Google, How I Love Thee: A Writer's Ode

There is just no more denying that I am the biggest Google fan this side of the Mississippi.

Now, I just want to Google myself silly, because I really, really want an e-reader device. Also, I want to support the company's terrific effort to promote books, reading, and all-around love of the written word.

Today, the search titan launched a very smart marketing move, and a very neat contest. for those of us who love to cite literary references.

The "Play the 10 Days in Google Books" game features five questions per day, each day with a different theme. You don't need a doctorate degree to get the answers right, as you can use the search engine within Google Books. You're asked to name the book, or the poem or some sort of fact, tied to a quote or phrase.

After you answer the daily questions, which took me less than 10 minutes (remember to use quotes in those search queries) you then write a quick entry on the topic of books. Each day three entry authors will win one a Sony e-reader. How incredibly neat is that? The first 20,000 players get free Google laptop stickers.

Now, I'm not as sure what those are, but I want them. Even if I don't have a laptop. It'll be a status symbol of sorts for me.