Authors Electric

Recently I found myself tagged in one of those Facebook chain posts that make the rounds every few hours or so. You know those posts: Somebody tags you and you have to post a status that says exactly how you met or you have to tag the first five people on your friends list and they are your survival team when the zombies attack during a nuclear war caused by an asteroid crash or if you're tagged you have to post the answer to some kind of secret question and when you do the answer seems some how dirty ("I like it hot and steamy in the morning on the porch." Secret question: How, when, and where do you like to drink tea?). I think you're a semi-illiterate moron. Anyway, I usually try to avoid these things unless I'm bored or grading papers, but this one I liked.  So much, in fact that I didn't do it.  It was too good a challenge to waste on Facebook, so I decided to do it here instead: List ten books (or series) that have stayed with you thro...

          Asking a reader about e-books can be a risky business. The topic is almost as touchy as asking someone about sports or politics. Worse even, its like asking a sixteenth century Christian how many fingers one uses to cross himself . I have a writer friend who makes absolutely no bones about her disdain for ebooks . Another writer friend thinks they're great since that is where most folks are buying his books .           I fall somewhere between these two extremes. I far prefer reading a tangible book (further, I prefer hardcover to paperback, but paperback to e-book) since to me reading is far more than an exercise for the brain. It's a physical thing, too. I like how different books feel, Vonnegut books are light as a feather, for example, but a John Irving novel is heavy. Older books have rough pages that have turned tan with age and flipping, but new books are fresh and slick. And...