The Never Ending 'To Be Read' List - TBR

How long is your 'to be read' list, otherwise known as a TBR? I Keep track of my TBR list on Goodreads, and I just realized this morning that it is currently at about two hundred books, and always growing. Every time that I read a book, or add a book to my 'want to read' list on Goodreads, I receive recommendations of similar books, therefore knocking one book off of my TBR but adding two, or four, more to it. I also pick up the monthly issue of book page that is offered free through the library. And I even go so low as to watch YouTube videos on book hauls, and book reviews, therefore stumbling upon even more titles that I desire to read. 

It could always be worse though, the possibility of there not being any books that I desired to read makes me shudder.

Book Review of "The Prophet of Yonwood" by Jeanne DuPrau

This book made it onto my did not finish list. I got no more then a chapter into this book before calling it quits. To be honest, I didn't have very high hopes for it before I even started reading it. I was disappointed in the second book in the Book of Ember series, and then this book, the third book in the series, had very low ratings on Goodreads with several unsatisfied reviews. I see why now. The City of Ember should of been a stand alone novel, despite my wanting to know what happened not only before the city was built (The Prophet of Yonwood), but what happens after the citizens of Ember leave their underground city (The People of Sparks), simply for the very fact that the authors writing ability has progressively decreased after her first book was written. There is a fourth book in the series, "The Diamond of Darkhold" but I believe that at this point and time I am finished reading these books. I may just pretend that The City of Ember is a stand alone novel, and that the other books in the series don't actually exist.

My Rating : *

Book Review of "The People of Sparks" by Jeanne DuPrau

       

The People of Sparks by Jeanne DuPrau is the second book in the Book of Ember series, The City of Ember being the first.

Disappointed. The first book in the series was so intriguing, and I had high hopes for the second book in the series. There were points in this book that I certainly found to be of interest, the citizens of Ember have emerged from their underworld and are seeing our beautiful world for the first time. First being bewildered by their new habitat, and not understanding what it is that they are seeing, feeling, and hearing. Then encountering people. They discover that a small population of people have managed to survive through the great disaster, when they stumble upon a small village, the citizens there calling themselves the people of Sparks. I was extremely intrigued that the citizens of Sparks were actually less advanced then the citizens of Ember, not understanding the concept of electricity for example, but were more knowledgeable about the events that took place and of survival, as rather then be kept ignorant on the subjects like the citizens of Ember were kept, the citizens of Sparks made sure to pass their history down through the generations. But the citizens of Sparks aren't prepared to accommodate the sudden arrival of four hundred people, and despite not wanting to repeat the mistakes that their previous ancestors made, things between the villagers of Sparks and the citizens of Ember become tense ...

That was the pros on the one hand, on the other hand I found that all of the characters suddenly lacked a personality and were all suddenly dull and soulless. It seems that in the story, the author neglected one of the most important aspects to a book, the characters themselves. This book also felt a lot more juvenile then the previous book in the series, and lacked a certain amount of depth to it. The story itself was actually rather childish in comparison.

My Rating : ***

Pursuing the White Whale has hit a Milestone!

Pursuing the White Whale has been a active blog since the middle of March 2015, which is just a little over two months now. I am pleased to say that Pursuing the White Whale has now achieved over one thousand plus views in that time. I also want to take this time to encourage people to not only follow me here, but to feel free to comment on discussions. I would love to hear from you!

You can also follow on Facebook - Pursuing the White Whale on Facebook

Tell your book loving friends and family about Pursuing the White Whale.

I want to also take a moment to thank any, and all, fans of Pursuing the White Whale. I truly love to not only write about book related topics, but to discuss book related topics, and this blog gives me the out-lit that I need. 1000 + views is a big milestone for my newly created blog, here is to 1000 more!

I Have A Confession To Make

It is confessional time. In a attempt to be a little more diverse in my reading material, to reach a wider range of readers, I decided to look into some more modern works of fiction. That called for a trip to my local public library. I have not been to the library for some time now, as I have so many unread books in my personal home library that outsourced material has become unnecessary. Now, despite merging some modern books into my reading regimen, I will not read books that hold no interest for me. So only books that genuinely grab my interest, and I am not opposed to discontinuation of a book that I am not enjoying. With this mind set, I found some adult fiction in the newly released section at the library that I will be reading and reviewing shortly, one of which I have already found to be disappointing (Mermaids in Paradise). I also found several young adult, and children's books, that grabbed my attention. Some of which are very popular books that I was interested in seeing what all of the hype was about, some deserving of it, and some not so much. I have already read and reviewed several of those books.

My confession being, that I have been enjoying many of these books. Which is not something to be ashamed of, but which rather surprises me to be honest. I will always hold the classics dear to my heart, and I will still continue to read and review them, but I will also continue to read, what I like to call, the easy reads. I forgot how easy it is to finish a book in one sitting! It is all about the right books folks.

