Bookish Apps

Well, none of us is untouched by technology. And we, as bibliophiles, read voraciously, e-books abound, we read through reviews online on blogs and websites. So, there is no gainsaying that we have become dependent on it too.
If websites start dominating our bookish lives, app developers couldn't be far behind. Who wouldn't want to have access to a repository of books, reviews, barter and other such bookish services.
Here is a list of apps we recommend:

1. The Must-Have App :: Goodreads : Well, goes without saying, a bibliophile is incomplete without updating her reading statuses on goodreads, then writing a review and rating when we are done, and then browsing through other people's reviews to find consolation that we are not alone, and seeing it through other people's perspectives.

2. For the audio-book Junkie :: Smart AudioBook Player: If you don't mind shelving out a few bucks for complete pleasure, it is heaven on earth. designed specially for playing audio books, this app is the best audio book app we have out there.

3. Lending was never this easy :: barter.li : This app helps you to connect with books, the ones you need, and their owners, and then it lets you chat with them to exchange the books at preferably a coffee shop. Now that revives the romantic idea of reading and coffee!
More about it here

What are you waiting for? Get these apps NOW!

barter.li: connecting books with their readers

barter.li

So, you are broke, but you cannot resist buying the bestseller everyone is talking about?

That famous book is being adapted into a movie, and online stores are running out of copies?

You need that book for a project or assignment and in a bad turn of events, it doesn’t seem to be available anywhere?

Or do you have a rusty bookshelf, with tons of books you read a long time back? Why not share them with others?

barter.li is the place to be.

Logo:

A small tribute to Aaron Swartz and a step towards continuing his legacy!

Yes, that is the philosophy behind barter.li

Aaron Swartz was a computer programming prodigy and activist who played an instrumental role in the campaign for a free and open Internet and used technology to fight social, corporate and political injustices.

Aaron Swartz stood for what he believed was fair and just. In his fight against SOPA he helped preserve our freedom to connect and with his several other contributions he preserved our freedom to collaborate. His life and work were testimony to his love for solving society’s problems with technology. His life inspires us to have curiosity and stand by our sense of righteousness. A year back he left us all and the world was a lesser place. Especially moved by his efforts to free knowledge and would like to carry forward his legacy, the founders at barter.li kickstarted an open source and community led project to enable and encourage free exchange of knowledge.

Wanna know how it works:

How is it different?

So, well, you may ask this app has been made for booklovers, so what?

This app is literally a trailblazer. The idea is simple – to create a virtual community of book lovers who can buy/sell/barter books with other like-minded people; but the scale is large – we want a global audience. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the app is just unbelievable, the dream of every bibliophile.

Remember those cartons full of books you have lying in the garage and cupboards? Imagine if you could trade every book you own for books that you’ve always wanted to read.

This app precisely lets you do that- on a global scale!

Our review: 

We give this app Thumbs up for its intention, simplicity and for the gap that it seeks to fill up.

Download it here:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=li.barter&ah=xEyzfuJsdDcn20CStqmoSb2P2Ck

Snapshot of the app:

Our Verdict: 

This app, just like the love for reading that it promotes, is sui generis.

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/barterli

Website: http://barter.li/

On Twitter @barterli

On Instagram barterliofficial

On pinterest barter.li

Google+ : https://plus.google.com/u/0/communities/114313902881270862518

Book Review: The Secret Letters By Robin Sharma

About the book:

Genre: Self-Help

From one of the most widely read authors in the world comes a story of breathtaking power and dazzling suspense about what it means to be fully alive.

Jonathan Landry is a man in trouble. After a bizarre encounter with his lost cousin Julian Mantle—a former high-powered courtroom lawyer who suddenly vanished into the Himalayas—Jonathan is compelled to travel across the planet to collect the life-saving letters that carry the extraordinary secrets that Julian discovered.

