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Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Ten Book Related Problems I Have...Or Are They?



This is a weekly event, hosted by The Broke and The Bookish where bloggers relate their "top ten" of a certain topic.  For this week -- Ten Book Related Problems I Have.  I am choosing to share things that might or might not be problems.  Let me know if you think I'm wacky or if you've had a few of these issues.  Be honest - I know some of you have similar experiences!

1. I have a book addiction - Yes, I confess.  I am addicted to books, to reading, to talking about books, to talking about reading.  I've had it since I was 4 and began my reading life.  If I read about a book, more likely than not, I want it.  An addiction, indeed.

2. I have "too many books" - Or do I?  In all honesty, I probably have the smallest number of actual physical books that I've had in many, many years.  I've done a real clean up and clean out of my book shelves over the last 3 years.  I do have treasured copies of certain authors that are signed, favorite books from childhood, a few I just can't part with, but most of my books now are in e-book form.  On my Kindle, well, let's just say that it's less than 1,000 (I think).

3. I must read "in order" - I've tried to work on this quirk (or necessity).  Honestly.  One of the reasons that I love a series is that I get to stay with the characters and the story goes on and on.  The characters change and grow.  It bugs me to come in at halftime or after the main character has had some life-altering event.  Maybe I'm just nosy and I need to know all the details.  Occasionally, I will read a book that is not the first in a series, but it's not my preference.

4. I tend to tidy, alphabetize, sort, pick up and shelve books wherever I am - Yes, I am an inveterate book shelver.  For years before I actually worked at a library, I worked as a volunteer page (or book shelver).  At my junior high school library, my high school library, my daughter's elementary school library, my city library in whatever city I lived in.  And then I actually worked for the Austin Public Library and got paid (sort of).  I like tidy places - my desk, my house, my book shelves, any book shelves.  I have been known to embarrass family at a bookstore or library by picking up and tidying the shelves when it's not my job.  Yes, I've done that.

5. I have almost fallen off chairs or turned upside down trying to see what book someone else was reading - The tablet and e-reader has made this a difficult proposition, but I confess that I have again embarrassed myself and family checking out someone else's book.  It's a need.  I have it.

6. I have a tendency to bore people silly by telling them "the book is better than the movie and here's why" - Yes, again the embarrass the family thing.  Do you see a trend here?  I figure it's my job to let people know these things.

7. I am so incredibly easy to buy for at birthdays, Christmas, whatever because I can be thrilled with a gift card for a bookstore - That being said, does my extended family do this?  Rarely.  This does not include my husband and daughter.  They get it.  They've lived with me.  Other family members say, "But you have so many books already."  They do not get it.  And I'm not kidding that I almost never get books as gifts.  Sigh.

8. I have been caught wandering around people's houses looking at their bookshelves or, sadly, trying to find books at all when I haven't been invited to do so - I have a need to know what people are reading.  I confess that I do judge people who seem to have no books in their house.  What is that about - the no books thing?

9. I have planned vacations around special bookstores I want to visit, authors I want to see, and the first thing I look up when a vacation destination is decided is "where are the bookstores?" - I don't think this is odd.  Do you?  My husband plays golf and I do books.  Seems fair to me.

10. I have been caught, by someone not related to me, smelling a book in public - Truly.  And did I get an odd look?  Yes, I did.  It was in a bookstore, to be honest.  Don't other people smell books and the bookstores themselves?  Cue family embarrassment again.

Well, I've bared my soul.  Do you share any of these quirks/problems/insane needs??

69 comments:

  1. I'm so glad I'm not the only person who constantly tries to get a peek at what other people are reading! It's definitely gotten me a few strange looks, but I can't help myself. :D

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  2. I enjoyed reading your post, Kay! Yes, I can find a few things that said about me, especially #1, #2, #6, #7 & #8, LOL.

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    1. Happy to know that I am not alone. I didn't really think I was. ;-)

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  3. I totally try and see what other people are reading. I'm so nosey! Great list! :-) My TTT

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    1. Is that being nosy? Probably, but as I said, the new readers have made it difficult. ;-)

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  4. You could have written this post for me. Well, with the exception of #10. :)

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    1. Now, Les, I'm not sure I believe that you don't smell the new books you're putting on the shelves. I bet you just do it before the customers get there. LOL

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  5. Great list. If I am at B&N or any bookstore really and I see a great book turned inward, I will turn it facing out. I'm sure they all love when I do that.

