Introducing… Ravinger

On July 3, 2010, I ordered my first Kindle. Corvis.

Then, in 2014, came Reaver Voyage Kindle.

Today, July 3, 2025, my third Kindle, a paperwhite, takes up the mantle. Ravinger Scyth Kindle. Long may he reign.

Off Topic: Fifty Shades of Grey

As an erotic romance reader, I've delved only slightly into the world of BDSM. I'm merely a visitor, a voyeur into a lifestyle I will never fully grasp. But from the little I've experienced, I find it to be an art form. A science, if you will. It takes talent to take the pain sensors of the body and manipulate them into feeling pleasure. It takes a gift to control one's mind to the point of complete and utter submission. To own their trust. To deliver the otherwise impossible.

Before its theatrical revamp, I had never heard of Mr. Grey and his fifty shades. As the hype increased around me, I admit to the stimulation of my curiosity. From the mouths of its readers, those few around me, I've received a mix of reactions. One tossed it before ever making it midway. One hailed it as amazing. Others, I hear, damn it for glorifying rape and domestic abuse. BDSM does nothing of the sort, and should this book-this movie-do so then it does nothing more but bastardize an art.

As I read, I came upon this review of the movie from Village Voice:

...The thrust of the series isn't Christian Grey awakening Anastasia to the pleasures of submission — instead, it's her convincing him that his sexual wants are wrong. She may temporarily thrill as he spanks her over his knee, but the book-three climax is a wedding and a baby. The series savors kink and stigmatizes it, implying Grey's only into BDSM because an older woman stole his virginity at fifteen and his mother was a crack whore. Confesses Grey, "I'm fifty shades of fucked up."

It's too bad that Taylor-Johnson can't give these insults a suspicious side-eye. She must mouth them as gospel, since his Mrs. Robinson–like backstory villain factors in to the sequels. As a result, the book and the film punish their fans. Yes, this naughty stuff is hot — but if you like it too much, you're sick.

- Amy Nicholson (Village Voice)

I haven't read it. And I won't.

I'm curious enough to want to watch it. But would doing so serve any other purpose than to arouse my anger and sense of wrong?

Her chin came up. “There’s nothing fun about someone restraining me.”
“What if the restraints are all in your mind?” He pressed into her skin, knowing he would leave an indent. Wanting to. “And what if that someone was me?”

-No Romance Required by Cari Quinn

BDSM books that I have read/enjoyed can be found here. Granted, I lean more towards the bondage and domination/discipline rather than the sadism and masochism aspect of it all.

Books Are My Music

When it comes to music, I can leave it as easily as take it. Am I an enigma for this?

So many people "can't live without music". My husband listens to it all day at work and other members of my extended family are beyond enthralled by it.

Even Neena has an addiction to the stuff.

Not me.

Books are my music. And while there is some music that conjures indescribable levels of emotions, I get that same high from a good book. From the emotions bleeding from characters that aren't just fabled heroes on a page.

So why am I writing about this?

Because I find myself obsessed with The League series by Sherrilyn Kenyon and even now, memories come seeping into my consciousness as I read other stories or go about my daily routine. Mostly of Syn, or as I like to refer to him by his true name-Sheridan. Because yeah, he's strong enough to carry such a feminine name.

Anyway, Kenyon went the extra mile and made a playlist for each of her books. Today, I accomplished something I had considered doing ever since discovering her website all those months ago... I googled each song she'd assigned to Syn's book and now own the complete Born of Fire playlist, to which I dearly labeled: Sheridan's Synful Mix, because, yes, I'm a child of the eighties. It includes:

1. Winter Born: Cruxshadows
2. Objects in the Rear view Mirror: Meatloaf
3. Two Steps Behind: Def Leppard
4. My Last Breath: Evanescence
5. Sound of Madness: Shinedown
6. Bad Attitude: Meatloaf
7. Lips of an Angel: Hinder
8. Carnival of Rust: Poets of the Fall
9. Inject the Venom: AC/DC
10. Careless Whisper: Seether
11. Never Again: Nickelback
12. Gone Forever: Three Days Grace
13. Open Your Eyes: Lords of the New Church
14. Salvation: Five Finger Death Punch

While I was familiar with many of the bands, this was my first introduction to Poets of the Fall, and I have to say, "Carnival of Rust" is a new fave... and so very fitting for Syn and Shay.