On a remarkable journey that includes visits to the sensual tango halls of Buenos Aires, the haunting catacombs of Paris, the gleaming towers of Shanghai and the breathtakingly beautiful Taj Mahal in India, The Secret Letters of The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari reveals astounding insights on reclaiming your personal power, being true to yourself and fearlessly living your dreams

About the author:

Robin Sharma is the globally celebrated author of 15 international bestselling books on leadership including The Leader Who Had No Title, the phenomenal #1 blockbuster that is inspiring a movement around the idea that “Now, anyone - in any organization - can show Leadership”. His work has been published in over 62 countries and in nearly 75 languages, making him one of the most widely read authors in the world. He shot to fame with The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, which has topped international bestseller lists and sold over 4,000,000 copies. Robin is the founder of Sharma Leadership International Inc., a training firm with only one focus: helping people in organizations Lead Without a Title. Clients comprise of many of the FORTUNE 500 including Microsoft, GE, NIKE, FedEx and IBM. Organizations such as NASA, IMD Business School, Yale University and The Young President's Organization are also SLI clients. Robin is a former litigation lawyer who holds two law degrees including a Masters of Law (Dalhousie Law School).

Book Trailer:

You might also like to see the author talk about this sequel to The Monk Who Sold His ferrari

My Review:

For someone who is already a Robin Sharma follower, it is a refreshingly different story narrative that the author presents. For those of us who have read The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari, and other sequels and prequels to his chef d oeuvre, we certainly expected to have something different if we are to read more of him, and to our exultation, the author treats us to the most creative, fresh and stimulating read. Right from the beginning, it has a rebellious tangent to it which was never seen before in his books.Here the protagonist is resistant to undertake the journey of self-exploration, unlike his other protagonists who were rather keen, and till the end he doesn't realize that he is on a life-altering journey.

I personally read the book at a time when I was dealing with multiple sources of stress and disappointments. So, I would say this was precisely what I had needed. The book emphasizes more on the journey rather than the sermon. As you may have surmised already, the secret letters are pearls of wisdom, and that is all I can say without giving away too much.

For the uninitiated, this is what I have to say: While reading The Monk who sold his Ferrari is a fierce recommendation from yours truly, you SHOULD read this one, because it is a rare book that teaches you pearls of wisdom and life lessons, and an even rarer fable that can do this without sounding didactic.

And a common message to all: there comes a time when discovering your self worth takes precedence over building your net worth, this book is precisely for those moments, to guide you through that period of revelation and challenging discoveries.

The protagonists character sketch is such that at times you will feel like you completely relate to him, and then it will be a pleasant transformation that you will undergo along with him, by the time you reach the end of the book.

If you don't believe me, consider this:

"I didn't know what was worse- taking weeks out of my life to travel around the world collecting someone elses stuff, or having to write about it. Self-reflection has never been my forte."
The book has beautifully interwoven the threads of travel and self-reflection and discovery, and the result is awe-inspiring. 

My Judgement: 

Even if you are not a big self-help fan, this one is customized to cater to your whims. If you liked Eat, Pray, Love By Elizabeth Gilbert, go grab (or download) a copy now, 

Best lines:

And it seemed to me that all the excuses I used to make were nothing more than lies that my fears had been trying to sell me.

Find the book here:

Book Discussion: The Fault in our Stars By John Green

“Sometimes you read a book and it fills you with this weird evangelical zeal, and you become convinced that the shattered world will never be put together unless and until all living humans read the book.”

 

This quote from the book itself pretty much sums up everything that I feel for the book, yet I venture into writing more about it.

This is a quintessential book for a fangirl. Augustus-waters fetish. Cancer perks. An Imperial Affliction. Van Houten. Support group.

These words and phrases hover in the reader's minds long after the reading has been finished. In a market brimming with books of mediocre quality, (and although I am positive that there are as many brilliant masterpieces to make up for that), reading a book which would be cherished and relished forever is a proud feeling.

And although it remains inexplicable what this book has done to me, I dare to try give words to its magical effect.

A smorgasbord of emotions: what else can one expect from a novel which is a tale of two cancer-afflicted teenagers, waiting to fall n love with each other? The novel is so high on its emotional meter that the measuring gauge just burst, okay? Maybe, Okay will be our always. Okay?

A honeycomb of overwhelming thoughts: The marks humans leave are most often scars. I just died with choking from a deluge of sweetly-saddening emotions.

