I'm a slob. It's the truth. I am the messiest person you will ever meet. I'm incapable of folding things or putting things on shelves or doing laundry or all kinds of things normal functional humans do to keep their floors clean.
My books are immaculate.
Everybody's got reading and book-owning quirks. Here are a few of mine, just so you guys can finally realize just how weird I am, in case you haven't realized that already.
If the book is a hardcover, I always remove the dust jacket before reading so that I don't damage it. And then something falls on top of it and it gets squished and I cry, but still, the thought it there.
I can have the TV on while I read... but not music. Very often I have on something that requires minimal attention, like Chopped or a movie/TV show I've seen a million times, and I can mostly tun out. But I'm not good at tuning out music. I want to sing along or listen to the lyrics too much. I also can't write to music.
I love my e-reader just as much as my hard copies. I think people who are passionately against e-readers miss the point. More people read now that it's easier to obtain books. While I will DIE the day that brick-and-mortar bookstores officially disappear, and still prefer to read on paper, my Kindle is my life. I no longer have to car four hardback with me on a plane when I travel (though I, um... still do, in addition to me e-reader, which is why I have the posture of a candy cane). I can get a newly-released book, or a new galley, INSTANTLY. E-readers are not the devil for me.
I always have to resist the urge to read the last page. I am that BAD KID who wants to flip to the end to find out who the killer is, see if my ship pays off, and make sure my favorite characters don't die. Most of the time, I resist. Somethings I don't.
If there is no kissing in a book or possibility of kissing or the vaguest hint that any character would like to be kissed, I invent unlikely ships just so I'm not bored. Completely normal behavior.
I judge a book on its opening sentence. I don't ever DNF on page one, but it certainly informs my opinion of the writing.
I despise when there are price stickers on the front of the book. AND THEN THERE'S ALL THAT STICKY RESIDUE ON THERE AND MY LIFE IS RUINED.
If a series is re-released with a new design, I will always be tempted to buy it. Brand new Harry Potter hardbacks, come to Mama. Oh, what's that? I already own three sets of Harry Potter books? Shut up.
So, what about you? Have you got any quirks of your own? Do you share any of mine, or am I just stranded along on Lunacy Island, or something?
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Oh my gosh those new Harry Potter covers!! I sat and stared at the box set images last night because they freaking make Hogwarts all lined up! Then I had a firm discussion with myself about how Scholastic doesn't NEED 60 more of my dollars for a set of books that will basically sit on the shelf because I'd end up reading the ebooks anyway.
ReplyDeleteOh, and I also read the last page, but only when I have physical books. It's usually to see if someone I like dies: if I'm nervous about it and can't focus for waiting to see if they die, I'll flip to the back and spoil it. Also: ships. If I can't figure out what the main relationship is going to be, I cheat. It keeps me focused on the actual plot and dialogue rather than speed reading and missing everything!
AGH! I hate when booksellers add that craptastic price sticker onnnnnnn the cover. It is so infuriating. If I leave it on, it looks tacky. If I take it off, it looks icky. Sigh. I can relate to all of these, except the ereader one since I am using a tablet. :(
ReplyDeleteI want the new HP set too! Those covers look amazing.
ReplyDeleteI also hate when people put the price sticker on the front of the book. Do they not think it through when they're doing that? And I'm the same way about TV vs. music. I find music way more distracting than the TV, especially if it doesn't match the tone of the book.
And dust jackets are the bane of my existence!... Ok, maybe they're not that bad, but I prefer paperbacks to hardcover just to avoid the dust jacket.
I read with the TV on all the time. And I loved Chopped. I just discovered that show about a month ago. Really almost any show on the Food Network will do. I definitely hate those stupid stickers, especially when you can't get it all the way off and spend forever trying to scrape away every last bit. I absolutely adore my Kindle. I love hard copies, too, but being able to snag e-galleys months before a book is released is my favorite thing in the world. I don't usually need to read the last page, but I'm constantly checking what the last page number is. That new HP box set with the spines that make Hogwarts! Gah! They are so cool. I wants it.
ReplyDeleteYou are not alone in your slobbyness. Is that even a real word? I doubt it. I take better care of my books than anything.
