Sign in with Facebook
20 Problems Only Book Lovers Understand
Last week we asked on Facebook and Twitter: What's a problem only book lovers understand? We got over 1,000 amazing responses! So even if non-book lovers don't get your struggle, remember—you're among friends here.
1. "The urge to buy books even though you still have too many books to read at home." (Rie VdWarth)
2. "Feeling sad for people who don't really exist." (Kimberly Moniz)
3. "RUNNING OUT OF SHELF SPACE!!!" (Kim)
4. "Getting interrupted when you are on the last few pages of a book." (Sobe Daya)
5. "The book hangover. When a good book finishes but you can't start a new one because you're still too immersed in the last book to move on." (Meagan Lewis)
6. "Wanting every book in a library section but knowing it is impossible to read all of them." (Richard Azia)
7. "Waiting so long for a sequel that you forget what happened in the first book." (Jessica Luong)
8. "When you're lying in bed and it's all cold in your room—and the hand holding the book freezes to death, even though the rest of you is warm under the blankets." (Alina Marie Swan)
9. "Finishing a book and having to wait a whole year to read the next in the series." (Sarah Scanion)
10. "Trying to keep the book dry while reading in the bath." (Patricia Boland)
11. "Ordering a book online and getting the book with the movie cover. A book with a movie cover just doesn't feel the same." (Anna RN)
12. "Not being able to read and eat lunch at the same time because you don't have a third arm." (Bernadette)
13. "When someone borrows your book and doesn't return it for ages!" (Pallavi B)
14. "Deciding. Which. Book. To. Read. First." (Monique Balsamo)
15. "Getting to a 'can't stop reading' spot in the book and it's 3:00am." (Joan Chesley)
16. "When you have a book with you, but it's not the one you wanted to read right then." (Virginia Osborne)
17. "Being forced to stop reading by other obligations, but choosing to ignore those obligations. Then getting in trouble." (Feel Like Fangirling)
18. "Packing for a trip and never being able to bring enough books." (Erika Gallion)
19. "Having a book fall on your face because you're reading on your back while holding the book up." (Manuel Cedillo)
20. And the ultimate book lovers' dilemma: "So many books, so little time." (Navy Reading)
Have another bibliophile-specific problem? Share it with your fellow Goodreads members in the comments! Chances are you'll find someone (or many someones) who feel your book pain.
(Top image credit: Illustration by Quentin Blake for Roald Dahl's Matilda.)
Comments Showing 451-500 of 1,070 (1070 new)
message 451:
by
Linda
(new)
Nov 14, 2015 12:43PM
So Damn true!
flag
Shima wrote: "Black Butterfly wrote: "I tried to explain #5 to a friend a couple days ago! It felt like I was trying to teach a monkey how to do my Math homework."I feel you! It's the hardest one to explain, u..."
I don't even bother trying to explain. It is easier to just say something nothing. They don't get it and won't. :) And they don't understand staying up to 3 or 4am to finish the book. They just look at you and say "Just put the book down and go to bed" They don't understand that you can't put it down till you finish it!
Grace wrote: "Cassandra wrote: "Warren wrote: "they forgot not having enough money to buy books and pay the bills :("I work at a library, and my dad's like, "Just use the library." I say that it's not the same..."
When I bought my house it had to have a third bedroom. That bedroom is now my library. So very proud!
Reading that first page, no first paragraph, no first sentence and being held captive.Trying to slow dow,n to savor every word, when you just can't.
C-shaw wrote: "Amanda wrote: "This list is brilliant! It certainly made me laugh out loud. It's so recognisable that it's nearly embarrassing. What about telling yourself you're not going to buy books for the tim..."No,no, this is perfectably understandable. What if you fall and break you're leg and can't go out and buy more? Worse yet, you suddenly find yourself with limited income? No, best to be prepared.
My girlfriend had a fit when she realized I had taken a book to the state fair with me. Luckily she wasn't with me when I went (several times) to Disney World with a book.People ask how many books I read in a week...I've finally come up with an answer--depending on size of print, I read about 50 pages a day...
Reading an amazing book and discovering there is a sequel but the library doesn't have it!!
Not living in the US and it takes ages for a book to come out. Sometimes they also change the covers and its driving me freaking crasy...
Instead of packing your Kindle, you bring about 100 books
I'm an author and a reader and a long-time GR member. I'd like to comment on the top list of message "0":1) As an author, I want this, but I hope my descriptions and the reviews of my books will let you know if they are for you.
2)In my mind, all my characters really exist. On some plane of existence, I'm sure this is true. That's what they tell me, late at night when I'm trying to sleep.
