KINDLE

Hmmmmmm, to get one or not.
As I've said before, I've got that many books it's really not funny anymore. I think hubby is secretly becoming a bit overwhelmed with it all as they are stuffed into three rooms now,  though he's not really saying much, I can read between the lines.

Recently we had to buy a new laptop, later we found out we could've had the old one fixed for a minimal charge and would have saved ourselves heaps of money. But the nice gentleman who fixed it for us (so we can have it on standby) mentioned to my hubby that he  purchased a Kindle for his wife. For him to have mentioned this to my said hubby, I firmly believe they were talking about their said wives! Ok, not a bad thing as long as they were nice things I guess?
So hubby comes home last night to find me searching through his office for my books. Yes ok, I've got a few in there - well I had to find more room didn't I?
Anyway, he had to venture into his own office when I was in there didn't he and so that's how I got caught and gave him the opportunity to tell me something  that had been playing on his mind since he'd spoken to the computer doctor. The Kindle!

Oh I didn't like the idea, I denied that I have a few too many books, I said he would get his office back once I had sold all the books at the market (which I completely forgot about and now it's put off until next month), I 'd feel like I was the computer reading by a Kindle instead of having a real book in my hands to curl up with and how was I to learn about another new gadget at my age?

But the  'what else can I do and I need my office back'  look on his face said it all - I really need to do something about it and he was right of course.
So I patiently listened, yes let him have his five minutes, and as I did I was thinking I should probably open my mind to a Kindle.
He said  the computer doctor's wife was  a book worm too and she also kicked and screamed at the idea when he suggested it to her.
Fancy, married couples fighting over books!
But he bought one for her anyway and  she loves it!

Now, I realize books can be downloaded onto a Kindle and you can have thousands at the ready, but I didn't realize how much cheaper it would be to purchase the amount of books you want nor the fact that they would be there ready to read within minutes.
So to pacify hubby, I  Googled  information about Kindles.

Oh my, there are a few out there aren't there?

But the one that has caught my eye is 'Kindle Wi-Fi 6" e-reader.
It looks ok, the price looks reasonable and I'm going to go and have a little look at it. I bet when I do there will be countless others that I'm supposed to try and get my head around,  but I'm sure a nice young salesperson will take  pity on me and help/try to explain the technology of it.
The one thing I did read about Kindles is that you need good lighting or at least a little torch thingy that is attached to the kindle. Hmmmmm, my mind wonders, would this deter me from trying to balance and read the kindle at the same time as having my hot milo in my hands? Would it mean that if I don't have the torch thingy attached that I need to read with the big light on at night when I really prefer to have the bedside lamp on?
I don't know, I'm not sure, but the benefits of having so many books at the one time loaded into a Kindle,  kinda makes me a little excited!

I also Googled the books I could download, lots of different sites for them, too many to mention so I'd appreciate some help here guys.
Amazon seemed to have a few books from some of my favourite authors that I hadn't known about so that was fun and to think, I could have them within minutes!
And then there are other book sites that I've yet to get to.

Mother's Day is in two weeks and so hubby and son  are going to surprise me with one after I've chosen it. Yes, I'm going to have a go at a Kindle.

So who of you have a Kindle, e-Reader and what's the difference please?


Michelle
xx

LITTLE VAMPIRE WOMEN - Louisa May Alcott and Lynn Messina

This delightful book caught my attention because of the obvious title 'Little Vampire Women'
I remember being presented with 'Little Women'  one Christmas and if my memory is correct it would've been given to me by my Grandma, as my mother wasn't a reader - and  I kept that book amongst my favourites in my bookshelf. I'd read it several times more in my lifetime just for the joy of it!

So imagine my surprise when I stumbled upon 'Little Vampire Women' when I was Christmas shopping last year. Actually, I was looking for a particular book for my twenty year old son. He's not a reader either - well not much - but if there's one he's interested in I'll buy it for him. Anyway, that's how I found 'Little Vampire Women'. Of course I had to buy it and then put it in my own little bundle of presents under the Christmas tree with the tag reading 'To My Darling Wife, Love Phil xxx', cute huh?

So, the March sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy have been rewritten, though in the same era, not in the same existence. They've become vampires in this book. They must still learn to get along, Marmee is still their rock and they are still falling in love, but it's the way their men end up that kept me interested. So really, the base of the story hasn't changed, it's the March family that have.

The two authors, Louisa May Alcott and Lynn Messina combine their writing talents to keep the reader not only interested in the story but also include adaptions as to where they found the information regarding vampires and their traits.
Admittedly, those sources led me to look further afield into the lives of REAL vampires - very interesting material. So thankyou Louisa May Alcott and Lynn Messina for making good reading turn into good hunting.

Now there may be some of you that might want to leave the original 'Little Women' in your mind as you remember them, but please be reassured that 'Little Vampire Women' is only a comical look at them and there are many hilarious lines to make you keep wanting to turn the page.

