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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 951-1,000 of 1,070 (1070 new)
Anna wrote: "Aoi wrote: "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 "BU..."That's totally true. People do exactly the same thing to twilight. But listen here. Twilight is an over rated book the problem is that too many people care and like it. To the point were you get those weird people who don't even READ that particular genre or don't READ any books at all!!!!!
Seriously guys Twilight may have not been a master piece because in the end it was just a book but still haters don't have to hate so much.
Not to mention that Twilight was the book that sparked thee teen supernatural craze. Without Twilight we wouldn't have vampire diaries or teen wolf. It may be a hard pill to swallow but it is true. In fanfiction or even worse the book or the show you will always find that stray character mentioning twilight and how awe full it is. Well newsflash! You wouldn't have existed without twilight. You are basically a rip off of twilight.
You don't have to love this book to bits. But you also don't have to hate it to ashes. Just mind your own business and walk away.
You know that friend of yours that is an avid book reader like yourself. She seems like the perfect friend. But then they get that bright idea of writing their own book. And it seems like a fun project at the side. It seems cool. Not to mention your friend has amazing spacing pacing and writing technique? Because you know you could never write something like that without disaster and making it fake? But then your friend gets too much confidence in her book and she starts being a real jerkwad?
Being asked "what do you want for Christmas, birthday..." (etc). Saying a bookstore gift certificate and getting ANYTHING BUT!
Having more bookshelves than places for clothes and considering how many jeans, shirts does a person really need so that other books would be off the floor.
People who say you *just* need to get rid of a few...
I have to say e-books and the Nook and Kindle apps on my phone have largely resolved a lot of these problems for me. One I used to have though:
"Dreading having to move because you have too many books you'd have to relocate."
Beatrice wrote: "Wishing more of your friends love reading as much as you do"Same, none of my close friends read and it's kind of annoying when they laugh at you because you are sad and depressed, because you just finish a book or books.
Beatrice wrote: "Trying to find the ever elusive best reading position..."That is me whenever I am trying to read a book, for me, if I don't have a comfortable position to read I can't enjoy my book.
Deborah wrote: "When you finish a book and you want to discuss the content on how good the book is and everything but realize that your the only person in your group that reads..."I feel you.
Coralie wrote: "Jen wrote: "My problem is reading a book by Cassandra Clare and crying in school, having everyone give me strange looks for feeling so much emotion for book characters. I totally agree with everyth..."
Same. I always have to be careful over what books or parts I am reading AT school. Though at times I will cry and then I people look at me strangely.
Same. I always have to be careful over what books or parts I am reading AT school. Though at times I will cry and then I people look at me strangely.
I'm so glad I'm not the only one who reads in the shower:PAll those things in that list...so true!!!
When you go to a bookstore and they have signed copies of your favorite books but you already have THREE COPIES of that book already!!
Sasala wrote: "Late to get to work because I missed my stop while reading an 'unputdownable' bit of the book!"I've done it. This morning. Well almost.
Caroline wrote: "Being asked "what do you want for Christmas, birthday..." (etc). Saying a bookstore gift certificate and getting ANYTHING BUT!"So true. :]
Shaina wrote: "Yeah, I added that I will dig through an entire pile or shelf to find the one in the most pristine condition at the store and THAT'S the one I will buy.I don't care who looks either. I'm involved in my business."
I remember my pop doing this... Ah, good times, good times...
Celine wrote: "I can relate on like every sentece, but 8, 15 and 17 describe me just so perfectly. And what is it about when being around othrers that people being on their phone is okay, but reading isn't?"Try reading on your phone! I started doing that at work just last month... Works great!
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..."You have got to find narrators that feel as if they sat down to tell you their story and you can't tell they are reading. I have been reading since I was 3 and my vision isn't what it was. Don't give up on audio books yet. Let them transport you. Some narrators I would recommend are Simon Prebble (the Dick Francis books) anything that Davina Porter reads, Christopher Timothy reads the Herriot books as if they happened to him. Wishing you well.
Deborah wrote: "When you finish a book and you want to discuss the content on how good the book is and everything but realize that your the only person in your group that reads..."Been there. Done that. Sad day.
Holly wrote: "All of the above, plus realising everyone on the bus/train is staring at you because you've gotten so engrossed in the book that you're crying, or laughing out loud. That and nearly missing your stop!"When you are reading and emoting so audibly that members of your family wonder if you are okay. Oh, yes, I own property in that town.
Not knowing all the languages in the world and missing out on those books!!
Learning Braille so you can read in bed with the lights out and your hands warm under the covers.
Wearing a head torch to read under the bed covers.
Learning very early on that if you lend a book you'll never get it back and that you will feel the strange inability to return books to owners no matter how determined you are to give them back.
Celia wrote: "Wearing a head torch to read under the bed covers."Celia wrote: "Learning very early on that if you lend a book you'll never get it back and that you will feel the strange inability to return books to owners no matter how determined you are to give them back."
awesome ideas lol
When all you wanted after a long day at work was to read a bit in the public transport on your way home, but you bump into someone you know and have to talk to them...