Book Review of "Divergent" by Veronica Roth

This book definitely kept me entertained throughout, but I honestly consider it as what has become my endearing term, junk food reads. And there is nothing wrong with a junk food read, as long as you, the reader, is being entertained. With that being said, this book did not rank very high with me despite the fact that I actually kind of enjoyed it. Does that make sense? I enjoyed it, and yet I wasn't impressed by it. The dystopian genre has been so overdone at this time, that the author really needs to have a unique story line in order for their books to stand out. You get the feeling that the author tried to be unique, but you can feel traces of other books within Divergent. The dystopian genre has become so hyped up, and very popular right now, so you can see why every Dick and Harry is mass producing these books. The same thing happened after Twilight became so big. With story line on the wayside, I just wasn't impressed with the characters either. Flat, flat, flat. I'm just going to say it, the entire book felt very juvenile. I realize that this is a young adult book, but I read young adult, and I am here to say that not all young adult books read such as this book does. I enjoyed the book, I may even read the other books in the series, but I just cannot for the life of me, understand why this book became so popular. I immensely enjoy reading dystopian and apocalyptic genres, but Veronica Roth's dystopian world just didn't feel even remotely real to me. It felt dysfunctional, flaky, and rushed.

My Rating : ***

Two New Releases In The Barnes And Noble Collectible Leather Bound Editions

Yes, you read that right. Barnes and Noble has just released two new titles in their collectible leather bound editions.


The first five novels in "The Wizard of Oz" series by L. Frank Baum is now available in this gorgeous leather bound edition. I will be adding this edition to my personal home library. You can get your own copy by following this link : Barnes and Noble Leather Bound Edition - The Wizard of Oz


Le Morte d'Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory. I will also, in all likely hood, be adding this edition to my library. You can also snag a copy of your own by following this link : Barnes and Noble Leather Bound Edition - Le Morte d'Arthur

*Happy sigh* It feels like Christmas morning whenever Barnes and Noble adds a new edition to this beautiful collection.

Book Review of "The Girl who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her own Making" by Catherynne M. Valente

                            
Wow, what did I just read?! It was like Alice's Adventures in Wonderland on crack. I loved every single moment of it. The writing was beautifully composed, the story was witty, fun, and humorous, and the illustrations were very well done, and complimented the book and story.

With that being said, why is this book not better known then what it is?! I borrowed the first, and the second, book of this series through my local public library. My library has had these two books on their shelves for roughly three years now, and the first one in the series was checked out by two other people before me, each a year apart, and the second was only checked out of the library by one other person before me, also about a year before me. What the fudge nugget?! These books deserve so much better then that.

My Rating : **** 1/2 (am I allowed to do a half star ... 0_o)

Book Review of "The Graveyard Book" by Neil Gaiman

I picked this book up earlier this evening, and I could not put it down until I had devoured it entirely. Thankfully it was a rather easy read, or I would of had to have stayed up even later then what I did in order to finish it and see it through to the end. I will definitely be putting more of mister Neil Gaiman's books on my to read list in the future (probably as soon as I finish writing this book review to be completely honest).

I had a slight case of deja-vu while reading the opening chapters of this book. I think that many years ago I may of picked this title up, read the first few chapters, and for one reason or another decided not to finish it. I am certainty glad that I gave it another chance, even if I didn't realize at the time that I was, in fact, giving it another chance.

It takes a graveyard to raise a child
This book begins like any other book typically begins, with a triple homicide of course. I have to say that this particular scene was very chilling to read. The scene where a infant baby boy is the sole survivor of the brutal murder of his entire family, and not because of sentimental feelings on the side of the murderer would be. No, it would be because he is awoken to a bump in the night, and always being a curious little guy he manages to climb out of his crib, make his way downstairs, and discovers that the front door is left open. He makes his way to the cemetery up the street, where the inhabitants there quickly hide him away from his pursuer, and decide to take him in and raise him. Between the Owen couple (ghosts) who raise him as their son, Silas (neither living nor dead) who swears to be his guardian and to protect him, and the whole community of other ghosts, Nobody Owen becomes a part of a very odd family.

My only complaint with this book is just a dissatisfaction with the view of the afterlife that is portrayed here. That when you die you re-awaken in whichever graveyard your bones have been buried in, and forever after live in such a fashion. I like to think that there is more in the afterlife, and while I won't let this damper my feelings on the book in general, I did find it rather depressing.