Michelle
xx

                                                            

I DREAM OF JEANNIE

C'mon ladies, hands up to those who ever wanted to be just like Jeannie?

Who ever wanted to have a handsome master, a bottle of a home and magic powers with a blink of an eye?

I DID!!!!!!!!

It's great to still see re-runs of the show on television, years after it's making and why not? Such a relief to see some light hearted comedy on the tube these says isn't it?

So you can imagine how chuffed I was to find this book written by Barbara Eden with Wendy Leigh, talk about a win! This book is delightful to read as Barbara takes us through the highs and lows of her life. From the intro beginning on the first day of filming 'I Dream Of Jeannie' pilot, to the present, it is definately a captive read. She masterfully (pardon the pun) takes us back in time to the heyday of the series and of course, lets us into a few little secrets along the way.

Then of course there are the tragedies that happened in her personal life - a very brave woman to tell the story. I like her open honesty and the fact that she hasn't hidden the truth which is probably why the title of the book is called 'Jeannie Out Of The Bottle'.

But there are glorious pictures Barbara has decided to share with us and it shows a woman who has courage, love and much adoration for her family.

I liked this book so much I wanted to share it with you and hope that you too find it as enjoyable as I have.

Michelle

xx

DEATH AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE

Rather a quirky kind of book but very cute. I had a lot of fun reading this one as I'm keen to know what goes on inside Buck House, how it runs, the maids, butlers, cooks etc and of course the great lady herself  -  yes the Queen, has even been written into this hard to put down book.
Of course, it's only a fictional book so readers, don't take it as truth. If you want to read a little fun whilst solving the murder then you'll enjoy this one.

Robin Tukes, aspiring actor and also footman at the palace has been murdered and his close friend and housemaid Jane Bee, sets herself the task of finding out 'whodunnit'.

I love the way author C.C. Benison allows her sleuth to take us on a tour of the grand palace whilst giving us  juicy scandal PLUS murder, combined with the fact that her busy days also include how to get gum out of the carpets in the State Rooms!
Credit to C.C. Benison also for detailing a map of the corridors and rooms for the book, so us readers can follow the footsteps of the murderer and the staff.

Ah, yes sit back and enjoy this one booklovers - just as I did.

Oh, by the way and before I forget, for those of you that really enjoy reading this book,  C.C. Benison has followed up with another of the same titled 'DEATH AT SANDRINGHAM HOUSE'.



Michelle
xx

Oh boy, the books I've got! I've mentioned that before right? The lovely lady across the road is an avid reader and like myself she has hoardes of books. What does she do with them I hear you asking? Well she gives them to moi. Yup, I've got more now than I've ever had and they're beginning to pile up, and up, and up. Remember I told you how I cleaned my office/come now library out,  well now it looks as though it's NEVER been touched. I've books in every corner and have now had to revert to packing them in upstairs in a spare bedroom. And remember how I told you I'd sell them at a market stall? Yes, yes, you do remember! Well that market stall was today and I forgot. Thought I had a week or so to organise myself BUT ohhhhhhh noooooooo I was too busy organising the books into boxes to take to the market stall. So now they sit and wait until next month UNLESS I look in the local newspaper and browse the 'Community NoticeBoard' for another stall that may come up in the meantime and before the lovely lady across the road gives me anymore. But she is sweet and I've given her some of mine and yet she's asked me to stop for a while as she has too many. I bet if she and I merged our downstairs offices together, we 'd have a bookshop!
It'd be interesting to know how many I actually have. Maybe do a book count. Nah, don't have the time.

I'm off to my bookloverscouch now with my latest novel 'Murder On The Orient Express' but somehow I'm not getting 'into it'. Usually if I'm 'into' a book by the third page I know it's going to be a good one. However, Agatha Christie may surprise me and the next page I turn maybe the 'I'm into it now' page.
Hmmmm................................hope so, the Dame has never failed me before.

Michelle
xx

SITES I LOVE!

Browsing around today and found an awesome site called 'The Official Information and Community Website'  - AgathaChristie.com
This site allows you to become a member for free and sample some juicy gossip about the great Dame Agatha Christie. Members can keep track of what books they have read and which books they'd like to read. There is also a 'Christie and her Stories' section containing info on all her sleuths we have to love including:
Poirot
Miss Marple
Tommy and Tuppence
Ariadne Oliver
Harley Quin
Parker Pyne
Hastings and
Chief Inspector Japp.
These are kind of small bios of the sleuths and are worth a look.

The section  I'm particularly fond of is the 'Christie Maps'. Now, this is great as it allows you to see the areas where the novels have taken place but you really need to check it out for yourselves.

Twitter and Facebook fans will be delighted with the sites 'News and Insight' section, it tells you where and when you can get the latest versions of hardback copies.

'Buy Books, DVD'S, etc is the section where I've been spending a LOT of time today - just looking, just sighing,- makes one want to start buying and reading Christies whole collection all over again.

