Re: [silk] Books and libraries
I keep all my books in epub, but have considered getting a Kindle device. Calibre will convert to un-DRMed Kindle format if you're willing to do a bit of work. Last time I looked it was also possible to put an epub reader on a rooted Kindle if you want to go that route. On the other hand, those PocketBooks look nice... -- Charles
Re: [silk] Books and libraries
Kindle has cloud storage available so that you can download books only when you need them. There are also kindle apps for iPads and android tablets (which last do take sd cards) --srs (iPad) On 10-Nov-2014, at 06:09, Charles Haynes charles.hay...@gmail.com wrote: I keep all my books in epub, but have considered getting a Kindle device. Calibre will convert to un-DRMed Kindle format if you're willing to do a bit of work. Last time I looked it was also possible to put an epub reader on a rooted Kindle if you want to go that route. On the other hand, those PocketBooks look nice... -- Charles
Re: [silk] Books and libraries (OT)
On Mon, Nov 10, 2014 at 11:39:31AM +1100, Charles Haynes wrote: I keep all my books in epub, but have considered getting a Kindle device. Calibre will convert to un-DRMed Kindle format if you're willing to do a bit of work. Last time I looked it was also possible to put an epub reader on a rooted Kindle if you want to go that route. Thanks, I realize there are converters but problem is, not all documents like being converted :-). So I wanted to max my ability to read stuff without converting. Say, I can convert Postscript document to PDF, I grok they are similar under the hood - yes it's still possible to find something in PS, even today. Or one can have some old stuff and want to read it again. But converting ps to epub... Maybe not. Especially if I don't have to. I guess one can also make native readers for Kindle, so one could open those Postscripts on the device. But this means diminishing built-in flash storage. On the other hand, those PocketBooks look nice... I watched some videos on youtube before making decision. Of course there are more brands to choose from. BTW, since we talk about choice. The story about removing 1984 from people's Kindles made me appreciate more an idea of device that doesn't have to connect back home to be usable: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/18/technology/companies/18amazon.html?_r=0 I don't really care what's the name of business who did it. It's just choice of technology for me. Some of it I like and some of it I avoid. -- Regards, Tomasz Rola -- ** A C programmer asked whether computer had Buddha's nature. ** ** As the answer, master did rm -rif on the programmer's home** ** directory. And then the C programmer became enlightened... ** ** ** ** Tomasz Rola mailto:tomasz_r...@bigfoot.com **
Re: [silk] Books and libraries
On Mon, Nov 10, 2014 at 6:09 AM, Charles Haynes charles.hay...@gmail.com wrote: On the other hand, those PocketBooks look nice... Kobo makes some nice looking devices too. Very-Kindlish. Haven't bothered to check how open they are -- any clue? -- b
Re: [silk] Books and libraries
So many books to read, so little time! /ahem Popping up to say a) thank you for all the book recommendations that I will now feel compelled to read, and b) on top of what Thaths said, an e-ink device really is that much easier on the eyes--borrowed a Kindle, no problems reading in glare and in dimmer conditions. Would buy one if I can figure out an easy way round the DRM issues in Singapore. Chew Lin On Fri, Nov 7, 2014 at 1:17 AM, Sandhya aka Sandy sandhya.varn...@gmail.com wrote: That's a timely Q. I just finished reading Feast of Roses by Indu Sundaresan. It's the second book on Nur Jahan. The 1st is The Twentieth Wife and I haven't read that yet. A fascinating read and makes the Mughal era come to life. A formidable woman who was the power behind the throne of Jahangir at a time when women were just supposed to hangout in the harem. Descriptive, evocative, the staggering wealth and scale of living come to life. The plotting and scheming of the people seem very real. Frankly, I was never a fan of Mughal history because of the way it was thrust on us at school - dates to mug up, wars to remember, and dry accounts of # of elephants and camels and horses - I used to tune out. Now if they had books like these.. it made me curious about history and I started googling on the Mughal emperors. Cheers Sandhya On Wed, Nov 5, 2014 at 3:30 PM, Sankarshan Mukhopadhyay sankarshan.mukhopadh...@gmail.com wrote: On Wed, Nov 5, 2014 at 3:23 PM, Venkatesh Hariharan ven...@gmail.com wrote: Dava Sobel's Longitude is a fascinating account of how longitude was fixed. I never realized how challenging this task was. On that note, https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17239116-everest---the-first-ascent is an interesting read as well. -- sankarshan mukhopadhyay https://about.me/sankarshan.mukhopadhyay
