Jodi Picoult

A few days ago, I was in a state of despair over the barricading of Shah Alam's library doors. There were plans to move the library to Section 13, but I didn't think that it would be this soon! It's practically criminal to deprive me of fictional stories when I'm perfectly entitled to read until I'm sick. Let me celebrate the eyebags that I will get for happiness (explanation: staying up to finish a book)! Let me pore over fictional stories on paper! Actual paper! Papyrus!

But noooo. The library had to time its move so that it would clash with my plans for celebration. Its desire to see me miserable was so strong, it barricaded its doors. OK la saje je nak buat ala-ala "selfish rant" gitu.

OK OK.

So, left with no choice but to commit a crime, I downloaded a few e-books from the Internet. You do know that you can do that, do you? Let me run you through the steps.

1. Download a PDF reader if you don't have any. Adobe is perfect.
2. Download Adobe Digital Editions. It manages your e-books like a library. Not the prettiest, but the easiest one I've tried to use so far. Amazon's Kindle is not available outside of U.S., Nook is confusing, and the others.. Well. I don't know. OK bye.
3. Know the titles AND the authors of the books that you would like to get your greedy hands on. It's important. If not you won't be able to execute Step 4.
4. Go to sites like 4shared and type in the title of the book. If that doesn't produce results, try the name of the author. If that doesn't work out, give up. Kidding, NEVER give up when it comes to reading books illegally.

I've heard from my friend that you can search for forums (i.e. one that discusses the particular book, or books in general) and enlist the help of the members. They'd find for you the link for your book. Maybe they'd even email you their own copy! This is called "bookworm solidarity".

Now, in an effort to justify my crimes, let me run you through the benefits of reading e-books. Illegally.

1. Electronic books equal to lots of trees attached to their roots. Hooray, a tree says. I wasn't turned into a horrendous paperback romance today!
2. I guess you could say that an e-book is more portable? You could save hundreds into your thumbdrive and carry them around in your pocket. Which is.. Pointless. Okay.. (GET AN E-BOOK READER!)
3. You get to read books almost a day after its release.. Overseas. Boohoo. It usually takes some time for them to reach our shores. So for the sake of burning curiosity and itchy desire, just download the e-book.
4. You will never feel the regret of buying a book that doesn't live up to your expectations. Face it, a book in Malaysia cost around RM30-RM40. That's expensive to me. Only buy when you're sure you would want to read the book again. I for one, will always reread J.K Rowling's and Louisa May Alcott's.
5. No money involved. Buy food instead!

Don't get me wrong, I treasure actual books. I see them, I revere them. I would walk over my dead education for them. I've always said that a good book can keep me awake more effectively than coffee can. In fact, coffee does not work at all. It's just that, a book I don't like is a bad investment, and I'm not willing to make bad investments. I guess I'm more cautious with money than anyone would ever know.

Well looky here! Nothing about Jodi Picoult. Next post then!