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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 751-800 of 1,070 (1070 new)
message 751:
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Tania
(new)
Nov 16, 2015 11:15AM
Almost everything happens to me xD
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Rationalizing my stacks of books not read as I will get them read when I retire!!
These are all so true! I hate it when someone hates a book that I like but I hate it even more when they think they love it more than me. lol
Hydra Book List Syndrome (HBLS): Finishing a book then adding two (or more) to your to-read list.Example: "I finished a book, but two more took its place on my to-read list. I'll never read all the books I want to in my lifetime!"
Ava wrote: "My reading list is longer than my lifespan"Real talk. I feel this in my bones.
Sumeet wrote: "Inkweaver wrote: "Living in a town where no one reads at all! I'm slowly dying from the loneliness..."Hahaha Same Feelings "
Same here
Having to read a book for a class that you don't want to read instead of reading one of the many books you are anxiously waiting to read!
The one that I really can relate too is when someone borrows a book and never returns it to me for a long time!
I totally understand number 10. I can usually get away with about 3-5 minutes of reading my Kindle in the shower before the screen steams up.
When you want the E-book for the convenience but you NEED the physical copy for your collection! Oh the struggle!
I can relate to most of themespecially the 1st one
I can relate to every item on the list. Here are my struggles from this past weekend:1. When the book you love and don't want to stop reading is too heavy for you to read when you're lying down in bed.
2. When you finished a book you really enjoyed and don't have anyone at work to tell about it because none of them reads that genre.
3. When you visit every used book shop in a 20-mile radius and can't find a copy of the book you don't want to do without but have to return to the library tomorrow.
Re: spine creases. I once accidentally ripped the dust cover on the book a friend lent me...so I bought her a new copy. She thought I was crazy, but I would not want to get a lent book back in that condition. Now I just take the dust covers off before reading. Much less expensive! :)
This was absolutely perfect. What is was missing was getting weird looks by friends, loved ones, or strangers when you fangirl too hard (as if you could ever actually fangirl too hard) over a book character or book.
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..."So sorry to hear this is happening to you. Keep going as long as you can, but don't totally discount the audio books. They can be wonderful if performed by a good reader. Best wishes!
I can totally relate!But what about when you're reading a book on your ereader and the battery starts dying, you then have to scaramble to find the charger, usually at a pivotal point, but then when you've got it plugged in you have to half lean out of bed because the cable just isn't quiet long enough.
I can relate to so many of these problems because I often face them myself. So many books and so little time!!!!
Zoe wrote: "I would also add: "Hating a book that everyone loves, tell me about loneliness.""I have been there and when You speak out they act like something is wrong with you.
TheObsessiveCupcake wrote: "Having to read a book for a class that you don't want to read instead of reading one of the many books you are anxiously waiting to read!"I remember that, it was horrible! Sometimes I would get books assigned that I did enjoy though.
Number's 1, 2, 4, 5, and 17 sum me up PERFECTLY. One more I would like to add: When you are searching for books, reading about books, adding more books to your to-read shelf instead of reading the book you are currently in the middle of!! Ah, the obsession continues....I apologize for nothing. :)
Pressure over what book will be the one that accomplishes my reading goal for the year.Not judging non-readers.
This so true I like this!! I like this article.
This is waaaaayyyy too relatable... STOP READING MY LIFE STORY
Yup. That's me. Especially 2,5,12,14 and 17.
THIS IS SOOOOO ME! Right now I have 4 series and 6 books I have/need to have that I have started/need to start and I am freaking out!
Sadia wrote: "Ava wrote: "My reading list is longer than my lifespan"I feel you xD"
omg yasssss.
Dude I'm definitely a reader. This list has spoken my very existence.
I utterly adore this list, there are so many that apply to me every day. Especially #1, “The urge to buy books even though you still have too many books to read at home.” I wish I could stop time all around me so I can enjoy my books for eternity. =-)
Number 9 *cough* Rick Riordan *cough*
Aly wrote: "These things happen to me all the time! I just wish they put on the list people telling you you read too much! Because like once a day that happens to me."Yaassssssss. Happens waaayyy too much.
"When someone borrows your book and doesn't return it for ages!" This is so frustrating.
Worst thing ever: smushing a book in your backpack! Argh! I can only bring books I don't really care about to school otherwise they get mangled and I get upset. :(
TheObsessiveCupcake wrote: "Having to read a book for a class that you don't want to read instead of reading one of the many books you are anxiously waiting to read!"Oh god please no. the. worst. thing. ever!
Getting in a panic when I cant find something to read after searching thru the shelves.
All but Two of them.... 18/20.... yeah pretty much a book worm!!!!
How about being so immersed in a book I take it with me to read while at red lights. My daughter calls it reading and driving...but I don't read while driving...just at stops.
Andrea wrote: "How about being so immersed in a book I take it with me to read while at red lights. My daughter calls it reading and driving...but I don't read while driving...just at stops."
I have been tempted to... Yet to happen but I do know my daughter would say the same thing......
Reading a book at night and then dad comes in and switches the lights of and goes 'Stop reading... Its time for bed!'
the content of my wishlist tab on websites like amazon, bookdespository, etc. is overflowing with pretty books that i can't afford :')
Books touch your heart and you decide to become a writer.
Wanting to see the conclusion of the story while conversely wanting the story to continue. ...Getting slammed in the face with a book, after falling asleep in bed.
