Adam Shields

Kindle Library Lending Support is Announced

by
Cover of "Kindle Wireless Reading Device,...
Cover via Amazon

Several days ago Amazon announced that Seattle Library would be testing their new kindle library lending.  Evidently it went very well and Amazon announced the roll out today.  I have not had a chance to try it out.  My local library is part of the Overdrive Library system, which is what Amazon is supporting, but my library (Cobb County GA) says “coming soon.”.  I will add a new post once I am have been able to try it out.

Here is the press release:

Amazon today announced Kindle Library Lending, a new feature launching later this year that will allow Kindle customers to borrow Kindle books from over 11,000 libraries in the United States. Kindle Library Lending will be available for all generations of Kindle devices and free Kindle reading apps.

“We’re excited that millions of Kindle customers will be able to borrow Kindle books from their local libraries,” said Jay Marine, Director, Amazon Kindle. “Customers tell us they love Kindle for its Pearl e-ink display that is easy to read even in bright sunlight, up to a month of battery life, and Whispersync technology that synchronizes notes, highlights and last page read between their Kindle and free Kindle apps.”

Read more

Outspoken: Conversations on Church Communication

by

Outspoken: Conversations on Church CommunicationTakeaway: Wide ranging book on practical, theological and theoretical importance of communication in the church world.

Purchase Links: Paperback, Kindle Edition

Upfront this is not a normal review.  I did not read it as I normally read, I read it as I was prepping it for the kindle version.  I have not prepped and converted many books, just a handful, but I have done a few based on my own love of ebooks and the desire to get smaller independent books out to a wider audience.  Kevin Hendricks, one of the contributors, contacted me about working on Outspoken because I converted his last book, Open Our Eyes: Seeing the Invisible People of Homelessness.  Outspoken is a very similar style, lots of contributors, lots of short chapters.

Read more

Many Waters by Madeline L’Engle

by

Many Waters (Madeleine L'Engle's Time Quintet)Summary: The twins, Sandy and Denis, go back into biblical history and find their place in their special family.

Purchase Links: Paperback, Kindle Edition

Many Waters is the fourth book in Madeline L’Engle’s Time Quintet.  It was not published until 1986, almost a decade after the third book and 24 years after the first book of the series.  Chronologically, it is set between books 2 and 3.  Because I got these at the library, due to availability, I listened to it in chronological order.

Read more

Dr No by Ian Fleming

by

Dr. NoSummary: Bond fights the bad guy, tries to get the girl

I feel like I watched a lot of James Bond movies growing up.  But when I go back and watch old James Bond I do not remember many.  So maybe I watched the same ones several times?

I have not actually read any of the original books before.  Other than the original Jason Bourne books, I have not really read any of the old spy novels.  I have enjoyed some of the newer, post-cold war spy novels.

Read more

A Wind in the Door by Madeleine L’Engle

by

A Wind in the Door (Madeleine L'Engle's Time Quintet)Takeaway: Continuing with the theme that Love is most important.

Purchase Links: Paperback, Kindle Edition

After reading A Wrinkle in Time, which I have not read in many years, A Wind in the Door was more familiar.  I remembered most of the story line and while it has still been 20 years or so I have read it more recently and more often than Wrinkle in Time.

Read more

Updated About Page and the BlogX Challenge

by

I am participating in Tentblogger BlogX Challenge (modeled after the P90X).  John has been incredibly helpful in giving suggestions and helping me make Bookwi.se a better blog.  (He and Chris Ames even came up with the name.) Todays challenge was to update the About Page.  Since I will hit 700 posts very soon (probably Thursday), … Read more

Amazon May Launch a Netflix for Books

by

According to a Wall Street Journal article (behind a pay wall), Amazon is in talks with publishers to release a Netflix style subscription program for books.  This would be in addition to Amazon’s video streaming service (about 5000 of those movies are free for Prime Members).  TheNextWeb has a free report about the rumor. If the … Read more

Book Giveaways

by

I have had a build up of paper books.  My commitment is to give away the majority of paper books, including all review books. Here are the books I have to give away right now.  The reviews: Uncommon Decency, Jesus, My Father, the CIA and Me, Enemies of the Heart           I … Read more

Luke: The Gospel of Amazement by Michael Card

by

Luke: The Gospel of Amazement (Biblical Imagination)Takeaway: A guided devotional reading of scripture can bring new insights.

The Gospel of Amazement is the latest in my current bible reading strategy.  This is a perfect book to add to a long-term look at Luke.  I have read a small group bible study, a book on a short passage in Luke and my next book will be a very academic commentary.  But Michael Card’s book is more of a ‘devotional commentary’.  Its focus is devotional more than academic, but it still brings in clear academic insights.

Card translated Luke himself.  The chapters of Luke are separated into chapters in the Gospel of Amazement and Card gives commentary on small sections.  I may feel the devotional style more because I actually used it as a devotional.

Read more