My Rating : ****

Book Review of "The City of Ember" by Jeanne DuPrau

The city of Ember was designed and created by The Builders in a attempt to preserve human life in case things got worse above ground. The underground city was built to contain a small town, with a seemly limitless supply of both food, and material, to sustain them. The Builders intended for the citizens of Ember to live below ground for two hundred and twenty years, at which time it would hopefully be safe for them to venture up. To do this, they not only kept the citizens ignorant of the outside world, but they left instructions on the means of leaving the underground city, that would open after two hundred and twenty years. This safe box was entrusted to the mayor of the city, and later handed down to the future mayors. One of which was careless with it, and the box became lost. Roughly two hundred and fifty years after Ember was built, the city is dying. The lights have begin to flicker, and what is known as the black outs is starting to happen. The lights go out, and each time they are out for a longer period of time. The lights created by the generator are the only light source in Ember, so when they go out the city is pitch black. The lights not only serve as a means of being able to see underground, but also as a food source by means of growing plants out in the greenhouse. The food, and all of the supplies, are also running short. The city of Ember was never meant to run for this long, and everything is starting to give out.

Everything seems lost, until two twelve year old children, Lina Mayfleet and Doon Harrow, find the lost box. The box opened roughly twenty five years earlier and the instructions are almost unreadable. Can they find the way out?

And if they find the way out, can they survive? The citizens of Ember don't know what the sky is. They don't know what the sun or the moon are. They don't know what grass or trees are. None of these exist in their world, and The Builders intended to keep them ignorant on this, so the generations wouldn't know what they were missing. If you don't know about it, can you miss it? Perhaps.

My Rating : ****

A Tour Of My Library In Pictures

 This is the very first sight that greets me when I walk through my front door. My library is located right off of my living-room, so my bookshelves are always visible from that room. It is a small space, being longer then it is wide, but it works well for my needs. The back half being my personal in home library, and the front half working as my art studio.

Right hand side of the room.

And left hand side, featuring my art desk, and all of my art supplies being either tucked underneath the desk, or in the storage on the right hand side.

This is one of my favorite rooms in my house. Books, and Art, what could be better?

My Precious! - May 2015 Book Haul Continues ... Again

This is a Folio Society edition of "The Princess Bride" by William Goldman. I have a confession to make, I bought this book new through the Folio Society. This is one of my absolute favorite books, this edition is one of the prettiest editions that I have ever witnessed, and I could not find it used anywhere. So yes, I purchased it brand spanking new, and I have no regrets about that purchase. It is bound in a green cloth, and has gorgeous black and gold embossed illustrations on the front cover and on the spine. As is typical in the Folio Society editions, it includes a slip-case (this one is orange), does not include a attached silk-bookmark, and has regular non gilded pages.

                 The front and back end-papers are in a gorgeous illustrated map.

               And there are several beautiful illustrations throughout the book as well.

This edition will be replacing the paperback edition that I had in my library prior. I think that we can all agree that this Folio Society copy wins hands down, no questions asked.

This is now one of my favorite books featured in my library, and I will own it with pride. I have read this title twice already, and I will be reading it several more times in the future. It comes highly recommended. You can read the book review that I wrote on it, here : Book Review of "The Princess Bride" by William Goldman
This is my precious! It will be jealously guarded.

My last e-bay purchase has finally arrived - May 2015 Book Haul Continued

This one took well over a month before I received it, but it was oh so worth the wait. This is a Easton Press edition of "The Hunchback of Notre-Dame" by Victor Hugo. A absolutely gorgeous edition to my library. I owned this title prior in a inferior copy, but I have not yet read it.

Book Review of "Mermaids in Paradise" by Lydia Millet

The description sounded so intriguing, but it was nothing more then a empty promise. I made it to page twenty before I called it quits. Right away I could tell that this was written in the style of a chick-lit, the twenty pages that I did read just blabbered on and on about where to go for their honeymoon, their wedding, their wedding preparations, bachelorette and bachelor parties, and friends. Who cares?! Not I, I cannot stand chick-lit and this book would not of been checked out from my local public library if I had known this previously. Thank goodness it was borrowed from the library ... that was my bright point in reading this book. Bottom line was that I just did not care for the authors writing, nor her writing style. Pass.

My Rating : *

Book Review of "172 Hours on the Moon" by John Harstad

I considered this as junk food for the brain while reading it. Nothing that I took remotely serious, but found to be mildly entertaining in a sense. It started off as what I would consider a two star rating, a long introduction to the three main characters was basically what the first 150 to 200 pages consisted of. All of which were incredibly flat, and I couldn't bring myself to care if any of them lived or died. Having 150 to 200 pages to develop said characters sure didn't make much of a difference. Things became a little more entertaining once the arrival on the moon happened, and things begin to happen. It was starting to raise in status from a two star rating, to a three star rating. I still found myself annoyed at the whole stupidity of it however, the thought of NASA, or any parent for that matter, allowing teenagers to go to the moon. Despite being with trained, and experienced, astronauts, this is just not a reality, and would never happen. What was starting to become intriguing, quickly changed directions back towards suckyville. I was total unimpressed by the entire plot line. We got back down to two star rating again. And the ending? Took a complete plot twist, but one that in my opinion was worthy of flinging the book across the room ... but I didn't, because it was a library book ...