    At home, I do not alphabetize but my TBR shelf is shelved in order of when they need to be read. I don't always read them in that same order but it gives me a visual of what I need to read and when.

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    1. Oh, I think turning a book face out is perfect. Why not? If you've enjoyed a book, someone else would too. I've heard of authors doing that all the time. ;-)

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  6. Oh #4! I have to almost physically restrain myself from fixing books at people's houses. Especially if they have a series shelved out of order. I want to fix it! Bookstores are fair game though. On the plus side reorganizing my own shelves is very relaxing! I do love reading a series in order though after I read a few of the books in the series I want to go back and start at the beginning because I know the characters better now!

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    1. Katherine, a woman after my own heart. :-)

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  7. Whenever I go somewhere new I research to find independent book stores in the area.

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    1. Well, of course you do. It's part of the sightseeing tour. :-)

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  8. Love this!! Great problems! I have quite a few of them myself!

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  9. I so have the problem you mention in #4. I keep cataloging my physical books and ebooks so many times. If I were moving, I would do one level of cataloging while boxing the books and another one while unboxing them.

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    1. I've done this. When we last moved and I was supposed to be packing my books, I kept stopping and shifting them from box to box. My husband kept asking me what was taking me so long. LOL

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  10. I share your habit for homing in on bookshelves when I visit other people's houses - impossible to resist but number 10 - hmm... ;-)

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    1. Well, I don't mean sniffing weirdly - just a little "ah, a new book" sniff. :-)

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  11. I always try and see what people are reading, which is a lot harder when it's an eReader. I've actually read over people's shoulders!

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  12. There are definitely worse addictions to have, aren't there? :-) What a great list, Kay. I can relate to many of your points. As I read your #2, I couldn't but nod. I am pretty sure I have the least amount of books on my shelves than I have in years too. And that's saying something since I still have so many. LOL

    I am not as much a stickler for reading books in series as I once was, but I do prefer to read in order when I can.

    I love exploring other people's bookshelves and it warms my heart when people browse my shelves. You can tell a person is a reader when they can't help but do that. :-)

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    1. Absolutely. And I love discovering other readers, especially when I didn't know it beforehand.

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  13. Oh, you have some great "problems." My immediate family understands my reading addiction, but other family members talk about my "hoarding" problem. Oh, well, I don't listen to them and they are lucky if they read a book a year so I can feel sorry for them...lol

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    1. We aren't hoarders. We are preservationists. :-)

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  14. It is sad that e-readers make it harder to see what people are reading! I have this need to know what the book is, as well.;)
    My family has informed me, on numerous occasions, that I am one of the easiest to buy presents for.;)
    I have a hard time reading books out of order too!

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    1. I wish my family would get it. Ah well, maybe one day.

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  15. Haha #5 is soo me! I always try to check out what others are reading. Not that I can do so much with that knowledge, but it's just something that comes naturally for me. #9 is not strange at all, neither is #10. Anyone who looks at you like you're crazy because you smelled a book is the odd one out, not you.

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    1. It's just that whole clean new book smell. Or that slightly musty smell of a used bookstore. They should bottle it.

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  16. Nice list of book related problems!! Here's a link to my TTT for the week: http://captivatedreader.blogspot.com/2015/02/top-ten-tuesday-ten-book-related.html

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  17. Of course I plan vacations around visits to great bookstores. Of course. Doesn't everyone?

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    1. Well, I sure do. I love going to Scottsdale, AZ and seeing authors at The Poisoned Pen.

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  18. AND... when I'm traveling, I like to show off my book well (properly hold?) so that I can indulge anyone's need to see what I am reading! It's only fair. and courteous. and if I can see someone is reading a book that I liked a lot, I tell them, "Ooooo! good book!" and nod. It always is good to affirm people's book decisions. And I never ever tell 'em when the book sucks, of course. That would be rude.

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    1. Ha! I do that too. Talk to others if I've read the book and it's good. My husband doesn't mind, but my daughter used to shrink down in her chair.