Re: [silk] Books and libraries
Chew Lin Kay wrote: Would buy one if I can figure out an easy way round the DRM issues in Singapore. Chew Lin If the DRM issue you are worried about is being able to buy from the Kindle Store in Singapore, there's a very easy workaround. Sign up for a free account at ComGateway or vPost and you will get a valid US address. Add that to your Amazon account and make it your primary address - voila! The Kindle Store is now open for you. Amazon does not care that your credit card on file with them has a Singapore address, unlike some other websites I could name coughHulucough. Amazon still won't directly ship a Kindle to you in Singapore so that vPost/ComGateway address is actually mandatory if you want to buy a Kindle reader. -- Balaji Dutt
Re: [silk] Books and libraries
Thanks for the tip! I was very intrigued because on a recent vacation to Indonesia, a friend was able to purchase off the Amazon store while he isn't able to do so in Singapore. (I guess the other workaround is the thousands of books available for free download regardless of whether I can buy off the Amazon store...) On Sun, Nov 9, 2014 at 12:44 PM, Balaji Dutt balaji.d...@gmail.com wrote: Chew Lin Kay wrote: Would buy one if I can figure out an easy way round the DRM issues in Singapore. Chew Lin If the DRM issue you are worried about is being able to buy from the Kindle Store in Singapore, there's a very easy workaround. Sign up for a free account at ComGateway or vPost and you will get a valid US address. Add that to your Amazon account and make it your primary address - voila! The Kindle Store is now open for you. Amazon does not care that your credit card on file with them has a Singapore address, unlike some other websites I could name coughHulucough. Amazon still won't directly ship a Kindle to you in Singapore so that vPost/ComGateway address is actually mandatory if you want to buy a Kindle reader. -- Balaji Dutt
Re: [silk] Books and libraries
That's a timely Q. I just finished reading Feast of Roses by Indu Sundaresan. It's the second book on Nur Jahan. The 1st is The Twentieth Wife and I haven't read that yet. A fascinating read and makes the Mughal era come to life. A formidable woman who was the power behind the throne of Jahangir at a time when women were just supposed to hangout in the harem. Descriptive, evocative, the staggering wealth and scale of living come to life. The plotting and scheming of the people seem very real. Frankly, I was never a fan of Mughal history because of the way it was thrust on us at school - dates to mug up, wars to remember, and dry accounts of # of elephants and camels and horses - I used to tune out. Now if they had books like these.. it made me curious about history and I started googling on the Mughal emperors. Cheers Sandhya On Wed, Nov 5, 2014 at 3:30 PM, Sankarshan Mukhopadhyay sankarshan.mukhopadh...@gmail.com wrote: On Wed, Nov 5, 2014 at 3:23 PM, Venkatesh Hariharan ven...@gmail.com wrote: Dava Sobel's Longitude is a fascinating account of how longitude was fixed. I never realized how challenging this task was. On that note, https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17239116-everest---the-first-ascent is an interesting read as well. -- sankarshan mukhopadhyay https://about.me/sankarshan.mukhopadhyay
Re: [silk] Books and libraries
On 03-Nov-2014, at 4:09 pm, Nikhil Mehra nikhil.mehra...@gmail.com wrote: Just hearing that Eloor is still around is a massive nostalgia fix. Thanks! On 3 Nov 2014 16:06, Alok G. Singh alephn...@gmail.com wrote: Bharat Shetty bharat.she...@gmail.com writes: Anyone on this lists borrow books regularly from libraries in Bengaluru ? I still frequent Eloor (Infantry Road). They are a bit old-school and not as easy as Just Books but if you like that sort of thing, it's a good nostalgia fix. -- Alok This is NOT a repeat. Nikhil: Eloor Library is in South Extension, Part 1 in Delhi too. My wife and I like the collection there. Anil Kumar
Re: [silk] Books and libraries
