Pot Luck #55: Getting the Most Out of Facebook

I have had a Facebook account for a little while, but had not used it until recently. The reason I had signed up for an account was to get the free iTunes music downloads from Ticketmaster. I started to use it more when both of my sisters migrated to it instead of MySpace. I do like it a little better than myspace, but I still don't really "use" it much. I log in every once in a while to see what my friends have posted, but I don't tend to post much. I do seem to get a lot of notifications, though, from various friends who sign up for different applications. This is how I have been introduced to new applications. I had not really tried looking for them until this iHCPL project. So, the application I added was the Pieces of Flair. I found one that I liked and posted it to my profile. I was also not aware of the Library Gifts app. and think this one might be kind of fun. As for applications that I kind of enjoy, or at least have used most often, Superpoke, because I like sending those funny little characters and messages, and I have a 'Lil Green Patch that I try to maintain.

Books, Readers and Beyond: #54 Social Networking Through Books

1. I have not been a member of a book club. Probably because I've always been too shy to want to share my thoughts of a book or that I might actually show my lack of intelligence. I guess if I were to join one, I'd probably join an online club, just so I wouldn't be seen.



2. I don't really have many ideas for a bookclub, see answer above, but if I needed to put one together, I like the ideas of a mother-daughter club and clubs where the members decide on what they would like to read (like the one we already have). Going back to the first group idea, mothers and daughters would bring in suggestions, each individual, and hopefully mom would not have influenced daughter's list. Just to start the club, perhaps getting everyone to read Shannon Hale's The Goose Girl, since there is a reading guide available for this through the Kidsreads site of ReadingGroupGuides.com. Then, after discussing this book, each person can give a brief reason why the group should consider 2 of the titles on their lists, or however many to get through the year. This may take another meeting before a vote can be made. Also, having snacks during the meetings might be nice. Each member could bring a little something, perhaps made together?



3. I looked up The Stand on Shelfari and Library Thing. Reviews were similar, most people who posted liked the book, thought it to be King's best or one of, and there were a few who didn't like it. I guess I didn't find anything too surprising about that, as I agree with those who like the book.

Books, Readers and Beyond: #53 Finding Books Online

1. Doing a search on Google for bookstores near 77346, I found a store called Books N Boxes Plus, Barnes & Noble, and Family Christian Stores. The first one doesn't have an online presence, but I have been there because they have a post office in the store (the "Plus"). They're a used book seller, mostly paperbacks from what I remember. Barnes & Noble is in the mall down the road and most everyone has seen their website. The last one I listed, Family Christian Stores, also has an online presence. I've been in the store once, but not the website. Their site lists items similar to their store, they have Christian gift items as well as books and music. The tabs at the top lets you browse for these. The site is kind of a mini Barnes & Noble, but without some of the extra bells and whistles. You can purchase items online or you can search for a store nearby that may have the items in stock, similar to B&N.





2. I searched for The Stand, Stephen King, and found it in mass market paperback, $8.99, and hardcover, $12.98, at Barnes & Noble. I also searched Katy Budget Books and found the paperback for $8.99, but also found a hardcover for $50.00. They also had downloadable e-books for $50.00 each. I did not find CD copies but did find analog cassettes that could be special order, $88 for part 1 and $96 for part 2. Not much of a discount with these. Apparently, a CD version may not be available. I also searched Amazon and only found print versions and a Kindle copy, $8.99.



3. I liked the eBook in that I could make the text bigger, which made it easier to read off the computer screen. This is the part I don't like, because I have a desktop, I have to sit in my office chair to read the "book." If I could carry my computer around, lie down with it, I probably would enjoy reading eBooks. They are easy to manipulate around in, find exactly what you may want to read about by searching. You're arms don't get tired from having to hold up a heavy book. The eyes may get tired quicker, though, depending on your sensitivity to eye strain. For now, though, I think when it comes to reading a book, I would still like to have the traditional print copy. But if someone wants to give me a Kindle, I wouldn't say no.

Books, Readers and Beyond: #52 What to Read

1. For the read-a-like searches, I used What Should I Read Next? and Library Booklists and Bibliographies. I did two different things in Novelist, and got two very different lists. The first one I tried was the Find Similar Books button, and I chose not to uncheck any of the subjects presented. I only looked at the first page of books and every single book presented had the elements that were most prevalent in the storyline of the book I chose to look up, The Stand by Stephen King. All of the books dealt with some kind of plague or disease spreading througout a community. The second thing I tried was the author read-a-like search and this presented a list of authors to try that might give similar emotions or styles of writing. When I searched What Should I Read Next? the lists presented were predominantly other books by Stephen King with a few titles by other authors. In searching Library Booklists and Bibliographies, I went to booklists: adult fiction first, then searched this list and found If You Like... and clicked on it. From here I clicked on Specific Readalikes and then did a computer search for King, which found him listed in the General Read-Alikes Booklists. I clicked on the one that took me to the site from Christchurch City Libraries, NZ. On this site I clicked on Stephen King under the author listings. This presented a brief article similar to Novelist, but listed more authors to try.


In the past, I usually just used Novelist for this type of search. I probably will continue using Novelist as my first stop only because it's a bit easier to navigate and presents lists I'm typically looking for. The Library Booklists and Bibliographies would be helpful if I'm not finding anything in Novelist or need to find more than what Novelist gives me. I wouldn't try it first only because it takes some time to find the "right list." I wasn't too thrilled with What Should I Read Next? If it usually suggests more titles by the same author it won't be helpful in finding others to try.



2. I used Novelist because the advanced search was excellent for this type of search. Books I found included: Secret of the underground room by John Bellairs and The Ghosts Grave by Peg Kehret for the 13 year old, and Snakes don't miss their mothers: a novel by M.E. Kerr and The Little Gentlemen by Philippa Pearce for the animal lover.



3. Using Novelist I found John Saul and Charles Grant. I then used Library Booklists and Bibliographies and found a Dean Koontz read-a-like list with many authors one of which was Greg Bear.

4. The series is Song of the Lioness. I found a list of the books on Mid-Continent Public Library's juvenile series lists. These are:

1. Alanna: The First Adventure
2. In the Hand of the Goddess
3. The Woman Who Rides Like a Man
4. Lioness Rampant