My Snowman wants a Kindle

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Winter is my favorite season.  I love the smell of cold crisp air and everything that goes with it, from a fresh snowfall and building snowmen, to wearing several layers of clothes and reading a good book, all while trying to keep the house warm with a fire roaring in the fireplace.  

Seven years ago when my family was moving to Omaha, our realtor told us “it snows A LOT in Omaha.”  What I’ve since learned is that ‘A LOT’ is relative.  Moving from Minnesota, where snow stays on the ground from November to late March, it’s safe to say that I’m still waiting for a few 20 inch plus snowfalls to bring a big smile to my face. 

So, here I sit, patiently waiting for our next snowstorm – this is where my story begins…

History of the SnowmanWhen I have a few hours to myself, you can usually find me at my local bookstore.  I enjoy scouring bookshelves for books I haven’t read and authors waiting to be discovered.  Last week, my journey proved to be successful when I found a copy of The History of the Snowman, written by Bob Eckstein.  The title alone felt like a hug on a cold night, and I knew I had to read this book.

I must admit, I had never given much about the history of the snowman until seeing this book on display.  I picked up a copy, bought a latte, and started reading.  Here are some of the fun facts in the book: 

• The first recorded snowman dates back to a manuscript from 1380, where he is shown sitting on a bench, warming his backside by a bonfire – our ancestors had a sense of humor!
• The Miracle of 1511: Almost 500 years ago, Brussels had so much snow during said winter that the entire city was covered in snowmen.  I wasn’t sure I believed this story when I first read it but I did a little research and can confirm the story is legendary.
• It takes 1 billion snowflakes to build an average size snowman.
• Looking at the photos in this book and doing a little research online has opened my eyes to the creativity some people have when creating their snowperson.  I say snowperson because Olympia is a snowwoman and stood 12 stories high at the time of her official measurement, which makes her the largest snowman on record.

After reading this book, I bought a few copies to give for gifts this year.  It’s a great gift for people you need to buy for, but it’s not to personal.

To Kindle or not to Kindle, this is the question of this holiday season!

Amazon KindleHave you ever had the feeling that you own something that no one else has, yet everyone wants?  This is the look I see when I’m talking to a new Kindle owner. It’s more of a glow, actually.

While at a convention last month, the women traveling with Kindle’s felt like members of an exclusive club.  They bragged, just enough to make us all envious, about the technology and how the pages load with real ink to make it look like you are reading from a book.  A few women bought books right in front of us to show us how easy it is!  By the time I left the conference, I had convinced myself that I might enjoy an e-reader.  I must get one, I thought, today if possible.

On the flight home, the gal sitting next to me was so excited to be traveling with her Kindle.  It was stocked with books and she was very excited to start reading, she even had that special ‘Kindle glow’.  Imagine her surprise when the flight attendant asked us to turn off electronics and we ended up sitting on the runway for an hour.  Of course no one could have predicted this event and I felt bad for her knowing how excited she was.  She looked at me and said “I guess I didn’t think this through, did I”? 

I love the idea of the Kindle. Having recently traveled with Wolf Hall (a 530+ page hardcover) and a few extra reading options for a four day trip, it would have been so nice to grab the Kindle and go. Yet, while I do appreciate it the advancement forward, I love the feel of a book in my hand a little more. 

Is an e-reader on your wish list this year?  If you have one, has it transformed your reading/shopping experience?

Upcoming Releases

If you are an avid reader there are so many new book releases to get excited about this time of year. Don’t forget you can also reserve upcoming releases at your library (I did this last night, for several of the titles below):

January 4: Committed by Elizabeth Gilbert
January 12: The Swan Thieves by Elizabeth Kostova
January 21: The Brightest Star in the Sky by Marian Keyes
February 2: Secrets of Eden by Chris Bohjalian
February 2: Sweet Little Lies by Lauren Conrad
February 2: Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah
February 9: Brava, Valentine by Adriana Trigiani
March 2: House Rules: A Novel by Jodi Picoult

I have the urge to read something with suspense, has anyone read a Stieg Larsson novel?  What are you reading this month? 

Happy Reading, Mari