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15 of Your Biggest Book Pet Peeves
Last week we asked on Facebook and on Twitter: What's your biggest book pet peeve?* Check out the top answers below!
1. "Peeps who leave crumbs behind between pages!! #ew" (Joyce B)
2. "When publishers change book covers mid-series! Biggest book pet peeve EVER…"(Amanda White)
3. "My Kindle battery dying!" (Hannah DesWonn)
4. "Seeing someone turn a book inside out by folding it in half while they read. The front and back should never meet!" (Mopsy Prewett)
5. "People who forget that they borrowed a book from you." (Nadia Malik)
6. "When someone rips out the pages of a book. How is the book supposed to make any sense when there are missing pages in it?" (Trish Welsh)
7. "Those strange mystery stains that are usually found between the pages of library books. Did someone spill coffee? Or slash their fingers open with a paper cut? Who knows?" (Traci Mccarty)
8. "Highlighting! Who are these savages?" (Anna Moloney)
9. "Library books last read by a nose picker." (Grace Minnick Hickox)
10. "Paperback covers that delaminate and warped hardcovers." (Paul Wichert)
11. "Dropping books in the toilet. Not that it's ever happened to me…" (Devyn Price)
12. "Broken spines are okay, unless it's a SINGLE crack right in the middle of the spine. That's the WORST." (Charlie)
13. "Dog-eared pages drive me crazy." (Elizabeth Newby)
14. "Sand stuck between pages from reading on the beach." (Ellen)
15. "Movie edition book covers…shudder." (Hollie Ruthless)
Did your book pet peeve not make the list? Then share it with us in the comments!
*And for those of you who have zero pet peeves, maybe Chhandra Bewtra can speak for you: "None. A book is precious, even with disfigurements."
Comments Showing 51-100 of 495 (495 new)
message 51:
by
Rikke
(new)
Aug 22, 2015 10:15AM
When someone borrows a book at a library, then decides to describe the chapter they read, by going back to the beginning of said chapter and writing the highlights in blue ink, and does iso repeatedly with every chapter throughout the entire book. That's extremely annoying and kinda spoils the book even if you're fairly successful in trying to cover the top pages.
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I don't want a "used" book unless I've borrowed it from someone or bought it at a used bookstore/thrift store. I hate that some bookstores allow you to sit in a chair and read the book beforehand. Normally I want to be the one to read it first.
buy a boxed set book series , finish the series and Vola! one of the book from the series can never go back in the box of your magnificient boxed set
I'm a graphic designer so it drives me NUTS when the type inside isn't set well. Tiny margins. Terrible hard-to-read fonts. Rivers, orphans, and widows galore (to use more industry terms). How am I expected to read this? Way too distracting!
People who smoke while reading a book. I have serious allergies, and getting a book home from the library only to discover it reeks of cigarettes/cigars is the pits. I have to return the book and wait for a different copy.
Hollie wrote: "Emily wrote: "Hollie wrote: "Emily wrote: "Stickers on books bugs the crap out of me as well"Agreed!"
And then when you try to take it off it rips the book. "
They always use the stickiest of stickers, too. The top tears off and leaves a sticky, papery circle. "
And it always seems to stick to the cover of the book behind it, tearing it's cover, too... Grrr...
I hate when an author continues a series years after they "finish" it, even when it had a absolute ending. It's like they can't come up with any other ideas so they just continue with the one they already know will sell.
- People reading with wet fingers/ licked fingers.- People who use their books to cover their head in the rain (esp. if it is a library book!).
- Books that come back from loans water-warped or water stained (mold spots on books - eww!)
- Being blamed for water damage to books that were borrowed in that condition (seriously? You don't know how it was when you loaned it? Or are you trying to get your damaged copy replaced for free?)
Also, nearly all of the above! My pop was so anal-retentive about his books, even his comics were scanned when he bought them for spine damage - if there was any scuff from the print, he would not buy it. I guess part of that sunk in...
Jennifer wrote: "when you lend a book to a friend that looks brand new even though you have read it a few times and they sit in front of you and crack the spine until the book can lay open for them to read...when ..."I have refused to relend to some people because of this... But buying them their own used copy works...
A lot of these are pet peeves of mine as well, but only because I work in a library. It's incredible what people will do to a book that isn't theirs.If you own the book, though, do whatever you want. Highlight it, write in it, dog ear it, or even tear it up and dunk it in coffee if that's what makes you happy. At that point, it's no one's business but your own.