Crying on the verge of Choking: Oh, yeah. If nothing else could ever make you cry, Augustus' eulogy in the end will do. And by nothing else, I mean anything else. Ever.

Undying poignancy: Right from the beginning when people in the Support group narrate their tales of misfortune, to the various cancer perks. And remember that instance when Augustus asks Hazel her story, and she reminds him how she got cancer, to which Augustus retorts, “No, not your cancer story. YOUR story. Interests, hobbies, passions, weird fetishes et cetera. ”

Love and Companionship: Telling a friend in the manner of consolation, “Thats the thing about pain. It demands to be felt”. Communicating with your girlfriend's favourite author to know what happens next in her favourite novel, and managing to elicit a response. Going to meet the author with her. Its the little big things, you know?

Unconditional love: Sorry, can't define it. Because that would mean conditions, right?

Endearing characters: The guy compares the girl to Natalie Portman. He loves metaphors. And he writes a eulogy no one ever could. And the girl thought he was a tenured professor in the Department of slightly crooked smiles with a dual appointment in the Department of having a voice that made her skin feel more like skin. Isaac, whom you can feel nothing but a weird sympathy for.

Aesthetically exotic practices: Hazel's thirty-third half birthday, or encouragements at Gus' house.

The unfaltering, yet convincingly spontaneous chemistry and harmless flirting: and you say we don't know each other” And they discussed books with each other. So, it just keeps getting better and awesome. Hazel could hear his crooked smile!

 

A Pandora's

box of heart-rending quotes: 

Sometimes people don't understand the promises they are making when they are making them. But love is keeping the promise anyway.

I don't believe I have a crush on a girl with such cliche wishes.

The writer's efforts: He saw it from the perspective of opposite sex. He just did it! 

Damn! John Green is a genius, man!

This book just made the best part of my teenage. Go grab your copy NOW, like right NOW!!!

Liebster Award

My Victory Tour

A big thank you out there to Veturi @ Neither here, nor There, for deeming my blog worthy of nomination, and more so, for keeping the questions as close to blogging as possible.

Here are my answers:

1. Which character from any work of fiction you can identify yourself the most with?

It is funny how I always find myself identifying with different characters of all the books that I read, albeit to varying degrees. If I have to name one, it would be Katniss Everdeen a.k.a. The Girl on Fire from The Hunger games Trilogy, which I read recently

2. What is your most favorite movie and why?

My Favorite movie has to be Silver linings Playbook, because of the aura of optimism that it creates, because the characters are realistic and fallible, and they reaffirm my belief in happy endings.

3. What is your reading frequency?

30 books a year, I guess, I am not used to keeping a count.

4. What is the greatest challenge you face in writing?

Maybe, The constant urge to refer a dictionary!

5. What makes you want to read a book? It’s blurb? Review from a person you like? Cover Page? Author’s previous works?

No wonder, all these components are crucial. A bibliophile such as me chooses just any way.

6. What are your reading patterns?

Repetitive, definitely not chronological.

7. How do you fight blogger’s block?

Seeking inspiration from friends/nature/books. :D

8. Do you think setting yourself a target works in writing?

Never tried !!!!!

9. How important do you think grammar is in writing? Especially in English?

I deem it very important. However, as long as sentences convey meaning, or suggest informal conversation, I don't mind non-adherence to grammar rules. Else, I am a Grammar Nazi!

10. What time of the day is the most conducive for you to write?

I don't have a fixed time as such. It happens when it happens.

What is the Liebster Award all about?

The Liebster Blog Award is given to upcoming/new bloggers or who have less than 200 followers. The 'Liebster' word is of German origin and means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing and welcome.

How does it work?

1. Link back to the persons blog who has nominated you and convey thanks for giving the award.
2. Answer all questions posted by the nominator.
3. Nominate 7 more bloggers whom you feel are deserving of more subscribers; you pass the award on to them.
4. Create 7 questions for the nominees.
5. Contact the nominees and let them know that they have been nominated for the Liebster.