3)I highly recommend a Kindle. I have almost 500 books on mine. No shelf space needed. BTW - I have over 3000 physical books, though I don't expect to buy many more. eBooks are too wonderful.
4)Can't help, except to say "ignore that person!"
5)I hope my books make you feel like this. I know that Oh Claire! and Eighteen Months do, because readers have told me that.
6)I feel your pain!
7)This is tough. As writers, we're only human. Writing a quality, 300-page novel takes more than 6 months. Authors try to have other lives, just like all of you. Do we only live to write? Uh ... well ... kind of ...
8)I get it! My hand goes numb!
9)Yeah ... like I said on (7).
10)Does Amazon make a waterproof Kindle?
11)I'd kill for a movie cover. That said, if you'd prefer something made with DAZ 3D Studio, fine.
12)You can go to the next page on a Kindle using your nose - with practice. Yeah - I've done that ... I get it. Try soup.
13)There is only one sufficient punishment. Death. LOL.
14)That's easy, Monique! One by me - Giulia Napoli!
15)So? Stay up until 4:00 am, or 5:00 am; call off work. You look pale to me, I think you should see a doctor - as soon as you finish that book!
16)Kindle! Problem solved! Take 'em all - everywhere!
17)Only a truly terrible boss/spouse/significant other would have a problem with this. If that's your lot in life - it's time to move on.
18)See (16) above.
19)Wear a helmet with a face guard.
My best to you all. Hope I made you smile. My books may not. Happy reading!
Gi
Some of these are easily resolved with ebooks or audiobooks.
Being TOLD that you will never read all the books you've purchased. I was told that once after I wrote an article about my pile of books (it was a total of 94 at that stage and is now bigger), called 'That pile of books'. Most of them are still packed away at present, but at the time I could look at each of them and remember the 'why' I bought each of them in the first place.
The gorgeous thing about being in this position is that when I finish a title, I can peruse the stack and delightfully pick the next title to read. That is, unless I've been given a book to review or been told 'I have to read this particular book'. Then I have to turn away from that pile and read the obligatory book. I stare wistfully at my precious ones all the while...
Penny wrote: "Being TOLD that you will never read all the books you've purchased. I was told that once after I wrote an article about my pile of books (it was a total of 94 at that stage and is now bigger), cal..."
Oh yes! I agree! When someone says but you can't have them all or you will never read them all, like how do you know?!
I can relate a lot to some things, although I personally do not care for covers. Don't know why though. One thing that's really frustrating me right now is when you order books from online or when you're expecting some books for book tours, but the USPS mail loses your books thus you have reorder them again and cross your fingers and hope they'll come (Happed six times already during these last two months!) Or hope that the author has that particular book lying around...
Laarni wrote: "Reshma wrote: "Elise wrote: "When you loan a paperback book to a friend and you get it back with the spine creased and you want to kill them, but they are still your friend, so you are torn (so you..."But its so hard not to crease it a little when you read a book, lol im like that with myself and my own books, i hold my books so delicately while im reading it at the beginning, but once im into it itll get creased up from my excitement and action parts of the book.
Kevin wrote: "Inkweaver wrote: "Living in a town where no one reads at all! I'm slowly dying from the loneliness..."I know the feeling."
So do I, I don't get how there are people who just doesn't read I mean.....who does that!?
Larose wrote: "YES! YES! YES! I HAVE FOUND MY PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SOMEONE UNDERSTANDS THE STRUGGLE! For me mainly though is the "So many books so little time" and the becoming sad that the characters aren't r..."
Hahahaha but that would be so awesome
Yes!!!!!!!!!!!! All except 10... Too risky. Or not having money for a book X(
أمل wrote: "Reading more than a book at once ^_^"I used to do that, but then I got characters mixed up in wrong stories.
Inkweaver wrote: "Living in a town where no one reads at all! I'm slowly dying from the loneliness..."I live in a town like this! People think if you're reading you're not doing anything but the same people sit around and watch TV. My husband got stuck at a co-worker's house a few weeks ago and had to endure two hours of Duck Dynasty.
Black Butterfly wrote: "I tried to explain #5 to a friend a couple days ago! It felt like I was trying to teach a monkey how to do my Math homework."Oh my goodness that's the worse, seriously, they totally look at us like we're the ones with the problem lol, i love my my book lover people this is sooo awesome!
9. "Finishing a book and having to wait a whole year to read the next in the series." (Sarah Scanion)As an avid Asoiaf reader....
hah
Hah
HAH!
