A nice little corner tucked away for reading

[Bad_azz]

Books books books

Who else loves them to the point of addiction?

I left over 1000 books in the UK - it broke my heart to do so.
I had never really bothered much with an e-reader before travelling out here.
NOW - well I would be lost without it.

I load dozens of books every month- to the point that I don't even really know the titles unless one is a really good read & then I make a mental note of the author or title.

Anyway the forum was lacking a reader's/ book corner - so I have built one here for you-

you have a few of choices for the mental image to project as you post:
A snug rug, a crackling fire & a pretty white, snowy view from the window
A hammock amongst the coconut palms with the waves lapping at the shore of a white coral beach
A scented oil bathtub with candles flickering around you
A high-backed comfy leather chair, wood panelling & shelves stacked with reading material and the scent of old books around you.
(& my personal fave) Bed- when everyone else is asleep and you can let your mind wander into the realms of your book with no interruptions or distractions.

So now you have got settled in- what book will you pick up to read?



Personally I am a massive fan of Richard Laymon... the more horror and zombie stuff in my book the better. Gutted that he died and have re-read most of his work.
I've read almost everything Stephen King- I am more a fan of his meandering storytelling style than the content.
Horror & fantasy & sci-fi and more horror tend to be my faves.

Then there are the detective thriller things- they are my equivalent to a snack- James Patterson, Lee Child Jeffrey Deaver et al

I am not a fan of "cozy" but I read them if they are freebies & enjoy them if they don't try too hard to be funny.

I am not & never have been a fan of the old Bard, but I like Dickens and some of the other oldies.

Vampire stuff- I have always been a fan since I was a youngster ( a lot of years ago).

I have read Haynes' manuals , dictionaries, medical dictionaries, medical reference books, recipe books, history books, primary source material- some particularly interesting reads in this genre are ships logs and Salem trials. I read how to books, how not to books... hell ,I read packets if there is nothing else to feed my eyes with.

I reckon I am most likely (undiagnosed) ADHD & reading sucks me in and makes me sit still.
If I am focussed on a book or reading/writing something- the world could pretty much burn down around me & I might not notice until the smoke got between me & the reading matter.

Anyway- I'm not alone in this , I know there are others of you out there.

Share what you are reading/have read that you enjoyed so that we can all have a taste.

One book I recently read that was above average from the Amazon freebies: Cherry Picking, by Tim Heath

 

[jstar]

As well as old maps, I am a collector of old books. But honestly I never read them (also to avoid additional damage).

What I did read recently, are some books by this Dutch writer and historian Jaap Jacobs. He has written some interesting stuff about old Dutch settlements in the current United States. I am going through The Colony of New Netherland now, I read the one with historic houses and landmarks in New York before.

The next one I will read is Nieuw Amsterdam - New York by Martine Gosselink. She describes the city/area pre 1664. Wish I would have finished it six months ago, that would have been helpful.

 

[Bad_azz]

As well as old maps, I am a collector of old books. But honestly I never read them (also to avoid additional damage).

What I did read recently, are some books by this Dutch writer and historian Jaap Jacobs. He has written some interesting stuff about old Dutch settlements in the current United States. I am going through The Colony of New Netherland now, I read the one with historic houses and landmarks in New York before.

The next one I will read is Nieuw Amsterdam - New York by Martine Gosselink. She describes the city/area pre 1664. Wish I would have finished it six months ago, that would have been helpful.

Oh I love looking at old maps.
One of the reasons I left my books (& my humble art collection) behind was the fear that the humidity would rot them.

 

[jstar]

Yes, you need to be somewhat careful. I don't have many maps of Bandoeng (more of Djakarta and Batavia) but these I acquired earlier this year:

Not that old though; 1932 and 1946.

Talking about Bandung: one of the pictures I keep (and posted on NL historic sites); opa and class mates in front of the HBS.

 

[Bad_azz]

" Last edited by jstar; Today at 01:47 PM. Reason: sorry for the diversion"

Don't be sorry- all interesting stuff

 

[Tupai Hitam]

Who else loves them to the point of addiction?

Me. Though I don't like to consider myself an addict. It's a bit like saying I am addicted to healthy food and exercise. I can spend a few hours in a bookstore and not buy anything (unless they have jars of mauve fountain pen ink or something at a reasonable price that I can give to someone else).

... an e-reader ...

What model e-reader do you have? I'm presently on a Kindle Paperwhite 3. I know of only one bricks-and-mortar shop that sells e-readers in Jakarta. It's in Mangga Dua and its prices are a rip-off: http://www.jualebookreader.com/index.php (Rp1.89 jt for Kindle Touch and Rp2.99 jt for a Paperwhite, and absurd prices of Rp350,000++ for a $3 case).