My Nominations

1) Shaivi @ http://shaivikafunda.blogspot.in/

2) An Indian Writer @ http://writerletters.blogspot.in/

3) Tarang @ http://tarangsinha.blogspot.in/

4) Acrimonious Snob @ http://walkintomyweb.blogspot.in/

5) Aparajita @ http://colorsofmylife13.blogspot.in/

6)  Aditya Tibrewala @ http://adityasmoviereviews.blogspot.in/

7) Meghant @ http://booksallaroundme.blogspot.in/

My questions for Nominees

• How did you start blogging?
• If you were stuck alone on earth, what would you do?
• If you were to star in a movie, who would you be?
• If you were to star in a book, what character and book would it be?
• childhood or adulthood?
• Complete the sentence: Words are...
• If I could change one thing about my country, it would have been...?
• I would like to thank.....for this award!(Name at least 5)

Pandora's Box is here !!!

                                                                                                                                                             December is a month of happiness. Everyone's preparing for christmas, holidays, fun and frolic.

And we all love gifts!

How about you get a chance to win a book?

Here's presenting the first ever contest on So many Books, So Little Time...(SMBSLT)

The Vampire-Fetish Diaries

The Vampire Diaries.

Twilight.

Dracula.

Interview with the vampire.

The charm of the vampires,those blood-sucking, nocturnal monstrous creatures does not seem to subside. They continue to enthrall and captivate us. Let us decipher the aura of enigma around vampires and our attraction to them . 

What we are looking for?

1) As far as the format goes, we provide you with creative freedom: you can submit articles, poetry, prose....

2) Many of you might ask: How many words? We do not wish to limit you, because if you write interesting stuff, we would love to read as much as we can, but then if you have succinct views, you may as well opt for a smaller post. We recommend, you write anywhere between 400-1500 words.

3)The last date for submission is 28th December 2013, and don't worry if you are having a mid-night crisis, you can send in your entries at 1 a.m. on 29th too. ;)

4) Evaluation parameters: We love a rich use of words, succinct thoughts, puns, alliteration, metaphors... embellish your entry with these...just don't overdo it. Be creative. Be optimistic. Be humorous.

5) This contest is open to Indian residents only.

6) For every fifteen entries received there will be a winner, so to multiply your chances of winning, encourage friends to participate!

Who knows, participation might also bring a gift! ;)

Submission guidelines:

Last date: 28th December

Submit as an attachment named _.docx (yes microsoft word document)

and just to make sure, paste the text in the body of the email as well.

Submit the article with your name, address, contact # to aaykaynarula5@gmail.com

Contact us for any queries on the same id.

Or fill in the form below:

What are you waiting for? Let the creative juices flow...

Lending books is not my business

Recently I lent a book to a friend who is not so much into reading and books like the bibliophile in me, but nevertheless was interested by the theme of that little piece of non-fiction that shone like a pearl in my hands, credits it’s flawlessly designed cover and the immaculate white color which covered most part of it.

DON'T TRY THIS WITH MY BOOKS

So, feeling like I am on a mission to spread knowledge and provide everyone with the book that suits them, while hoping that they shall also one day appreciate the habit of reading, the power of literature et al. Alas! this idealistic vision of mine turned out to be too utopian to be true, and refuted all my noble anticipations in the cruelest way possible.

Okay, so I had heard this enough number of times to get it etched into my memory that borrowed books are seldom returned. But considering the stickler that I am when it comes to my prized possessions, I was sure that this won't be the case, and that I shall be getting my book back as soon as my friend is done with the task at hand

So I was confident that what is mine shall come back to me, and I shall personally and keenly see to it that it does!

UNDERSTAND?

However, what I was not prepared for was this: receiving the book back after dispatching incessant reminders, occasionally hinting that I crave to see my baby back, commenting how borrowing is not a very noble deed (in an entirely different context, of course), and making a hell lot of excuses to make the urgency to have the book back sound genuine. No that’s not it: receiving it in a torn condition, so tainted and coal-resembling that I had to actually remember what its cover page looked like before this misfortune befell me. *sigh* 

And you know that thin layer of plastic which shields a book from potent dangers like the dirty hands, uncontrolled pens of careless people? That was gone too.

