Bookish Choices: A Deep Dive into Reading Habits
Envision a snug blanket or a favorite sweater, a plush seat, and perhaps a cool beverage—a portrait for the perfect reading experience. My reading escapades unfold amidst stolen moments—at the hair salon, on the subway, in waiting rooms, on the couch, or beneath the covers just before I fall asleep. This got me thinking about reading habits overall. On my old blog, As I Turn the Pages, I did a post about reading habits. I answered a series of questions, and I thought it might be fun to revisit these questions.
Do you snack while you read? If so, favorite reading snack? It depends. I don’t like to eat messy or greasy food while I read—too afraid I will spill something on my book. A cookie or a tall glass of something to drink (an ice-filled glass of lemonade comes to mind) are usually safe bets.
What is your favorite drink while reading? Lemonade, cranberry juice, or seltzer with lemon.
Do you tend to mark your books as you read, or does the idea of writing in books horrify you? Writing in my books does horrify me, but I’ve come to see this as a necessary evil. For long books, I will highlight passages throughout—mainly to help me remember what happened. If I’m reading a complicated fantasy novel, I will highlight passages and take notes.
How do you keep your place while reading a book? Bookmark? Dog-ears? Laying the book flat open? A physical bookmark all the way. Rarely will I dog-ear pages. Also, for those of you who bend back paperback covers and break the spine, I have some questions: Who hurt you? What did the book ever do to you?
Fiction, non-fiction, or both? Mostly fiction, like 90 percent. Occasionally non-fiction will get my attention.
Are you a person who tends to read the end of a chapter or can you stop anywhere? If I’m falling asleep, I stop where I’m at. Otherwise, I read to the end of the chapter or a section break (if the chapter is too long).
Are you the type of person to throw a book across the room or on the floor if the author irritates you? I threw A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara at my couch. I read this during the pandemic. To me, this book seemed like a relentless deluge of tragedy porn, where every glimmer of hope for the characters was crushed by the author. Every time you think a character is going to catch a break and have some good luck, the author blows up their life. There are also vivid/graphic depictions of sexual abuse and suicide—I just felt those moments were unnecessary. There are plenty of books I didn’t like, but none frustrated me as much as A Little Life.
If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you stop and look it up right away? I try to read the passage a couple of times, because if you just re-read something it becomes clearer. But if that doesn’t work, Google is my friend.
What are you currently reading? Natchez Burning by Greg Illes. Wanderers by Chuck Wendig. Babel by R.F. Kuang. Hollow Fires by Samira Ahmed.
What is the last book you bought? 1000 Words by Jami Attenberg.
Are you the type of person that reads one book at a time, or can you read more than one? I read between three to five books at a time. I like having multiple choices, in multiple genres.
Do you have a favorite/time place to read? Usually, a couple of hours before bed.
Do you prefer series or standalones? I prefer standalones because sometimes it can take years before a second book in a series hits bookstores.
Is there a specific book or author you find yourself recommending over and over? Lately, I’ve been recommending 1000 Words by Jami Attenberg. If you’re looking for inspiration with your writing, this is the book for you.
How do you organize your books? (by genre, title, author’s last name, etc.) I have two big shelves, one for YA/middle grade and the other for adult books. Then, I organize by author’s last name. Whatever didn’t fit on the two big shelves is on multiple small shelves, the windowsill, and under the TV.
What about you out there? What are some of your reading habits?
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Monday: Can You Get Too Comfortable Being by Yourself
[no Lost recap this week, I will be back at it next week]