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We sometimes ask you guys what you’re playing on your Android phones, which apps you’re using, and even what music you’re listening to. It’s not often we ask you what you’re reading. Google Play Books isn’t the most exciting thing to talk about, but we’re curious — what have you found there that you’ve been enjoying?
I’ve personally fallen in love with a book named Rum Punch by Elmore Leonard. It’s a book about an airline stewardess named Jackie Burke who moves money for firearms smuggler Ordell Robbie. Jackie is arrested, and she conspires with her bail bondsman — Max Cherry — to make sure her secondary employer doesn’t look to “silence” her.
If those character names sound familiar, it’s because you’ve seen them in Quentin Tarantino’s cult classic Jackie Brown, starring Samuel L Jackson, Pam Grier, Robert DeNiro, Robert Forster and Michael Keaton. That film is very tightly based on the aforementioned novel, one that I’ve found to be an excellent read so far.
I haven’t finished just yet, but it’s interesting to see just how much Tarantino borrowed (and excluded) from the original source material. It’s funny — I’ve probably watched Jackie Brown 200 times and never noticed the line in the opening credits giving the nod to Rum Punch.
I’ve also gone back to a couple of old George Orwell novels I’ve grown quite fond of over the years — Animal Farm and and 1984. These timeless classics never get old for me, and since I hate touching my physical copies (I’m a bit of a preservationist) I decided to buy them again in digital form on Google Play.
So I’m curious — what have you guys been reading? Whether it be mainstream beasts like Harry Potter or niche titles like the aforementioned Rum Punch, and anything from technology manuals to nursery rhymes, we want to hear it. Let’s all show our appreciation for Google Play Books by recommending some great reads to fellow Phandroids in the comments section below!
I’m still learning..
Learning what? How to read?
:'( yes..
Good for you, man!
The movie has moments that keep you on the edge of your seat…but the story sucks…the ending is lame and cgi and acting are nothing to get excited over.
Still, not a bad movie…just don’t expect anything great.
I am trying to read the side-stories of A Song of Ice and Fire. I have the PDF’s but I can’t upload them seeing as Google Books isn’t available in my country….still…I’m going to the US later, so I will upload them when I get there.
A friend got me started on Let’s Pretend This Never Happened. I also picked up the free Android photography book but got bored pretty quickly. I also have the complete Hitchhiker’s Guide. Year Zero was pretty funny. And I wish they had Desert Solitaire. I had to get the Kindle app just to have that one book.
You are correct, move has squat to do with the book other than in name. The book was excellent, movie so so. If you like the zombie genera then its worth a watch, if you are going because you liked the book and hope to see it transitioned to the big screen, prepare for disappointment.
I plan on watching the movie at some point but yeah, my expectations for it are just that of another summer zombie movie.
I can see how the movie could have been AWESOME if it used the book as a template though.
I’m reading the Jason Ellis Autobiography, I’m Awesome. It’s interesting to say the least. Definitely not for everyone.
Feed trilogy by Mira Grant. Probably the best zombie story where it’s not really even about the zombies. Really hope it becomes a movie(s) and stays true to the books.
Really loved these books a while ago and you just made me want to buy the digital versions.
NOTHING because it’s still not available in Hungary. Just like everything else. -_-
Curious George
Killing Floor!
Hell yeah Jack Reacher/ Lee Child. I have every single one of those.
One good Zombie Book I’ve read is “Dead City”…Love the zombie genre then get this one. The doom and gloom some good zombie books portray is what I love…Another good zombie read was “The Zombie Apocalypse Books 1 & 2”. This book had a heavy take on the depressing side of living in a zombie infested world.
Big fan of the Jurassic Park movies since I was a child. So i got both books and was surprised to see how much the movies loosely followed the books. Material in there to make the 1st JP movie 4 hours long and just as exciting.
Another is “Bared to You” if you like the 50 shades of grey trilogy then this one has a nice story behind it as well.
I’ve read quite a few books Creed, The Rats I’m just reading Alan Carr’ autobiography. I then review them on http://backlightbooks.blogspot.co.uk/?m=1 its a book review blog that anyone can contribute to!
