I love it when Amazon discounts ebooks for the Kindle — especially when there’s one hundred ebooks. I finally took a good look at Amazon’s big selection of discounted ebooks for June. They’re broken into five categories — Literature and Fiction, Nonfiction, Kids & Teens, Biographies & Memoirs, and “More Great Deals”. You can browse through them all at tinyurl.com/399books — and this month’s selection seems even more eclectic, with a nice variety of discounted books.
Whistle by James Jones
From Here to Eternity was only the first in a trilogy of World War II novels by James Jones (which also included The Thin Red Line). Jones actually witnessed the Pearl Harbor attacks at the age of 20, according to Wikipedia, and later based all three books on his war-time experiences. Whistle was his final novel – he was still working on it before his death in 1977, promising “Just about everything I have ever had to say, or will ever have to say, on the human condition of war.” And this fascinating book’s final three chapters were completed by a friend and fellow author named Willie Morris.
Coders at Work: Reflections on the Craft of Programming by Peter Seibel
Geeks writing computer programs share their most interesting insights in an intriguing 2009 collection. The book’s description promises that the author tracked down “15 of the most interesting computer programmers alive today,” including the creator of Unix, Ken Thompson, and Jamie Zawinski, an early coder at Netscape and the author of XEmacs. It’s both entertaining and inspiring, according to one reviewer at Amazon, who writes that “If you are a person who cares at all about the art, craft, or science of software development, you will not be able to put this book down!”
Def Leppard: The Definitive Visual History by Ross Halfin
This 1980s metal band sold more than 65 million records, offering up their iconic “anthem rock” in albums like Pyromania and Hysteria. But rock photographer Ross Halfin has been photographing them since 1978, and according to the book’s description at Amazon, delivers “candid and definitive pictures” of the hard-hitting band in action, along with his own up-close recollections, ultimately creating a “fully authorized visual history.” The print edition of this book normally costs $35.00 – but in June, it’s Kindle edition is just $3.99!
Armageddon: A Novel of Berlin by Leon Uris
In Berlin after World War II, “an American Army officer bears witness to the aftermath of one historic tragedy and the rise of another,” according to this novel’s description on Amazon. Soviet forces blockade the city, the historic airlift begins, and Leon Uris’s compelling military commander watches helplessly as an “Iron Curtain” rises which would divide Europe for the next 46 years.
Mastering the Grill by Alison Miksch
Summer’s almost here – it sure feels like summer already – and I like how this book’s description at Amazon promises it’ll become “a sauce-stained, well-thumbed classic.” It notes that the authors dig into the key facts of the grilling process, offering a “master class” in cooking. “In addition to hundreds of tips and techniques, this ultimate guide is packed with how-to illustrations and mouthwatering photographs plus 350 surefire recipes – everything from rubs and marinades to appetizers, entrees, side dishes, and desserts!”
Hot desserts from the grill? I can’t wait!