Format, Format - Who's got the format?

While I've been in non-blogging mode, I have noticed that among the readers I know - it has become more a question of not what they are reading - but how they are reading. (Non-readers - don't count in this - cause they ain't reading.)

Some über-readers are using audiobooks to get their story fix while others are downloading e-books as fast as they go on sale. And then others still have a To Be Read (TBR) pile that will never be done. Does the format bring more to the story?

I have found that since I'm an easily distracted driver - I can only listen to audiobooks that I have read before or that are in the same series. Brand new stuff distracts me too much and I'm soon driving in the wrong direction. But I've found audiobooks and their talented readers can bring parts of the book alive in ways that you did not notice while reading it.

What about reading e-books? Does it bring a new dimension to your book, or does the "how far you are in the book" bar distract from the enjoyment? Or is the reality just that it allows you to get a book and get it now!?

How do you read? Different genres or titles in different formats? Or a little bit of everything?

Flavia's Back! The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag

Our favorite young sleuth Flavia de Luce is back in her next adventure, The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag by Alan Bradley. She has not abandoned her fascination with the study of poisons. But the famous (or infamous) victim in this book is not killed by poison - or is he? And this latest incident seems to have something to do with the death of another villager and what happened during the war. What will Flavia uncover as she digs around in the past?

I just love Flavia's character. Such joli le vive! Well - maybe not - the first scene has her pretending to be dead in the church graveyard and imaging her sisters and family crying. Ah, the dreams and the revenge of the little sister!

Some other fun points, we get to see what Flavia does to the latest of her sister Ophelia's suitors, and we learn more about her mysterious mother from her spinster aunt who comes to visit. And we get to learn more about the village and people of Bishop's Lacey. A fun frothy read and great sequel. I can not wait for the next one!

If you like to listen to audio books, this is one to try on audio. The narrator, Jayne Entwistle, is just perfect and she really brings Flavia's sarcasm and humor to life.