My house is full of books. There are bookshelves full of them in my living room, my bedroom and my office, and I always have a running list of books that I want to read that I haven’t had time yet to add to the home collection. I’ve gotten to the point where I’ve run out of space for more, and since I can’t imagine parting with any more of my current stash, I needed to find a solution. I’d heard about the kindle, but there was just something unappealing about the large white surface and the keyboard. It seemed, so… clinical. I like the size of my books. I like the smell of a new book, the feel of the pages, and the sound the pages make when I turn them. I like books. How could an electronic device give me that same feeling?
Last fall, as my book ownership was reaching the limit of my apartment and my husband’s tolerance, and I was sneaking books into the house and hiding them so it would appear they’d been there all along, Barnes and Noble announced that they were coming out with an ereader, a competitor to the kindle. I’d already decided that I wasn’t interested in the kindle, but the new ereader, named nook, had a different look and feel. It was smaller than the kindle in length and width, sized about the same as a thin trade paperback. Instead of a keyboard, which seemed silly to me on a “book”, there was a small touchscreen that would show images of the covers of the books in my collection. And it was from Barnes and Noble, my national book haven, the place that I could go, no matter where I was in the US, and feel at home. It was as if the book gods where sending me help in my time of need. How could I not at least give it a chance?
Not being one to rush in lightly, I waited until the sample nook arrived in-store to make a decision. Excitedly I arrived at my local B&N and bee-lined my way to the giant “NOOK” sign in the middle of the store. I couldn’t believe how small and sharp-looking the nook was, but I also couldn’t believe all the issues the salesperson was having with the display device. It seemed to take forever to turn the pages and to navigate the menu. I asked if the contrast on the e-ink screen was adjustable, and the staff went back and forth, unable to give me an answer. I left frustrated, deciding to wait until some of the issues were resolved before I made my decision.
A few weeks later, on December 26th, I was back in Barnes and Noble, taking another look. I’d heard that there’d been a software fix, and sure enough, the page turning and navigation were much faster. I placed my order, and anxiously awaited my nook, scheduled to ship on February 2. In the meantime, I read the nook forums an a lot of online reviews, and I started to worry. The reviews were bad, and the nook owners had a lot of complaints – issues registering, freeze-ups, losing their pages, parts of the book being cut off, sideloading issues, etc. I started to think I should just get a kindle. But I waited it out, wanting to see for myself if my nook would have issues.
Continue reading Review: Barnes and Noble Nook eReader »
I was really enjoying the weekly style column, but as I’m currently unemployed I’ve been avoiding all things shopping-related to keep myself on budget. In light of this I’ve decided that a change is in order, and the weekly style column will be going away. I will still be posting great shopping and style finds when I have them, just on a little looser schedule. As always, if you know of products I should check out, please send them to me or post them here. All ideas are appreciated.
As you can probably guess from the last few style entries, I’ve been spending my time reading instead of shopping. Lately I’ve been re-reading books I’ve already read, including books from my childhood. I highly recommend it.
This week I re-read The Blue Sword by Robin McKinley. This book was probably the most significant book of my childhood. It’s the one that got me started in reading fantasy, which is the primary genre I read growing up, and it really encouraged my love of reading. I also think it helped to keep alive my love of magical things and to foster my belief that there’s more to life than meets the eye. I can’t remember anything I ever read before I read this book. Granted, I was 9 or 10 when I read The Blue Sword the first time. I do remember I was really bored with the books I was reading before I read The Blue Sword, and this was my first “close to adult” book. I also remember that as I kept reading fantasy, I started to worry that if my parents realized I was reading such adult books they might be upset. They weren’t, of course, but it was my little rebellion, even if it was imaginary.
So the other night I picked up this book that has been so significant in my life, that I haven’t read in many years, and was shocked to discover that I remembered the first few lines. I remembered how Harry loved the fresh squeezed orange juice, even if I didn’t remember Harry’s name until I read it again. I was hooked in after only the first chapter, knowing that it just gets better and better, and relishing all the details that were coming back to me. It was like going home after many years away.
