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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 801-850 of 1,070 (1070 new)
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Mary Christabelle
(new)
Nov 17, 2015 02:31AM
Ever since I read this post, I've been following it and it always amazed me. The comments just kept on adding. It almost reached a thousand as of now! Just imagine all of these people shares the same feelings with you... WE ALL LOVE BOOKS!!! Hello my fellow book nerds!!!!
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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..."Have you considered a ten inch tablet and the kindle app? Something where you can adjust the font size to what meets your needs? I feel for you because I am headed down the same path and I hope there are better ways coming soon for those with eye problems.
Another bibliophile problem:"When even you are talking with somebody, your mind wanders to the story you've just read"
Falling asleep with the book in your hand and waking up the next day and panic cause you cant find it cause it is under the bed lodged somewhere between the covers or the significant other has moved it and didn't tell you where..
Buying a book on my kindle then deciding I like is so much I want it on my shelf so I buy it again in hard copy.
When you are reading at bedtime and your booklight goes out...and you cant turn your side lamp on because hubby is sleeping!!!!
This is SO true.1,2,3,7 (oh my gosh, yes!), 9, 10, 12 (luckily I have a tablet so my document holder does double duty during lunch), and 20 is the truth (I have over 18000 books! These ebook readers and one-click buy options are bad for my budget)
Inkweaver wrote: "Living in a town where no one reads at all! I'm slowly dying from the loneliness..."You poor thing. Well, we here at Goodreads are here to soothe your loneliness!
I relate to ALL of these except instead of dropping the book on my face when I fall asleep I invariably drop it on the soundly sleeping and happily purring cat...who has mastered the glare-yawn while stretching the claws into my leg through the blanket. On the plus side I'm then awake enough to finish the chapter...
Lana wrote: "Great List - I would add, "Having so many samples on your Kindle, you can't quickly find the one you want to read next.""Yes!! But for me, it's my Nook Color!!
I've grappled with every single one of these things but #10 and #11. Why any sane person would risk dropping their perfectly dry book in the bathtub is completely beyond me.
Ramyaa wrote: "Reading a book at night and then dad comes in and switches the lights of and goes 'Stop reading... Its time for bed!'"Yes!!! Happens all the time!
Waiting for the book to arrive in the local bookstore.
Judi wrote: "Buying a book on my kindle then deciding I like is so much I want it on my shelf so I buy it again in hard copy."Guilty.
I can really relate to all of these… some more than others, but I love them all.
"Ramyaa wrote: "Reading a book at night and then dad comes in and switches the lights off and goes 'Stop reading... Its time for bed!'"THIS - only in my case it is my husband!
and being told - 'You read too much, it rots your brain' - Helloooo, reading is GOOD for the brain.
Although audiobook specific, I would add "After I'm home, sitting in my car in the driveway because I can't turn it off in the middle of a chapter."
How about the moment that you're in the last chapter, last page, of the last installment of the series that your hooked too, then suddenly you stop reading it...or read it slower than you usually do... just to buy some time not to finish it right away cause you hate to let go with the characters that you think you're one of them and they understand you thinking that they are your friends to.... Though the scenario is not that crying moment kind of thing, but you can't help your tears to flow down on your face for the gazillion of reasons you can't express...
Judi wrote: "Buying a book on my kindle then deciding I like is so much I want it on my shelf so I buy it again in hard copy."this! Bought the kindle daily deal of "the Goldfinch", then got the paperback at Costco (to loan) then couldn't stand not having it on my shelf so got the hardback- which my daughter then took home and destroyed by falling asleep on it over and over and her youngest spilling juice in the middle portion. So now my daughter is buying me a replacement hardback plus another for herself (you're welcome Donna Tartt...)
Takumay wrote: "How about the moment that you're in the last chapter, last page, of the last installment of the series that your hooked too, then suddenly you stop reading it...or read it slower than you usually d..."Oh my!!! That is SO TRUE!!!! Sometimes, I totally stopped reading before I get to the end... Just so in my mind, I'm still living the story... I really hate it when I get to the last page.. :( But then, finally, after a few days or a few weeks, I would read it...then end up feeling sad. "Oh why does it has to end! Why! Why!!!!" :D
Hayley wrote: "Although audiobook specific, I would add "After I'm home, sitting in my car in the driveway because I can't turn it off in the middle of a chapter.""How about taking the long way home or circling the block because you're almost at the end of the chapter?!
Stopping spots... the things we do to get to them!
Takumay wrote: "How about the moment that you're in the last chapter, last page, of the last installment of the series that your hooked too, then suddenly you stop reading it...or read it slower than you usually d..."Me in a nutshell.
Try this one. Running a bookshop, so always being surrounded by temptation to my addiction, also staff discount is awesome so that temptation is increased ten fold. Then you see what other people are ordering & buying & so you want those too! My books at home are currently 3 deep on every shelf, and ibrought 3 more today.
