Reader Problems Tag

Jen

1. You have 20,000 books on your TBR. How in the world do you decide what to read next?

Whatever I’m in the mood for. Usually there will be one that I am just dying to read. If I’m just not feeling it I’ll pick up another one. If I can’t get into that one then I give up for the moment and watch TV.

2. You’re halfway through a book and you’re just not loving it. Do you quit or are you committed?

This totally depends on the book, how committed I am to the story (particularly if it’s a sequel or companion novel) and if there is anything at all that would make me want to continue (such as the mention of another character whom I love).

Sinner by Maggie Stiefvater was one I just absolutely could not finish. I hated the characters and everything about that book. I do hate not finishing a book so I tried, but there was nothing even remotely redeeming about it so after about 100 pages I just couldn’t anymore and I have not regretted my decision.

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins is one book where I went the opposite way. Everyone and everything about this book was irritating me to no end, but I did persevere and eventually finish the book because I wanted to get to the third book in this companion series (which was thankfully a whole lot better and actually turned out to be my favourite book of the series). It also helped that there were brief mentions of characters from the first book in this companion series that made the second one somewhat bearable.

3. The end of the year is coming and you’re so close, but so far away on your Goodreads reading challenge. Do you try to catch up and how?

Haha I am actually having the opposite problem right now. I have been reading like there is no tomorrow and have actually already increased my goal once because I surpassed it. But if at the end of the year I do find myself in a position where I need to catch up I will most likely turn to graphic novels and short stories.

4. The covers of a series you love do. not. match. How do you cope?

I actually don’t have this problem! This is exactly one of the reasons why I do not buy books in a series until they have all been released.

But I have started buying some fantasy series because it will be years before the final book is out and I just can’t wait that long. I need those books now! If there was a cover change at some point I would be very frustrated and upset, but if I really loved that series, I would seriously consider buying the entire set in matching covers.

5. Everyone and their mother loves a book you really don’t like. Who do you bond with over shared feelings?

Mel. Our tastes in books are pretty similar so we usually share the same opinions about books. If we do happen to have different opinions about a book (and I can’t think of a book where this has happened yet) then I will probably look up reviews on Goodreads. Someone somewhere will share the same opinion as I do!

6. You’re reading a book and you are about to start crying in public. How do you deal?

I don’t read in public very often, but I would probably just stop reading and wait until I got home to continue.

7. A sequel of a book you loved just came out, but you’ve forgotten a lot from the prior novel. Will you re-read the book? Skip the sequel? Try to find a synopsis on Goodreads? Cry in frustration?!?!?!?

I don’t tend to have this problem! Being neurotic enough to not start a series until all the books have been released does pay off sometimes!

But I have started reading the A Song of Ice and Fire series and there will definitely be years of waiting in between sequels being released. But that series is so hugely epic and popular there are multiple sites out there that have detailed chapter summaries so I could always refer to those if I needed to.

8. You do not want anyone. ANYONE. borrowing your books. How do you politely tell people nope when they ask?

Luckily I don’t really have this problem. I had one friend in the past who borrowed a book and returned it in a damaged condition. When she saw how I reacted she never asked to borrow a book again.

The only friend now who might want to borrow a book from me is Mel and I know I can trust her.

9. Reading ADD. You’ve picked up and put down 5 books in the last month. How do you get over your reading slump?

I would probably pick up a graphic novel or an old favourite that I wouldn’t mind re-reading (i.e. Harry Potter) and if that still wasn’t working, then I would give up on reading for a while and watch TV.

10. There are so many new books coming out that you’re dying to read! How many do you actually buy?

It would probably depend on what I can afford. But I would try to buy the ones I am most looking forward to first.

11. After you’ve bought the new books you can’t wait to get to, how long do they sit on your shelf before you get to them?

This depends on how soon I can finish whatever book I’m already reading, if I already have other books that I am dying to read already lined up and what kind of reading mood I am in.

Mel

1. You have 20,000 books on your TBR. How in the world do you decide what to read next?

I basically just look at the stack and see if I can decide if there’s one that I want to read more than the others. Or I choose by genre.

2. You’re halfway through a book and you’re just not loving it. Do you quit or are you committed?

It depends on how bad the book is. I’ve only quit one book in recent years and I do not regret it at all. I have no thoughts about continuing the book at a later date either. Usually I’ll give a book another chance, if it’s not too bad, eg, in high school I had to read The Great Gatsby, but hated it and gave up. I’ve now had to read it for uni and it wasn’t as bad as I remembered it being. Also in high school, I started The Lord of the Rings, but I had homework and assignments getting in the way, which made the sheer size of the book a bit daunting, so I gave up to continue at a later date and I’ve gotten through book one of The Fellowship of the Ring!

3. The end of the year is coming and you’re so close, but so far away on your Goodreads reading challenge. Do you try to catch up and how?

This year is my first Goodreads challenge! But since uni finishes around October/November, I have a feeling I’ll be spending the remainder of the year getting those last few books done. And if I really have to, I’ll choose shorter books.

4. The covers of a series you love do. not. match. How do you cope?

I usually deal with it until I find them going for a good deal or if I absolutely cannot pass up the opportunity, eg, I recently found the first 3 Harry Potter books in Hardcover (UK covers) and in excellent condition and now my whole set is hardcover! Woohoo!

5. Everyone and their mother loves a book you really don’t like. Who do you bond with over shared feelings?

Jen. And the book is The Fault In Our Stars by John Green.

6. You’re reading a book and you are about to start crying in public. How do you deal?

I did drama for a few years, so I can keep a straight face. Otherwise I shut the book and leave it for when I’m at home.

7. A sequel of a book you loved just came out, but you’ve forgotten a lot from the prior novel. Will you re-read the book? Skip the sequel? Try to find a synopsis on Goodreads? Cry in frustration?!?!?!?

I don’t often forget the events in the previous book, but if I did, I’d probably reread the book after I’ve read the new one. I know, weird.

8. You do not want anyone. ANYONE. borrowing your books. How do you politely tell people nope when they ask?

I tell them I’ve been burned before by people I thought I could trust with books and they’ve given the book back in worse condition. They usually understand. The one person I trust with my books is Jen and I’ve on more than one occasion lent my books to her previously.

9. Reading ADD. You’ve picked up and put down 5 books in the last month. How do you get over your reading slump?

I watch tv shows. Lots and lots of tv shows. From season 1.

10. There are so many new books coming out that you’re dying to read! How many do you actually buy?

As many as I can!

11. After you’ve bought the new books you can’t wait to get to, how long do they sit on your shelf before you get to them?

As soon as I finish the book I was already reading, which I push myself to finish quicker!