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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 1,001-1,050 of 1,070 (1070 new)
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."
...how about joining in the quest for the " philosopher's stone "...
CJ wrote" You buy more books than you read"
I do too!! I have so many books but can't resist buying another especially if it is part of a series or has had a great review.
I do too!! I have so many books but can't resist buying another especially if it is part of a series or has had a great review.
Team Good Reads,Reading all about you and knowing your work for mankind what you are sharing and carving on hearts of people no one has such a strong power to steal it back.
I am so passionate to read more what beautiful thoughts you're having in your minds and will luv to meet all these legendary beings.
JashuaDen
Cecilia wrote: "spending hours in the bookstore just looking, yearning, wanting, craving (or in the library if i'm short on money or space)"Yeeesss!
Lizzie wrote: "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 unle..."YAS! I have to have the physical copy to own it. :) Usually I only do e-book novellas until a collection comes out as a physical copy.
Alecx wrote: "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..."
I definitely don't like reading in the bath. It makes me nervous! They should invent like a waterproof book. He he XD
I can't read more than one book at a time though, usually. Well, I can usually swing a non-fiction book on the side or like a dinky little kid book (ie. Magic Tree House, etc.) just to take my mind off of things. But I have a HUGE bookmark collection, so covered there!
And PET PEEVE! Can't stand a book returned in worse condition than I sent it out, even if it is something "minior."
when I'm too much into a book(epub version) that I start dying to read it from the hard copy, I go to the bookstores to buy the book but they don't have the book right now. grrrrrr....
Oh my gosh. I'm sooo sending this link to all my book nerd friends!!!
When you are at the doctors surgery or on the bus and you realise too late that you are going to finish the book and you don't have another book too read
Lending a book to someone who does not return it and I have to start begging them to have it back
Some books I've loaned out and don't care if I get them back -- others I do care.
Having a book series printed in the same edition except for that one random book that is printed differently and so the series looks inconsistent!!
Abijah wrote: "Having a book series printed in the same edition except for that one random book that is printed differently and so the series looks inconsistent!!"I can't STAND it when publishers do that!! A little OCD, yes!
Coralie wrote: "Abijah wrote: "Having a book series printed in the same edition except for that one random book that is printed differently and so the series looks inconsistent!!"I can't STAND it when publishers..."
I COMPLETELY aree! I can never decide whether or not to buy the right edition to fix my bookshelf's aesthetic beauty, OR spend the money on a new book I have been waiting for forever.... :/
Wishing I could make a living by reading - getting paid to read all my books I want to read!
Colleen wrote: "Wishing I could make a living by reading - getting paid to read all my books I want to read!"I think that All. The. Time.
Abijah wrote: "Coralie wrote: "Abijah wrote: "Having a book series printed in the same edition except for that one random book that is printed differently and so the series looks inconsistent!!"I can't STAND it..."
Ah, yes, the ultimate delima!! I usually end up caving and buying the book though. My love of reading outweighs my need for uniformity.
Colleen wrote: "Wishing I could make a living by reading - getting paid to read all my books I want to read!"I could totally do that. We should start a new profession! Now, who wants to pay up? :-)
Coralie wrote: "Abijah wrote: "Coralie wrote: "Abijah wrote: "Having a book series printed in the same edition except for that one random book that is printed differently and so the series looks inconsistent!!"I..."
agreed :)
When someone asks you, why you are crying, while you are reading your book, and you just want to punch that person ,who interrupted you during a really emotional scene, in the face.
When you are reading, and only have a couple more chapters left, and your mom asks you to get something from outside. Even though your sibling is sitting on the couch doing nothing.
Ranee wrote: "When you are reading, and only have a couple more chapters left, and your mom asks you to get something from outside. Even though your sibling is sitting on the couch doing nothing."Oh man, or when you're pages from the end and suddenly Mom calls "dinner time!" NOOOOO!
Even when your eyes are hurting, you still keep on reading because you just can't wait to know what happens next :)
I am right there with you on that one :) totally agree
Colleen wrote: "Wishing I could make a living by reading - getting paid to read all my books I want to read!"I would make so much if that was the case. I love reading sometimes to much :)
Ranee wrote: "When you are reading, and only have a couple more chapters left, and your mom asks you to get something from outside. Even though your sibling is sitting on the couch doing nothing."Exactly, it happens way too much. :D
Teddy wrote: "Colleen wrote: "Wishing I could make a living by reading - getting paid to read all my books I want to read!"I would make so much if that was the case. I love reading sometimes to much :)"
I would be your business in partner
I could see that. Sitting together in a room surfacing during the interesting parts lol
When your in the car at nighttime and you can't read because it is too dark.
Ranee wrote: "When your in the car at nighttime and you can't read because it is too dark."Love it..... I definitely understand
Poor translation... On the other hand, when you realise translation is better than the original! That`s the worst!
Una wrote: "Poor translation... On the other hand, when you realise translation is better than the original! That`s the worst!"
Has this actually happened to you? I'd be amazed, but curious. Now again, I avoid translations if I can.
Evalangui wrote: "Una wrote: "Poor translation... On the other hand, when you realise translation is better than the original! That`s the worst!"
Has this actually happened to you? I'd be amazed, but curious. Now ..."
Some translations are done quite well... Others not so good..
When you are on a bus or train journey and you finish your book at the same time as your smart phone battery goes flat!!
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 listen to audiobooks at night when I'm getting ready to sleep, and stop it the first time I realize I missed a part. Sometimes I wake up in the morning with a dead battery.
Andy wrote: "When you are on a bus or train journey and you finish your book at the same time as your smart phone battery goes flat!!"I´ve actually often gone without music just so I could have my phone as a backup reading device XD.
Jessica wrote: "Alecx wrote: "Evalangui wrote: "Una wrote: "Poor translation... On the other hand, when you realise translation is better than the original! That`s the worst!"
Has this actually happened to you? ..."
Why would they translate a history textbook? O.o Was it French history you were studying?
I have another problem. Sometimes when I finish binging on a book, I really want to discuss about it to the author or somebody else who has read the book.
That is not a problem at all..... Lol I am the same and i usually do gab someones ear off even if they dint want to know about the book. Lol
Sooooo true especially the one with ignoring responsibilities. I am a medical student and i can't harmonize my love for books with my responsibility to study. It is frustrating and infuriating. Also add "the time when you finish a book you absolutely adore and desperately want to tolk to your friend about it but your friend's face is like......" and with books which are adapted to movies the movies are almost always far below the the books or what you expect them to be. I have found few exceptions.
People that have no intention of ever reading a book asking questions about the book you're trying to read.
I cracked up when I read the list. They all apply to me!But the one that really hit home was the reader who said that she had too many books, not enough life span.
I am 68 and have been reading since forever. About a year ago, I realized that I will never live long enough to read every book I want to read, even if I live to be 100. It was very depressing.
The only other problem I would add is being in the middle of a good book and having your cat come over and lie down on it. You want to keep on reading but you also don't want to disturb the cat. They always look so pleased when they disrupt something that you're doing.
James wrote: "Living in a town where no one reads at all! I'm slowly dying from the loneliness..."I feel uuuuu
You buy more books than you read.