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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 851-900 of 1,070 (1070 new)
When you want the book in paperback, but can't wait a single minute more and pre-order the ebook, then wait up past midnight so you can start reading it!
I DEFINITELY have problems #1, #2, #4, #8, and #20!#3, #16, and #18 will never be a problem again, since I switched to reading 99.9% of all books on my tablet. ;-)
How about "When you really, really get the urge to read a CERTAIN book, but your not at home so you don't have that book with you, so all you can think about is when you go home and can read that book."
Trying to read to the end of the chapter late at night, and re-reading the same paragraph many times because I keep dozing off!
Amy wrote: "Trying to read to the end of the chapter late at night, and re-reading the same paragraph many times because I keep dozing off!"
Ya, that sucks!
How about "Trying to read in the car when its dark, and you don't have anything to light the pages and your parents won't allow you to turn in the light. So you are squinting at the page, with the book held right next to your face, reading as fast as you can when you pass by a source of light."
Ya, that sucks!
How about "Trying to read in the car when its dark, and you don't have anything to light the pages and your parents won't allow you to turn in the light. So you are squinting at the page, with the book held right next to your face, reading as fast as you can when you pass by a source of light."
I can totally relate to all of these! I love this list!I love this one: "Waiting so long for a sequel that you forget what happened in the first book." (Jessica Luong) This happens to me ALL THE TIME!
What about "When you don't have enough books at home, and you want to buy more but you don't have any money, and you are bored out of your mind because you REALLY want to read a new book but all the books you can read you've read so many times that you know all of them by heart."
Shelby wrote: "Amy wrote: "Trying to read to the end of the chapter late at night, and re-reading the same paragraph many times because I keep dozing off!"Ya, that sucks!
How about "Trying to read in the car when its dark, and you don't have anything to light the pages and your parents won't allow you to turn in the light. So you are squinting at the page, with the book held right next to your face, reading as fast as you can when you pass by a source of light."
Both of these are two of my main problems!!
Zoe wrote: "I would also add: "Hating a book that everyone loves, tell me about loneliness.""Or, just the opposite...loving a book everyone hates!!
Reading a free book and being unable to afford the next one in the series.
number 8 ! i had to laughf- I thought Iam the only one with this problem :D. x. When you think of yr book all day long and missing it like a person. Longing for that magical moment to hold it again.
And then you have only 10 minutes in bed.
being worried that the books shelves are going to collapse during the night due to weight of books (I had book shelves above my bed)
Waiting. For. The. Last. Book. In. A. Series. But. You. Have. To. Wait. A. Whole. Year. For. It. To. Come. Out!
When you "need" to buy a book you wanna read but you have many new at home you haven't read... but a book is always good investment, right?
I'm currently reading Crooked Heart/Lissa Evans. Or actually, I've just stopped, as the unfamiliar Brit references and slang are so numerous, I lose the thread in trying to research all their definitions.It really is an interesting book, though. Any suggestions on a quick Brit2English tutorial?
Any suggestions on a quick Brit2English tutorial?Hmm, maybe learn proper English? ;-)
Sorry, couldn't resist!
MHC wrote: "I'm currently reading Crooked Heart/Lissa Evans. Or actually, I've just stopped, as the unfamiliar Brit references and slang are so numerous, I lose the thread in trying to research all their defin..."Wasn't it George Bernard Shaw who called us 'Two nations separated by a common language'?
Seriously, I understand your problem, as I have it in reverse. I guess we Brits are lucky insofar as we get a lot of US TV to help us pick up on cultural references.
Believe me, it is even harder trying to WRITE US fanfiction when you are a Brit.
It's so hard being a book-lover, but not really knowing other books lovers so people just think you're weird and kind of crazy for loving books so much...because that is a life struggle.
I know right?! Especially when your talking about this AMAZING book no one has read and then they're talking about a book you've never read but it seems like everyone else has.
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..."I am so sorry that'shappening to you. Its one of my fears. Without my contacts, I can't read unless the book's 2" from my face. I am hoping and praying for a future companion who will be not only willing to read to me, but also be excited about it. Maybe someone can read to you. I understand about the audiobooks, too. I tried that a few times. At first, it was weird, then ok, then I just tuned out. I hope you find a suitable alternative.
I don't have friends that read the same kinds of books that I do, but i have a sister that loves to hear me talk about them. She lets me tell her about whole series in wonderful detail. She makes great comments and asks good questions. Sometimes my 11 & 13 yr okds will ask me to tell tgem about my book as a bedtime story, sometimes edited & definitely abridged or to be continued. I have such wonderful family.
The hand cramp and muscle soreness in my hand from reading a heavy book for hours at a time.
Not enough money to purchase all of the books.
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..."I promise I will pray for you. I am so very sorry. I wish I could do so much more to help you.
Olivia wrote: "Shelby wrote: "Amy wrote: "Trying to read to the end of the chapter late at night, and re-reading the same paragraph many times because I keep dozing off!"Ya, that sucks!
How about "Trying to re..."
Yessssssss! I find myself in that kind of dilemma all the time! I have a magazine or a book that I'm trying to read on the way home from something, and it's soooo frustrating trying to use that very tiny amounts of light from outside the car!!!!
Omg! I totally get this! Such a laugh when you think about it!
Yes, yes and yes! Especially no. 19...
Ah, it's good to see that we're not alone *sniff*What is shelf space anyway? I don't have any for years! There are pretty big self-made book statues all over the place and they're constantly GROWING! It's like a weird garden :D (needless to say I spend my money on books instead of food... I especially love secondhand stores, they're like treasure troves.)
15 & 19 and OMG 8! I'm not the only one! And 17, please - story of my life :D
Call me mean but I NEVER lend my books. Ever. To anyone except my close family.
Ava wrote: "My reading list is longer than my lifespan" - so true!
Lara wrote: "I especially love secondhand stores, they're like treasure troves."Same here! I love some of the stuff you can find!
This is so true. I read over all of this and I couldn't agree more. :D
Oh my gosh These are so true!!!!!!!
YAS!!! I'm not the only one then
#17 and #12
Those are my fav
Trying to read while someone else is watching tv and telling you about everything they see.
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 so feel your pain! What is happening to you is my absolute nightmare, and although I'm 33, I have a pain disease in all my joints and the spine of an 80 year old... so, reading gives me the only pain relief in the universe that works some times. Pm me on FB. Better still... Come to Bunbury, Western Australia and live with me! I will read aloud for us both every day, and I figure that between the two of us we have enough functioning parts for one healthy body at least, Hah! ! ! All the best, Alicia Manolas.
I have to agree with all of those. I understand so much.
Reading a book and wanting to re-read a book by one of your favorite authors instead.
Normally I read these sort of lists and shake my head muttering about generalisations, but no, I can identify with every one except reading in the bath, and that's only because I'm paranoid about my books and don't read in there.Someone mentioned buying a second copy of a book in order to lend it, rather than risking your own copy? I have done that too.
I would also add:
No matter how many books you have waiting, the next book in a series that you have been waiting for must be bought immediately... even if you're not going to read it for months.
Having a 'To Read' pile that is twice as large as it looks because half of them are hiding on your Kindle.
If I could like this a million times over I would. Freaking awesome!
OH MY GOD...... This Is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO True!
When you need no save badly and you spend the 90% of your salary to buy books.
I would add when you find out there is a new book coming out in your favourite book series and you go to the library website and find they don't have the book. And you are just like "BUT I CAN'T WAIT!"
Yes!