On 05-Nov-2014, at 2:08 pm, Anil Kumar anilkumar.naga...@gmail.com wrote: On 03-Nov-2014, at 4:09 pm, Nikhil Mehra nikhil.mehra...@gmail.com wrote: Just hearing that Eloor is still around is a massive nostalgia fix. Thanks! On 3 Nov 2014 16:06, Alok G. Singh alephn...@gmail.com wrote: Bharat Shetty bharat.she...@gmail.com writes: Anyone on this lists borrow books regularly from libraries in Bengaluru ? I still frequent Eloor (Infantry Road). They are a bit old-school and not as easy as Just Books but if you like that sort of thing, it's a good nostalgia fix. -- Alok This is NOT a repeat. Nikhil: Eloor Library is in South Extension, Part 1 in Delhi too. My wife and I like the collection there. Anil Kumar UPDATE Apologies. I just read Eloor closed its Delhi branch early this year. Anil Kumar
Re: [silk] Books and libraries
Dava Sobel's Longitude is a fascinating account of how longitude was fixed. I never realized how challenging this task was. On Nov 3, 2014 8:34 AM, Thaths tha...@gmail.com wrote: On Mon Nov 03 2014 at 1:21:36 PM Bharat Shetty bharat.she...@gmail.com wrote: That said, which has been the best historical fiction that one would recommend to me ? Non-fiction recommendations are also welcome. A few historical non-fiction books I read recently and really enjoyed: 1. 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus 2. 1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created 3. A Strange Kind of Paradise: India Through Foreign Eyes Thaths
Re: [silk] Books and libraries
On Wed, Nov 5, 2014 at 3:23 PM, Venkatesh Hariharan ven...@gmail.com wrote: Dava Sobel's Longitude is a fascinating account of how longitude was fixed. I never realized how challenging this task was. On that note, https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17239116-everest---the-first-ascent is an interesting read as well. -- sankarshan mukhopadhyay https://about.me/sankarshan.mukhopadhyay
Re: [silk] Books and libraries
Message: 12 Date: Mon, 3 Nov 2014 16:09:19 +0530 From: Nikhil Mehra nikhil.mehra...@gmail.com To: Intelligent Conversation silklist@lists.hserus.net Subject: Re: [silk] Books and libraries Message-ID: caabxohj7pfqceqca434+kx1kqqhh5nl+fuv27vpgqer...@mail.gmail.com Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Just hearing that Eloor is still around is a massive nostalgia fix. Thanks! I too go to Eloor Library on Infantry Road. The men there know exactly where each book is (kinda like Blossom) which I enjoy. I also am a member of Just Books but the staff at my Frazer Town branch isn’t knowledgeable. Nikhil: when you return to Bengaluru next, you must visit Atta Galatta. It is the best bookstore— notwithstanding the old stalwarts on Church street— in the newly renamed Bengaluru and since I am from Chennai and can deal with the name change, I can deal with Bengaluru as well. The change to Gulbarga however is a mouth full and I cannot remember it. Don’t know much about naval history books, but I subscribe to this podcast called “Military History Podcast” which is basically one man describing (rather dourly but succinctly) different things about military. Stumbled upon it when I was researching Ninjas.
Re: [silk] Books and libraries
On Wed, Nov 5, 2014 at 7:35 AM, Shoba Narayan sh...@shobanarayan.com wrote: Message: 12 Date: Mon, 3 Nov 2014 16:09:19 +0530 From: Nikhil Mehra nikhil.mehra...@gmail.com To: Intelligent Conversation silklist@lists.hserus.net Subject: Re: [silk] Books and libraries Message-ID: caabxohj7pfqceqca434+kx1kqqhh5nl+fuv27vpgqer...@mail.gmail.com Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Just hearing that Eloor is still around is a massive nostalgia fix. Thanks! I too go to Eloor Library on Infantry Road. The men there know exactly where each book is (kinda like Blossom) which I enjoy. I also am a member of Just Books but the staff at my Frazer Town branch isn’t knowledgeable. Nikhil: when you return to Bengaluru next, you must visit Atta Galatta. It is the best bookstore— notwithstanding the old stalwarts on Church street— in the newly renamed Bengaluru and since I am from Chennai and can deal with the name change, I can deal with Bengaluru as well. The change to Gulbarga however is a mouth full and I cannot remember it. Don’t know much about naval history books, but I subscribe to this podcast called “Military History Podcast” which is basically one man describing (rather dourly but succinctly) different things about military. Stumbled upon it when I was researching Ninjas. Thanks everyone for the nice recommendations. I'm close to finishing the No Time to Hide, by now. Atta Galatta sounds interesting and I must go there to see if there are any Kannada books that I can get. Though Eloor sounds tempting, it is quite far from where I live. Sometimes, I wish there were nice public libraries in India like the US setups. Regarding podcasts, I hear they've been quite the rage since the death of RSS as a subscriber medium recently. But, one thing that I hate about podcasts is that they are not accessible to people like me with hearing impairedness without transcripts. That said, I wonder what would one recommend as a nifty gadget to read ebooks these days ? I'm divided between Amazon's latest ebook reader - Kindle Voyage and Google's Nexus tablet. Cheers, Bharat