When I got to the end of the book I found it just as satisfying as it was the first time. I wanted more, and I even re-read passages again just so I could stay in that world a little longer. I felt like I was 10 again, in love with Corlath and Harry and the world they lived in. It is said you can never go back, but, I think, by losing yourself in the right book, you can.
I’m currently reading The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. Usually I would wait until I’d completed a book to blog about it, but what fascinates me most about this book is not the story, but the way the story is told. Don’t get me wrong, the story is excellent also, but the writing is unlike any other book I’ve read. Sebold writes in first person, but as the heroine of the book is dead she knows the thoughts and feelings of all the other characters. Consequently the book feels as if it’s written in first person omniscient, yet the tone all belongs to the heroine. The story is interspersed with memories and is told in vignettes, but at the same time it’s told in a way that’s really easy to follow. I’m a little in awe and hope someday to be able to craft a story this well.
I picked up my copy of The Lovely Bones from the used books section of a Barnes and Noble. I didn’t know B&N stores had used books sections, but I’m thrilled. It’s taken me a while, but I’m becoming quite a fan of used books. If you’re an online shopper, check out B&N’s online network of used books from stores around the country.
A few weeks ago a purchased a hardcover copy of Twilight, just to see what the big deal was about. I wanted to read it before I saw the movie, and since the movie was coming out on DVD soon it seemed like time. So last Wednesday evening I opened my copy and started reading. By Thursday afternoon I had finished it and was at the bookstore buying New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn. I was addicted. Watching Bella and Edward fall in love wasn’t enough, I had to know what would happen next.
I finished Breaking Dawn, the fourth and final book in the series, late Saturday night, and purchased Twilight the movie Sunday morning. I wasn’t sure if the movie would be able to capture the book; it’s hard to fit so much emotion and action into only two hours of screen time. While I still feel that the book tells the story so much better than the film, the film does hold it’s own. It’s definitely worth watching whether you’ve read the book or not – but if you’ve seen the movie and haven’t read the book, I recommend reading the book next.
As of this writing, New Moon the movie is in production, scheduled to be released late this year, and the movie version of Eclipse is planned for a 2010 release. I haven’t seen anything yet about a film version of Breaking Dawn, but I would assume that’s coming also, probably quick on the heels of the others. I’d imagine it’s a bit hard not to want to film these back-to-back since many of the characters don’t age, but of course the actors do! As for additional books in the saga, there’s no news yet. Midnight Sun, the companion to Twilight told from Edward’s viewpoint, is on hold indefinitely while Stephenie Meyer works on other projects. I have a feeling if she starts work on it again she will remain mum about it, and we’ll only hear the good news once she’s finished writing it. I, for one, have my fingers and toes crossed that we’ll hear more about Bella and Edward. Meyer may be done writing about them for a while (I refuse to believe she’s done permanently!!), but I’m not sure I’ll ever tire of reading about them.
If you’re addicted like me, you can hear more about her writing and publishing process, read outtakes, and even see photos of the Cullens’ cars at Stephenie Meyer’s website.
In an effort to decrease my rampant spending at Barnes and Noble I stopped by the local branch of the Minneapolis Public Library on Friday to get a library card. This was the first time that I went to the public library since I was a child, and things sure have changed. The old system of applying for a library card and waiting for it to be made has been replaced by an instantly ready card that you can use immediately for self-checkout. Yes, I said self-checkout. I was able to scan my card and books at a scanner similar to those used at the supermarket to read prices. And it gave me a paper receipt letting me know when the books were due back – no more little cards sitting in a pocket in the front of the book to track the due date. The biggest change for me was the ability to track and control my account online. If I need to renew I don’t even need to leave my house, I can just log on to the computer and do my renewal right there. I can also check online to see if the library has the book I need, no need to rummage through the dressers full of index cards trying to find the right book. How, well, modern!
It may seem obvious to you that the library would change with the times and take advantage of the new technology out there, but for some reason I expected it to be a relic of my past, left exactly the same as I remembered it when I was checking out books on horses and fantasy novels for young adults. There was something quaint about the old way that I expected, and inexplicably missed. But the books still smell a bit musty, and many of them still have those plastic dust cover protectors that give the books that certain sound when you open them that just screams “library book.” There are some things that never change, and I like it that way.
