Hmm, I am getting increasingly frustrated by the Kindle experience. I’ve downloaded all the freebies there are – only to discover that they are so badly indexed that half the time the sort-by-author function doesn’t work. I’ve tried editing the meta data using a program called Caliber with mixed results. I can get 3 of the Jane Austens to go where they should be under letter A, but the other three are obstinately staying with letter J.
Trying to buy anything is a complete waste of time. When you log in to Kindle in Australia, you can only sort the rubbish that’s available by bestselling, price, customer review and publication date. If you select Literary Fiction, all you get is the classics, so-called American literature (Paul Coehlo??) and authors you’ve never heard of. And even though you’re logged in as an Australian customer, it doesn’t filter for that once you select a genre, so if you do find something you want, it turns out you can’t have it anyway.
The only books that are actually available for Australian customers are popular best-sellers. You know, the ones with the gold lettering, gaudy pictures and Italics. Lots of male torsos and heaving breasts. Try searching for any author worth reading, and they’re not available.
The search function is so hopeless, you can’t bookmark where you’ve searched up to if you browse.
The rubbish they have for sale is just breathtaking! A few samples from the recent releases in the last 30 days:
- The War of the Dwarves
- Hear No Evil, My Story of Innocence, Music and the Holy Ghost
- Spiritual Astrology, Your Personal Path to Self-fulfilment
- Steam – Tasty Treats (No, it’s not a cook book)
- Death of a Poison Pen
- Curious George, The Perfect Carrot.
There are 2880 new releases and I browsed 24 pages but gave up in frustration. There may be something worthwhile in all the dross, but I can’t find it.
I thought it might be nice to try out the audio book function, but to do that you have to subscribe to audible.com. It seemed like a good idea to ask them about what’s available to Australian customers, but they haven’t bothered to reply. Not very encouraging, eh?
I’m beginning not to care that there’s no sign of an adapter being released for Australian customers…
You’ve prompted me to look up Steam. Amazon tells me it’s about a Goddess mated to twin Elemental dragon-shifters, a wolf-shifter named Brodey, and a homicidal chicken.
By: DKS on March 17, 2010
at 10:07 am
Well, what can I say, Deane? Can I look forward to reading your review of this enticing title? Lisa *grin*
By: Lisa Hill on March 17, 2010
at 6:55 pm
We gave one to son for his birthday, as per his request. He understands that it is bottom-level technology, and I’ve been sending him your links here. He seems to think that as a prototype it can only get better,but I guess because the family joined in to gift him with it, he doesn’t personally feel the pain of the large capital expediture.
By: Steph on March 17, 2010
at 11:20 am
I wouldn’t mind so much about there not being much available if searching on the Amazon website were not such a frustrating experience! It’s plodding through page after page of offerings because their site is so poorly designed to find something that might be interesting only to discover it’s something Aussies can’t have that makes me cross. Lisa
By: Lisa Hill on March 17, 2010
at 7:19 pm
You are not encouraging me Lisa!
By: whisperinggums on March 18, 2010
at 12:31 am
Good! Don’t buy one, Sue, until Amazon starts treating its international customers with some respect. Lisa
By: Lisa Hill on March 18, 2010
at 8:13 pm
I don’t think I could do better than Deb at Dark Diva Reviews. I leave the floor to her:
“All the rest of the characters were just as amazing, and I have a feeling the way this book ended, they will have another story. The battle is not over by a long shot. As back drop goes, the story takes place at “Yellowstone National Park”. The way Ms. Dalton wrote about the scenery gave me a breath taking view in my mind. …. When you put dragons, wolves, bear, cats and other alike, there is always something interesting going to happen.”
I think the final point is indisputable.
http://ddrreviews.blogspot.com/2010/02/steam-tasty-treats-7-by-tymber-dalton.html
By: DKS on March 18, 2010
at 9:35 am
Did you see the feature on the 7.30 report tonight? Mark Pesce reckons 50% of books will be e-books before long, and the industry says that it’s middle aged female readers who are driving it!
By: Lisa Hill on March 18, 2010
at 7:58 pm
Yes, I saw the 7.30 report show. Clearly those people read different books to the ones we do. I’m sure most of those who love it can find the material they want. I’m perturbed too about the format, and indexing issues you raise. Would drive my organised librarian brain crazy I think!
By: whisperinggums on March 19, 2010
at 9:47 am