Noirfifre wrote: "Then I am a savage because I highlight MY nonfiction books."I have folders full of chapters that I copied from various texts so I could do all of my underlining, notes, and highlighting. It worked for me.
Zara wrote: "Rachael wrote: "I hate when an author continues a series years after they "finish" it, even when it had a absolute ending. It's like they can't come up with any other ideas so they just continue wi..."Yeah.... There are exceptions to the rule, like I love the fact that Harper Lee continued her amazing story. But there are so many authors that I just want to shake and say, "Let it go!" Lol
I exclusively read kindle books or listen to the audible version making the majority of these pet-peeves a non-issue. However I'd like to add to #3. "My Kindle battery dying!" What makes #3 an even worse case scenario is when the book is so good you try to charge the kindle while reading it & the cord is so short it makes it nearly impossible!
I don't see this one on the list, but I hate when a series is rewritten from another characters POV. I'd rather have a brand new story, not a recycled one.
I work in a library and one woman informed me 'There was too much swearing and sex in this book, so I've crossed them out with a black felt tip'! It as an early Harold Robbins book, what did she expect?
Covers with characters on them that do not resemble the description of the characters in the book. Just why?
Library books:Smell from smoke
Crumbs between pages
Hair between pages
Anything else between the pages
Dirty
My books:
Love them all
Kaitlyn wrote: "15. "Movie edition book covers…shudder." (Hollie Ruthless)I absolutely refuse to buy books with movie covers on them. If I want the movie cover, I buy the movie. I want the original cover the boo..."
I detest movie edition book covers, as well. I have yet to see one that did not look tacky.
I am sorry to say that I am guilty of some stains on books. I love to eat while I read or read while I eat, and sometimes I do get stains on books, and I think probably there are others like me. so I just assume most stains are from food. I don't like to think of the alternative. My biggest pet peeve is people who are too lazy to use a book mark and bend the pages. I will use anything available for a bookmark if one is not available.
For me, I don't really care about the condition of a book, as long as it's readable. When I was still on paper novels, I had several old ones that had been repeatedly mended with sticky tape.What really, really annoys me is when the publisher puts six or eight quotes from reviewers on the back cover instead of the blurb. I can't express how much I don't care what so-and-so posh reviewer thinks. I need data so I can find out what I think. Does the publisher really think I'm going to buy a book without knowing what it's about, just because so-and-so thinks it's good?
Obviously, the publisher does think that. They're wrong, though.
I absolutely HATE when people don't return the books I have so generously lent to them. One time, I let my good friend borrow one of my beloved books, and I never got it back! I thought I could trust her, but I guess I was wrong. Anyways, I definitely learned my lesson! Now, when I lend out books, I give my friend a bookmark and a due date. I'm like a library!
You can buy stands to set your books on while you read. most book stores sell them. I use one all the time, and they hold your place. It is difficult to use on paper backs they are too small. That is how I read and eat. but sometimes I will have food on my fingers when I turn the page. I try to clean it off.Sorry!
Typos!!! And saying the wrong character's name. And leaving a word out of a sentence. Good grief just get it right!!
Karen Floyd wrote: "1. Misleading titles2. Books are increasingly full of spelling and grammatical errors, misused words and sentences that don't make sense. Where was the proofreader/editor?! It's distracting and ..."
I have to agree with #2. Poor editing. Don't editors actually read anymore?
I picked up this book at a library used book store.It is called Kockroach. and there is a small black picture of a cockroach at the bottom right corner of every page, which totally creeps me out. I hate bugs.
the story is about a cockroach that became a human. I like books that are different. But, they could of left out that bug.
1) When a person marks his place by laying the open book face down on the pages -- that drives me crazy.2) This one I hope is very rare. When a person takes a book that you started without telling you and doesn't return it for months. I had that happen to me. A visiting family member (who shall not be named) took the book I was reading home with her. She didn't tell me. I spent days trying to find it before I guessed what happened. I couldn't just go get it because she lives over 500 miles away. Then she didn't return it for several months, and to make matters worse, the spine was broken and pages had fallen out. Now I check her luggage when she's ready to leave. :)
Karen Floyd wrote: "1. Misleading titles2. Books are increasingly full of spelling and grammatical errors, misused words and sentences that don't make sense. Where was the proofreader/editor?! It's distracting and ..."
Amen to # 2..I can't believe how many books are printed with sloppy copy editing. Just finished 'The Green Road' which is on the Man Booker Longlist and there were at least five instances of repeated words...drove me nuts!
