacific, I immediately became interested in the heroes depicted in that production. I seem to have an abiding interest in the Pacific theater probably because I was stationed there twice during my military career.”

• I'm Staying with My Boys: The Heroic Life of Sgt. John Basilone, USMC by Jim Proser-the second of four recommendations on heroes of the Pacific Theater by Bob A.

• Unbroken by Lauren Hillenbrand. This choice was also given by Bob A who describes it as “The true and almost unbelievable biography of Louis Zamperini. The most remarkable and impressionable book I read. It was outstanding. A resounding 4 rating. You are probably aware that Laura Hillenbrand also wrote Seabiscuit, which was a good film as well.”


                           Nonfiction with Recommendations of 3-Worth the Time to Read

• With The Old Breed by E.B. Sledge(autobiography)--3+ One of Bob A’s picks from the heroes of the miniseries The Pacific


                           Fiction with a Rating of 4-Must Read

• Before I Go To Sleep by S. J. Watson.  Joan H. writes, “This is a good story about a woman who has lost her memory (accident) and her therapst is trying to help her. She is seeking help against her husband's knowledge for good reason. Ends with a good twist.”

• The Confession by John Grisham and suggested by Peggy.

• Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese suggested by Linda S.

• The Glass Rainbow by James Lee Burke--4. Another series set in Louisiana and suggested by Bob A.

• The Help by Kathryn Stockett. A suggestion from Linda S and reviewed earlier in the blog on 01/05/10.

• In the Name of Honor by Richard North Patterson. Peggy notes, “This outstanding novel reminds me that I need to go back and see what else I might have missed by R. N. Patterson.”

• My Name is Mary Sutter by Robin Oliviera. This historical novel has been suggested by Marty J.

• Sarah's Key by Tatiania de Rosnay. The only fiction title to be suggested by three of us.-Joan H., Marty J. and Linda S. Joan H. observes, “This story took place in France and the main character was given a project by her magazine co. to write about the French police rounding up the Jews for the Gernman concentration camps. Great story.”

• Saving Cee Cee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman. This recommendation comes from Linda S.

• A Skeleton in God’s Closet by Paul Maier as listed by Marty J. and described by reviewers as a ‘theological thriller.”

• Still Life by Joy Fielding suggested by Linda S.


                           Fiction with a 3 rating-Worth the Time to Read


• Back of  Beyond by CJ Box--3. Bob A. notes, “I also have enjoyed his Joe Picket series of novels, but its best to read them in sequence. At least that's true for someone as mildly anal retentive as I am.”

• Barefoot by Elin Hilderbrand recommended by Marty J.

• City of Light by Lauren Belfer. Marty also suggested this historical novel.

• A Dance With Dragons by George R. R. Martin-Peggy writes, “This is a very good read, and the fifth in the A Song of Ice and Fire series. Anyone who watched the HBO miniseries, A Game of Thrones, is aware of the first book in the series. Memorable characters are complex individuals; those who manipulate and use brute force to gain power, others who struggle to be honorable and loyal to both family and king, and still others who know that playing the game requires calling to the fore all of the complexities of human beings. Starting with the first book and working up to A Dance With Dragons allows the reader to watch a characters fight, manipulate, reflect on, and regret their parts in the game. Peter Dinklage won the 2011 Emmy for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his portrayal of the pivotal figure, Tyrion Lannister.

• Eyes of a Child by Richard North Patterson and suggested by Peggy.

• The First Day of the Rest of My Life by Cathy Lamb. Peggy notes, “This novel examines two sisters, their adult professions, and the ways they cope as adults with abuse suffered in childhood. It describes the family’s wrenching recognition of their grandmother’s descent into dementia, and the uncovering of the mysterious background of the grandparents who escaped persecution in France during WW II.  The book is a record of the resulting courage, humor, acceptance, and renewal that each of the sisters achieves.

• The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton. This historical fiction selection comes from Marty J.

• Inner Circle by Brad Meltzer. Peggy notes, “The Culper Spy Ring was organized during the Revolutionary War to provide information to George Washington. Meltzer’s Inner Circle links the original Culper Spy Ring to a contemporary version of the same small group on whom the President depends for vital information. For the reader who enjoys the interweaving of historical information into persent-day mystery, the Inner Circle doesn’t disappoint.”

