Top Ten Book Problems
So, I just noticed (late, as usual) this Top Ten meme suggested by The Broke and The Bookish.
TOP TEN BOOK PROBLEMS I HAVE
Usually I have trouble getting to ten, but not for this!
1. Too many books. I don’t mean that I’m out of space for physical books . . . space is tight, and in a few years this will be a concern, but just a couple of years ago my Dad built me another bank of shelves. And my Kindle now relieves a lot of the pressure for more physical space. So I’m good for now! No, the problem is, there are JUST SO MANY BOOKS. I know I would love literally thousands of books that I will never get a chance to read. Tens of thousands! Even if I live as long as Jeanne Calment and read 150 books a year for my whole life, I will STILL die without even scratching the surface of books I would have loved. Oh, the frustration!
2. Not knowing what to read next. Related to #1 above. With all those choices, how can I possibly decide what to read? Partly I’m a “mood” reader and I never, or almost never, join “challenges” because I don’t want to be constrained. Right now, it’s true, I’m selecting only new-to-me books from the Hugo possibilities, but not even that narrows the choices down as much as it might, because there are a lot more possibilities than I can read before March 10th.
3. Not nearly enough time to read. I’m not complaining, really. Really really. But I had a lot more time to read other people’s books before I started seriously writing. Now I go for a month, even multiple months at a time, without touching any new-to-me fiction. This is painful. (I do manage a lot of re-reading during those times, plus nonfiction.)
4. Never getting around to watching television shows. There are, I hear, many great TV shows out there. Lots of great movies, too. I’d probably love a lot of them, but I will never know, because when I’m forced to choose, I’d really rather read a book. And I’m always forced to choose, because, as above, lack of time.
5. I can’t eat a bit without a book to read. Holiday dinners are an exception, but basically I must pick up a book at mealtimes.
6. Having a lot of books adds a layer to puppy-proofing the house. Every puppy needs to learn not to touch electrical cords or books, even when both are easily accessible.
7. Having to break up a series into different formats. Sometimes I can’t wait for a paperback and so I get a new book as an ebook or a hardcover, even when I started the series in paperback. I really dislike having half of a series in one format and the other half in a different format, but sometimes it happens because I hate waiting for sequels even more.
8. Waiting for sequels. My God, people, can’t you write faster? What is wrong with you all? There should be a law.
9. Being unable to make people I know drop everything and read the books I want them to read. Doesn’t that just drive you crazy? I’m always like STOP WITH YOUR FAVORITE SERIES AND READ THIS BOOK INSTEAD. And do people listen?* Not nearly often enough. It’s terrible.
10. Being disappointed when people I know read books I love and . . . don’t love them. Isn’t that just the WORST? I’m all like, YOU MUST READ THIS, and then a friend is kind of like, Um, why did you like this exactly? How is that even possible? It’s as though people have varying taste or something.
*On the other hand, when I know I have turned a reader onto a favorite author of mine, that’s pretty snazzy.