I hate to admit it, but my photography has leveled off. I have a decent grasp of the use of depth of field, how to make artistic use of long shutter speeds and how to get an accurate exposure. But I know I still have a lot to learn if I want to reach my full potential as a photographer. While I know that time behind the camera is the best teacher, I’m not learning if I’m just going through the same thoughts and actions each time I shoot. But what to do differently? What’s the best way to grow as a photographer?
The answer is not an easy one as everyone learns differently. Maybe you are a visual learner, or maybe you learn best by doing. Maybe you like to work on your own at your own pace, or maybe you prefer a group learning environment or need a team environment to get motivated. Here are a few ideas to get you going, with a little something for everyone:
Take a Class: This is probably the most obvious option, and can be the most expensive. But there is a lot to gain from taking a class, especially if that class is out of your comfort zone. Classes that have a number of sessions can help to keep you on task, with assignments focused specifically on learning the task at hand. Also, a group environment can be very inspirational as each photographer in the class is coming from their own background and experiences and may have different ideas or ways of approaching things. You’re not only learning from the instructor but also the other students. If you choose to take a class, do some research to make sure the class will match your expectations. If possible, talk to the teacher or even others that have taken the class. You’ll get the most out of a class if it’s at the right level for you.
Read a Book: If you work well on your own and can stay on task as a home study student, this is a great option for you. It can take a bit of work to sift through the countless tomes on photography to find the right book for you, but that work can pay off with a lot of lessons for only a little bit of money. If you go this route. make sure to try out the exercises in the book. They will reinforce the lesson and you may learn a bit about your own shooting habits in the process.
Join a Club: Clubs often offer educational events for a lot less than a formal class. These are often in the form of single workshops which give you the chance to learn without the commitment of going to class each week. Also, many clubs have social shooting events which give you a chance to shoot with others, trying your new skills and learning from the other shooters. These events are a great place to gather ideas for your own work. Club members can often recommend books and classes that have worked for them, if you’re thinking options 1 or 2 sound good to you.
Browse the Net: Yes, this is a danger zone for a lot of people, myself included. It can be easy to get sucked into the endless articles and blogs and find yourself at cuteoverload.com looking at kittens when you’re supposed to be learning. But there is a lot of information on the net, from blogs like this or those I’ve listed in the blogroll. Into lighting? Visit Strobist. Need inspiration? Check out Flickr.
Analyze Work You Like: Spend sometime studying photographs you like. Why is the lighting right? What makes the composition work? How is the photographer using color? There is a lot to learn form the work of others that can help your work improve.
Analyze Your Own Work: Even if you’re taking a class or receiving critiques from your photo club, it really helps to analyze your own work. Looking at past work can help you to see how far you’ve come, and also where your weaknesses lie. You may also pick up on patterns. Maybe you always put your subject in the lower right quadrant of the frame, or you always shoot at the same aperture. Finding your comfort zone is the first step in moving out of it. There’s a good chance that the answer to the question “What is my next step?” is right there in your photos.
So what am I doing to take my photography to the next level? All of the above. I’m taking two classes and supplementing them with my own reading, plus I’m keeping up with my photography club. I’m active on Flickr and I shoot every day, which gives me a lot of photography (my own and others) to study. My challenge is to push myself out of my comfort zone and to spend time on my own working with the techniques I’m learning. Little by little, I’m getting there.
I picked up this book a few weeks ago to help me loosen up at the keyboard, to journal better, and to blog better. If you read this blog frequently you know I need all the help I can get! While Writing About Your Life is more about writing memoir than blog articles, I’ve still found it a huge help, and hugely entertaining.