And I am not exaggerating (except that comparison to coal).

Book lovers out there, you know that feeling, right? It elicits a reaction similar to this

 

followed by sobbing...

Now I have decided, that no matter how weird or annoying I may sound, I am always going to launch into this didactic instruction list prior to lending a book to a person who is not as fervent a bibliophile as me!

1)      Books are for reading, you may at the most devour them and chew them and digest them, (in case you took Francis bacon just too literally), but they don’t have a digestive system. So kindly keep your pickles and cheetos-soiled fingers away (gosh! You still eat them? anyways, my book doesn’t, so mind the distance)

2)      Oh, and my book doesn’t have any immune system to make sure that it doesn’t get ill by the dust. And there are other functional reasons as well for providing that transparent plastic foil-cover. So if you ever feel like rolling your fingers with my book in your hand, make sure you have a stapler/punching machine to put your mischievous little fingers into, and end it once and for all.

3)      I guess you get real confused when its time to bathe, because you bathe my book instead of yourselves! Don’t worry my book wont ever emit the foul smell that you do.

4)      Gain all knowledge that you can, this is going to be the only time I am gonna lend you my book, never again, because I won't like to mar the beauty of my library.

(especially after seeing how badly you have thumbed it at the edges, giving it a look of a old book straight rescued from termites).

IF YOU DON'T LEARN HOW TO READ!

 Trust me, I am sure of that.

Book Review: Aisle be Damned By Rishi Piparaiya

About the Book:

A Hilarious Take on just about Everything Associated with Air Travel.
- Getting seamlessly upgraded to Business Class.
- The hows and whys of micromanaging the pilots.
- Action plans to counter the airlines Technical Snag routine.
- Sure shot strategies for winning the affections of flight attendants.
- Awesome icebreakers to start conversations with attractive co-passengers.
- How smart executives deal with the Walk of Shame to the economy section.
- How a water bottle dramatically improves flight safety.
- Breezing through immigration and customs, always making your flight connections and a whole lot more

Rest assured, your flying experience will never be the same again!

Details: Paperback, 216 pages
Published: September 2013 by Jaico Publishers

My Review:

To begin with, this book offers an immaculate treasure-house of hilarious anecdotal nuggets of wisdom to mark up on our heads while making the air-travels, nothing less of an ordeal.

Okay, that might scare the wits out of someone who hasn’t air-traveled ever, however for the regular air passengers, this is an indispensable tool, a weapon (no exaggeration intended) to fight the demons of serpentine queues, badly-labeled luggage, bad-tempered crew, a variety of co-passengers exhibiting traits ranging from schadenfreude, sticklers, the-eternal-gossipers and so on, words like “Flight Delayed” all in their digital manifestation mocking at you in their sadistic best, multiple dilemmas as regards seating arrangement, et al.

So, the best part was the beginning, which eased me into the forthcoming hilarity. The ensuing hilarity also lends the book readability, and the author’s self-inclusive comical gags and antics were profoundly awe-inspiring.

He mocks the mechanism of the currency exchange counter by asking the reader to repeat the exchange transactions and count the number that it takes to leave you with empty hands and pockets, and at one point, you have to admit, the writer, with the magnitude and finesse with which he directs his sarcasm, has forced you to deprecate yourself as a nitwit. Such is the flawlessness with which the sarcasm, hyperbole, and mocking comments have been made and executed as a written word. He goes on to describe numerous travesties, without losing his humour ever, which is a rarity among first-time writers.

In the most jocular fashion, he describes the mortifying trek to the economy section, the catchphrase of cabin crew “Technical Snag”, the escapades of meals, dealing with infants seated next to you.Even loos couldn’t escape the glare of this man’s keen observation and sarcasm.Who knew that LIFO and FIFO are not just inventory management systems

This book has the best compilation of quotes, a smorgasbord of witty-one liners and what not. So when you prepare yourself to board the plane and soar high the next time, make sure you have this little companion! If for no other reason, (which shouldn’t be the case, since there are plenty), then at least to find the relevance of LIFO and FIFO as strategies during air-travel.