My Rating : **

Book Review of "A Monster Calls" by Patrick Ness

"A Monster Calls" by Patrick Ness was heart wrenching, there is just no other words to describe it. A beautifully spun tale, masterfully told by the author. I am truly impressed. Impressed, and yet it greatly pained me to read the book. My own pain is too fresh, too raw, to handle Conor's pain and emotions as well, and this book just left me feeling sick with grief for him. I also felt, without wanting to give anything away, that this book also contained a religious aspect to it. It won't be apparent to all readers, but it's there. This book is deep on so many different levels.

My Rating : ****

Book Review of "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee

"Mockingbirds don’t do one thing except make music for us to enjoy. They don’t eat up people’s gardens, don’t nest in corn cribs, they don’t do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. That’s why it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird."

A quote that titled the book that we know today, and a quote that best describes this book. Throughout the novel we see many misjudgements of character based purely on misunderstandings, or people refusing to see beyond their racial and judgemental opinions. Mockingbird has a metaphorical meaning too, anyone who is weak or defenseless. To kill a mockingbird in that sense, is to take advantage of someone who is weaker then you. Tom Robinson, and Boo Radley, are both mockingbirds.

"You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view ... Until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it."

Wise words spoken by Atticus, to his children.

"They're certainly entitled to think that, and they're entitled to full respect for their opinions ... but before I can live with other folks I've got to live with myself. The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience."

"Real courage is when you know you're licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what."

The main focus of the book is about a black man, Tom Robinson, who has been wrongly accused of raping a white woman. Atticus Finch, a lawyer, has been appointed to defend Tom in court. Atticus Finch is ostracized by the town for defending a black man. He worries more for his two children, Jem and Scout, then he does for himself, but in his heart he knows that it is the right thing to do, and takes the honorable role regardless of the consequences. He knows that a black man has no chance in a white court room, but he takes it upon himself to fight for Tom on his behalf, when Tom is unable to.

It must of been terrifying to be black, when black people were seen as lower class citizens and basically had no right or say. A white persons word was always taken over yours.

The court case shows you the ugly side, and the beautiful side, of people. 

The story is narrated through Scout Finch, Atticus Finch's daughter. She is six years old in the beginning of the book, and is nine years old at the end. It was interesting to see the story unfold through the innocent eyes of a child.

While not personally a fan of the thick southern dialect, and also finding the writing to not hold up to some of the other classics, the story itself was superb.

My Rating : ****

May 2015 Barnes and Noble Book Haul

As promised, here is my recent book haul that took place at Barnes and Noble this past week. These beautiful leather bound collectible editions were on sale for buy one get one half off. Who can resist that deal? Not I.

This first picture features "John Carter of Mars" by Edgar Rice Burroughs. This edition includes the first five books out of a series of eleven. "A Princess of Mars", "The Gods of Mars", "The Warlord of Mars", "Thuvia", "Maid of Mars", and "The Chessmen of Mars". I did not own these titles in my library prior to this edition, and I have not read this series before now. The second book featured in this picture is "Dune" by Frank Herbert. I did not own this title in my library prior to this edition, and I have not yet read this book.

Here we have "Dracula and other Horror Classics" by Bram Stoker. I already own a beautiful edition of Dracula in my library, but this edition also includes all of the other horror pieces that Stoker wrote. I recently read Dracula, but I have not read any other works by Stoker at this time.

In this picture we have a collection of E.B. White's books, "Charlotte's Web", "Stuart Little", and "The Trumpet of the Swan". I did not own these titles in my library prior to this edition, and I have not actually read any of his books before. Then we have "The Story of King Arthur and his Knights" by Howard Pyle. I did not own this title in my library prior to this edition, and I have not yet read the book.

Barnes and Noble is Having a Sale!

Keep calm, breath, now ... RUN, don't walk! Barnes and Noble is currently having a sale, now through June 21st, on their collectible leather bound editions. Buy one get one half off. If you have been lusting after these editions, if you have been considering purchasing one or more, if there are some titles that you have yet to own, now is the time to buy! I discovered this sale tonight while shopping at my local Barnes and Noble, and although I already own many of their editions, there were still a few titles that I desired to own. I bought five, one being a children's edition which is not included in the sale. My total was $67.41, saving $18.00 through the sale offer (which is like getting one book free!), and saving a additional $9.00 through my member card. This is a steal on these beautiful leather bound editions. I will post my book haul shortly.

