Summer Readin', Havin' a Blast...

We finally made it, it's Memorial Day weekend!!  The winter seemed way too long this year but Summer is here!! The entire "T" family consisting of NaomiRuth, Rebecca T and Grammy T are currently enjoying the beautiful beaches of North Carolina.  I checked in with them and the rest of the BWOBNY crew to see Beach Reads they'll be packing this summer.

Grammy T is currently reading "The Negotiator," book 1 of "The O'Malley" series by Dee Henderson with the 2nd book in the series, "The Guardian," in her beach tote for the later in the week.  She also read next month's book club pick, "Through the Ever Night," by Veronica Rossi.   

Meanwhile Naomi has a mixed bag.  She is reading the "Complete Plays of Aristophanes, a Kierkegaard anthology, and random YA and Middle Grade books..." that she didn't get to read during the school year.  Wombly failed to comment, I guess he's working on his tan.

Rebecca T shares her sister's thought and loves reading all the Young Adult novels that she didn't have a chance to read during the busy school year.  She's currently juggling three titles: "Through the Ever Night" by Veronica Rossi, "The Name of the Star" by Maureen Johnson, and "Grave Mercy" by Robin LaFevers.

Jen C. loves to relive her childhood by re-reading her favorite series' such as the "Christy Miller" series by Robin Jones Gunn.

Jess B. took an early vacation this year but she is currently reading "City of Ashes," by Cassandra Clare. 

Rachel always takes "a bunch of classics with me to the beach thinking I'll use that time to be all fancy and intellectual, but I always end up saying 'Camus is too heavy for the beach where's the YA?" She then ends up searching for the fluffiest YA title she can get hands on.
 

As for me, I love re-reading childhood favorites like Jen P.  I also love the "Christy Miller" series but my traditional beach read is my battered copy of "Boy Crazy Stacey," the 8th book in "The Baby Sitters Club" series by Ann M. Martin in which the gang heads to the fictional Sea City, NJ for the first time.  My other favorite summer read is "The Baby-Sitters' Summer Vacation," the second "Super Special" in the series.  And if you'd like to make this your beach read, "The Baby Sitters Club" has just been re-released in e-book format!! 


What about you guys?  What are your favorite beach reads?  Please share with us!!

E-Books or Print Books?

No doubt about it, e-books and e-readers are here to stay.  I resisted the transition for a long time.  I worried, and still worry, that traditional print books will soon end up on the Land of Misfit Toys with cassettes and CDs after song downloads hit the record industry like a ton of bricks.  While I own a reader, I prefer and typically buy traditional books.  Nothing beats the smell of fresh print, the feel of paper and the heft of a great read in your hand.  I use my e-reader primarily for short stories that are either free to download or are at a really low price.  For example, I discovered "Evermore" by Alyson Noel for just $2.99 once.  I read through it at a rapid pace and went on to purchase the rest of the series but in physical book form.  When a new book comes out that I'm excited for is released, I rush to the bookstore, not to the PC to download.  So perhaps there is room for both formats to survive and exist peacefully.  Although sometimes the battle over e-books versus traditional books seems more heated than the Ewings' battle for the Southfork.  I polled the BWOBNY crew to see what format(s) they preferred.

Print, because I don't have an e-reader, or a tape/cd player in my car.





Eileen: Definitely print. I like my Kobo but it's mostly used when I'm traveling. Even then I miss the character of "real" books, the smell and weight and the cover art.

Jennifer C: While I love print books and have hundreds of them, I use my kindle equally as much, because there are many authors that I read that only put out e-books.

Jess B:  Print. The smell of the books themselves has given me the feeling of home as far back as I can remember. Just walking into a book store almost brings me to my knees.

Jess P: Print because someone stepped on my kobo...lol






 KC:  I love reading on my Kindle. I didn't want to, but I do. Pretty much all of my book reading is now on my Kindle because I don't have to worry about deciding which to take with me, I just take them all. And all of my graphic novels are on my iPad now. And I was able to get most of my grad school texts in e format so I only have to carry one device instead of a stack of books. I know . . . I fought wanting to like e-reading . . . and then someone gave me a Kindle for my birthday a couple of years ago and it's been a very quick transition to an all e-book library. I never have eyestrain with it and I have Calibre on my computer to make sure I don't lose anything if my devices crap out. *Sigh* I have been assimilated.

Rachel: Print. I've been trying to use e-readers more to be able to sell them in the store. But when the device dies or my eyes hurt from the glare or the page won't turn, I'm reminded why books are far superior.

Rebecca T: I mainly read print books, because that's what I have the most of. But now that I have my Nook I'm doing a lot more ebook reading than I used to. I love both mediums!    






What do you guys think?  Do you prefer e-books? Traditional books? Both?  Share with us ! 

Comfort Books

Everyone has a comfort food, something that makes them feel better after a bad day like mac n' cheese or warm brownies.  But what about comfort books?  Avid readers like us bloggers have books we read time and time again.  We're sharing ours with you and would love you to share yours with us.

Alan loves to turn to his favorite authors Edgar Rice Burroughs,Tom Clancy, J.K. Rowling, J.R.R. Tolkien, Louis L'Amour, and Mark Twain.

Jen C. likes to curl up with "Slave to Sensation" by Nalini Singh. She says the author builds an exciting and rich world around her characters, and gives her characters flaws that we can all relate to. 

  
Jess B. enjoys "The Catcher in the Rye," by J.D. Salinger.  No matter how many times she has read it, it changes her.   

Jess P. loves to get lost in the world of Harry Potter and enjoys re-reading J.K. Rowling's novels again and again.

Mallory likes to return to a simpler time by re-reading "Little House in the Big Woods," or any of Laura Ingalls Wilder's novels of growing up on the prairie.  

Melanie, can't get enough of "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky.  She responds to the poetic language the author uses.

Rachel, the biggest Harry Potter fan I know re-reads the series every year.  She also reads what she calls "the ultimate comfort book," "Anne of Green Gables," by L.M. Montgomery.  

Rebecca is also a devoted L.M. Montgomery fan.  She continues to re-read "Jane of Lantern Hill"l by  and the authors "Emily" trilogy. Her descriptions are so rich and her characters feel like my best friends.

As for me, I love returning to Stoneybrook, CT and my forever friends in Anne M. Martin's "The Baby-Sitters Club" series.  After a really tough day, nothing beats escaping reality with my fictional friends. 

I have the first lines of this book memorized !

 So, what are your comfort reads?  Let us know !  We love hearing from our readers.  Also, please follow us on twitter, @borderlessbooks !