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  19. Your answers were so fun Kay. I'll fall off a chair to check out what someone is reading and I know others do the same, so if it's a fluff title I'm reading that one stays home and in public I read something deeper LOL

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    1. See, that's where the e-reader comes in. One never knows what someone is reading on an e-reader. LOL

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  20. Oh Kay those are all so relatable! The very first thing I do too when planning a trip is to find the bookstores, who is speaking where and how much time I can get away with spending there! Fantastic list!

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  21. I do like to read in order, too, I must admit, although I have made (v few) exceptions. The first one I didn't actually think to write, because I figured that was a given! My other half gets really suspicious at parcels from publishers, with review copies - I'm sure he'll be surreptitiously checking the bank statements…I have bought books and brought them into the house hidden in his newspaper, and slide them out unseen, then say, "Oh yeah, just got the paper for you..." I've also rearranged the bookshelves in Waterstones on occasion (they had Midnight In Peking in crime fiction when it's ACTUALLY true crime!!) They should be paying me, really. Instead I give them lots of money…

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    1. I loved the thought of you sneaking books in wrapped in the newspaper. Might have done a bit of that myself. LOL

      And you're right about MIDNIGHT IN PEKING. I remember that book, true crime indeed.

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  22. Love this post! I can relate to so many of them... trying to read what other people are reading at a pool or beach, especially.

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  23. I totally hear you on number 8! And that usually goes along with the question, "What was your favorite book you read in high school?" Or "Did you read "XY and Z?"
    Thanks for stopping by my post!

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  24. I share all of them, except #10, although I do love the smell of books and bookshops - when I worked in a library I used to enter via the bookstacks and the smell/aroma was lovely.

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  25. Great post! I enjoyed reading your list! Thanks for sharing it.

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  26. Kay, I did a big culling of books this past year and removed a lot. It just got to be so overwhelming that I couldn't keep it going. There were piles and piles of books in every room in my house. The term hoarder was not far away for me. I actually felt good to let a lot of books go that I knew I wouldn't realistically read. Now someone else who WILL read them can have access to them. :-)

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    1. I totally understand, Jen. I'm happy that the books that I weeded out are in the hands of others who can enjoy them.

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  27. I never get books as gifts either. I do the book tidying thing. My family likes when i come over since I just straighten and organize what they have. And like you, have been involved volunteering with libraries since high school and still do!
    Here’s My TTT

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    1. Always nice to find a fellow volunteer/organizer/bookie. Thanks for stopping by!

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  28. I think my only book related problem is finding the hours to read!

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    1. I'd say you'd probably be right, Nan. Your life is a little more HN focused right now. :-)

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  29. Wait...is there anything weird about smelling a book? I've been doing that for almost 50 years!

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    1. See, you wouldn't have looked at me weirdly, would you? I used to process the new books at my branch of the library and it was so much fun to work with new books and their whole "booky" smell. LOL

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  30. Number 8, yes! I do too, I wander around and look at people's books. I truly believe "Seeing someone read (or own) a book you love is seeing a book recommend a person." :)

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  31. These are great, Kay! I am right there with you on #3. I really don't like to read a mystery series out of order which is kind of hard when you belong to a mystery book group like I do. Sometimes if we read a book that's mid-series and it is one I think I'll really like I will skip book club meeting (or try to read the others ahead of time but that usually doesn't work out). I can't help it - I feel left out if I don't know all the back story :)

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    1. I totally understand. And, yes, that is an issue with mystery discussion groups. When my group read the Penny book last month, it was problematic for some that they hadn't read other books in the series. I try not to schedule too many like that. I've tried to let go of the "must read in order" compulsion, but haven't had much success. :-)

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  32. You are the best Kay! I can relate to all of these. Well, except for the smelling books in public part. I only do that in the privacy of my own home :)

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    1. Well, I didn't smell the books all the time in public. Just a little. ;-)

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  33. I don't know anyone else besides myself who is just fine with reading(WRLLing) a series out of order or is just fine with reading(WRLLing) a books pages out of order.

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Thanks for stopping by! I am so happy to hear your thoughts and will respond as soon as I can. Happy Reading!