William Zinsser is the author of On Writing Well, which is widely respected as the classic guide to writing non-fiction. He started his career at the New York Herald Tribune, has written for a number of magazines and has 17 books in publication. He has a lot of knowledge to share about writing, to say the least. But while the writing advice that he gives is fantastic, my favorite thing about Writing About Your Life is that he uses examples from his own writing to illustrate his discussion points. He interrupts his own fantastically written memoirs to explain why he chose to use certain bits of his story, or how he made certain decisions for the piece. The memoirs are so engrossing that after I finish a chapter I have to go back through and re-read the skill sections – I become so interested in the stories he’s telling I forget I’m supposed to be learning! I can already see that this is a book I’ll be revisiting many more times to come.
I drove out to the Barnes and Noble at The Galleria with the intention of buying the book Light: Science and Magic, which provides instruction in lighting for photography. I’d checked online and I knew they had it in stock. I found my book, but stayed to browse some of the other photography books on the shelves, and my mood started to change. I became very contemplative and present in the book browsing, lost in the pictures and the book synopses. This has happened to me before – it’s why I like going to bookstores, actually – and so felt as if I was digging into a big bowl of homemade macaroni and cheese; comforting and fulfilling at the same time. After some time I found the book A Year of Mornings. This book of photography came out of a blog project where the two women author-photographers, both living in cities named Portland but on opposite sides of the country, each took one picture every weekday morning for a year. When viewed together the pictures often seemed to complement each other, as if there was some connection between them even though the women did not discuss the pictures before shooting them. Sometimes the colors seemed to go together, and on some mornings they each took a picture of the same items. I was also struck by the beauty of such simple items, a cup of coffee or half-eaten grapefruit, a flower in a vase or an unmade bed. Looking at the pictures reminded me that to find beauty in the everyday I must be present in the moment and open to the possibilities.
Somehow this time of year I always come upon this realization. Sometimes it’s through the beauty of the first snow, or a something that happens in my yoga practice. Sometimes it just comes out of the rush that is the holiday season; the visiting of family and friends, the bustling of shopping, decorating and baking, and this strange need to feel jolly in what is ultimately the darkest time of the year. This time of year always makes me feel like I need to slow down, and being present is my way of slowing things down. This year the feeling has taken me a bit by surprise as I haven’t been working, and thus in theory I shouldn’t feel so rushed. But still, I’ve needed the reminder, to remember to get on my yoga mat, to enjoy my breakfast and my brisk walk each morning with Cooper. To notice the little things, like the way Storm joins me in the bathroom each morning with a purr, and the way the sun fills the living room on clear winter days. As the year comes to an end I need to make the most of my time off from work as I’m sure the new year will bring with it a new job that will take up most of my time, and I will have to work harder to find the good stuff.
So I left the bookstore without the book I planned to purchase, but with my own copy of A Year of Mornings and a nice dose of inspiration. I’ve been trying to take at least one “keeper” picture each day in preparation for a 365 project on flickr that I was planning to start formally in 2009. I’ve had a block with my photography as I feel like I have nothing interesting to say or shoot, that I need a theme outside of myself to make things interesting for others. But I’ve been reminded of a purpose – find something each day that interests or inspires me, or that tells a story. Simple, right? Well, it probably won’t be, as I know from others who’ve gone down the path. But I know it will be worth the effort.
Addendum: A Year of Evenings is currently in progress at the 3191 blog. The pics are beautiful!
Into the Wildis one of my favorite books, by one of my favorite authors, Jon Krakauer. It tells the story of Chris McCandless, a young man who, after graduating college, hit the road as a drifter and adventurer with the ultimate dream of surviving in the Alaskan wilds. The book began as a story in Outside Magazine, and generated substantial interest and controversy. Krakauer wrote the book to tell the whole story, and he does so without judgment, glorification or criticism.
This weekend we rented the movie version, which was directed by Sean Penn (he also wrote the screenplay). I felt that this version was true to the book, which in my understanding was as true to the actual events as possible. I know that the McCandless family was very involved in the creation of the film, so much as to allow Emile Hirsch, the actor who portrays Chris McCandless, to wear Chris’ own wristwatch throughout the film. I’m not much of a film critic, but I thought the film was excellent and I highly recommend it. It’s as much of a psycological journey as a phyiscal one, and the cinematography is excellent. If you’ve seen the film, please let me know what you think.
February 15, 2010, at 3:11 pm