Barnes and Noble leather bound editions - Buy one get one half off

Irrational Fear Of Book Extinction

In the era of the e-book, I have a irrational fear of the extinction of the physical book. I say irrational, because rationally I realize that the chances of the book ever being discontinued in the physical printing are next to none, and yet ... maybe, just maybe, someday this will take place. I will be ready for it when, and if, that day ever comes. Not mentally prepared, but physically prepared. This is where my obsessive behavior with owning and collecting books will be a blessing. I have my own personal library within the confines of my home. It is my comfort blanket, a security net if you will. As long as those titles that are of importance to me, are safely tucked into my library, all is well, and I can rest a little easier at night. Again, this is a irrational fear of a event that will in all chances, never take place, and yet ... there is a small spark of fear burrowed down deep inside of me. If books ever become obsolete, then I will no longer have any hope for the future of humanity. Did anyone read "Fahrenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury? Read it before you call me paranoid.

Physical Book Review Of Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austin

                                        
My edition of "Sense and Sensibility" by Jane Austin is the Barnes and Noble collectible leather bound edition, a complete work of her seven novels. I prefer my books being in single novel form, but this is indeed a beautiful edition. The book is bound in a green leather, with blue, white, and gold embossing on the front cover, spine, and back cover. Gold gilded pages, with a gold silk book-mark. Beautiful front and back end-papers are designed in a green and yellow flower pattern. No illustrations. This is a massive book, so a little awkward to hold and read, but also a nicely crafted edition.

This edition happens to still be available through Barnes and Noble. You can buy your own copy by following the link provided below.

Barnes and Noble - Jane Austin

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austin

"Sense and Sensibility" is a impressive first novel written by a then nineteen year old Austin. This being only the second book of Austin's that I have read, "Pride and Prejudice" being the first, I am eagerly looking forward to reading more of her books in the very near future.

"Sense and Sensibility" follows two sisters, Elinor Dashwood the elder sister, and her younger sister Marianne Dashwood. Elinor is the sensible one, being more logical of mind and more emotionally reserved. Marianne is the more sensitive one, being impulsive and emotional in character.

Upon the death of their father, the elder half brother inherits the house, property, and wealth. Customs in that time was such that a father bequeathed all possessions to their sons, the elder son receiving the vast majority of the inheritance. If he had no sons, inheritance went to a male descendant. Females did not receive a inheritance. The son promises his father before his passing that he will take care of his stepmother and his three half sisters upon his fathers death, a promise that was made in earnest at the time, but one that quickly faded when reality set in. John Dashwood's wife assures him that they are in no position to bestow any of the inheritance upon the four females, and really they were only half sisters at that, and John Dashwood quickly agrees with her.

Left to their own devices, the women decide to take up the offer of a modest cottage owned by a distant cousin in Barton Park, Devonshire. The sisters are thrown into a society fueled by social standing and wealth, gossip, and stiff Victorian customs. They also find love.

The two sisters experience vastly different romances, but nearly-mirrored heartbreak, responding in entirely different manners in reaction to this devastating chain of events. Is it better to keep your feelings and emotions buried, suffering in solitude, or to wear one's heart on their sleeve, falling into self-pity while drawing the attention of those that care to offer support?

Austin's prince-charming is found to be lacking, and in this era, wealth and social standing often won out over love. To marry for love and live in poverty, or to marry for money and live without love? Austin created a interesting scheme here, but in all honestly I was disappointed with the love matches in the end. I just saw it going in another direction.

My Rating : ****

May 2015 Shelfie Update

As promised, after a decent book haul has taken place I will post a shelfie of my updated bookshelves with the newly acquired books all in their places, and bookshelves sorted and reorganized to accommodate them.

Purchasing Books Through e-bay - Pros and Cons

Recently I discovered e-bay. Not discovered, discovered, but it had never occurred to me before that I could find, and purchase, those hard to find titles and editions by using e-bay. I wish that someone had warned me just how addicting e-bay can be however (I am here to warn you that e-bay can be addicting. You're welcome!). I was suddenly thrown into a all you can eat book buffet, and the only thing stopping me was my willpower, which doesn't exist when it comes to books ...

Within three weeks time I had purchased eight books through e-bay. These are books that I have been unable to find otherwise, in certain editions and in some cases even titles. They were not impulse buys, but rather books that I have been searching for, for a long time now.

My first purchase was a Easton Press edition of "Little Woman" by Louisa May Alcott. Described as being new and still in original seal. Purchased for less then half of the original price tag on a new Easton Press edition of this title, and free shipping. The delivery of the book was extremely fast and it was packaged well ... but it was not a new book, as it was described in the listing. You could tell that the shrink wrap that it was in, was not it's original. Upon opening, the Easton Press bookplate was absent (all new editions include one), and what could only be described as a crumb was found within it's pages ... The book itself however was in excellent condition, I just didn't appreciate the misleading.

My next purchase was a Easton Press edition of "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" by Robert Louis Stevenson. Described as being not new and having slight shelf wear. I was able to purchase it for less then half of the original price tag on a new Easton Press edition of this title. The Delivery of this book was extremely fast and it was packaged well, and the book itself was in amazing condition. Gorgeous book.