I also grabbed up some of what I could from the playlists of Born of Night, Born of Silence, Born of Fury, and the upcoming Born of Defiance. They were dearly entitled: Nykyrian's Ballet, Darling's Sounds of Silence, Hauk's Tunes of Tribulation, and Talyn's Chants of Defiance.

Introducing... Reaver V. Kindle

Five years ago, in October 2009, I received my first e-reader as an early birthday gift from my husband. It was Amazon's Kindle 2nd generation, and deemed "Corvis" after the brothers of Jean Johnson's Sons of Destiny series. Corvis served me faithfully even through the Paperwhite era, and I never once found myself tempted to upgrade. From "Divine Beginnings" to "Kiss of Snow", we shared a recorded six hundred ninety-four (at times, amazing,) literary adventures.

However, as 2014 settled in, Corvis began showing his technological age. And although my dear kindle 2 has now stepped down as my e-reader, it is with ecstatic joy that my husband has brought Corvis's brother, the Kindle Voyage, into my life.

I am so very blessed to present :::::  Reaver Voyage Kindle :::::: (after Yenrieth, aka Reaver, of Larissa Ione's Lords of Deliverance series). And yes, he got himself a photo shoot.

And if you haven't yet ordered your very own Reaver, you can do so at Amazon.com


I'm fully aware of my dork status.

Down to the hours...

Nine eleven

May we never forget.

No moar nawty

Hi you!

So... first order of business, I am not going to make another Naughty Nooners post. There are like forty of these things and it's killing the flow. So there. Today, I am actually going to be reading Eland by Allyson James, Outlaw Lovers Dossier by Jan Springer, Changing Perspective (m/m) by Marilu Mann, and an aptly named First Taste by Paisley Smith which will be my 'first taste' of f/f. Hmmm...

Second order of business... where have I been?

And here's the dealio. I have recently started a new medication. Yays for drugs! While doing a bit of research I found that the most notorious of side effects have been severe mood swings and depression. Eh. I don't know if I'm feeling those per say but I've definitely gotten some side effects. And they're great! Or they could be if they stick.

Something that may or may not be because of these wonder pills has been my lack of drive to read. I've been craving come visual stimulation. My eyes need movement. And words on a page just ain't cutting it. I've been watching a lot of TV... which has been including marathon after marathon of Cops and Man V Food. Currently in another MvF marathon as I type this. I watched Untraceable which was eww and Vantage Point which had potential. While the constant angle changing made it interesting, it also made it crazy confusing. And, oh, I watched a movie called Cravings (also called Daddy's Girl) yesterday. *cringe* I'm all for blood, but oh hell no on the drinky drinky part. That movie was SICK.

Kindle 2.5

Kindle Version 2.5 Overview

The 2.5 software update for Kindle and Kindle DX is coming soon. We are rolling out the new software update to a limited group of Kindle users and plan a broad release in late May 2010. Check back here for updates on the release schedule.

Here's a list of the coming enhancements:

* Collections: Organize your books and documents into one or more collections.

* PDF Pan and Zoom: Zoom into PDFs and pan around to easily view small print and detailed tables or graphics.

* Password Protection: Password protect your Kindle when you're not using it.

* More Fonts & Improved Clarity: Enjoy two new larger font sizes and sharper fonts for an even more comfortable reading experience.

* Facebook & Twitter Posts: Share book passages with friends on Facebook and Twitter directly from your Kindle.

* Popular Highlights: See what the Kindle community thinks are the most interesting passages in the books you're reading.

Happy May!