20 Problems Only Book Lovers Understand

Posted by Hayley on November 13, 2015

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 201-250 of 1,070 (1070 new)


message 201: by Grace (new)

Grace When all your friends aren't book readers and they just don't understand why you like reading.


message 202: by Katrina (new)

Katrina Rae Ava wrote: "My reading list is longer than my lifespan"

Mine too. I want to read all of this years new releases, but I'm still reading last years... And the year before that.... And some others.


message 203: by Book (new)

Book Worm Grace wrote: "When all your friends aren't book readers and they just don't understand why you like reading."

Oh my god! It's the worst.


message 204: by Grace (new)

Grace When you find a book you've been trying to find and you're like, "Cue the slow motion."


message 205: by Chelsea (last edited Nov 13, 2015 09:39PM) (new)

Chelsea 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..."

Do you know anyone with better vision that you can take turns reading aloud with? My mom can't read some books as well as she used to because of font sizes and vision but occasionally with books that we share an interest in I read aloud and we discuss the book as I read. It takes longer to get through a book that way but is also fun because both of us are at the same place in the book and can guess what will happen next together.

Betsy wrote: "About #8: Wear thin gloves"

I wear fingerless gloves while reading sometimes to keep at least part of my hand warm.


message 206: by Grace (new)

Grace When your mom asks you how long you've been reading and you don't know so you just say a few hours.


message 207: by Book (new)

Book Worm When the doctor and the eye doctor tell you to limit your time reading because it's "beneficial" for your health.


message 208: by Coral (new)

Coral D I felt each and every one of these in my heart! SO true.


message 209: by ms.beau (last edited Nov 13, 2015 09:46PM) (new)

ms.beau 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 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 too am an aging avid reader and book junkie, who has both impaired vision and limited dexterity! I have learned to use the overdrive app on various e-devices, and make the necessary visual enhancement that allow me to keep reading.


message 210: by Grace (new)

Grace When your mom suggests that you hang out with your friends instead of reading all day and you like, "I am hanging out with my friends, actually we're having a party" and you point to your bookshelves.


message 211: by Book (new)

Book Worm Grace wrote: "When your mom suggests that you hang out with your friends instead of reading all day and you like, "I am hanging out with my friends, actually we're having a party" and you point to your bookshelves."


LOL!!!


message 212: by Book (new)

Book Worm When you see a book that interested you, but you don't remember the title or who wrote it.


message 213: by Grace (new)

Grace Book wrote: "Grace wrote: "When your mom suggests that you hang out with your friends instead of reading all day and you like, "I am hanging out with my friends, actually we're having a party" and you point to ..."

Lol...Yes.


message 214: by Grace (new)

Grace Book wrote: "When you see a book that interested you, but you don't remember the title or who wrote it."

It's so sad. Especially when it was a really good book.


message 215: by Grace (new)

Grace Although, who knows if it was a good book or not because you don't remember the book title and author.


message 216: by Grace (new)

Grace When your friends don't understand your fandom references.


message 217: by Book (new)

Book Worm Grace wrote: "When your friends don't understand your fandom references."

Yes. I hate that.


message 218: by Katrina (new)

Katrina Rae Book wrote: "Grace wrote: "When all your friends aren't book readers and they just don't understand why you like reading."

Oh my god! It's the worst."


Oh yes!!!!


message 219: by Book (last edited Nov 13, 2015 09:54PM) (new)

Book Worm When you gasp at something that happened in your book and your mother and brother start having a conversation about how weird you are. And you're right there....


message 220: by Grace (new)

Grace Book wrote: "When you gasp at something that happened in your book and your mother and brother start having a conversation about how weird you are. And you're right there...."

Lol. Yes.


message 221: by Book (new)

Book Worm Kevin wrote: "Book wrote: "When the doctor and the eye doctor tell you to limit your time reading because it's "beneficial" for your health."
Does that really happen ?"


It happened to me like twice.....Is that not normal?


message 222: by Grace (new)

Grace Book wrote: "Kevin wrote: "Book wrote: "When the doctor and the eye doctor tell you to limit your time reading because it's "beneficial" for your health."
Does that really happen ?"