I then purchased a Easton Press edition of "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck. Described as having some slight shelf wear. I was able to purchase it for less then half of the original price tag on a new Easton Press edition of this title. Delivery was very prompt and it was packaged well, the book was in good condition other then the top two outer corners, which the seller neglected to mention were cracked. Nor was in shown in the pictures in the listing.

Then I purchased a Folio Society edition of "The Last Man" by Mary Shelley. Described as not being new and being in good condition. I was able to purchase it for about half of the original price tag on a new Folio Society edition of this title. Delivery was very prompt and it was packaged well, and the book was absolutely gorgeous.

I then bought a Franklin Library edition of "Tess of the D'Urbervilles" by Thomas Hardy. Described as not being new, and having some slight shelf wear. I was able to purchase this fairly cheap. Delivery was quick, packaging sucked. I do not know if the slight dings on the book happened during shipment or if they had already existed prior to this.

Then bought was a Folio Society edition of "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding. Described as being new and in new condition. I was able to purchase this for about half of the original price tag on a new Folio Society edition of this title. Delivery was very prompt, packaging was excellent, and book was as described.

Then I purchased a Easton Press edition of "Gone with the Wind" by Margaret Mitchell. Described as having been in original shrink wrap, but shrink wrap was torn so it was removed to be better shown. Listed as being in excellent condition. I paid about the price of a new Easton Press edition for this one. Delivery of book was very prompt, it was packaged very well, but book appeared to suffer from some very slight shelf wear which leads me to believe that I was misled on the listing. The book is in excellent condition, but some of the gold gilding on the front seems worn ...

My other purchase has not even been shipped at this time ...

As you can see, I have had a mixed experience in purchasing books through e-bay. You really don't know what you are getting until it arrives in the mail. I will not purchase books through e-bay again, unless it is a edition or a title that I can not otherwise find. I am not exactly displeased with my purchases, just not happy with the misleading listings. I prefer purchasing books through Half Price Books and other second hand book stores, as I know what I am buying at the time of purchase.

May 2015 Book Haul

I have six books to show you this month for the May 2015 book haul. 

I have not been back to Half Price Books and Barnes and Noble since my last book haul, but I have discovered e-bay since that time. All books featured were purchased through e-bay, and I found there to be both pros and cons when it came to purchasing books in this fashion, which I will soon be featuring a separate post on the subject. Technically speaking, these were not all purchased this month. Some were purchased back in the month of April, but did not arrive until this month.

This first picture features three of the six books that I have purchased. The taller book towards the back is "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck. It is a Easton Press edition that I purchased though e-bay. I have read this title before now, but I did not yet own a copy in my library. The smaller book on the left is "Tess of the D'Urbervilles" by Thomas Hardy. A Franklin Library edition purchased through e-bay. I have yet to read this title, and it is new to my library as well. And the slighter larger black book on the right is "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" by Robert Louis Stevenson. Also a Easton Press edition, also purchased through e-bay. I have yet to read this title, and it is also new to my library.

This next book is "The Last Man" by Mary Shelley. A Folio Society edition purchased through e-bay. I have yet to read this title, and it is new to my library. I am very excited about this one however and eagerly look forward to reading it. I have previously read her book "Frankenstein" and found it to be a very worthy read.

And here we have "Lord of the Flies" by William Golding. A Folio Society edition purchased through e-bay. I have previously read this title, twice to be exact, and I also owned a edition already in my library. You see it shown here with the new edition. The inferior edition will either be given away to a sibling (you have to continue to encourage that love of reading!), or will be sold.

And last, but certainly not least is "Gone with the Wind" by Margaret Mitchell. This is a Easton Press edition purchased through e-bay. I have previously read this title, as well as already owning a edition in my library. You see the formerly owned edition here alongside the new one. I love this book, and I desired to own a superior edition of it, in my library. The former will be given to my Mom, as I recently discovered that she does not own this title in her personal library.

I freely admit that I went a little overboard this month, not with quantity but with quality ... despite purchasing these through e-bay and paying a great deal less then you would if you were to purchase them new (typically half the price, but sometimes even cheaper), I still went way beyond what I ever meant to in terms of money. I can't really say that I regret my purchases however, as these are books that I have never been able to find otherwise in a nice edition like these. I am not replacing my entire library with fancier editions, but sometimes, that certain book just has to be that special one.

There will be a May 2015 Book Haul part two, as two of the books purchased have still not arrived. Otherwise I am attempting to put myself on a book buying ban for the rest of the month (pffffft like that will ever actually happen).

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One Book, Two Books, Three Books

How many books do you typically read at any given time? Do you read one book at a time, completing said book before starting the next, or do you tend to read more then one book at a time?

