My Barnes & Noble Nook Adventure - Part III
Saturday, February 13th, 2010
(Part I and Part II of my initiation into the world of eReading were posted in January, 2010)
So a month with the Nook and here I am - sold on the concept, but with a few caveats and a cautious patience in this rare instance of my turning out as an “early adopter”. I’ll say it loud and proud from the first, I love my Nook. And I stand by my assessment of its general (if subtle) superiority to Amazon’s Kindle.
I’ll move straight to the negatives just to get them out of the way so that I’m able to end on a high note (which I could - and seriously should - only attempt in attitude and in writing; never in singing.)
First, there was the bookmark issue. The Nook didn’t hold your place, and in an eight-hundred-and-some page eBook, this was not a clever thing. It was such a fundamental flaw that I could only imagine that the function had worked properly at some point and then a software tweak trailed a wake of disaster through the parts that had already been tested. I know a couple of IT developers; these things happen. On February 9th, B&N released a software update, sideloadable or drifting into your Nook’s ear on the 3G network, that not only seems to have solved the bookmark issue, but it livened up the already decently responsive touchpad, as well.
The battery life is reasonable, although to hear some, it’s an outrage. I’ve only had mine a few weeks and find, now that my Nook’s been charged and depleted a few times, that I can reliably expect eight or so days of reading to a full tank. If this is a problem, I would remind the disgruntled and the inconvenienced that they probably sleep at least once every two weeks and could probably simply charge it then.
The bigger trouble surfaced just this morning. The case cracked at one of the page-turn buttons. This is especially troublesome considering how careful I’ve been with my new prized toy. (The fact that you will never be able to hurl an eBook in a fit of literary letdown like you can a paper-and-binding volume is just a something that will have to be accepted - like death and taxes.) A quick scan of B&N’s message boards revealed that this was a known issue. So I called Customer Service and after a dismally long (though fully warned) wait, I was treated excellently by a young man named Mike who, without quibbling, set me up for a replacement that is due to ship out on Monday.
I asked Mike about the likelihood of it happening again, speculating that my new Nook might very well be made from the same batch of plastic as my old Nook. He was honest, if resigned, and admitted that it could happen again, but that they’re changing materials. So with my warranty, I’ll eventually have a Nook that can stand up to my oh-so-gentle buffing and polishing and cooing at it. (Yes, I love it that much.)
Beyond that, the convenience of the Nook, its shape and heft, the pleasant font settings in the eye-easy eInk, the fact that it stays open to the page when I’m on the elliptical trainer, have all made me a believer. It’s a sleek gadget and I’m not usually all that swayed by sleekness or gadgetiness. I love the instant gratification of purchasing a book as soon as I’m reminded that I want it. I can put hundreds of books (they say fifteen of those hundreds) in my purse and be off.
And I am not immune to the sidelong glances of curiosity and (dare I say it?) envy of those stuck in line at the Post Office with a heavy hardbound - or worse, nothing at all - to read.
There is another thing, though, that has spurred me to a pause of the not-so-gleeful variety. It’s is not a Nook-specific issue, but a point of industry knowledge that I didn’t understand. I had blithely bought into the idea that eBooks, because of their lack of paper, binding, glue, cartons, storage space, shipping costs, and whatnot, were substantially cheaper to produce than their traditional counterparts. I’ve been convinced, by people who know more than I do, that this simply isn’t the case. The estimates are that an eBook may be, at best, $2 to $3 cheaper than its hardback fraternal twin. So, if I just paid $9.99 for Stephen King’s, Under The Dome, instead of its $35 cover price, am I doing harm to the very industry I hope to sustain and have sustain me?
Ultimately, I have high hopes that eReaders and eBooks can be a shot in the arm to modern publishing. So far, I’ve found it a terrific way to buy and read what I want, when I want - all in a slick little Nook that makes me feel “with it”. (No small feat. I’m sadly most often far afield of “it”.) But I do have to examine my reaction to a $25 sticker price on an item that will provide eight to ten hours of insight and entertainment, when I barely grumble anymore at a $10 movie ticket. Priorities, Jamie Mason. Priorities. What the hell is wrong with me?
the world Wonderland, but also changed their lives forever in ways that were both beautiful and tragic. It haunted Alice through her long, eventful life - which included a rumored romance with a prince of England, and sending all three of her sons off to fight in World War I - until, near the age of 80, she finally seemed able to embrace her literary legacy.