It happened to me like twic..."


lol


message 223: by Jon (new)

Jon The book hangover! I've never met another person who has felt that. Although most of the people I know don't read. . .


message 224: by Grace (new)

Grace when you have to wait a year for the next book in a series and then you go into a reading slump.


message 225: by Book (last edited Nov 13, 2015 10:03PM) (new)

Book Worm When you see books being thrown out the window of a car.

I've seen that happen in San Francisco. San Francisco is full of crazy people.


message 226: by Grace (new)

Grace Jon wrote: "The book hangover! I've never met another person who has felt that. Although most of the people I know don't read. . ."

Well, Jon, I have felt that. It hurts a lot in the morning. lol.


message 227: by Grace (new)

Grace Book wrote: "When you see books being thrown out the window of a car.

I've seen that happen In San Francisco. San Francisco is full of crazy people."


That's awesome. lol.


message 228: by Grace (new)

Grace When your mom says to go to bed and you do, but, you sit there thinking: What's gonna happen next in the chapter?


message 229: by Book (new)

Book Worm When your teacher takes away your book and doesn't give it back until the next day, because you took it from her desk without permission.

I was real pissed off that day. She took it away on the best part!


message 230: by Grace (new)

Grace True readers know that anything makes a good bookmark.


message 231: by Grace (new)

Grace Book wrote: "When your teacher takes away your book and doesn't give it back until the next day, because you took it from her desk without permission.

I was real pissed off that day. She took it away on the b..."


That happened to me twice.


message 232: by Book (new)

Book Worm Grace wrote: "True readers know that anything makes a good bookmark."

So true.


message 233: by Dr Rashmit (new)

Dr Rashmit Mishra You close your book depressed as your favourite character in your novel just died but also confused why everyone else is acting like nothing happened , i mean YOUR FAVOURITE CHARACTER JUST DIED!


message 234: by Grace (new)

Grace Rashmit wrote: "You close your book depressed as your favourite character in your novel just died but also confused why everyone else is acting like nothing happened , i mean YOUR FAVOURITE CHARACTER JUST DIED!"

I know right?!


message 235: by Book (new)

Book Worm When your brother turns the light off while your reading at night.


message 236: by Grace (new)

Grace Book wrote: "When your brother turns the light off while your reading at night."

My sister did that to me today! No kidding!


message 237: by Alex (new)

Alex I


message 238: by Book (new)

Book Worm Grace wrote: "Book wrote: "When your brother turns the light off while your reading at night."

My sister did that to me today! No kidding!"


LOL.



message 239: by Alex (new)

Alex I have enough unread books that it will take me a hundred years to read them all.


message 240: by Book (new)

Book Worm When someone hates your favorite book for stupid reasons.


message 241: by Grace (new)

Grace My choice of weapon: Book

My choice target practice: The next person who thinks that my fandoms suck.


message 242: by Grace (new)

Grace Book wrote: "When someone hates your favorite book for stupid reasons."

We feel you.


message 243: by Grace (new)

Grace When the character you don't like dies.


message 244: by Book (new)

Book Worm The moment you realize that your two favorite characters in a book wont get together.

Read Shadow and Bone and you'll know what i'm talking about.


message 245: by Book (new)

Book Worm Grace wrote: "When the character you don't like dies."

That's like the best for me. But most of the time I cry anyway, because I took them for granted


message 246: by Shauna (library_of_your_dreams) (last edited Nov 13, 2015 10:22PM) (new)

Shauna (library_of_your_dreams) when your mom wont take you to the bookstore and you cant go yourself because you cant drive yet and the closest bookstore is in the next town over


message 247: by Grace (new)

Grace Book wrote: "The moment you realize that your two favorite characters in a book wont get together.

Read Shadow and Bone and you'll know what i'm talking about."


I read it, I feel you.


message 248: by Book (new)

Book Worm Shauna wrote: "when your mom wont take you to the bookstore and you cant go yourself because the town you live in doesnt have a bookstore"

That sucks on a epic level.



message 249: by Grace (new)

Grace When people interrupt me when I'm reading a book:
Why can't you just understand that I like being alone.


message 250: by Book (new)

Book Worm Grace wrote: "Book wrote: "The moment you realize that your two favorite characters in a book wont get together.

Read Shadow and Bone and you'll know what i'm talking about."

I read it, I feel you."


I know it totally sucks. I mean The Darkling and Alina were perfect together.


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