The only time that I have read two books at the same time as each other was when I left my book that I was currently reading at home, and in a fit of boredom during my lunch break at work I found a book in my car and started to read it. I had my at home book, and my at work book during that time. Otherwise I am a fully dedicated, one book at a time sort of reader. I like to fully immerse myself into a book, and I feel like that would be impossible to do when reading multiple books at once. I have to see my characters through the story before I meet my next family.

Besides, sometimes when it comes to the more tedious classical books you are taking the chance of forgetting the story line if you read it off and on, better to stick with it and see it out. Of course, if switching up helps you through a book that you are finding slow, more power to you.

Advice To The New Book Collector And A Guide To Starting Your Library

We shall start at the very beginning of the newly fledged readers life, when that bright eyed person first discovered their passion for reading, and books in general, and has pondered the thought that perhaps, they too, would like to start owning and collecting books. There is nothing quite like having a personal library in your home. A home with a library has a soul, it has personality. Books brighten up a house, and brings life to it.

Now, if you are new to the wonderful world of books but would like to start collecting, there are a few different ways to go about this first step to book ownership. What a lot of people will do, is they will first read the books through their local public libraries and then decide which books they desire to own. This will leave no room for regretful decisions later on, and money thrown down into a rat hole. This was how my first book collection came to be as a child, and later teenager. Only my absolute favorite books were owned and cherished. But if you are more like the me that I am now, then you may prefer to first own, and then later read your books. Now, I am comfortable with this method because I own ninety eight percent classic literature. Of all of the classics that I have currently owned, and read to date, I have only disliked one (I hated that one with a passion - The Catcher in the Rye). Chances are that I will dislike more of the classics as I continue to read them, but up till now my success rates have been very high (Don't give up on the classics however, if you happened to read one that you did not enjoy. They are not all alike). If you opt to go this route, I suggest that you buy your books second hand. It will save you a lot of money, and if you dislike any, you didn't sink as much money into them as you would have if you had purchased them new. Go to local, privately owned second hand book stores, and even second hand book stores such as Half Price Books. You can find some very nice books through these sources for very decent prices.

Do you want to own paperbacks, hardcovers, or leather bound and/or cloth bound editions? Paperbacks are by far the cheapest books to purchase, and they do make some lovely paperback editions. A lot of people really like paperbacks, but not me. I would suggest that if you have not first read the book before the time of purchase, that purchasing a paperback would be the better option, because you very well might not even enjoy said book, and then you didn't loose a lot of money on that purchase. But if you highly enjoy the book, and would later like to replace it with a finer edition, it might become expensive to buy that title twice. So you really need to make some personal choices here. Read first before purchasing, then buy the edition that you most prefer, or read as you buy, opting for cheaper editions. If buying second hand however, you very well may be able to get hardcovers for the same price as a paperback.

You can always start on the smaller side of the scale when it comes to the quality of books, and upgrade as you go. When I first started to collect books I had a mix of paperback and hardcovers, none of them very impressive editions. I have owned books my entire life, but started to collect books within the last three or four years. I was seeking to not only add more titles to my library, but to also upgrade my favorite titles. But this can be a great deal more expensive then just buying the ultimate edition that you desire from the get go. I learned this the hard way. You really need to bring your personal choices into these decisions. My favorite book editions are Easton Press (leather bound), The Franklin Library (leather bound), and Folio Society (cloth bound). I am slowly trying to replace my favorite books with these editions. You can buy them new, or you can buy them used. To be honest, I would never buy these editions new unless I could not find a certain title second hand. You can find them so much cheaper second hand. I find them through my local Half Price Books, and I have also recently found some wonderful finds through e-bay (although I think that this is just fueling my addiction). If leather bound, or cloth bound books are something that interest you, I recommend that you look second hand. A lot of my finely crafted books cost no more then a new everyday hardcover book.

One book that I would recommend to people who not only want to own classics, but would also like to own some pretty leather bound editions, are the Barnes and Noble collectible leather bound editions. These are beautiful books for very reasonable prices. I collect these editions, and they consist of a large portion of my collection. They are a great way to get the classics in a pretty edition, without breaking the bank.

Remember, collecting is a slow, time consuming process. It's not going to happen overnight, and there really is no rush in doing it. I have been collecting for many years now, and my personal library is still rather modest. And don't own books just for the sake of owning books. I am actually really picky about which books and which titles make it into my collection. Do you really want to read this book is the ultimate question that you should ask yourself.

Happy reading!

The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams

I grew up watching the cartoon version, and it always left such a big impact on me. Never, until now, did I pick up and read the actual thing. Such a precious book.

