Where Is Your Bookmark? (A Peek Into The Mortal Word & Audio vs. E-Books)

As I prepare this post, I am nearly finished reading my January TBR List poll winner (thank you again to all who voted!), The Mortal Word by Genevieve Cogman, the fifth in the Invisible Library series. I hope to be finished with it by the time you are reading this post. Murder is not a promising start for a peace conference between the fae and the dragons. The neutrality of the Library may be at stake as well. Set in 1890's Paris--well, one version of it anyway--The Mortal Word is full of magic, intrigue, and more than a few twists.   

A weekly meme where readers share the first sentence of the book they are reading and say what they think. Hosted by the wonderful Gillion Dumas of Rose City Reader.

The braziers in the torture chamber had burned low while Irene waited for the count to arrive. The stone wall behind her back was cold, even though her layers of clothing--dirndl, blouse, apron, and shawl--and the shackles scraped her wrists. Down the corridor she could hear the sounds of the other prisoners: suppressed tears, prayers, and a mother trying to soothe her baby.

Irene, Librarian extraordinaire, always seems to find herself in the direst of circumstances--or rather, that's how the reader often finds her at the beginning of the books in this series. I wonder how she will get herself out of this one!

A weekly meme in which readers share a random sentence or two from page 56 or 56% of the book they are reading. Hosted by the wonderful Freda of Freda's Voice.

"I accept that you have--or that you believe you have--information. I am prepared to negotiate. But I'm being quite honest here when I tell you that I don't know what the information is."

Kai and Vale probably had their ears plastered against the bathroom door. She wondered how long it would be before they decided that she needed protection whether she wanted it or not. [56%]

I am just as curious as Kai and Vale must be to know just what that information may be. And why is this person so sure Irene knows already?

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Every Friday Coffee Addicted Writer from Coffee Addicted Writer poses a question which participants respond on their own blogs within the week (Friday through Thursday). They then share their links at the main site and visit other participants blogs.

Audio books vs e-book? If the world stopped printing books which would you prefer between the two? (submitted by Angelica @ Paperback Princess)

There is something about a physical book, isn't there? Such a small object that holds so much magic inside. I grew up surrounded by books, and have a house full now. My living room is more commonly known around here as the library. It is the first room you see when you enter my house from the front door. Bookshelves full of books. And that isn't even counting the shelves and shelves of books I have in other parts of the house. I love my physical books, being able to hold them in my hands, run my fingers through their many pages, some with beautiful artwork that doesn't compare on a screen. Signed editions. Books that hold notes of previous readers. Old and new. Lots and lots of books, full of knowledge and adventure.

I only started listening to audio books a few short years ago. I had all the usual excuses you hear as to why they would not work for me. Wandering attention span, no time or fractured time (constant interruptions), drowsiness when read to,  and lack of or poor accessibility to them, just to name a few. But I had not really tried, and so all those excuses were rather flimsy at best. I have since discovered that I do enjoy listening to audio books from time to time. I have learned which types of books work best for me and in that format--and discovered just how important the narrator can be. I also have learned that some of my original excuses are valid reasons for why audio books have not become a more regular staple in my reading life. So, while I do enjoy listening to books, it is not my favorite way to take in books. I like that it is an option though--there may come a time when they do fit into my life better.

I never imagined I would take to e-books. I was very skeptical of them when I first heard about them. I am not sure what it was that changed my mind--no, that's not true. I do know. Convenience. It has a lot to do with convenience. Having so many books at my fingertips in one tiny device. Being able to read in the dark while my daughter is snuggled next to me, sleeping. Much easier to hold and turn pages when I only have one arm available--or even hold with no arms available. Adjustable text. And often the price tag is a bit lower than the physical copy. The reality of it is I  read more e-books than physical books these days as a result.

All that to say my answer to this week's question is e-books. I like that there are so many different options for reading books available to us, and I hope those options continue to grow. I do not see physical books going anywhere though, thankfully.

What about you?

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! Be sure and tell me what you are reading and are up to!

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