It’s Monday! There’s a Carnival and ReBooWee.

The holidays have come and gone. It’s Monday already and a new year has begun. It’s time for two of my favorite Monday activities, a new event and a reminder.

It's Monday! What are you reading this week? is a weekly event hosted by J. Kaye of J. Kaye's Book Blog to list the books completed last week, the books currently being read, and the books to be finished this week.

My list hasn’t change very much from last week. However, by next week maybe that will be different. Here we go:

Books I finished last week:
Hearts of Courage by John Tippet (Check back Wednesday, Jan. 6, for a review of this most interesting true story.)

Currently Reading:
Girl with Skirt of Stars by Jennifer Kitchen
Regression by Kathy Bell
The Solomon Effect by C.S. Graham
Corrigan’s Pool by Dot Ryan

Books to Finish this Week:
Corrigan’s Pool by Dot Ryan
The Solomon Effect by C.S. Graham

Today also marks the end of the fifth week of ReBooWee, a challenge to read at least one book a week. The challenge is being hosted by The-Writing-Bug

Participants are asked to sign up and then each week follow up with their progress. In doing so, participants are also asked if they finished a book, what did they read and can they share one sentence about the book or how the book effected them.

It’s a fun challenge. During the holidays it was difficult for me to find time just to sit and read. I hope now that the holidays are over and life is getting back to normal (whatever that is), I can begin reading more.

Check out The-Writing-Bug blog today to see what books the other participants have read and what sentences and thoughts are posted in regards to the books read.

It Blog Carnival time.

There is a Blog Carnival going on today at Mysteries and My Musings. You ask, “What is a blog carnival?”

According to the blog information: Blog carnivals are where someone takes the time to find really good blog post on a given topic, and then puts all those posts together in a blog post called a “carnival.”

Image one place to go each month for book reviews on mystery, crime fiction and suspense books, as well as author interviews and writing tips and advice.

Blog carnivals are a great way for bloggers to recognize each other's efforts, organize blog posts around important topics - like the Mystery Genre, and improve the overall level of conversation in the blogosphere. The fact that carnivals are edited (and usually annotated) collections of links lets them serve as "magazines" within the blogosphere.

Sounds like a great place to browse. Check it out.


The last bit of news for today is a reminder that the contest to win a free Nook  ends tomorrow, Jan. 5. Be sure to check out the information on the right-hand sidebar for the entry guidelines.

Did the holidays slow down your reading? What about books, did Santa bring you some new ones?

I received a box of audio books from my friend in Houston. Can’t wait to start listening. I also received a copy of Stephen King’s Under the Doom. That one will time some time, but I understand it’s quite good.

How’s your Monday going and what are you reading today?

Paper or Audio

I enjoy audio books very much. They can be entertaining, as well as educational.

I listen to audio books in the car going to and from work, as well as trips to town. To me listening to a book in traffic is more relaxing than listening to the radio.

I can take a book on CD, transfer it to my MP3 player and it can go anywhere with me. I send the CDs to my best friend in Houston, Texas, and we both enjoy the book (sometimes at the same time and discuss it). She sends me the CDs she has purchased.

But I don't want to give up my paper books.

I enjoy reading book as much, if not more, than listening to audio books.

There's something magical about holding a book, turning the pages and having a story unfold as you read.

My friend has a Kindle and loves it. I'm not sure I'd like one. I know they can be handy. The best part would be the ability to obtain a book in a matter of minutes compared to having to go to the book store or waiting on a book to be delivered to your home.

However, the joy of going to a book store can't be beat. To browse aisle after aisle searching for that certain book or just looking for something new can be a joy for a book lover.

Another thing ... I can't seem to get rid of any books, even the ones I don't like. I keep thinking one day I might like them. And if I find an author I really like, then I try to find everything that author has written. I may not read it right away, but I have it just in case.

The audio books are the only ones I'm able to swap and then there are certain ones I still collect.

I've seen lamps and bookends make out of old books. The craftsmen suggests buying old books from a library sale to make the items. I can't bring myself to damage any book even to make a lamp or bookends.

How do you feel about paper verses audio books? Do you like both or one better than the other? What about paper verses Kindles and Nooks? Do you think paper books will soon be a thing of the past like eight track and VHS tapes?

Are you a collector or just a reader? Do you keep everything you read or do you do anyway if it as soon as you finish reading? A lot to think about. Let me know.