What book will you pick up to read?

Probably a biography or history or science book. Or something on recent events. Or P.G. Wodehouse and other "easy-reading" novels. I just finished Black Flags, an excellent little backgrounder to the evolution of ISIS. Now reading a novel, the English translation of Eka Kurniawan's Lelaki Harimau, as he has received rave reviews for producing the hottest Indonesian stuff since Pramoedya's Buru Quartet.

Richard Laymon... Stephen King, James Patterson, Lee Child Jeffrey Deaver

Never heard of them.*

* I did actually read a bunch of Stephen King books when in somewhat remote locations in Israel and France, as books were thin on the ground.

 

[Bad_azz]

...

What model e-reader do you have?


Probably a biography or history or science book. Or something on recent events. Or P.G. Wodehouse and other "easy-reading" novels. I just finished Black Flags, an excellent little backgrounder to the evolution of ISIS. Now reading a novel, the English translation of Eka Kurniawan's Lelaki Harimau, as he has received rave reviews for producing the hottest Indonesian stuff since Pramoedya's Buru Quartet.


Never heard of them.*

* I did actually read a bunch of Stephen King books when in somewhat remote locations in Israel and France, as books were thin on the ground.

I have the old Kindle keyboard thingy- I am saving up for a new Kindle though, as the top corner got damaged when I dropped it a few months back- however as it is now I just have to guess the first word of a new page... adds to the fun

I keep looking at the used prices.
I have a friend coming over from the UK so will likely /hopefully have saved enough scraps of cash in my Paypal acct to buy one and get her to bring it with her.


I also have Calibre with about 1200 books in it on my proper computer but I prefer holding the Kindle to read than reading off the comp. monitor screen.

https://calibre-ebook.com/

 

[Tupai Hitam]

I keep looking at the used prices.
I have a friend coming over from the UK so will likely /hopefully have saved enough scraps of cash in my Paypal acct to buy one and get her to bring it with her.
... I also have Calibre

A Kindle Paperwhite at Changi cost about SGD170 a few months ago. They don't sell covers though. Or you can ask your friend in the UK to buy a Paperwhite for £110 at Currys or John Lewis (same price as amazon.co.uk). Paperwhite vastly superior to Touch (no more models with physical keyboards). A cover is essential to avoid those damaged screens. Basic covers cost about $3. The very best cover is called a Redpepper. It's drop-proof and waterproof. A little clunky for weak, delicate hands, perhaps. But very sturdy. Cost about $20 and upward. Maybe best to buy a cheap cover (or several) on ebay abroad and bring to Indonesia.

Yes, Calibre is excellent free software.

 

[Bad_azz]

I like the keyboard - and will probs get another - they are about £25
I have a really good cover on mine- but it was open at the time and fell awkwardly onto the corner of a small cement wall - a corner of my heart broke at the same time- had this for 5 or 6 years and it is /was as good as new once I had done that new upgrade synch thingy.
I am not a touchscreen fan AT ALL.

The Paperwhite has tempted me because of the backlighting- nice for sitting out in the garden in the evenings.

Unless someone gifts me one, I won't be spending that kind of money- will just use the app on the ipad instead- when my Kindle eventually dies.

 

[Tupai Hitam]

I am not a touchscreen fan AT ALL.

Likewise. I started with a basic Kindle with buttons. But the Paperwhite is so much better. And my index finger is now wired to swift swipe for a page turn, no different to pressing the side-button on an older model.
£25 for a used keyboard one sounds a lot better than the guy flogging them for Rp1.69 jt in Mangga Dua.

 

[Minuteman]

I rad a lot, mostly non-fiction, history and such. I did run through a lot of S. King's books though. Excellent story telling style.

I go nuts when I hit the book stores at Changi in Singapore.

 

[kimdub]

When I first arrived here, I would be totally lost when I ran out of books and would make a trip to Singapore just to stock up. Going through 3 or 4 books a week became very expensive, so I bought my first e-reader which was a Sony. Good little reader at the time and they had a good library. After a few more readers, I am now using the Paperwhite which is great.

For the past few years, I have not bought a single book. The American Library system has a great program to borrow books. Also movies to stream. I get daily emails from two sources that have either free or very low cost books available to download thru Amazon and other sources.

booksends.com

bookbub.com

My interests range from historical, historical fiction, biographies, political and just pleasure reading. Pleasure includes Lee Childs, Harlan Corban to Janet Evanovich.

 

[Tupai Hitam]

For the past few years, I have not bought a single book.

