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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 551-600 of 1,070 (1070 new)
message 551:
by
Helen
(new)
Nov 15, 2015 07:48AM
The answer to #12, not having a third arm, is a book weight. I LOVE my book weight.
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Never enough book shelves and always take a book with me in the car in case I've to wait for friends or get stuck in traffic.
Erma wrote: "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 invo..."
You're so lucky! When I get involved in the car I usually finish the book and then I feel ill for hours afterwards!
S.J wrote: "You’re reading a really funny book and you burst out as you’re sitting there in a cafe, or on the bus. People’s heads swivel to your outburst and you look like you lose your mind..........."OMG! This happens to me so much I hardly even notice it anymore. Someone once actually asked me if I was drunk!
I. mourn the fact that there are only 24 hours in a . And life is too short to read eve..."Really ? Do you want to read everything? The good, the bad and the ugly....?
And the singular nightmare that every booklover has had at some point: Being stranded (plane, train, island, waiting room, etc.,) and not having a book nearby
And the worst thing a booklover can hear, ever, from another person, "I'm proud to say I've never read a book and never will."
Inkweaver wrote: "Living in a town where no one reads at all! I'm slowly dying from the loneliness..."Inkweaver, I feel your pain. I grew up in a house where no one read, but in which there were lots of televisions. I had to beg for a ride to the library for years, no one understood I NEEDED books.
Jessica wrote: "I swore long ago that i would NOT lend anymore books, i've lost two to friends and i won't do it again thank goodness they were both read already."Jessica, I do not lend books. I do not lend money either. But, when the need arises, I will make a gift of a book if I feel a person could benefit from it(I can always buy another copy should I choose!), or a gift of food/time, assistance, etc. to someone in true need (I don't give away money either). I would no more ask if I could borrow a book than I would a framed painting on someone's wall, for example.
Saul wrote: "I. mourn the fact that there are only 24 hours in a . And life is too short to read eve..."Really ? Do you want to read everything? The good, the bad and the ugly....?"
No, but i hate that i won't be able to make that determination for myself. :(
I see me in almost every single of these problems.
Kevin wrote: "Book wrote: "Kevin wrote: "Book wrote: "When the doctor and the eye doctor tell you to limit your time reading because it's "beneficial" for your health."Does that really happen ?"
It happened to..."
The physical therapist tried to tell me I had to limit reading and change the way I read because it was injuring my neck. I got a neck pillow and nice recliner and ignored the remainder of the advice.
when I have to read on my Kindle instead of a REAL BOOK
Erma wrote: "Avinash wrote: "Siblings poking their nose in your book and reading aloud any random line."I perfected the withering stare because of this... But, on the other hand, now that we're grown, I have ..."
That's great! It is always nice to have someone in your family who gets your reading and it's even better when you have some common reading interests.
Shriya wrote: "Bringing a huge bag to the library with you"I have 3 designated Library bags of various sizes that I use exclusively for taking to the library. My smallest bag is even custom made with a picture of one of my libraries on it. Unfortunately that library relocated a few weeks ago so the picture is no longer accurate.
I love this list because every single on of them is so true!!
All but one of the 20 issues are tottaly me - i don´t own an e-reader, so...The one thing that bugs me and some people said already: i do not know anyone that reads or gets excited about reading as me, so i don´t have anyone to talk to and extrovert all the feelings i am having on the book. They all start rolling their eyes at the slightest mention of books.
Also: always and consistently searching for more reads - online, on bookstores, on flea markets and going through all the possible book blogs to hear more about some more books to add to my already gianormous TBR pile. I am sure when i say that i already have enough books to keep me going until my dying hour....
I am so happy to see that there´s more of you alike me out there.
☯ DαякєηRнαℓ ❛ ᵞᵒᵘʳ ᶠᵃᵛᵒᵘʳᶤᵗᵉ ᴰᵁᶠᶠ ❜ wrote: "OMFG SOOO MUCH OF THIS LIST IS ME!!!" Me too. I guess that must go for all of us.
Sadia wrote: "Ava wrote: "My reading list is longer than my lifespan"I feel you xD" As do I.
Reading for so long that your body starts to ache; no matter how you choose to sit/lie/stand, every position eventually becomes painful.
Friends borrowing books, then returning them damaged.
I got 99 problems and 100% of them are because of books.
All of the above!Also, related to the reading in the bath one - not being able to read at the bus stop when it's raining because the pages might get wet.
And the book lunch one - worrying about getting grease/crumbs on the book. I get round this one by having an audiobook on my iPad & listening while I eat. I also listen on the bus to work. Less likely to miss my stop or get travel sick that way.
Did anyone mention 'absolutely HAVING to finish reading the book before you can even think about seeing the movie'?
Falling asleep when reading, therefor dropping the book and loosing your place.
wow totally me.And..
- Finding the right position to read.
- People don't stop talking to you while you read.
- When you finish half the book and someone tells you what will happen next.
Wanting to keep the borrowed book from a library and knowing you can't... especially if it is a signed copy!!!
Helen wrote: "All of the above!Also, related to the reading in the bath one - not being able to read at the bus stop when it's raining because the pages might get wet.
And the book lunch one - worrying about ge..."
I've had to do that numerous times: Harry Potter, Maze Runner, Hunger Games.....!
Caro wrote: ""Being forced to stop reading by other obligations, but choosing to ignore those obligations. Then getting in trouble." that's me in a nutshell"
SAAAAAME
Mai wrote: "wow totally me.And..
- Finding the right position to read.
- People don't stop talking to you while you read.
- When you finish half the book and someone tells you what will happen next."
YES
Mireille wrote: "Buying the kindle version of a favourite book although you have a paper copy so that it is available at all times."YES!!!!
I used to say I'd live to 102, but my wishlist of books to read has grown so long that i now have to live to 150!
Dale wrote: "I used to say I'd live to 102, but my wishlist of books to read has grown so long that i now have to live to 150!"Lol yes
Wow, i relate to most of these :D
I've put numbers 3, 8, 11, 12, 16, 18 and 19 off my list since I bought a Kindle... Thanks for that!
Debating whether or not the book is worth the shelf-space/ink and paper.
This is all me! Especially number 17 when I have hours of homework to do, but just wanna read.
I only became a book lover this year and I can already relate to most or at least half of them for sure ;) :D
Helen wrote: "All of the above!Also, related to the reading in the bath one - not being able to read at the bus stop when it's raining because the pages might get wet.
And the book lunch one - worrying about ge..."
That is me, if a movie has come out and i found out its based from a book i WILL NOT see it until I've read the book.
Ava wrote: "My reading list is longer than my lifespan"and it just keeps increasing
Knowing when you go on vacation you can get away from the internet or even mobile devices but you WON'T want to go without your books so you take them with you.You worry as you are finishing one book which one of many you will get to next.
when you finished A stories you will missing the people whom in the stories
I read all my books on an ereader these days, not through choice but due to a medical condition (rhuematoid arthritis), i love my ereader but i soooooo miss the smell of a new book. Luckly I have a partner who only looks at me slightly weirdly when i ask if i can smell his book (and no that's not a metaphor). My local book shop is aslo kinda of used to me smelling their books without buying any. Lol
Nasr wrote: "when you finished A stories you will missing the people whom in the stories"Very true!
Finding quality books in my particular interest.
