キャミー・タング著「戌年」連載小説 プロのドッグトレーナーであるマリ・ムトウは、厄年を迎えている。 犬小屋と訓練所の改築をしながら、いつも不服そうにしている家族と同居することになった。母と姉に言わせれば、犬の毛とよだれかけにまみれる仕事は、家族にとって恥ずべきものだという。彼女は元カレを説得し、数ヶ月間犬を預かってもらうことにした。しかし、彼の兄は、数週間前に彼女が誤って車に追突した、怒り狂ったセキュリティ専門家であることが判明する。 アシュウィン・ケイトウは十分な問題を抱えている。叔母が玄関先に現れ、同居を希望している。彼は彼女にすべてを借りているので、断ることができません。母親が家を出て行った後、ネルおばさんはアシュウィンと弟を引き取り、愛のあるキリスト教の家庭で育てた。しかも、弟のダスティもアパートを追い出され、居場所を求めている。しかし、彼は犬を飼っている。そして、その犬の飼い主は誰だと思いますか? しかし、旧友でオアフ島のノースショアでデイスパを経営する私立探偵のエディサ・ゲレロから依頼を受ける。マリの施設で奇妙な破壊行為があり、3年前に失踪したエディサの妹の財布を発見する。エディサはマリが危険な目に遭っているのではと心配する。警備の専門家であるアシュウィンがすでにマリを知っていることを知ったエディサは、忙しい若い女性を密かに監視することを彼に依頼する。 アシュウィンは、活発でのんびりとしたドッグトレーナーに不本意ながら惹かれていく。彼女は、幸せそうな母親を思い出させる。その母親の裏切りによって、彼は人と距離を置くようになったのだ。マリは、アシュウィンの冷たい外見を見抜き、彼が家族に忠実な男であることを認める。彼は、彼女のキャリア選択を批判するだけの母親や姉とは違う。 マリのバラバラな家庭とアシュウィンのバラバラな家庭の中で、過去を隠そうとする人たちから、彼らの周りに危険が迫ってくるようになる。彼らは、影で動く秘密に光を当てることができるのか? 過去に発表されたパートへのリンクはこちら。 *** 第8章 - 恐ろしくも真っ白な不動産書類 『みんな仲良くできないのかな?』 マリは無用に力を込めて箱に本を投げ入れた。最近、なぜ彼女は人生の中で全員と言い争いをしているのだろう?もしかすると、これは本当に悪いアイデア
Captain's Log, Stardate 11.24.2009
I totally want a Barnes & Noble Nook ebook reader.
Seriously, I’m in luuuuuuuuuuv.
I’ve been using the Sony eReader for several months now, and I LOVE using it. The screen size is really nice and I like the portability of being able to take my ebooks with me wherever I go.
I’ve also used it for writing—I loaded my story synopsis, notes, and unfinished manuscript on it (I saved them as .html documents and then used Calibre to convert them into .lrf format). Then I took my eReader and my Alphasmart Neo (it’s a small, conveniently portable word processor) to the coffee shop to write—no internet access (which is key for me to have good productivity) and I still had my synopsis, notes, and my manuscript on my eReader as reference.
I’ve been getting all my new books as ebooks lately because (a) it’s cheaper than print books and (b) the books don’t take up shelf space. I have three bookshelves packed 3-stacks deep on every shelf, PLUS books in plastic bins stacked on top of each other. (Yes, Camy is a little crazy about her book collection!)
Basically, if my books fell on me, I’d be dead.
Back to the Nook. While I like the Sony eReader a lot, the one I have is not really compatible with Macs. I can load ebooks on there, but I have to take a few extra steps for each book since I’m converting them from one format (.pdb, Palm eReader) to another (.lrf).
The Nook, on the other hand, reads .pdb files already and is compatible with Macs. The Nook would just make it a lot easier for me to read my already-purchased ebooks, which are in .pdb format because I sometimes read my ebooks on my computer, and .pdb is compatible with Macs.
The Nooks are already sold out until January, butI am thinking that I would like to preorder one. Update: My mom is going to get me one for my Christmas present! It'll arrive in January, but who cares???? I'm so excited!
How about you? Do you read ebooks? Do you use an ebook reader?
I totally want a Barnes & Noble Nook ebook reader.
Seriously, I’m in luuuuuuuuuuv.
I’ve been using the Sony eReader for several months now, and I LOVE using it. The screen size is really nice and I like the portability of being able to take my ebooks with me wherever I go.
I’ve also used it for writing—I loaded my story synopsis, notes, and unfinished manuscript on it (I saved them as .html documents and then used Calibre to convert them into .lrf format). Then I took my eReader and my Alphasmart Neo (it’s a small, conveniently portable word processor) to the coffee shop to write—no internet access (which is key for me to have good productivity) and I still had my synopsis, notes, and my manuscript on my eReader as reference.
I’ve been getting all my new books as ebooks lately because (a) it’s cheaper than print books and (b) the books don’t take up shelf space. I have three bookshelves packed 3-stacks deep on every shelf, PLUS books in plastic bins stacked on top of each other. (Yes, Camy is a little crazy about her book collection!)
Basically, if my books fell on me, I’d be dead.
Back to the Nook. While I like the Sony eReader a lot, the one I have is not really compatible with Macs. I can load ebooks on there, but I have to take a few extra steps for each book since I’m converting them from one format (.pdb, Palm eReader) to another (.lrf).
The Nook, on the other hand, reads .pdb files already and is compatible with Macs. The Nook would just make it a lot easier for me to read my already-purchased ebooks, which are in .pdb format because I sometimes read my ebooks on my computer, and .pdb is compatible with Macs.
The Nooks are already sold out until January, but
How about you? Do you read ebooks? Do you use an ebook reader?
Comments
And I totally understand about your book collection. Where do you put them all, including the 20 or so you add every month? Well, I want to do something like my grandmother. She has property out in the boonies, and on that piece of property she has four houses that are little more than storage for all her books. I love perusing her library :).
~Sasafras
The only downside to ebooks: I can't share them. None of my friends have ebook readers yet and so ... well, my personal library might be closing.
My agent has the Kindle and LOVES it! I totally believe that after using my Sony so much.
Camy
Want one.
I also love that the Nook has a color touch screen! That is just way cool!
And I have an update! My mom is buying me a Nook for my Xmas present! (Altho it won't arrive until after the New Year.) I begged, she caved. :) Plus it was better for me to ask for what I really wanted rather than leaving it to chance, because then I might get something I can't use. You know how that goes...
Camy
That may be interesting.
I test drove a Sony eReader during the summer and yes, absolutely loved it as well. I could have bought it at a very reduced rate too except for one thing--it wasn't backlit. I decided to keep my money and wait until the non-Kindle one I really wanted came on the market.
Now I'll go check the Nook and Slate and see if they're what I've been waiting for.
Thanks Camy and Rick.
I like the ereaders because they've got that eInk technology, which is much easier on the eyes than traditional backlit screens like most computer monitors and the iPhone/iPod Touch. You can read an eInk eReader for hours without eye strain.
So Anita Mae, that's why the big eReaders aren't backlit. If you got a backlit one, it might be a little harder on your eyes for longer reading periods of time.
Camy