Thursday, October 1, 2009
Have you guys heard of this "vook" thing? I could see it being really useful for non-fiction books, but for fiction? Wouldn't that take you completely out of the world the author built, to stop and flip over to a video? I don't mind seeing pictures of real people and places, but to have them enact scenes from the book? I just don't know about this. The idea and technology are cool, but I'm just not sure I'd want to read my fiction that way.
I want to try it out before I buy one, but they don't have any for free on the Simon and Schuster website. Here's a trailer for the Jude Devereaux novella Vook, Promises. What do you think?
Vook sounds like an alien in Star Trek.
ReplyDeleteHoly schmoely, never heard of it. It seems...like a lot. But I do see how it might work for an advertisement of your book...
ReplyDeleteIf I want to watch a movie, I'll watch a movie. I read for what the author and I create together. No vook for me.
ReplyDeleteHave you heard of the Kindle? I think it is a stupid concept. You buy a computer to read your book on. Why not just buy a freaking book and save $250?
Hadn't heard of a vook, but now I have the idea I think I'd just as soon pass.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I know you might not wander by my blog for a while so I wanted to mention I have a blog contest (horror writing) in honor of Halloween. http://writtenwyrdd.typepad.com/writtenwyrdd/2009/09/announcing-a-contest.html
ReplyDeleteI'm with yellowcat -- a "Vook" is called a "movie" everywhere else on earth. This sounds lame. Like you said, it might be helpful for non-fic, but for fiction, this is a MOVIE.
ReplyDeleteOh, I did see that! I haven't been in a very contesty mood lately, but I meant to plug yours for you, not saying you'd get many entrants from it. I'll put it in tomorrow's post.
ReplyDeleteI actually like the idea of the portable reader, be it a Kindle or a Sony or whatever. If money were no object, I'd probably buy one to carry around with me. They'll never replace books, though.
ReplyDeleteSeems like a good experiment, though. I'd like to see how long it lasts. I can't imagine it catching on.
ReplyDeleteMaybe they intend to capture the short attention spans of today's reader.
ReplyDeleteDoesn't everything?
ReplyDeleteHmm. I don't think I'd like something like that. That's what movies are for. Part of the joy of reading is using your own imagination that the author prompts, and not having some whacked out directer force their imagination on you.
ReplyDeleteI agree. How often have you seen a movie made from a book, and the characters just didn't look the way you'd imagined them. I'd have a problem with that happening in the middle of the book I was reading.
ReplyDeleteEver since I saw the Kindle, I really really want one for a couple of reasons:
ReplyDelete1). Books via Kindle are MUCH MUCH cheaper - $2.99 - $5.99 depending on the author instead of at least $7.99 for a new paperback and MUCH more for a new hardback. I can see the Kindle paying for itself in a short while.
2). Instant gratification. If it's a crappy day and I don't want to go to the library or the used book store I can just download something to my Kindle and be on my way.
3). Travelling would be sooooo much easier. I like to read - a lot - and when I travel out of town I usually have at least 3 paperbacks with me that take up precious suitcase / carryon space. I picked up four new books in Seattle (yeah, I know - I'm a voracious reader) and then brought home 7 (yes 7) paperbacks, a few of which were trade so they were larger.
4). You can search through the Kindle to find words or sections. No more, "I know it's after page 24 but before 200" and flipping through it to find a particular section.
5). You can make notes on the Kindle in the passage.
Plus, the screen is flat and has some sort of special coating so that there's no glare. You can turn it to any angle and can still read it. It's AWESOME.
I'd need to see it in action to decide, but I'm mystified so far. I get this Publishers Weekly newsletter and it had a piece on Vook. Still not sure.
ReplyDeleteAs for Kindle--I think it'd be great.