I too made the switch from physical books to ebooks a few years back. Now I tend to buy physical books (and comics) only for other people. Though last week I chanced upon the best book ever. Bought it from a vendor who had about 100 books roughly stacked on an old banner on the side of the road. Among the titles was The Pests of Crops in Indonesia, by a Dutchman. Originally published in 1951. This was the 1981 revised edition. Hardcover with dust jacket. Superb quality color plates and great text, listing and explaining so many different types of insects. Now I can bore the crap out of people by identifying various types of bugs, caterpillars, weevils, termites and describing their life-cycles. Fascinating to me (as I enjoy gardening and looking at insects) but no one else seems to share my passion. Strange that. The book was only Rp20,000.

I'll still also buy physical copies of books at launches, as like the signed editions. And buy anything to support a worthy author or publisher.

 

[jstar]

Among the titles was The Pests of Crops in Indonesia, by a Dutchman. Originally published in 1951. This was the 1981 revised edition. Hardcover with dust jacket. Superb quality color plates and great text, listing and explaining so many different types of insects. ....The book was only Rp20,000..

Good price. That's the translated English version. I have the Dutch original from Kalshoven: "De plagen van de cultuurgewassen in Indonesië". There are two volumes in the Dutch version btw. I love these older Dutch books about Indonesia's flora and fauna.

 

[waarmstrong]

I very much enjoy reading...mostly nonfiction best sellers once they come out in paperback. Once read I tend to pass them on. Keeping a library of already-read books, for me anyway, is kind of like praying loudly in public.

 

[Bad_azz]

I too made the switch from physical books to ebooks a few years back. Now I tend to buy physical books (and comics) only for other people. Though last week I chanced upon the best book ever. Bought it from a vendor who had about 100 books roughly stacked on an old banner on the side of the road. Among the titles was The Pests of Crops in Indonesia, by a Dutchman. Originally published in 1951. This was the 1981 revised edition. Hardcover with dust jacket. Superb quality color plates and great text, listing and explaining so many different types of insects. Now I can bore the crap out of people by identifying various types of bugs, caterpillars, weevils, termites and describing their life-cycles. Fascinating to me (as I enjoy gardening and looking at insects) but no one else seems to share my passion. Strange that. The book was only Rp20,000.

I'll still also buy physical copies of books at launches, as like the signed editions. And buy anything to support a worthy author or publisher.

OMG! That appeals to the geek within me, I have books of the local birds and wildlife & trees/plants... not yet got the bug book.

 

[gab-rob]

i love to read... but mostly fiction. enid blyton is one of my fave .. yeah children books, for the last of 10 years i love david sedaris short stories, and i used to like sidney sheldon's books.. and the series of little women by may alcott, gone with the wind ( i think i have read more than 20 times..) ,
currently i am reading crazy rich asian. ...

 

[Tupai Hitam]

i love to read... but mostly fiction. enid blyton is one of my fave ..

Do you have a favorite series among Blyton's oeuvre? I recently re-read the Malory Towers series and was surprised by how powerful they were. I'm a bit wary of buying any recent editions (mid-1990s onwards) of any Blyton books as there are numerous cuts, updates, name-changes, rewrites and other bowdlerizations.

 

[William King]

I like the keyboard - and will probs get another - they are about £25
I have a really good cover on mine- but it was open at the time and fell awkwardly onto the corner of a small cement wall - a corner of my heart broke at the same time- had this for 5 or 6 years and it is /was as good as new once I had done that new upgrade synch thingy.
I am not a touchscreen fan AT ALL.

The Paperwhite has tempted me because of the backlighting- nice for sitting out in the garden in the evenings.

Unless someone gifts me one, I won't be spending that kind of money- will just use the app on the ipad instead- when my Kindle eventually dies.

I'm on my third kindle, I love them and couldnt do without them.

Currently reading Wings of War series by Mark Berent, who was a fighter and helicopter pilot in Vietnam. Quite interesting and realistic series about the war, and certainly critical of the government policy at the time.

For the past few years, I have not bought a single book. The American Library system has a great program to borrow books.

Initially, that was my position also, but then I received a few Amazon vouchers and used them. Then I realised, a kindle book for $3 or $4 is less than a pint of beer at the pub, or less than a seat in the movie cinema. I now quite happily purchase ebooks knowing that it's a very fair price considering most books take several hours and/or days to read.

 

[Scooterindo]

I read a lot, mostly non-fiction, history and such.

That's the type of books I prefer rather than fiction. Autobiographies are my favorites' I have just finished reading No Irish No blacks No dogs the autobiography of John Lydon (Jonny Rotten - Sex pistols)