a quill and vellum

My Top Ten Most Favorite Booktubers

One of my most favorite past-time activities is trolling though YouTube looking for new booktubers and watching videos from the ever-growing list of booktubers to whom I subscribe.  I am currently subscribed to 489 individuals and, even though I am constantly adding new youtubers to this list and deleting those who are no longer active or have changed focus,  my top ten list of booktubers is, for the most part, a static list which does not waver.  Today, I would like to highlight the ten individuals who I watch religiously and eagerly anticipate the publication of their latest video.  This list is in no particular order.

• 1book1review featuress Wiebke from Hannover, Germany.  Wiebke is a fascinating booktuber who has thoughtful insights into the books she is reviewing. She is also an expert on Discworld by Terry Pratchett and this is a series that I would like to soon tackle.
• frenchiedee is who I aim to be in booktubia.  She is intelligent, insightful, well read, has strong opinions, and reads the most interesting books.
• Ashley Riordan is climbthestacks in booktubia and she motivates me to read novels that I consider to be a difficult read. 
• onebookmore is someone I really enjoy watching.  She is well read, very personable and even is a fan of comic books!!!  COMIC BOOKS!!!
• wordsofareader is someone who I have followed since I discovered BookTube.  Lesly is a reader of classical literature and has the loveliest U.K. covers of the Penguin Classics which I find myself consistently drooling over.
• rincey reads is another amazing booktuber who I follow religiously.  Her reviews and other book-related content is well produced and she puts a lot of thought into her reviews.
• I have just recently discovered estellasrevenge and am very heppy that I did.  She is a teacher who reads some mighty good books.
• TheReading Rhodes is content put out by Chris Rhodes, a photographer and bibliophile.  Chris and I share a love of science fiction and Brandon Sanderson.
• Outside of Jasper Fforde, Sue Moro and I share nothing in common pertaining to reading.  Why is she in my top ten then?  Sue produces consistent content of high quality which is a pleaure to view.  And a big plus is that her dog, Skippy, makes an occasional appearance!!!
• Barry Pierce is, in my humble opinion, the most intelligent seventeen-year-old on the entire planet.  He has the most sophisticated reading tastes, is a film afficionado, and produces content that is insightful, intelligent, and HILARIOUS!  

-Joseph
Soli Deo Gloria

Inkopedia: Noodler's Cayenne

Bookish Things: Book Formats

Yesterday, 1book1review uploaded a video response to YouTube in response to a video posted by The Book Jazz.  Both of these ladies produce wonderful content and I highly recommend that you check out their respective channels.  In their videos, these two booktubers discussed the different types of book formats and which format appealed to them most.  Hands down, both 1book1review and The Book Jazz identified paperbacks as their most favorite book format due to issues such as cost, portability, and ease of readability.

As you may surmise from the name of my blog, I prefer books in an electronic book format.  I have used an iPad, iPad 2, and now use an iPad Mini and I use the iBooks, Kindle, and Nook apps to purchase, read, and store my books and magazines.   I find that my iPad affords me a more pleasant reading experience than reading physical books and I feel there are several advantages to reading eBooks over physical books.

Portability and Storage.  Because electronic books are not three dimensional objects, thousands of them can exist on the storage medium of one eReader and be readily available at all times.

Price.  eBooks can be purchased relatively inexpensively when compared to heavier tomes.  I generally pay anywhere from 4.99 to 12.99 for the books I purchase and this is generally cheaper than the price of a new paperback.  

Ability to Purchase.  eBooks can be purchased instantaneously from iTunes, Amazon, and Barnes and Noble.  There is no time wasted driving to a local book shop or awaiting the delivery man to come with your package. 

Font/Screen Adjustments.  Any eReader has the ability to select different fonts, increase or decrease the size of fonts, and adjust the paper to different hues; it also permits you to read in total darkness.  This ensures a pleasant reading experience, no matter your eye strength or environment, and may invite you to read more.

Promotion of Reading.  In this techno-centric society in which we live, being able to read on an electronic device may promote reading to those whose lives are filled with gaming consoles, iPods, iPads, iPhones, Nintendo DSs, netbooks, tablets, Droids, Blackberrys, and other forms of technology.

Free Books!  Many works which exist within the public domain are available for free electronic download through organizations such as Project Gutenberg.  I own the complete works of Jane Austen, the Bronte Sisters, Charles Dickens, as well s others, and I downloaded them all for no cost.

Read Samples.  I love the ability to download the first few chapters of books I am considering purchasing.  This helps me to make wise purchasing decisions.

Social Media.  We are all now connected social media such as Twitter, Facebook, and the few people who use Google+.  Reading an ebook permits me to share specific passages of any book I am reading with my friends on social media!

Yes, I do realize that I cannot look at my electronic books on my bookshelf, turn the deckled edges, feel the heft of the book, or smell the pages, but I purchase books to consume them and not to decorate my home with them.       

Admittedly, however, I do have a large weakness for Penguin Classics in the black paperbacks!!!