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 201-250 of 1,070 (1070 new)
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Nov 13, 2015 09:32PM

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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.

Oh my god! It's the worst.

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.


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.


LOL!!!

Lol...Yes.

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


Oh my god! It's the worst."
Oh yes!!!!


Lol. Yes.

Does that really happen ?"
It happened to me like twice.....Is that not normal?

Does that really happen ?"
It happened to me like twic..."
lol


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

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

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


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

I was real pissed off that day. She took it away on the b..."
That happened to me twice.


I know right?!

My sister did that to me today! No kidding!

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

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

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

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


Read Shadow and Bone and you'll know what i'm talking about."
I read it, I feel you.

That sucks on a epic level.

Why can't you just understand that I like being alone.