Book? What's a Book?

For the last couple of weeks I have been over my head in other people's manuscripts. It started when I agreed to be one of many judges in an annual regional contest. I read ten manuscripts and will end up judging eight of them. I told them my druthers would be to have mysteries, history, and short stories. Most of what I got was pretty readable. When I opened one, the track changes were on and the writers name appeared after every paragraph. That is a no-no for a judged manuscript. The second one I ended up not reading was listed as Metafiction. I remember once reading a short story from the point of view of the memories locked in a trunk in the attic. This was sort of like that. I never figured out what the point of view thing was, thought I was leaning toward curtains. I was pretty sure I couldn't give a fair and impartial critique or scoring, so I sent it back. 

Then there is my critique group.  This month there were three manuscripts. The short one was 3200 words the longest 8500.

So that's a total of 13 manuscripts read, and 11 critiques. I have no idea how many words that is. Reading something in manuscript sets me into critique mode. Most come by email and I have to print it out and read with a red or blue pen in hand. It is impossible for me to read something on an 8.5x11 unbound sheet without writing all over it.

I have been asked to moderate a panel at a writer's conference, four authors, four more manuscripts. I bought the first one for my e-reader. It does have advantages. The works are usually less expensive than print books. My e-book turns itself off if I fall asleep while reading it. It hasn't learned to take my glasses off. I don't find it easy to move back and forth, to check out something I have already read, or want to look ahead at something as I do frequently with non-fiction.

Two of the four I borrowed from the library. The Delaware library system doesn’t always have what I need, but it is a great way to taste books or to get to know an author. It is wonderful for conference preparation reading. These are books with covers and pages I can turn, all bound together. That is the form of reading I enjoy most.

That leaves one book still to track down. I wonder in what form it will come to me.

I have yet to 'read' an audio book, though my niece and daughter do it regularly. I have listened to snatches, but I know my mind would wander if I tried a whole book.

I'd love to know what form you prefer and why.