ReplyDeleteI'm actually really weird about hardcovers in that if I don't find the cover to be absolutely stunning I will just take the dust jacket off and recycle it. If I do love it, I keep it on the book unless I'm reading it and then it has to go off.
I can have anything on when I'm reading. I've got obnoxious brothers so I've mastered the art of tuning people out.
I love my e-reader and I switch between it and physical copies. It's much better for travelling, but sometimes I just have to have a book in my hands. I've also gotten a lot better about not reading the last page because of my e-reader. It's a lot more work to skip to the last page on it then on a physical copy so now I'm much better at resisiting the urge.
I have to have the new HP covers. And I don't actually have a paperback set so I have a completely leigtimate reason to buy them. I'm going to have to buy the new paperback's of Stephanie Perkins books too so that they match the Isla cover. And because they are much prettier than the original ones.
Dear Gilly,
ReplyDeleteI am reading this post, and I am thinking that we may be the same person. I also have trouble putting my laundry away, so the clean laundry sits in the basket and the dirty on the floor most of the time. My house is a mess. My bookshelves are neat and orderly.
I also remove the dust jacket.
Oooh, we are not the same. I can have music on but not TV. I HAVE to look at moving pictures.
I prefer hard copies. I like my ereader, but I'm not good about scheduling reviews for ebooks because I forget them. Also, I don't feel like I really own the couple of ebooks I've purchased, which is why I don't buy ebooks. But it's AWESOME when I travel.
Oh man, I remember flipping to the end of Anne of Avonlea to make sure than Anne and Gilbert got their shit together because I knew I would ragequit otherwise.
YES! I also invent ships. I just REALLY need for there to be SOMETHING to ship. Romance doesn't need to be central, it doesn't need to really be acknowledged, but I need something to root for, even if it is forever. Like, in Bleach, I don't think anything romantic had really happened over 7 seasons, but there were tons of possible ships, so I didn't mind.
I have DNFed on page one. I really hate when the first sentence is one word or something. Oh, one of the best first sentences is "I really loved being a burrito." Or something like that.
YES HOW DARE THEY. I'm always pissed when I take my personal book to B&N for a signing and they insist on putting a sticker on it.
Yup. I've only caved and replaced a couple of books, but OH THE TEMPTATION.
I love book and reading quirk posts.
ReplyDelete"I can have the TV on while I read... but not music. Very often I have on something that requires minimal attention, like Chopped or a movie/TV show I've seen a million times, and I can mostly tun out. But I'm not good at tuning out music. I want to sing along or listen to the lyrics too much. I also can't write to music."
ME toooooo. Although I don't sing to lyrics. (No one wants to hear me do that, and I can only be persuaded when buzzed. Potentially, that is.). Also with regard to people who write to music, I don't understand how the lyrics don't interfere with the rhythm of the words in their minds. I envy that they can tune out everything but the feeling.
"I love my e-reader just as much as my hard copies. I think people who are passionately against e-readers miss the point. More people read now that it's easier to obtain books. While I will DIE the day that brick-and-mortar bookstores officially disappear, and still prefer to read on paper, my Kindle is my life. I no longer have to car four hardback with me on a plane when I travel (though I, um... still do, in addition to me e-reader, which is why I have the posture of a candy cane). I can get a newly-released book, or a new galley, INSTANTLY. E-readers are not the devil for me." It's not that I'm against e-readers. I have e-reader apps on my computer. It's just that I usually have my computer with me when I travel anyway, so I truthfully don't even need an e-reader. I never remember to charge it and it's so small in my hands that the experience itself for me somehow feels... less?
"I always have to resist the urge to read the last page. I am that BAD KID who wants to flip to the end to find out who the killer is, see if my ship pays off, and make sure my favorite characters don't die. Most of the time, I resist. Somethings I don't." ME tooooooooo. But most especially when the book isn't *grabbing* me from the start. It gives me something to root for, if I don't have that ship or curiosity about the killer like you.