I am a 62yr old diabetic, I worry that I won't live long enough to see the end of some series...Game of Thrones, Outlander, Life After War
That ongoing nagging fear that I'll be stuck somewhere with absolutely nothing to read.
Liz wrote: "That ongoing nagging fear that I'll be stuck somewhere with absolutely nothing to read."I feel the same way.
Liz wrote: "That ongoing nagging fear that I'll be stuck somewhere with absolutely nothing to read."It is for this reason that my daughter and I pick our handbags on the criteria 'can I fit a paperback in there without squashing it?' Never leave home without one.
Wanting desperately to check up on Josh and Nastya to see how they're doing and getting mad because they aren't real people dammit!!!
Kevin wrote: "Christie wrote: "I am a 62yr old diabetic, I worry that I won't live long enough to see the end of some series...Game of Thrones, Outlander, Life After War"I hope you will overcome your health iss..."
Thank You, I wasn't looking for sympathy, just sayin' I am old and its a problem when a series takes so long to be completed. I try to avoid reading unfinished series but sometimes get pulled in.
Reading too good a book that the next few books seem dull though the ratings are not that bad. I really feel bad in that situation as those next books couldn't manage suitable attention from me. :D
Benozir wrote: "Reading a book too good that the next few books seem dull though the ratings are not that bad. I really feel bad I share your feeling 100%. My reading experience tells me that a too good book are rare things and they are too good regardless you had read one previously . If it happens, It only means you had hit the jackpot.
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..."Judy------I'm right there with you. I have the same problem, only it isn't quite as advanced as yours. There is a sale on Kindles right now, or, alternatively, you can download the free Kindle app from Amazon. Kindle books have print that you can enlarge and just read on your computer, notebook, whatever. Many Kindle books are either free, to try out an aspiring author, or very low cost. If you subscribe to Bookbub and Book Gorilla they both will send suggestions for free or low cost books. Your library system will give you a free download of their reader, Overdrive, and you can then download a wide selection of books to read on your computer/Kindle, and also audiobooks.
And please give audiobooks a fair try. Many are available from your library, and they can be just wonderful. A great deal depends on the reader/narrator, so it pays to listen to a little sample snippet, especially before buying. I download audiobooks from my library, borrow them on disk from the library, and buy the books on sale from Audiobookstand.com. Audiobookstand will send you a little print sale catalog each month, and the catalog is also available on their website. I always find many wonderful audiobooks on disk for sale at $6, less than a trade paperback, and so I live in a real pig's paradise of books. On Amazon you can find used ones for a very small sum plus the $4 shipping charge.
My dear friend, I hope you can try some or all of these tactics and keep your reading going! When you've managed to make an improvement on your situation, please get back to us on this thread so I'll know things are better. You have a reading need and a right to read no matter what the condition of your eyesight is.
Good luck and happy reading!
This is absolutely tying up with my sentiments. And I definitely have the fear of not being able to read good books because I don't know they exist.
Finding bookstores. That are not Barnes and Nobles.
❅Rᴇʙᴇᴄᴄᴀ❅Aᴍ I ɴᴏᴛ ғɪʀᴇ?❅ wrote: "Finding bookstores. That are not Barnes and Nobles."Hastings is really good and a favorite here...
Benozir wrote: "Reading too good a book that the next few books seem dull though the ratings are not that bad. I really feel bad in that situation as those next books couldn't manage suitable attention from me. :D"I agree. Sometimes the timing is all that matters.
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 for you. My mother-in-law has a similar issue and has an original kindle that allows the reader to adjust the font and is still reading and is part of a book club - which I am happy about because she has always enjoyed books and talking about them. Nook is also available and does the same - my preference because I worked at BN. I think you can also use the apps for Kindle or Nook and read on your computer but I thing that is not good for your eyes and e-readers are more portable.
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 ..."so glad I am not the only one that does that - I also then feel guilty and need to apologize to the poor book - the friend deserved it but the book didn't lol
hating being asked " why are you reading that book again?"
I am curious - has anyone else had to downsize and had to make the choice between their books or furniture and choose the books? I gave up my couch for my books lol
YES!! These totally describe me!!Also, bursting with the absolute amazingness and perfection and just plain magic of a book you just read, and not being able to share it with anybody else because no one understands.
Sadness.
Plus, feeling like you're the only teenager who ever reads anything for fun. Like when someone looks at you like you're crazy when you tell them you read in your free time. Really, people? How do you live??!!
oh the one I love the most is "how can you read when there is sooo much on TV?" I am not a tv watcher - I have favourite shows but I record them and watch between books lol
Trying to finish reading the book that the movie is based on before even trying to watch the movie...since you know that the book is always better.
Kaer wrote: "I am curious - has anyone else had to downsize and had to make the choice between their books or furniture and choose the books? I gave up my couch for my books lol"My daughter got rid of her wardrobe for more bookshelves. The clothes were relegated to boxes under the cabin bed.
When a friend wants to borrow a new book from your to-read pile with the words, 'I'll have finished it by the time you're ready to read it,' and wondering if she really understands you at all.
