Attention all eReaders...

http://books.google.com/ebooks

Google has recently joined the eReader world by launching an eReader app called Google eBooks as well as launching the new Google eBook Store!  

I haven't used it myself, nor have I spoken to anyone who has (If you have, please share your thoughts!).  But from everything that I've been reading, it is definitely worth checking out.  It seems that it will be THE thing to give Amazon a run for their money.  Which means a lot to us, the consumer, as there is little to no competition for Amazon currently.  Therefore, prices, promotions, service, and product array should only improve all around for everyone.

So what is the premise?  On Google eBooks you can download your digital book (some are free, some cost money).  All of your books are stored in a central online library that is, of course, password protected.   Similar to the Amazon Kindle, the eBooks they sell are functional on a variety of devices.  But what is unique to Google is that you can download an eBook on your home computer and start reading it, then pick up where you left off on your phone or other device.  A Web connection is not necessary to read a book.  Not only is this extremely convenient (no need to carry one device everywhere with you), but, to me, it seems to open up the world of reading.  No one can complain that they left their eReader at home...or worse, on a plane!

So far, the devices Google eBooks are compatible with are web browsers, Androids, iPhones, IPads, IPod touchs, Nook (which is huge!) and other eReader devices.  At this time, it does not support Amazon Kindle, BlackBerry (mine is too small to read on it anyway!), Kobo, or Windows Mobile 7.  But from what I've read so far, Google is in the process of expanding to these devices.  Hopefully, it is only a matter of time...

Below are some links to articles I've found.  Check it out for yourself and send me your feedback.

Google ebookstore site:  http://books.google.com/ebooks

NY Times article:  http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/07/business/media/07ebookstore.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&ref=barnesandnobleinc

betanews article:  http://www.betanews.com/article/Google-launches-eBooks-crossplatform-ebookstore-and-reader/1291654034

American Consumer News article:  http://www.americanconsumernews.com/2010/12/google-nasdaq-goog-launches-ebookstore.html

December Book Club - A Christmas Classic

This month we read A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens in honor of the holiday.  While we all know the general plot, most likely from years of watching the various movies on TV, no one in our group could remember actually having read the original story.  What a better time to read it than before Christmas.  And no doubt the fact that it is less than 100 pages was an added benefit (let us not forget CC's "you had me at 200 pages!").

For this meeting, I was more of a fly on the wall than a participant.  I unfortunately had lost my voice!  But it was great to listen to everyone review the book.  They unfortunately had to listen to me cough.

In usual form, we were wrong about this being a quick read.  All of us agreed that it was more difficult to read than we had anticipated.  Some of it is due to the old English that we are not used to reading or understanding (my Penguin Classics version had footnotes that were most helpful and informative), but a lot of it is that Dickens narration tends to drag on at points throughout the story.  Of course, the overall theme to be the best you can be to your friends, family, and just mankind in general is still there.  And, more importantly, it is still an applicable lesson that all of us needed reminding of.  I would definitely encourage everyone to read this story and take to heart the lesson that it gives to all that will listen.