Re: [silk] Books and libraries
On Wed, Nov 5, 2014 at 8:16 AM, Bharat Shetty bharat.she...@gmail.com wrote: Atta Galatta sounds interesting and I must go there to see if there are any Kannada books that I can get. One half of the couple that runs it is on this list (trying to shame him into posting) :) Udhay -- ((Udhay Shankar N)) ((udhay @ pobox.com)) ((www.digeratus.com))
Re: [silk] Books and libraries
On Wed Nov 05 2014 at 1:46:20 PM Bharat Shetty bharat.she...@gmail.com wrote: That said, I wonder what would one recommend as a nifty gadget to read ebooks these days ? I'm divided between Amazon's latest ebook reader - Kindle Voyage and Google's Nexus tablet. If you want a single purpose device optimized for reading text with a battery that lasts for weeks on end get the e-ink device. You don't necessarily have to get their latest and greatest. Even one a couple of generations old will serve the purpose. If you want a multi-purpose device where you can read a book, check your email, do the crossword, lookup a recipe, etc., get a Nexus tablet. Battery usually lasts ~3 days of moderate use. Thaths
Re: [silk] Books and libraries
Bharat Shetty bharat.she...@gmail.com writes: Anyone on this lists borrow books regularly from libraries in Bengaluru ? I still frequent Eloor (Infantry Road). They are a bit old-school and not as easy as Just Books but if you like that sort of thing, it's a good nostalgia fix. -- Alok This is NOT a repeat.
Re: [silk] Books and libraries
Just hearing that Eloor is still around is a massive nostalgia fix. Thanks! On 3 Nov 2014 16:06, Alok G. Singh alephn...@gmail.com wrote: Bharat Shetty bharat.she...@gmail.com writes: Anyone on this lists borrow books regularly from libraries in Bengaluru ? I still frequent Eloor (Infantry Road). They are a bit old-school and not as easy as Just Books but if you like that sort of thing, it's a good nostalgia fix. -- Alok This is NOT a repeat.
Re: [silk] Books and libraries
-- B On Mon, Nov 3, 2014 at 7:51 AM, Bharat Shetty bharat.she...@gmail.com wrote: I was curious about these questions of late: Anyone on this lists borrow books regularly from libraries in Bengaluru ? Are there any ebook lending libraries around in Bengaluru ? Sorry, scratch the ebook library thing which happened in a moment of cognitive failure. I meant to say can people share ebooks around legally amongst each other ? That said, which has been the best historical fiction that one would recommend to me ? Non-fiction recommendations are also welcome. I've been reading Greenwald's No Place to Hide as well as Men of Mathematics, both of which are very fascinating reads. Regards, - Bharat
Re: [silk] Books and libraries
In terms of historical fiction, two words leap to mind: Aubrey and Maturin. Which is to say, a very long and pretty well 100% excellent series in the British Naval Fiction genre by Patrick O'Brian. On Sun, Nov 2, 2014 at 6:21 PM, Bharat Shetty bharat.she...@gmail.com wrote: I was curious about these questions of late: Anyone on this lists borrow books regularly from libraries in Bengaluru ? Are there any ebook lending libraries around in Bengaluru ? That said, which has been the best historical fiction that one would recommend to me ? Non-fiction recommendations are also welcome. I've been reading Greenwald's No Place to Hide as well as Men of Mathematics, both of which are very fascinating reads. Regards, - Bharat -- - Tim Bray (If you’d like to send me a private message, see https://keybase.io/timbray)
Re: [silk] Books and libraries
Fully agreed. I have the entire set (also in pdf format besides paperback) and have reread the canon maybe over a dozen times so far. It reads like dickens would if he ever turned his hand to naval fiction. And I know ex Navy types and people who have actually built and crewed replica 19th century sailing ships who have been stunned by the accuracy of his sailing details. On November 3, 2014 8:03:49 AM Tim Bray tb...@textuality.com wrote: In terms of historical fiction, two words leap to mind: Aubrey and Maturin. Which is to say, a very long and pretty well 100% excellent series in the British Naval Fiction genre by Patrick O'Brian. On Sun, Nov 2, 2014 at 6:21 PM, Bharat Shetty bharat.she...@gmail.com wrote: I was curious about these questions of late: Anyone on this lists borrow books regularly from libraries in Bengaluru ? Are there any ebook lending libraries around in Bengaluru ? That said, which has been the best historical fiction that one would recommend to me ? Non-fiction recommendations are also welcome. I've been reading Greenwald's No Place to Hide as well as Men of Mathematics, both of which are very fascinating reads. Regards, - Bharat -- - Tim Bray (If you’d like to send me a private message, see https://keybase.io/timbray)