• Ishmael: An Adventure of the Mind and Spirit by Daniel Quinn. One of Marty’s recommendations, this is the first novel in a trilogy. Ishmael has been described by reviewers as a ‘philosophical novel’.

• The Paris Wife by Paula McLain. Linda S. has suggested this fictional ‘autobiography’ of the second wife of Ernest Hemingway.

• The Postmistress by Sarah Blake has also been recommended by Linda.

• Things Unspoken by Anitra Sheen. Recommended by Peggy, “This novel was published in 1998, but I missed it altogether. On a flight West this summer, a seatmate finished it and gave it to me. I was grateful that she did. The story of a little girl, puzzled by her own family during childhood and growing into confusing adolescence captures the reader’s interest and compassion. As Jorie deals with her family, she struggles to handle the heartbreak she experiences because of a father who by his own admission, loved her best when she was 5. At the same time, she tries to provide some semblance of normalcy for her family. The only problem making this a 3 instead of a 4 is that the last part of the novel seemed to be sketchy and just tacked on by the author in an ‘Oh, I forgot to say what happens to Jorie and her brothers’ moment."

• A Scattered Life by Karen McQuestion. Joan H. writes,” Another good book that touches the heart.”

• Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen as recommended by Marty J.

• Worth Dying For by Lee Child--3+ . Bob A. observes, “Again, another series with Jack Reacher as the protagonist/anti-hero. Of course, I've read the entire series.” Peggy also writes, “The Reacher series has been described as fiction written for a male audience. However, Reacher’s integrity, courage, sensitivity to the weaknesses of others, and the ability to create in other characters to will to be more than they think they can be all appeal to me.. I might not know anything about the speed of a bullet or the force exerted by the swing of a 250-lb., 6 ‘ 5” former Army officer, but I have to admire the intellect of the character who analyzes all situations and confrontations based on such knowledge and then acts without remorse to help anyone who needs him. From beginning to end, the Jack Reacher series entertains and uplifts.



       Fiction with a 2 rating- Read Only if You Have no Other Reading Material of Any Kind

• A Change in Altitude by Anita Shreve as noted by Marty J.

• Hell’s Corner by David Baldacci.  Peggy says, “I was disappointed in this most recent book featuring John Carr,  known as Oliver Stone to his small circle of friends, and the Camel Club. I love to read Baldacci, and I usually enjoy the Camel Club series, but this was too superficial.”

• Port Mortuary by Patricia Cornwall. Peggy observes, “I’ve been a fan of Cornwall’s Scarpetta in the past and was disappointed by the lack of depth, both in characterization and plot, in this offering."


It is amazing that only two novels, Sarah’s Key and Worth Dying For were listed by multiple contributors. Issuing a call for reading suggestions has really illustrated the wide range of reading enjoyed by all of us.


If you’d like to submit suggestions but haven’t done so yet-or if you have more to recommend-please send them in for posting.

Remember that many of our contributors have already reviewed books for the blog:Thanks to Joan H., Linda S.,and Cheryl A. for several of the contributions below.  Readers can find these reviews in the blog search box or by blog archivedate as listed. on the right side of the home page.

The Outliers-07/28/09-nonfiction
The Guernsey Literary and Poato Peel Pie Society 07/17/09-epistolary novel
Still Alice 7/17/09-nonfiction
Fearless Fourteen-06/27/09-fiction
Testimony-08/16/09-fiction
The Lost Symbol-10/04/09-fiction
The Red Tent-10/25/09
The Art of Racing in the Rain-05/23/10-fiction
Fiction Works(3) of John Hart-04/07/11
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo-05/28/10-fiction
The Second Opinion-03/09/10-fiction
Tonight in the Rivers of Pittsburgh 04/08/11-nonfiction
Woods on Fire-04/08/11-nonfiction
Zelienople Road-04/08/11-nonfiction
The Help-01/05/10-fiction
What the Dog Saw-07/10/10-nonfiction

Thanks to all of you who contributed your suggestions. With a list like this, we’ll always have books to read next. And we'll have a literary roadmap when we want to move out of our own comfort zone into works by authors we have yet to experience.