Choose your words....

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Five Words to Dump This Year

As a book blogger (who quite honestly struggles to stay on topic) it should come as no surprise that I have a passion for words way past what is sensible.

I love the way they can inspire, influence and even transport me to other worlds.
Worlds that exist only at the whim of words!
I love the way they change, I love the way they make me laugh and I sure as hell respect their power.

Books, while I love them, have been relegated to a relatively small percentage of the words we read.

They are our pleasure and escape ration. The words we read to nourish our minds, escape from our day, inspire tingles in our loins, frighten the life out of us, intrigue us, make us swoon, force tears to leak from the corners of our eyes and sometimes (God forbid), even learn.

The remaining quota of our wordy feast we absorb from an incredibly wide range of sources; which is a joy, an eye opener and sometimes a soul crushing excursion into the collective consciousness.

For this reason, I really wish that some words would disappear.

Not from existence or in an 'out of the dictionary' kind of way; retained in the lexicon but removed from requirement.
No longer in use. Kept as vintage horrors, described in museums, spoken of in hushed whispers by torchlight under covers. Bottom line, redundant.

A girl can dream.

Here is my list of words that can get lost; feel free to comment with yours!

Five Words to Dump this Year:

Vitriol: 'Burning or caustic'. In the social media age the frequent tool of the haters and opinionated. Usually utilized by those with no insight into their own impact. People who could not even imagine a world in which they might be wrong; or shudder, that there are shades of grey.

Hater: 'A person who thrives on the hate of other people or things'. Often found wielding their vitriolic weapons with careless abandon. I find this one especially awful. I mean, 'thrives on the hate'. That just gives me chills!

Clickbait: 'Misleading text or images driving web traffic':  Otherwise known as 'The shocking secret Angelina kept from Brad!".

Sensationalize: 'To make sensational'.  As Taylor Swift put it, 'God this is exhausting'. Can we just read what happened? Is that even a thing?

Last but by no means least in my sites for 'use based' extinction:

Intolerance: 'Unwillingness or refusal to tolerate or respect beliefs other than your own'. I know I have a theme here, but people. seriously, I think we need to take on board our Mothers wisdom.

'If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all!'

So there you have it. The words that are getting under my skin.

I find them all.... intolerable? :)

xoxo LMK

Reading Resolutions

The good news: I'm already up to book three!

The bad news? I think I may need glasses.

Yep: Definitely reading till it hurts!

My Romance with 'The Obsession' by Nora Roberts

It is true, I am a word glutton.

As far as the seven deadly sins go, I am sure this is one of the less 'deadly'; after all, my endless pursuit of wordy calories doesn't hurt anyone (other than the occasional assault on my families taste buds when I cook, book in one hand, spoon in the other).

This being the case, it should come as no surprise that I LOVE to listen to audio books when I travel.

There is nothing better than an audio book to take the 'trial' out of travel, turning distance to cover from a burden to benefit.

On a long journey, a really great plot will transport your mind to an alternate reality, even as your car transports you to your destination.

Living, as I do, in Australia, the distances are VAST and the opportunities for word feasts are many (yay).
Normally, when I choose an audio book, it is to see me through a trip of at least ten hours; meaning when I've achieved my 'there and back', so has the story.
Recently however, I downloaded a book to keep me entertained for a solo drive of a mere three hours. 

My book philosophy? Take your reading (or in this case being read to) opportunities when they arise, however small.

As my travelling companion, I chose 'The Obsession' by Nora Roberts, who I have come to adore as the author of the 'In Death' series under the pseudonym 'J.D Robb'.

 I was optimistic she would not disappoint me. Supremely confident that she would deliver a book that was sexy and intricate; one that could make the passing hours seem irrelevant in the face of the unfolding story.

'The Obsession' delivered on my expectations and then some!
I was quickly lost in the plot, creeping though the dark and frightening chapters with Robert's heroine, Naomi Bose.
Naomi, a mere 'twelve on Monday' saves a young woman from death at the hands of a depraved (is there any other kind?) serial killer. 
Needless to say, her life will never be the same.

'The Obsession' follows Naomi as she grows from adolescent to woman, indelibly changed by her encounter with evil.


Composed, self contained, beautiful and artistic, Naomi dares to set down roots in small town America.
First home, first love, can she have a normal life; or is that a shadow of evil we see passing over her sun?

Here's where my story gets intense!