I just read “How To Be An Adult” by David Richo the other week. A neighbor mentioned it to me when I was telling her about my brother and she said someone suggested it to her a few years back and that she was first appalled and annoyed by the suggestion but read it anyway and that it was fantastic. I had a feeling it was good and would be good for everyone (even the mostly responsible types like myself), so I read it and I have to say…it’s fantastic. I’ve taken up on some other books by Richo now and really enjoy his work. How to be an Adult is definitely a much more quick & easy read than some of the meatier other books he has written, but the others are worthwhile as well. That is of course for those looking for non-fiction type options. I am not one to just read for “enjoyment” since I find the time I spend reading to be more for self-improvement and education.
Ready player one is my favorite book I’ve discovered on Google play books. I think its my favorite sci-fi novel right above ender’s shadow.
I love Ready Player One. It’s a great book for geeking out on my childhood. Nice choice.
Stoker’s “Dracula” and the hilarious mommy book “Sparkly Green Earrings”.
A lot of supernatural, sci-fi and fantasy. I like!
I freeze Google books day one.
You sure showed doze bukes gud!
It’s true. Max Brooks said so himself.
I read alot of ebooks from the library using Mantano reader on my phone and the original 3g Nook. Just finished L.A. Requiem.
i read star wars books(just started legacy of the force series)…yeah i said it
I am ready Bossypants by Tina Fey. If you want to read a book that will make you LoL for real, definitely pick this up.
Speak for yourself! Google Play Books is one of my favorite apps! Right now I’m reading What is the What, a really interesting pseudofictional account of the civil war in Sudan.
Now that Google Play Books lets you upload your own books I think it is easily the best ereader app for android (and I’ve tried a lot).
i agree…only other one worth while is the nook…kindle app is a joke amazon should be ashamed…for this reason my other digital books were bought through barns n nobles instead of amazon (books not found on google play)
I download a lot of books from Peachpit and Digital Photography School, and with Google allowing uploads, it is so much better to have my books in front of me. I used to have to go into the filesystem and copy the files into the folder.
“Silken Prey” – John Sanford.
Downloaded a bunch of epub
Currently reading Tom Clancy books
Got a huge (1gb) epub waiting :-)
*arrrmatey* /s
I love, love Google Play Books. I kinda miss the old format of the app itself, but whatever. And as an Android lover I see no point in buying digital content from anyone but Google, since there is a 99.9% chance I will always have an Android device.
Anyways, what am I currently reading on Google Play Books? A couple of things… on the fiction novel side I’m reading Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Witches of East End by Melissa de la Cruz, and Sweep #1 by Cate Tiernan, on the comics side I just bought Hellboy #1 and Buffy Season 8 #1 this weekend, and non-fiction I’m reading “Excuse Me, Your Life is Waiting” by Lynn Grabhorn.
World Without End and Fall of Giants by Ken Follett
Never used Google Play Books, never will. I have over 1800 books on my Kindle account, so there’s no need for me to try alternatives.
I’ve been reading SF anthologies mostly, since it’s easier to digest a short story in one sitting than it is to pick up where I left off days (or weeks) later from a regular novel.
Gods and Generals, I plan on reading that whole series of books.
Not reading from Google Play but I just finished Just A Geek by Will Wheaton which I recently acquired via the Humble Bundle eBook sale :)
Inferno – Dan Brown
Leviathan – Scott Westerfeld
Behemoth – Scott Westerfeld (currently reading)
Goliath – Scott Westerfeld (next on deck)
(Reddit had a thread about what books people would like to see made into movies… found the trilogy by Westerfeld that way)..
Here is a trailer for the first book (no lie — a trailer! lol)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYiw5vkQFPw
For Summer reading, the Grapes of Wrath:/
Just finished reading “A memory of light” the last installment of the Wheel of Time. Great book and even greater series.
Last few books I’ve read, ( I think I have around 20+) are:
Inferno – Dan Brown
Enders Game
Full Black – Brad Thor
Blacklist – Brad Thor (reading now)
I have a few more demos downloaded ready to buy next too.
Game of thrones book four currently
Stephen King – The Dome and The Stand
oh wait..google play books..not available in Denmark. oh well really cant understand why people pirate stuff. (yup that’s sarcasm, in case you though i was serious about not understanding why people pirate stuff, when they are left out)