Tuesday, April 14, 2020

An update on piracy and other things

by Rick Blechta

Well, I sent my email in to Internet Archive and none of my books have been taken down from their website. I guess after this news broke, they were inundated by legal demands. I’m going to keep monitoring it over the coming days. I must say it’s disheartening that so far, no good.

Other than that, I’m keeping on keeping on. The weather has been pretty cold here in Toronto for the most part, and rainy as well on most days. Tonight we’re going to get snow flurries. Oh joy. But this is Canada and it is only April, so it’s not unprecedented. The threat of snow, though, is rather depressing.

I’ve got a question for everyone today: What is the book you’re reading right now and why?

Please share!

I’m reading one of the last Camillieri novels, The Overnight Kidnapper. I’ll be sorry when I get to the end of the line. This series is really quite exceptional.

9 comments:

Anna said...

Would you believe Little Women? My go-to comfort read (dozens of readings) when I was a girl. It's as effective as ever.

Sybil Johnson said...

Cancelled By Murder by Jean Flowers. It's a cozy. Very comforting to me right now. Well written and interesting characters.

Susan D said...

Among the six library books stranded in my house since the libraries were shut down with only a few hours notice, I have Kathryn Harkup's A is for Arsenic (2015). A thorough and engaging look into some of the poisons Agatha Christie used in her stories and books. Her weapons of choice were many and varied.

Rick Blechta said...

Many thanks, Anna, Sybil and Susan. That certainly is a varied list.

I wouldn't be surprised if there are a lot of people reading for comfort of some sort, no "difficult reads" need apply!

I find the Camillieri books comforting in their own way, even though they have their grittier moments. The cast of very odd characters (in a good way) makes them highly entertaining and different than the usual crime fiction that I read.

Anyone else wish to contribute?

Eileen Goudge said...

I got an email from Internet Archives after I emailed them requesting my titles be taken down, and they promised to comply, so maybe all is not lost and you'll get yours taken down eventually. I must say, given the amateurish look of their site, I can't imagine large numbers of readers would want to download anything from it.

Donna S said...

I am reading a fantasy book by Charles de Lint - set in the fictional city of Newford and containing his usual weird and wonderful collection of characters, good and bad. Another way of escaping and comforting myself.

Rick Blechta said...

Eileen, I have gotten the same email, but all they did was remove my books from their unlimited download program due to Covid-19. I questioned that and asked they be completely taken down (because they're still up) and got a rather, shall I delicately put it, "rationalized" answer about why they think they can keep loaning out my books to the blind and others with handicaps. I will be continuing the saga in my post next Tuesday.

Thanks for sharing your experience with them! Hope you are well -- and remain that way. New York is a dangerous place these days!

Rick Blechta said...

Donna, that sounds interesting. I'm ready for something unexpected about now. I'll have to check out this book. Title, please?

And thanks for weighing in!!

Stay well.

Donna S said...

Hi Rick:
The name of the particular book I am reading is "Someplace to be Flying" by Charles de Lint. Can never understand why his books are so hard to find except on Amazon. He is a Canadian author too. Hope you enjoy the book.