You see, I'm dating this audio book. Our relationship is rather one sided, 'The Obsession' is always available when I hop into my car (I seem to be strictly a travel listener).
Our first date was long and satisfying; you get to know a book after three hours in its' company!
Dates two through seven, were rather shorter; but still amazing. Snippets of intrigue and romance delivered over twenty minute listening sessions.

So here I am, deeply in love with this relationship, conducted solely in the privacy of my car. Sad to know it will have to end soon.
Fact is, I don't yet know if Naomi can have it all; but I am having the BEST time finding out.

If you are travelling soon, why not jump into your own audio book romance! I highly recommend 'The Obsession'; after all, I'm not the jealous type:)

As always, Happy reading! 
xx LMK


P.S The narration is by Shannon McManus and it is 'on point'.

More Like This

Buy it, Listen!

Amazon.com

Word Power

There is never a time when we don't need at least a little inspiration and there is nothing with more power to inspire than words.

Written, spoken or even just thought; words create our world.

In a nod to the power of words, over the next month I will be reviewing books with real wordy grunt.

Books that force your chin up, raise your eyes to the sky and get your heart beating just a little faster.

So stand back, polish your glasses in anticipation and enjoy, as Little Miss Kindle presents.

 'Word Power'.

xoxo LMK


For similar reviews check out my 'Better Life Reads'

Hostage to your book? Escape is possible.....

Do you ever have the feeling that you have been trapped by the book you are reading? 

You definitely have things to do, sometimes even IMPORTANT things. You have been guilty of ignoring repeated requests from family members that you:

 'Shut that Damn book and,

 LISTEN TO ME'!

You haven't done the washing, written that report or seen the sun in days. Your skin is pasty and vitamin D deficiency is looming as a real issue (rickets anyone?).

There's a world out there.... check it out!

It's scary I know, that feeling that the world is passing you by, as you remain mired in an alternative reality.

Slowly sinking into bookish quicksand, suffocation only moments away.                       

Yep. It's time to call in the hostage negotiators; keep the black phone free and come up with some exit strategies.

My favorite: Close the damn book.

It's freeing.

The sun is shining.

The world is out there, pay it an occasional visit!

xoxo LMK

Dear Books......

Books are The Great Romantics!

Pictured is a copy of the 'Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam".

Translated from the original by Edward Fitzgerald in 1859.

'A flask of Wine, a Book of 

Verse - and Thou

Beside me singing in the

Wilderness - 

And Wilderness is Paradise

enow.

I mean, swoon right? I reckon he 'Out Bard's' Shakespeare!

Omar Khayyam was a Persian Poet, Astronomer, Scientist and Mathematician who lived in the late 11th and early 12th century.

He is responsible for a vast body of 'Rubaiyat' (quatrains), his work is both brooding, romantic and spiritual.

I am the proud owner of the lovely little book pictured above, books can be treasures too!

Because Compassion should always be Relevant.

There is never a time when Compassion is not important, there are however times when lack of compassion seems to abound.

It can be easy to forget the individual when the scale of an event is global. 

Maybe now is the time to mix wisdom and compassion on a scale that can dwarf the horrors in the world.

For me, I would love to see the wisdom and influence of the Dalai Lama be as much discussed as the words and brutality of those who think terror and torture are the answer.

There are many books penned by and about this wonderful man and I could choose many images here to promote, equally wonderful and life affirming.

To find a book that speaks to your wise inner voice, visit your local library or bookstore, or follow the link below to see Amazon's offering,

The Dalai Lama

Most of all, do something. Turn your focus to something brighter and kinder and better!

An Open Letter to George R. R. Martin

Dear Mr Martin, 

Please accept my sincere congratulations on what is possibly the best Fantasy fiction Series in the known universe! (I refer of course to the magnificent work that is Game of Thrones.)

It has come to my attention however that you are releasing a new book on the 20th of November. Imagine my disappointment when I realised that this 'book' was not the next (loooooong awaited) installment but a 'History of Westeros'. 

I mean really. 

Bottom line is this, I absolutely forbid you to write another word of fiction if it is NOT part of Book 6 of G.O.T.

Honestly, I have nothing to threaten you with to achieve my aims, except to say this. I WILL buy book six when you release it, but I will be disgruntled, VERY disgruntled.

Best of luck with the 'words'.

Kind Regards

Little Miss Kindle

p.s. A signed copy of book six will go a long way towards easing my pain......