Now, the FUN section! 'Community and Events'. There are murder games to play, you can even have your own  say so hence a forum if you like, a book club and wait for it.....................(drum roll) a 'Swap and Sell' section!

Oh geez guys, I've just fallen in love with this site - I can't seem to get enough of it! I click on one link, then I'm off to another.
Yup, get on your bookloverscouch and enjoy!

MURDER IS EASY!

Well it may be easy for Agatha Christie to write 'Murder I Easy', but trying to find the murderer is a whole different ball game.
I think I only ever solved ONE mystery of hers, unfortunately I was never able to succeed again. She was just too good with all those twists and plots, likewise with this novel of a mass murderer on the loose.
'Murder Is Easy' is a novel where you want to curl up on the couch (preferably 'Bookloverscouch') and track each murder as the story unfolds with murder after murder after murder.
Not an easy murderer to catch, in fact this one is quite illusive and if you want to solve the mystery then keep abreast of things in this novel.
That's my sound advice for today.

Michelle
xx

SITES I LOVE!

Wow! Just found this great site Blogadvertisingstore.com by searching different ways of blogging.
Of course first impressions count don't they? Well their site for us bloggers is great! All very easy to understand, even for computer illiterates like myself. The layout was pleasing to the eye and too, it's a very informative site where I found my questions already answered. I've registered with them already, it takes only a minute to sign up and there you are, on your way to blogging.
So there you go bloggers everywhere, check this site out - it's awesome!

Michelle

xx

MORE AGATHA CHRISTIE!

Today, I cleaned out my office. I have found book after book crammed into the cupboard and can't see myself clear of what I'm going to do with them. Maybe sell them at the market stalls? Geez I don't know. You should see the floor of my office, just stepping over them I am ha,ha.

But you know what I did find?
Of course Agatha Christie novels yayyyyyyy!!!!!!!!
Quite forgot that I had them and what fun it was to leaf through them again.
'Murder Is Easy'  was at the top of the pile so I picked it up and do you know, I can't remember 'whodunnit'?
So, looks like I'm going to have to read it allllllll over again - shame (not).

And guess what?
'Murder On The Orient Express' arrived today too! What a great Agatha Christie world I've been living in today.

The Life And Times Of Miss Jane Marple.

Anne Hart takes us through twelve novels  and twenty short stories   in which gave us thought as to what exactly Miss Marple does when not sleuthing. A very apt book with a probable truth to how the little lady spends her days. Well, we know she loves her garden and visiting the local church, speaks highly of her nephew Raymond and is able to travel to quite a few destinations, considering she has never married and so has no husband to help with the lifestyle she has become accustomed to.
Anne Hart does her very best to sort through the 'behind the scenes' if you like of Miss Marples life and I must say, she has made superb writing material, thankyou Anne for a wonderful read.

I made the purchase of 'The Life And Times Of Miss Marple' through Harper Collins, but I'm sure it could be found if you want a really good book to read at most bookstores.

I believe there has also been a similar book written for Agatha Christies other sleuth, Hercule Poirot.
I'm badly in need of this book if anyone could be of assistance or lead me to the end of the mystery as to where I can find it?


Still waiting for my 'Murder On The Orient Express' novel to arrive but it can't be long now! ;)

Michelle
xx

WELCOME TO THE BOOKLOVERSCOUCH!

Well..........I've been reading books for as long as I can remember and that's a long time! Many thanks to my Grandma who lead me along this path to an all-time favourite past time. She always had a book in her hand. Her house was library to me so young.She'd lay snug in her bed with a book and a hot chocolate whilst I was always curious to know what she was reading, so she'd let me cuddle into her and read along with her. Most of them were Mills and Boone romance novels but every now and then she'd throw in a mystery thriller which were my favourite.
And that's where it all began.
Reading books became my passion, always keen to get home from school to pay a frequent visits to the library where I spent most of my time - as my friends lived a car drive away and as both my parents worked, I had no driver, so the library was it. Not that I minded, the library was better than doing homework and at least Mum and Dad knew where'd I'd be.
The local library was a short stroll up the hill from home and there I was happy. Even the librarians got used to me and I felt I knew those library walls inside out.
And oh, how I wished I could get into the adult section and sneak a peek at the mystery novels. Thanks to Grandma who borrowed them for me on her card - as long as I'd let her read them too, and that my friends is how I come to adore Agatha Christie. From her gripping novels I'd then persue the movie as a follow up but always came away from the movie a little let down, it wasn't the same as the book, parts were missed and in my imagination I'd conjured up pretty villages and their folk - looking like nothing how they did in the movie.
So I went on living through books. Ok, some people are movie buffs but I'm a booklover and they are two different things.
Back to Agatha Christie.
There is only one book of hers that I'm yet to read - 'Murder On The Orient Express'. I know, shameful of me isn't it? I have no excuse  but have just ordered it from Ebay and so am looking forward to getting stuck into it.
If any of you have read it, please let me know what your thoughts are or what I've missed.
Stay tuned to reading what I thought about it.

Michelle

xx