Melanie: Read, read, read! Read everything you can, read what’s being published today. And also - respect. Work hard at the craft of writing, give it years of study and practice as you would any other artform. The Internet has made it all too easy to think we’re all writers; the ease of seeing your words instantly on a screen or a blog can lull a person into thinking she doesn’t have to work that hard. We all do.
that succeeds on both the small, personal level and also in the reach for overarching truths about history and about human nature.
literary magazine, XANADU. The name of the poem is Still Life and it went on to win a couple of awards and be anthologized in a book funded by the Ohio Arts Council. I was 20 at the time and surprisingly, I am not embarrassed by the poem!
Gail: Years of writing. It takes a lot of practice just like learning to play an instrument. I heard Grace Paley once say that you should write what you are most afraid to write and also not write unless you are absolutely compelled. I think those two pieces of advice helped me write urgently and authentically. That’s how I wrote my memoir. I’m trying to tap into that for my new book also!
to teach children if someone touches them inappropriately to tell a parent or teacher right away. Praised by parents, educators and the medical community, “My Body Belongs to Me” is a vital tool that can facilitate a lifesaving dialogue. Speaking to children on their own terms, this critically acclaimed book sensitively establishes boundaries for youngsters. In a non-threatening, engaging manner, this guide teaches kids that when it comes to their body, there are some parts that are for “no one else to see” and empowers them to tell a parent or teacher if someone touches them inappropriately. Telling the story of a gender-neutral child who is inappropriately touched by an uncle’s friend, this tale delivers a powerful moral when the youngster reveals the offender and the parents praise the child’s bravery.
Jill: Without a doubt, I could not have accomplished all that I have without the help of my incredible husband. Not only is he supportive and generous with his time, he is there to do the heavy lifting when I haven’t the strength. We spent many a night doing research, editing, writing copy for marketing and stuffing envelopes. Nothing compares to the confidence derived from knowing you have a partner at your side at all times.
Mountain Center, a nurturing artists’ retreat, in a tiny room overlooking the calm and non-judgmental Blue Mountain Lake. The location allowed me, in the writing, to touch on my deepest fears as a mother, as an American and a New Yorker. (Then, of course, I needed many more months of revision to truly get it ready.) The novel takes place in and around the subway system. The edgy poetry of the subway is the foundation for the story, which is about missed connections, about the search for religious or spiritual guidance, and about mothering a young adult in this chaotic world. It asks the reader to suspend easy judgments, so it’s a demanding book in that way. It’s also a story that takes place with a ticking clock in the background – as the novel opens, there are just 31 hours left to change the course of not just one young man’s life, but the lives of many.
Masha: 
self-injury novel for people who hate other self-injury novels. I think of it as a dark comedy. I came up with the premise first and then built up reasons why someone would conceivably try something this ridiculous. The book still isn’t completely plausible–it still is, at least partially, a satire–but my hope is that, when you see how much stuff is crushing Jonah, his plan makes some semblance of sense.
Hannah: Luck. It is hugely, hugely luck. I’ve written thirteen books, but this is the one that was right for the market this second, and it’s the one that found the right people at the right time. Writing a good book is incredibly important, but it’s impossible to deny that, yeah, luck is involved. I’ve written good books that haven’t sold. I’ve also written terrible books I’m thanking God didn’t sell back when I thought they were awesome. Luck is huge.
The Film: “A Merry War” (Directed by Robert Bierman)
The Film: “Kafka” (Directed by Steven Soderbergh)
The Film: “Permanent Midnight” (Directed by David Veloz)
The Film: “Naked Lunch” (Directed by David Cronenberg)
The Film: “Factotum” (Directed by Bent Hamer)
The Film: “Henry and June” (Directed by Philip Kaufman)
The Film: “Sylvia” (Directed by Christine Jeffs)
The Film: “Total Eclipse” (Directed by Agnieszka Holland)
The Film: “Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle” (Directed by Alan Rudolph)
with AuthorScoop
But let’s not be negative. We all know Bob’s a good writer. IndieReader accepts his book for listing (and keeps the whole $149), but he gets 
On the other hand, had Bob had drummed up his own business, allowing the reader to deal directly with Lulu, his haul for 50 books would be $200, which is two visits to Red Lobster and a movie. This is the way successful authors are supposed to live.