(George pls)
Micaella wrote: "Yes!!!!!!!!!!!! All except 10... Too risky. Or not having money for a book X("
No dough? Write to the author, especially if the author is on GR. He/she might get you an ebook copy for free, in exchange for an honest review! (No Kindle? Read it on your phone!)
message 480:
by
Cassie 'The Thinker Go Go Go Go' Mis. Roben Goodfellow'\Isabelle Lightwood
(new)
Most of this is my problems. But not the one about reading while in the bath and trying not to get it wet.
Elise wrote: "When you loan a paperback book to a friend and you get it back with the spine creased and you want to kill them, but they are still your friend, so you are torn (so you just hit them with the book ..."Yes!! And they complain "how am I supposed to read the book without bending the spine"
Judy wrote: "i am 61 years old and have read since i was 4. i lost the centaral vision in my left eye about 10 years ago, now i am losing it in the right...i read never less than a book a week, usually 2, but n..."Don't give up on audiobooks, Judy! I temporarily lost my vision a few years ago due to torn retinas, and was forced to go audio for a while. Now my vision is back, but I have found that some audiobooks are MUCH better than others! Especially while driving and going to bed at night! I feel that some are even better that way! The narrator makes a huge difference. I thoroughly enjoyed To Kill a Mockingbird, Go Set a Watchman, and all of the Khaled Hosseini books by audio. Plus the Jan Karon Mitford series is a very pleasant listen. Try one and let me know what you think!
Being single because your waiting for your Book Boyfriend to come into your life.
Grace wrote: "When your mom says to go to bed and you do, but, you sit there thinking: What's gonna happen next in the chapter?"I used to hide books under my pillow or in my pillowcase and read by moonlight. There was nothing worse than a cloudy or moonless night... But I had to finish!
Rashmit wrote: "You close your book depressed as your favourite character in your novel just died but also confused why everyone else is acting like nothing happened , i mean YOUR FAVOURITE CHARACTER JUST DIED!"I have sat there crying before because of this, people coming up, asking "What's wrong?" and just not understanding as you try to explain...
I have gotten to the point I shake my head and say "Nothing. You wouldn't understand."
Melanie wrote: "I can relate to each and every one of those."This undeniable truth.
❅Rebecca❅ wrote: "Being single because your waiting for your Book Boyfriend to come into your life."Lol
Book wrote: "Has anyone here read a book about Assassins that's really good?"You could try Maria V. Snyder's Poison Study. It wasn't about assassins, but one of the main characters was an assassin.
Shima wrote: "2) When you have to choose between continuing to read or being forced to throw up when you're traveling in a car!"I am soo very thankful I have never had this problem! I get so involved in what I'm reading I sometimes forget I'm in a vehicle, and am shocked when we are all of a sudden somewhere else, though.
Reshma wrote: "Elise wrote: "When you loan a paperback book to a friend and you get it back with the spine creased and you want to kill them, but they are still your friend, so you are torn (so you just hit them ..."Not only was the spine creased...there was a hole in the cover! Who does that?
Ava wrote: "My reading list is longer than my lifespan"I recently "did the math" and was struck with just this issue. Even though my mother and grandmothers all lived into the 90's with all marbles in the right places, there is no chance I can be around long enough to read my Amazon Wishlists or my Goodreads Want to Read list (assuming no further books I want to read are published.) This has made me start to be more selective with what I choose to read and more willing to stop trying if a book just doesn't suit me.
We are facing our own morality with our TBR book lists, lol.
I almost faced each of the problem. PLUS. I ran out of my month's salary as i ordered all my favorite books in two days.
Erma wrote: "Rashmit wrote: "You close your book depressed as your favourite character in your novel just died but also confused why everyone else is acting like nothing happened , i mean YOUR FAVOURITE CHARACT..."Erma wrote: "Rashmit wrote: "You close your book depressed as your favourite character in your novel just died but also confused why everyone else is acting like nothing happened , i mean YOUR FAVOURITE CHARACT..."
I have done that
omg!!! so true..i think i have all those problems..
Different angle - how many of you hide books under the bed, in boxes in the closets. etc. because family and friends keep commenting on how many books you own? Or asking how many you have read?Perhaps I should ask where else can I hide them? I have two plastic boxes that will fit under my bed and not so much extra room in the closets. I can not hide them in the refrigerator. peace, janz
Zoe wrote: ":D talking about a good book is almost as good as reading the said good book. no? ..."Why I am so glad to have found GR, even with flaws.
Judy wrote: "i am 61 years old and have read since i was 4. i lost the centaral vision in my left eye about 10 years ago, now i am losing it in the right...i read never less than a book a week, usually 2, but n..."This is my worst nightmare.