My Rating : ****

Physical Book Review Of Dracula by Bram Stoker

My copy of "Dracula" by Bram Stoker is from the Barnes and Noble collectible leather bound edition.
                                           
This is from a different collection in the Barnes and Noble collectible leather bound editions. This is the single novel collection, being one book within a book, and slightly smaller and shorter in build then the other books from their collections. A beautiful red leather, with black and silver accents. There are illustrations on the front cover, spine, and back cover (bat wings are pictured, with drops of blood, and white fangs are shown outlining the cover and spine). The front and back end papers are a beautiful marble, and the outer pages are tinted a ashy grey. The pages are very thick in this book, and appear to be of good quality. A red silk-bookmark. On the back cover is a quote taken from the book "Listen to them, the children of the night. What music they make!". No illustrations in the book. A absolutely gorgeous book, lovely to read and to showcase. I bought my edition for $10.00 (amazing value for the price!) through Barnes and Noble, but this edition is sadly no longer available for sale. They now have available, a inferior soft covered edition of this title, and no longer offer this beautiful hardcover edition.

Dracula by Bram Stoker

Although certainty not the first book published on vampires, Bram Stoker's "Dracula" was perhaps the very foundation that all vampires were later based on. Dracula is the father of all literary works, past, present, and future.

The vampire was never meant to be seen as the sex symbol that our modern works of fiction have made him out to be. Vampires existed as a myth throughout history, believed to be a cursed immortal quenching his undying thirst with a living mortal's blood. Dracula is the very essence of what the vampire was believed to be. The vampire was not meant to be glorified, or to be seen as a hero. He is the very essence of evil.

Written through journal entries, ship logs, and letters. I found that this method of writing worked very well for this book, allowing you as the reader, to see the characters inner most private thoughts. It also acted as a way of seeing several different view points throughout the book, and allowing the story to flow freely. We see the events of things unfold as our witnesses see it.

The vampire that Stoker has portrayed here is a truly evil, menacing, and selfish creature. Evil comes in many shapes and forms, and here the vampire is shown as being capable of being seen as seductive, and even appealing, but ultimately he is nothing more then a un-dead life form whom seeks life through another's life's blood. Dracula sucking the life out of his victims to continue his un-dead existence is truly metaphoric for the very idea of evil, representing the very opposite of holiness and virtue.

I find it interesting that the vampire is show cased as being unable to touch, or abide, anything associated with Christ. Crosses, holy water, the host. During the change over process, they appear to have a split personality and forgetfulness. Once the change over is complete the victim is no longer themselves. Upon being released of their foul existence by means of a stake, there is a look of peace upon their face, as if their soul was given back to them. Is this then to suggest that the vampire is a demonic possession? That once the victim has passed, the demon uses their body for unholy means, the victim being forced to see and never truly being at peace? Or is it a curse? The un-dead never truly having life, doomed to suck the blood out of others, blood being symbolic of life and ultimately life is what Dracula not only desires, but takes. I tend to lean more towards the latter theory, being as Dracula selfishly creates 'companions' for himself, showing that perhaps he tends to live a life of loneliness. Cursed to have life, but not actually truly living. Regardless of which it is, the vampire is shown as a evil being with selfish intentions, not capable of emotion or sympathy.

We follow Jonathon Harker, Mina Harker, Lucy Westenra, Dr. John Steward, Quincey Morris, Arthur Holmwood, and of course the famous Dr. Van Helsing. Jonathon, Mina, Lucy, and Steward show the emontional impact to the horrors of Dracula.

My Rating : *****

The e-book Vs. Physical Book Debate

There seems to be three separate preferences here. There are those that are devoted e-book users, owning only a e-book, and reading only by e-book. Then there are the devoted physical book lovers, owning and reading only the physical thing. There is also the mix group, those who own and read both.

Which majority are you?

I am the devoted lover of the physical book. I have not, nor will I ever, own a e-book. I can see their usefulness, and why people use them, and like them. They are great for people that have a hard time reading due to eyesight, as you can increase the font format as much as is needed for you to be comfortable. They are awesome for traveling, as you can carry literally hundreds of books in one small, lightweight device. Free downloadable books are also available, especially the classics. But nothing, absolutely nothing, compares to the real thing in my opinion. I like to feel the weight of the book in my hands. A finely crafted book is a joy to handle, and you won't get that with a e-book. I also like to physically turn the pages, and a e-book can never replicate the smell of a real book. The feeling of a book, the smell of a book, you just won't have that with a e-book, and I find that sad. We have lost something with the invention of the e-book.

Now people will argue that e-books hold a advantage over the real deal. Real books require paper to exist, therefore trees being destroyed to create them, while e-books do not. Yessssss, but e-books require batteries and need to be charged ... they do also leave a footprint. And speaking of batteries, batteries die. Real books don't run on batteries. And yes, you can store literally hundreds of books on this device, download books cheaper then the physical book typically costs, and even get free downloadable books, but they aren't real. They don't actually exist other then on that device. And if the device crashes, or breaks, your books are gone.

Does you e-book look like this? I didn't think so ...