Ebook (Ewok?) Evolution

Can you remember the first ebook you ever read?

Do you remember how strange it felt, to be looking on a device and reading an actual book? The word "ebook" looks strange to me. Twenty years ago, if I'd read that word I would have thought, "What is an ee-buh-uk? Sounds like Ewok to me."

I first dove into the world of ebooks way back in 2012. At the time, my family lived in Southern Alberta. We traveled up to Edmonton to stay at my Mother-in-law's house for a week or so, in the summer. Our kids were young, and they loved going across the street to the playground for hours on end. But none of us adults had quite the energy for that, and although she just lived across the street, we were hesitant to leave the kids alone.

My MIL (Jennifer) told me she had a gift for me--an ebook written by a friend of hers from church, Jaima Fixsen, called FairChild I was intrigued.

After we spent some time figuring out how to download the darn thing (this is the trickiest part of learning the ways of the ebook, followed closely by learning how to use a bookmark, the table of contents, and leaving a review at the end on Amazon), I was amazed to find that I could carry this book with me everywhere I went. Was it any surprise, then, that I offered to go to the playground with the kids, day after day? If they got tired and wanted to go inside, I used every power of persuasion to invite them to stay at the park just a bit longer. Did I feel guilty for staring at my phone for hours on end? A bit. Did I feel a little less guilty for staring at it because I was reading a really intriguing and exciting book? You bet. As soon as I finished Jaima's fabulous read, I moved on to some of my favourite standbys, and was thrilled to learn I could add them to my library for free!

These were some of my first additions to my ebook library. What are yours?

I read Jane probably twice a year. I usually jump to the second part, as I can only handle her childhood once every few years. ;-)

My granny introduced me to LMA when I was young. I read Little Women first and loved it (and still do!) but this is my all-time fave. And I actually really like re-reading part one. Polly is a sweet heroine, but believably imperfect as well. If you haven't read it, you should!

Jane Austen is still the friend of pretty much every woman I know. She's timeless, and funny, and understanding. And I'm quite sure that we've all wished, to some extent, to live in her world, if only for a week or two. It's tough to choose a favourite, but Persuasion is probably mine. I like the complexity of the characters, Anne's mature age, and above all, Captain Wentworth, and his hidden love for the "fading beauty."

Some other favourite authors of mine, who I hope to continue learning from:

I love this series so much. At first glance, one might think, who wants to read a book (or ten of them, for that matter!) where the protagonist is a 50+ year old preacher? Ah, but little do you know how much you will laugh, cry, and grow from reading these books. Father Tim is one of my heroes.

Why do I love this epic book so much? It's not one that many have heard of, but it makes me so happy. It's kind of like Jane Eyre in some ways—there are lots of little scenes to go back over and reread and soak in—and it's just so real. I wish Valerie Fitzgerald had written more books, because I would have read them all.

Flavia, oh Flavia. You are incomparable! If you haven't read Alan Bradley's books, you really ought to. Again, the protagonist may make you wonder a bit—really? An eleven-year old girl?—but as soon as you start reading, you'll realize she is not your ordinary child. The wit and cleverness of these books blows me away. I'm on my second time through the series, and Bradley still gets me in every book.

I love EGS's characters. They are flawed, they are real, they are so easy to connect to. I've loved Kit since I was a young girl, and still do. And I always loved Nat too. ;-)

I love all of Shannon Hale's books, but these are the ones that hooked me the most. I just get these characters. They resonate so deeply within me in so many ways. I also love the Ma in Forest Born. I want to be her.

Ah! Sarah Prine! This book was one of my number one inspirations for writing Hope's Power, and I'm definitely studying it as I work on writing the sequel in a more frontiersey setting. In fact, my whole first draft of Hope was in journal format, in homage to Nancy E, but in the end, I couldn't do it as well as she did. I highly recommend this book, but be warned—every emotion you've ever experienced will be felt as you read it.