Follow My Book Blog Friday Hop #1

Well, I have finally decided to go for it!

Yes, this is my very first "Follow Friday Hop"!

This weekly feature is hosted by

Parajunkee's View,

and many blogs participate!

Here are the rules:

1.  You must follow Parjunkee's View, and any other blog you want to follow, from the list of linked blogs.

2.  You also need to follow each week's featured blogger.  This week's blogger is Book Bliss!!

3.  Put your blog name and URL in the Linky widget.

4.  Grab the "Follow My Book Blog Friday" button and place it in your Follow Friday posts.

5.  Follow as many blogs as you want, or just follow a few.  Always say "hi" when you start following a blog.

6.  It's nice to follow back when someone lets you know they're following your own blog.  Spread the love and the follows!!

7.  If you're new to the Follow Friday Hop, please comment on Parajunkee's blog, so they can go check out your blog!

8.  You also need to answer each week's blog hop question.

This week's question:

How many books do you read in a week? 

And in what format do you read them, or listen to them?

This question makes me feel a bit sad... I work two jobs, so I don't have as much time for reading as I wish I had.  Therefore, I usually read one, perhaps two, books a week.  I'm one of those weird readers who pronounces each word in their mind as they read, so that also slows me down!  I've tried to break this habit, which has been with me for as long as I can remember, but haven't had much success.  It's like I can't get into the story if I don't sound the words out in my mind.  I wonder if this happens to other people.  However, I don't like the idea of trying to zip through books as fast as I possibly can.  I want to truly enjoy the story.  This involves savoring the descriptive passages, so that I can picture them vividly.  It also entails feeling the emotions of the characters, thinking their thoughts.  So I do think that reading more slowly helps one to accomplish these things.  Even when I can't put a book down because it's an enthralling read, I still can't read any faster than I do.  Of course, speed reading courses are completely out for me!  

As for reading formats, I totally prefer print versions.  I must hold a real book in my hands as I read.  I totally abhor ebooks!  Part of the pleasure of reading, for me, is having a physical book to read from.  I prefer turning pages to scrolling, no matter how wonderful the technology of ereaders is nowadays!  I can't get into a book I'm reading on a screen.  I can and do read blog posts, but reading an entire book on a screen, no matter how glare-free, is another matter entirely!  So, of course, I do not review ebooks, either.

I have no such problem with audio books!  In fact, I love them!  I do have to say, though, that I will usually listen to an audio book after I have already read the print version.   This is what I did with The Twilight Saga.  So, in any case, hard copies will always be my first reading preference.  The great thing about audio books is that we modern readers can in this way connect with the age-old tradition of storytelling.  The music and flow of language, the various voice intonations -- these are things that add to the plot.  Descriptions become much more vivid, too, when read aloud.  These are the reasons I will listen to a beloved book after I have read the hard copy.  It heightens and prolongs my aesthetic pleasure in the original work.  It's almost like savoring a fine wine!