Book Formats

I remember a time when the only way to read a book was to actually own or borrow an actual printed book - hardback or paperback. And although I still love the feel and smell of books, I enjoy the fact that we have so many more options available to us now. The three books I completed recently are great examples of this variety.

I ordered a used paperback version of The Story of Beautiful Girlby Rachel Simon because the description of the main characters (Lynnie - a young white woman with a developmental disability, Homan - an African American deaf man, Martha - a retired widowed school teacher, and Julia - a baby girl) drew me in. Having grown up in a home with Sister (my mentally and physically handicapped aunt), I'm always intrigued by stories that include people with disabilities. Maybe because I am a teacher by passion and training, the inclusion of the retired school teacher captured my curiosity, too. I was not disappointed - this was a page-turner, can't-put-it-down kind of book that covers forty years in the lives of the characters as they struggle through obstacles that include a state institution (the School for the Incurable and Feebleminded), a secret that haunts the young white woman, a pact to hide the baby that causes numerous moves and lies, and misunderstandings to the disabilities involved. The story begins with Lynnie and Homan escaping from the institution, Lynnie giving birth to the baby girl, and the three of them arriving on Martha's doorstep shortly before the authorities arrive to return Lynnie and Homan to the institution. Lynnie is returned, Homan escapes, and Martha vows to hide the baby. I'm not giving away any spoilers on this one - you'll have to read it for yourself!!

I downloaded The Sky Beneath My Feetby Lisa Samson (free from Booksneeze) to my Kindle. This Christian fiction book focuses on Beth and her thoughts and epiphanies as she deals with: her husband (the Men's Pastor at a large affluent church) who decides to hole up for three weeks in their shed waiting on a revelation from the Lord; her youngest son who is smoking marijuana; her own uncertainty about who she is and her lost dreams, etc. Honestly the story was ok, however I wouldn't recommend the book as it was slow to get into and I never felt a connection or interest in the characters (if that makes sense!). Despite understanding that the author was showing us a change in Beth from a pastor's wife going through the motions to someone wanting to make a difference in the world around her, the story just didn't draw me in.

I downloaded a pdf file of Crafting Your Business by Lain Ehmann to my computer and learned a great deal from Lain's 30-day plan for creating an online business. I was most interested in the suggestions for purchasing your domain name and using Wordpress as a blog platform as I am looking into making a few changes in my blog over the next several months. This was an easy-to-read, practical guide that I would definitely recommend for anyone interested in building a business online.

Isn't it amazing that we can read a printed book or a book on a Kindle or a book on our computer or even use an app to read a book on our smart phones! What book formats have you been reading lately?