The Lexicographer's Rules

"A Way with Words," the public radio show about language which I co-host and co-produce, just posted an audio interview I did with humorist and author Roy Blount Jr. in which we talked, among other things, about his books, the Authors Guild, authors' rights, the Amazon Kindle 2, catfish noodling, and whether the cancan dancers at George Plimpton’s memorial honored the late writer’s request and performed without panties.

I completely fail to understand why Mr. Blount is just fine and dandy with his book being read to a book-owner by the book-owner’s desktop or laptop or handheld PC, but he has a huge problem with the same book being read to the book-owner by a Kindle. What is the difference? I have to say I find the entire issue extremely irritating. I have, in the past, requested that one of my children read to me from one of my books that I am in the middle of if I am busy doing something else, such as washing dishes, or whatever, that I can’t do while also reading from a book. I was OVERJOYED that my new Kindle 2 would be able to do that for me, so that I could get chores done on a regular basis even if I am desperate to finish a story while the children are at school. Now that has been taken away from me, so I finish books much more slowly, and buy fewer books. I will *never* *ever* buy an audiobook, because on the whole I *prefer* reading to being read to, and I am *definitely* not about to buy a text version AND an audio version of the same book!  So that’s a big bummer right there that I can’t have my Kindle read to me for some of my books. I think it is also bad for the publishing industry. I mean, here I am - a frequent book purchaser who never purchases audiobooks. When I got my K2 I became a *more frequent* book purchaser who never purchases audiobooks. And now that TTS is crippled, my book purchasing frequency is reduced to the previous level. So tell me again how TTS crippling helps anyone?? Because I have discussed this with MANY kindle owners, and they basically all agree with me (although many of them comment that they DO buy audiobooks, those people pretty much hate the Kindle’s voice for anything but the same “in a pinch” situation I describe, and they continue to buy audiobooks regularly).

Grumble grumble grouch.

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