What Can You Say?

I'm sure like everyone else you've seen the terrible news reports of the last few days about the rioting and looting that has taken place in parts of London and other cities.

Sadly Tuesday night there were three deaths.

We've been fortunate in Nottingham in not having shop frontages smashed and the contents looted. Yes some of our police stations were attacked and one firebombed Tuesday night; cars have been damaged and people arrested but it doesn't compare to what has happened elsewhere and for that I'm grateful.

But my deepest sympathies do go to all those who elsewhere have lost their homes, their businesses, and also to the families who have lost relatives- whatever the circumstances.

It seems bookshops escaped major damage. Perhaps because they don't tend to be located among the big high street names that have attracted attack. Compared to the price of the goods they are taking, books are cheap...

In the 18th and 19th centuries the riots that took place had a valid cause (in retrospect)- agitation for political reform, near starvation and high prices among them.

Very different from now...

Social Networking for Kindle Users...

I'm having difficulty getting onto the computer these past few days- school holidays and the novelty of all the things my family can now do on the computer. I haven't even been able to do any writing!!!! :-(

So I've only just seen this Kindle item on the Bookseller website. Apparently Amazon.com has launched a social networking site for Kindle users-kindle.amazon.com

Now how useful this could become to both readers and writers is yet to be seen, but it apparently allows users to set up a profile and review books they've read and see public notes made on the book.

We all know how valuable word of mouth recommendations are- even if they are digital and not face to face.

So it will be interesting to see how this progresses and if it spreads further...