Emily wrote: "Stickers on books bugs the crap out of me as well"And when you try to peel them off and the glue is still stuck to the cover.
1, 2, 5, 7, and 9 OMG!Having OCD, I cringe whenever I check out a book at the library. So I bring wipes with me, when I find a book I want to read I clean the outside and inside, as well as the pages, no worries I use a dried wet wipe that I've sat out so it doesn't leave wet stains on the pages. I don't want to become "one of those people" lol :)
Carol wrote: "I work in a library and one woman informed me 'There was too much swearing and sex in this book, so I've crossed them out with a black felt tip'! It as an early Harold Robbins book, what did she ex..."You obviously knew what words were swear words. Who are you to decide what people should read? If someone dose not like it, it is there choice not to read it. Sorry I am referring to the women who did that, not you. Some people are just plain stupid. To do such a thing there should be a law against it.
I once lent Harry Potter and the prisoner of Azkaban to a friend. Said friend was awesome at drawing and apparently she even doodled stuff while reading, with the book she was reading as support. Every few pages there are either indented lines or stains from her pens and she broke the spine (it is a hardcover).
Elizabeth wrote: "You can buy stands to set your books on while you read. most book stores sell them. I use one all the time, and they hold your place. It is difficult to use on paper backs they are too small. Th..."
As far as cookbooks go, I can always find the recipe I am looking for, because there is usually food or something on that page.
Kaitlyn wrote: "15. "Movie edition book covers…shudder." (Hollie Ruthless)I absolutely refuse to buy books with movie covers on them. If I want the movie cover, I buy the movie. I want the original cover the boo..."
I'm with both of you. I hate it. Even if I love the film or the cast, I do. not. want. them on my book!
Noirfifre wrote: "Then I am a savage because I highlight MY nonfiction books."As long as you do it with your own books it's perfetcly fine. But some people do that with library books.
When publishers use the back cover as a list of reviews instead of a description of the book. I don't care if The Times found it 'Electric and Charming!' What the heck is it about?
People that smoke while reading. I never noticed this while I smoked but now I have quit it is absolutely vile. I open up the pages and I get a waft of aged cigarette smoke and it turns my stomach.
Elizabeth wrote: "I picked up this book at a library used book store.It is called Kockroach. and there is a small black picture of a cockroach at the bottom right corner of every page, which totally creeps me out...."
I had a children's book my parents had bought used. The previous owner had put little stickers on the corners that formed a flipbook.
Mon wrote: "When publishers use the back cover as a list of reviews instead of a description of the book. I don't care if The Times found it 'Electric and Charming!' What the heck is it about?"Yes!! I don't care if it has 10/10 stars if I don't know what the book is about.
"Movie edition book covers…shudder." (Hollie Ruthless) for the Win!
When the large print edition has a different cover than the regular edition. Why go through that trouble of deciding cover art if you are going to choose something else?
Emma wrote: "A lot of these are pet peeves of mine as well, but only because I work in a library. It's incredible what people will do to a book that isn't theirs.If you own the book, though, do whatever you w..."
Agreed. A while back I was highlighting and annotating a book I was reading so I could reference back to key points for discussion. A coworker saw me and acted like I was committing a deadly sin.
'Why are you writing in a book?????'
'Because it's mine. That's why. Relax.'
#7 made me laugh. My only pet peeve is when they obviously have an odor (I trade used books to save money and I'd use the library but with 2 kids and school I don't read fast enough).
And when people write so much you can't read what's in it.
And when the pages are printed and the text goes basically into the binding so you have to fold the book flat to read.... That drives me nuts.
F.P. wrote: ""I have to agree with #2. Poor editing. Don't editors actually read anymore?" --No, too often, IMO. Some books are going to press without being worked on for various reasons--staff shortages for ..."
Thank you for this. Taking into account what you written, my pet peeve is the lack of pre-editing done by writers themselves.
Terry wrote: "F.P. wrote: ""I have to agree with #2. Poor editing. Don't editors actually read anymore?" --No, too often, IMO. Some books are going to press without being worked on for various reasons--staff s..."
oops. Guess I'm guilty as well. "you (have) written"
Summary's on the book jacket that give away the entire story:(
I know I'm a heathen but I actually like finding comments in margins and things written in books (although I don't usually do it), it gives insight into a book's previous owner. I'm not generally super concerned about the state of a book, provided it's readable, since I like that people are reading/loved a book, either before or after I read it.I do hate it when there are just quotes of praise on the back of a novel instead of a teaser/summary. I want to know what the book is about!