"I despise when there are price stickers on the front of the book. AND THEN THERE'S ALL THAT STICKY RESIDUE ON THERE AND MY LIFE IS RUINED." Or, when they're on top of the author's name/bio or further reads and you can't actually *see* any of that until you remove and sometimes the sticker gets stuck and torn in half and it's either sticky residue or your failed attempt at removing one sticker. ARGH.
I agree with just about everything on your list! I have the same awesome bookish quirks!
ReplyDeleteI always take the jacket off when I read. I don't want that to get damaged. I will always prefer hard copies too but let me tell you, the conveniences of having an e-reader are awesome. I love being able to get a book the second it is released without having to leave my house. Oh and those damn stickers on the front of books....just NO. Oh and sometimes I really really struggle with not skipping to the end of the book to make sure my favorite guy is alive or to make sure the couple I want end up together. *Sigh* It's a disease. ;)
Oh snap! I love that you make up ships when they aren't even realistic! I love to do that as well. The best thing is when you come up with a completely out there ship and then all of the sudden it's an actual thing. It hasn't happened very often, but when it does, it makes me feel like a freaking genius! I also pretty much agree with most of this post...
ReplyDeleteI also always have to resist the urge to skip ahead but unlike you, I don't have amazing willpower and often end up reading large chunks of the book and then flipping back to the page I had stopped at. My best friend knows about this and always gets SO annoyed. We'll be reading the same book and since she's the faster reader, she'll always reach the kissing part sooner than I. But because I skip, I totally know what happens as well and after a few conversations, she caught on to the fact that I am a skipper. I got a pretty lengthy lecture after that but I think we're on a level of understanding now because I will ALWAYS skip no matter what. It doesn't even bug me if I find out that the killer is the crazy guy with the wild hair. It just makes the reading experience more enjoyable for me...if that makes sense?
ReplyDeleteI share most of your quirks - I don't remove dust jackets, but that's the only one we don't have in common. I also absolutely refuse to loan my books, because WHAT IF THEY COME BACK IN POOR CONDITION OR NOT AS PERFECT AS I LET THEM GO?! Not happening.
ReplyDeleteLove the gif too. So perfect!
Okay. So. READING THE LAST PAGE IS VERY LEGITIMATE AND EVERYONE YELLS AT ME BUT I AM NOT ALONE. I mean, I try to just read the last sentence, but sometimes I can't help myself.
ReplyDeleteAlso that gif is hilarious.
Haha! No, you're not standing alone on Lunacy Island, I think we're all there every now and then. I related with almost everyone one of your points. My family's always complains about me being messy but when it comes to my books they are always on top shape. Also, I remember going to the bookstore and seeing the paperback Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick with a "Now only 4.99!" Except that was printed on the cover! I don't understand why..
ReplyDeleteGreat post :)
-Mari @ The Sirenic Codex
I'm a slob, too! I keep laundry in baskets all the time because it's just a pain to put up! I used to not be careful with books at all, I'm trying to be a lot better about it! I can read while watching TV unless it's something really interesting and I can listen to music, too.
ReplyDeleteI do not ever read the last page, my best friend used to do that and it would bug me so much, haha! It doesn't bother me as much now but I used to tell her she couldn't do it when I would loan her books and she'd do it in front of me and I'd be like "Noooo!" I do have issues with wandering eyes on the next page, though!
Price stickers are the worst! I sometimes ship weird couples even if there is kissing. And I don't always want the new covers but I am lusting over the HP covers. I don't own a set and I feel like it needs to be remedied with those beauties!
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ReplyDeleteOh my god, I am cracking up right now. "Posture of a candy cane" perfectly describes me lugging around my books. Even though I have not one e-reader... but two. I'm pitiful.
ReplyDeletePrice stickers are the WORST THINGS EVER. Why would a book store do that? WHY WHY WHY.
Take comfort in the fact that you're definitely not alone! I could relate to so many of your reading quirks and it's nice to know I'm not the only one as I often get strange looks for my own rather strange book and reading habits ;)
ReplyDeleteOne place we do differ is in our reading environment - I have to have absolute silence when I read so I can focus on the story. I find music or television or any background noise extremely distracting. I often take notes or write a rough draft of my review as I read which only further necessitates my need for peace and quiet.