The Book Circle

Have you ever met a reading 'Savant', a person who's every reading recommendation is right on the money?

 Either they are a genius of book selection or hide every bad read more thoroughly than I hide new clothes from my husband (only joking my love, if you happen to be reading this;).

If you know one of these rare people you are blessed, as it happens I am thrice blessed, with three great friends, all of whom can nail a book selection from 30 paces... without looking.

These great ladies have inspired me to start a 'Book Circle' on my blog, where I have the pleasure of reading and reviewing books that have been read and loved by the 'fabulous three'.

Keep your eye out for 'Book Circle' reviews, I promise each book will be killer ;)

Fifty shades of GRRRRRRRR!

Hi all! Just a quick rant today, primarily because as is my way, I can't keep my mouth shut on this topic anymore!

What has got me fired up? Well in a phrase, Mummy Porn (and no, I am not referring to the erotic Egyption, bandage wearing undead!), the cheekily named explosion of saucy 'literature' aimed squarely at the e -reading female populace of the world.

Since these books somehow move me beyond the ability to speak I have drawn the following informative diagram explaining the source of my angst.

Obviously a career in art is just around the corner.....

Well, I feel better now! Hope the feeling is mutual :)

Reading Addiction Issues

Reading Addiction tote from Society6
Reading Addiction Tote

Sometimes I am guilty of paying too much attention to my book and not enough to the real world.

 In the interests of public service I have compiled the following useful list:

The top 10 reasons to suspect you might have a reading 'problem'.

1 - Your husband (wife/ housemate/ child) 'accidentally' sits on your Kindle three times in one day.

2 - Your husband (wife/ housemate/ child) seems visibly frustrated when your device is still functional after 'accident' number three.

3 - You find yourself reaching for a jumper in the middle of summer because 'Winter is coming'.

4 - You don't sleep for nights at a time because you happen to be reading a trilogy and you NEED to know what happens.

5 -  You take the day off work to finish some DIY at home only to find by dusk you have nothing to show for it but a finished book.

6 - You ask someone to hide your book from you so you can cook dinner.

7 - You search the house, find your book and read it while stirring the pasta sauce. (The bottom of the pan is supposed to be black, right?)

8 - You pretend to go to the toilet to read 'just a few more pages'. Your family suspects irritable bowel.

9 - If you find yourself 'bookless' for more than a day, you begin to exhibit symptoms similar to those of a panic attack.

and

10 - You lie awake at night worrying that you are addicted to reading before downloading a book on the subject of addiction.... just to be sure.

Scary!

 I have just returned from sneaking into my bedroom to retrieve my Kindle from beside the sleeping form of my husband.
When my fingers found the shape of my Kindle in the dark I distinctly heard myself think the following words.

'My Precious'

Scary stuff!

The Great D 'e' bate: Books or e-books?

It was not until I started this blog that I became aware of the disdain that 'e' reading is held in across the bookish community.
Blissfully unaware, as I was, of the debate raging between traditionalists and technophiles regarding the best way to access reading matter, I had no qualms about calling my blog after my cheeky and troubling addiction to my own Kindle.

You see, I innocently assumed that reading was, well, reading, regardless of whether the words you read were printed in ink or pixels. 

Even with the veil lifted from my eyes and after seeing many pinterest and facebook quotes about the merits of a 'real' book over my humble Kindle, I remain firm in my conviction that it simply does not matter how you get your reading fix. The important thing is to get it.

Is it ok to criticise?

Some books are just awful....

 It is sad, but true. Even sadder, somehow when I start a book, I just have to keep going. I could probably count on one hand the number of times I have not 'seen a book through' to the end.

Result.... lots of time reading really BAD books. 

The question I am asking myself now, at the beginning of this book review adventure;

'Should I be including negative book reviews on Little Miss Kindle?'

My knee jerk reaction is of course I should! People have a right to know and maybe, just maybe I can help other innocent people avoid my pain. 

Am I 'Ducking' my reviewer responsibilities?

My softer, gentler side feels, well, sorry, for those poor authors who have slaved over their novel for months if not years. Pouring heart and soul into its creation..... only to have me (who really is just one opinionated person) say it is NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

It all seems a bit nasty.

Bottom line is, I am undecided.... I could choose just omit to include 'bad' books from my reviews.

Or I could put on my big girl trousers and let it rip....

Thoughts?