Cassandra Clare's characters always piss me off no matter how amazing her writing style and characterisation is. The one that pisses me the most of is Clarry and her mother. They both once said that they wish they could have killed Sebastian in the cradle back when he was a baby and seriously that is discussing. I don't think that if I was in the same position as Clare's mother that i would never have the nerve to sudgest something like that. They are both hypocrits.the simple explanation is that when Clare's mother had her children she simply played favourites. Sometimes I wonder if tgey ever consider the possibility that Valentyne could have just as easly doen the same thing th Clary or he could have allowed Sebastian to be the normal one and Clarry the insane demon... I just wonder how thay would treat her.
World is so small. Many think like me. All are equally good.
How about starting a book, realizing you can't stand it part way through and trying to decide if you can deal with not finishing it so you can (hopefully) start on something better or if you need to just power through it so you can find out what happens.
gorecki wrote: "When all you wanted after a long day at work was to read a bit in the public transport on your way home, but you bump into someone you know and have to talk to them..."That happens so often! Sometimes at lunchtime too... reading doesn't mean I'm lonely, it means I want to read.
Basically everything. So, yeah. Right on the head.
gorecki wrote: "When all you wanted after a long day at work was to read a bit in the public transport on your way home, but you bump into someone you know and have to talk to them..."...or when you are reading on a Kindle and the person beside you wants to keep asking you questions about how it works and how much the books cost and on and on. That still happens. Yet you can clearly see I am trying to read.
buying digital copies, and then running out of space on your digital reader, because deleting a book is like willing amputating a limb...
getting a book from the library and finding a page dog-eared-it actually causes me pain! Oh and does anyone else have a shelf of "emergency" unread books in case they manage to read every piece of written material in the house and the library or bookstore is closed and internet breaks down??
4,5,16,18 y cuando en la biblioteca tienen el libro que buscas...pero es el segundo volumen.
Zoe wrote: "I would also add: "Hating a book that everyone loves, tell me about loneliness.""Ha! yeah, totally, that's me too :-)
I use my Kindle because it's easier to read now that my arms aren't long enough. But my problem is that when I really like a book I want the hard copy to keep. I don't feel like I "own" a book unless it's in physical form. And on a Kindle the cover does not have any color!
L.s. wrote: "getting a book from the library and finding a page dog-eared-it actually causes me pain! Oh and does anyone else have a shelf of "emergency" unread books in case they manage to read every piece of ..."Seriously, I have stashes of books all over the house >.> plus I'm not ashamed to read various magazines, catalogues, or other material because I've read all my books >.> just sayin.
Can't read a Kindle or IPad in the bath.... Ugh! Make me a waterproof one ...or glasses that I can read the words on and no-one else can see them! How cool would they be! Future conversation: "no wearing glasses at the table!"
That's why I was given an e-reader. I know I know not the same but the little shed was boxed up with books.the 4 bookshelves are full of books and I was starting to encroach manland. Plus this way when I finish one no matter where I am just jump online,buy, download keep reading. seemless. Can even buy and download while riding the train to work and they are ALL in my handbag.
These are all me! Although I get a little hesitant of reading books in the bath anyone else? I have a pile of books on the table right now about 14. One of those has so many sticky notes in it it looks like a textbook, and the others are just there... Or partly read.. I never have enough book marks!
As for the books I share... I get mad if so much of a cover is bent!
Jaime wrote: "How about starting a book, realizing you can't stand it part way through and trying to decide if you can deal with not finishing it so you can (hopefully) start on something better or if you need t..."This is me! my OCD dictates that I finish the book no matter how awful it is! This is how I usually end up behind in my reading because it takes me forever to finish them. :)
Jocelyn wrote: "buying digital copies, and then running out of space on your digital reader, because deleting a book is like willing amputating a limb..."I have 2 devices for this reason :) I feel you!!!
Rebecca wrote: "Jocelyn wrote: "buying digital copies, and then running out of space on your digital reader, because deleting a book is like willing amputating a limb..."I have 2 devices for this reason :) I fee..."
I approach this differently. I keep all the ebooks in the cloud. I only load onto the Kindle the book I am reading. I remain focused that way! :)
When you book is too big to fit in your day bag....Having heated discussions with people about e-readers vs tactile books.
Deborah wrote: "When you finish a book and you want to discuss the content on how good the book is and everything but realize that your the only person in your group that reads..."Gosh I feel your pain Deborah!
Ava wrote: "My reading list is longer than my lifespan"Mine, too. Even if I could read 100 books a day, I'll never be able to read all the books on my shelves.
Kimberly wrote: "Ava wrote: "My reading list is longer than my lifespan"Mine, too. Even if I could read 100 books a day, I'll never be able to read all the books on my shelves."
Haha yes! My bookshelves are fullof books ive started reading then put them back! One day ill get around to finishing them!
But to tell you the truth what can really stress me out is when the cool kids look and laugh at me for no good reason. Not to mention that some of them know me and i don't have a clue as to who they are. So that leads me to believe that they gossip about me behind my back... And that is a terrible realisation to come too.
Plus they always tease me about my vocabulary and my mentioning of words ey have never heard of.
One of the most terrible things about being a book reader is not fitting in and always being the odd ball of your peer group.