I completely agree with you re: eReaders. While I was initially resistant when they were first released, and I will always prefer print books, there are many things I adore about my Kindle. I love that it's easier to highlight passages or quotes that I'll use later in my review. As you mentioned, eReaders are also a dream when it comes to travelling - I love that I can carry 200+ books with me at any given time and don't have to worry about not being in the mood for a certain novel.
I'm glad someone shares my abhorrence for price and sale stickers! I can't tell you the number of hours I've spent hunched over a book, scrubbing away at the sticky residue with soap and water while my family looks on in a combination of amusement and horror. There's nothing worse than that, particularly when it compromises a cover, as I like to keep all my books in pristine condition. I *never* break the spine or bend pages, etc. It drives me crazy when there's something that spoils my copy, particularly when it's out of my control.
Re-designs are the bane of my existence. I have a compulsive need for my series to *match*, so if a series is re-designed halfway through I will purchase new copies of the older books in the series so that they'll match the new re-design. I'm also a sucker for a good design period, which would explain why I have four different sets of Austen's complete works with four different designs. I just can't say 'No'!
Haha yes! I definitely remove my dust jackets and then get frustrated when they get ruined somehow anyways. It's never intentional but it almost always ends up happening. What the hell?! It's just not RIGHT.
ReplyDeleteAnd ooooh no, not those stupid price/sale stickers. I always do my best to remove them but even then you have that residue and ugh. It just ruins my LIFE. You would think bookstores would find some other way to mark books because they have to know what it does to us, but no. They obviously don't care about our sensitive book loving hearts.
And I'm so happy I don't have that last one. I'm not picky about if my covers match and I definitely don't buy books I already own even if the cover is prettier. I can't justify spending the money. But hey, those new HP covers are beautiful. I can't say I blame you...
That's funny- I'm such a paperback gal that I never considered the price sticker detracting from your enjoyment of the book, or having to remove the dust jacket to keep the cover art intact. Don't get me wrong- if I could, there are book covers I would buy as art prints, but I suppose I'm less....fussy (?) about my books. Of course, that's because I don't keep them- I'm fond of catch and release programs (I donate the books I have to the library, or other readers, after I finish them). I will admit to having a massive overreaction of horror, though, when my mother tossed her finished paperback book into the recycle bin. I may have screamed and dived in to rescue it. *ahem*
ReplyDeleteI'M THE SAME WITH HAVING THE TV ON WHILE I READ. I can't have music on because then I focus more on the song than the book and read pages not knowing what's going on because in my head I'm really just belting out We Can't Stop, and then I'm confused and frustrated. And also, YES with the Kindles. I love my hardbacks and paperbacks, but I would be LOST without my Kindle. And considering most of the ARCs I get are eARCs, my Kindle is my best friend.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I still prefer hard copies of books more, but I also love my e-reader and how easy and convenient it is to download books and read them immediately. Plus, I live for Kindle Daily Deals.
ReplyDeleteOpening sentences are hugely important to me. As a copy editor, it needs to hook me, be interesting, make me laugh, be memorable, SOMETHING.
I don't buy new copies when they are redesigned but I freaking hate when they do that and it makes me so mad. Don't they know that all our books have to be matchy-matchy? UGH.
I take the dust jacket off hardcovers too! That thing slips and slides around and tries to fall off while reading anyways so I'm just helping it out. Also? I hate library hardcovers because they tape them in place and they bother me. I hate book stickers too!! I bought a bottle of Goo Gone just for that sole purpose. Really helps get the sticky off though! Just gotta go easy on it because it's super oily and can soak into some book covers. Yes. Speaking from experience. *sigh*
ReplyDeletePrice stickers are the worst! However, I found a solution for them when I was watching a video about how to clean the bottom of a heel and the girl in the video used peanut butter to remove the price sticker residue and my life was made! I tried on body lotion though and it worked with that. Needless to say, I'm a very happy person now. Though it has to be used sparingly because you don't want any oil spots on there now.
ReplyDeleteBut wow, skipping to the last page? I so cannot do that. Ever. It's scary.
And yes to the new Harry Potter covers! Gimme now.