Re: [silk] Books and libraries
On Mon Nov 03 2014 at 1:21:36 PM Bharat Shetty bharat.she...@gmail.com wrote: That said, which has been the best historical fiction that one would recommend to me ? Non-fiction recommendations are also welcome. A few historical non-fiction books I read recently and really enjoyed: 1. 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus 2. 1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created 3. A Strange Kind of Paradise: India Through Foreign Eyes Thaths
Re: [silk] Books and libraries
Antony Beevor's ww2 history, all what looks like 1000+ pages of it. Still plowing through it but it looks like a stupendous read On November 3, 2014 8:34:56 AM Thaths tha...@gmail.com wrote: On Mon Nov 03 2014 at 1:21:36 PM Bharat Shetty bharat.she...@gmail.com wrote: That said, which has been the best historical fiction that one would recommend to me ? Non-fiction recommendations are also welcome. A few historical non-fiction books I read recently and really enjoyed: 1. 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus 2. 1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created 3. A Strange Kind of Paradise: India Through Foreign Eyes Thaths
Re: [silk] Books and libraries
On Mon, Nov 3, 2014 at 8:34 AM, Thaths tha...@gmail.com wrote: A few historical non-fiction books I read recently and really enjoyed: 1. 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus 2. 1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created 3. A Strange Kind of Paradise: India Through Foreign Eyes I was surprised by the last one. For some reason I hadn't expected it to be as engaging as it turned out. -- sankarshan mukhopadhyay https://about.me/sankarshan.mukhopadhyay
Re: [silk] Books and libraries
I use JustBooks. Not as good as a bookstore, but decent enough. Good for all the thrillers that I used to buy, but now just borrow. On Mon, Nov 3, 2014 at 7:51 AM, Bharat Shetty bharat.she...@gmail.com wrote: Anyone on this lists borrow books regularly from libraries in Bengaluru ?
Re: [silk] Books and libraries
For whatever it's worth (and it's not much) I named the protagonist of my 1st novel (Acts of the Apostles) Nick Aubrey because I was deeply immersed in reading the Patrick O'Brien Aubrey/Maturin novels at the time I was writing my book and Nick Aubrey is as close as I could get to O'Brien's Jack Aubrey. Other than that, my books and O'Briens' have nothing in common. jrs On Nov 2, 2014, at 9:53 PM, Suresh Ramasubramanian wrote: Fully agreed. I have the entire set (also in pdf format besides paperback) and have reread the canon maybe over a dozen times so far. It reads like dickens would if he ever turned his hand to naval fiction. And I know ex Navy types and people who have actually built and crewed replica 19th century sailing ships who have been stunned by the accuracy of his sailing details. On November 3, 2014 8:03:49 AM Tim Bray tb...@textuality.com wrote: In terms of historical fiction, two words leap to mind: Aubrey and Maturin. Which is to say, a very long and pretty well 100% excellent series in the British Naval Fiction genre by Patrick O'Brian. On Sun, Nov 2, 2014 at 6:21 PM, Bharat Shetty bharat.she...@gmail.com wrote: I was curious about these questions of late: Anyone on this lists borrow books regularly from libraries in Bengaluru ? Are there any ebook lending libraries around in Bengaluru ? That said, which has been the best historical fiction that one would recommend to me ? Non-fiction recommendations are also welcome. I've been reading Greenwald's No Place to Hide as well as Men of Mathematics, both of which are very fascinating reads. Regards, - Bharat -- - Tim Bray (If you’d like to send me a private message, see https://keybase.io/timbray)
Re: [silk] Books and libraries
That said, which has been the best historical fiction that one would recommend to me ? Have you read the Baroque Cycle by Neal Stephenson yet? Eight volumes, collected in three books, happily skirts the line between historical fiction and SFF, and is both informative and rollicking at the same time.
