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20 Problems Only Book Lovers Understand
Non-bibliophiles don't always feel your pain…but you're among friends here! We asked on Facebook and Twitter: What's a problem only book lovers understand? We got more than 1,000 amazing responses. Check out some of our favorites and share your own bookish struggles in the comments.
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
Don't see your reader-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.
Check out more recent blogs:
7 Great Books Hitting Shelves This Week
Your Most Successful Book Club Picks
Readers to the Rescue: Your Best Book Club Tips
(Top image credit: Illustration by Quentin Blake for Roald Dahl's Matilda.)
Comments Showing 101-150 of 922 (922 new)
I put far too many books on hold at the library. I even check to see how many people are on the waiting list with the idea that they can't possibly become available all at once. Smart, huh? NOT SO MUCH. Inevitably, I end up with four or five coming available at the same time and end up pushed to finish them. Once I literally stood in front of the librarian desk reading the last pages five minutes before the library closed so I could get it back on the due date. (It's just a dime a day, but the self-shaming of an overdue fine is unthinkable.) I read mostly on Kindle now, which has solved all my space problems as well as unexpectedly given me a bonus in that I can now honestly say, "Oh, sorry, can't lend it out. It's on Kindle."
It hasn't done a thing for solving the library hold avalanche though.
Francesca wrote: "Felicia wrote: "I have no shame in saying I suffer from all the above-stated problems."Same here! Proud member of bookaholics not-so-anonymous. These are all real problems that we suffer from."
Totally agree. All these statements are so real.
Checking out a library book and realize I've already read it. Thankfully I've checked out a few others.
Rainbow wrote: "Laura wrote: "I have a few to add: - Wanting to continue your book but you really can't because student responsibilities and deadlines
- 1 word: READING SLUMP
- Going on goodreads to look up a b..."
That's a great addition to the list! It's so easy to add new books to the TBR list :D
While the read books increase linearly, the TBR books tend to increase exponentially.
Oh, the freezing hand!! And then you have to take the other hand out as well to turn the pages...
Amen!!But I would also add: ignoring the urge to use the bathroom and/or eat because you're so into a book that base needs just don't exist anymore.
Being in the middle of a really good book, but then being given a bad book to read for English class. Then having to decide whether to read the English book due in 3 weeks or reading the good book due for never. And if you read the good book, you have to read the bad book really quickly. THEN, being half way through the English book and nearly done with the good book, being given another book, BUT in FRENCH this time due in 3 weeks. And then you're like: "OMG too many books at once, good and bad ones!!! ARGHH!!!"
Love all the 'problems only book lovers understand'. One problem I have is reading two books at once (one in the bedroom, I really identify with one hand freezing to death while the rest of the body is warm and toasty under covers, and one in the living room, TV just doesn't have anything worth watching) Reading two different genres' makes for a strange movie playing in my head. I read war, especially Vietnam and Scottish Romance. What a interesting mix.
I read almost exclusively on electronic items now...so, the bathtub one used to worry me. Until I found a waterproof pouch to put it in that still allows for usage!!!! Ended up buying one for each device...
Love #17 happens every single time!! ;))
My problem is the need to invest time in the start. I have to get to know the new setting, characters, extent of author’s creativity, etc. and make a decision if I want to continue or not (and regretting wasted time when I decide to abandon the reading too late in the game). With many books in my past I had to force myself to concentrate on important names, places, etc. in the first 10-20%. My solution for this problem is to always have several books on the go. This method allows me to be looking forward to continuation for at least one of my on-the-goes. I always have one (or 3) on my kindle (to read after supper and before bad), one on my MP3 player (to “read” on my daily walks and chores around the house), and one in Overdrive or Hoopla apps on my cell phone (landings from the library are prioritized higher as they are subject to expiration and potentially long waiting list all over again). Sometimes I do read my own paper books as well, but those could be stretched forever in time.
I seriously have no room on my shelf right now. Also, another problem I have is getting comfortable with your book. Sometimes I seriously try 100 different spots in my bed, then I end up having to move to my reading chair.
MichelleJ wrote: ""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 RNSOMEONE WHO FINALLY GETS ME!!!!!"
Yes absolutely!
I never have enough money for all the books I simply must own!
One of my great loves is when I go to a bookstore or a place that sells books, I smell the paper inside the books. They don't all smell the same and all pages don't feel the same! I thank God for books, writers and reading!!!
This list is soooo true. I usually just admit to myself the fact that I'll never have time to read them all and get way too many books at the library, holding out hope that somehow I'll eventually get through them
Vam wrote: "Count me in, especially the one with no more shelf space."I converted a bedroom into a library. Floor to ceiling, wall to wall bookshelves and it's STILL not enough. Thank GOD for Kindle!!!
When the library has like 10 books in a series you want to read but not the FIRST ONE!!!
When you read 6 book at the same time, and the library borrowing time ends for all before you finish them
All of them are true! Especially the one about waiting so long for the next in the series that you forgot what happened in the previous books!
IAmBroke wrote: "Azzurra wrote: "When you read 6 book at the same time, and the library borrowing time ends for all before you finish them"Then renew their rental period?"
But those are the ones that tend to have other holds so the library won't let you renew
I love this post and all the comments. It's great to know I'm not alone in these. I fall into every single one!
Yes yes yes to all of them!*Looks over at bookshelf, realizes I'm completely OUT OF ROOM*
NOOOOOOOOOOO!
*Starts to cry*
Literally all of these.. except #12.. I've mastered the art of eating while reading a book at the same time.
Steven wrote: "Leah wrote: "cindy wrote: "3, 7, 15. Those are my demons.Oh, and 13, when they finally returned it, but with dog ears, food stains or worst, cracked spine. :("
Yesss!! People don't understand that..."
Yes! A person who feels the way I do about book lending and NOT respecting books, I cannot stand when people do not respect books. I don't lend anymore to people I rather give them a book because I am always disappointed when I get my trashed book back.
Vanessa wrote: "Going to the library and finding out they have the first 2 books in a trilogy but DONT HAVE THE LAST ONE!!!!"OR they have the last two but not the FIRST one
I agree with 142. Unfortunately, I see it quite often, as I work in a public library.
Not letting my husband find out that I just bought a book that I already have! I'm so grateful that Amazon keeps track and not only tells me when I bought it, but whether or not it was for my Kindle or a hard copy. My house is referred to as the Neighborhood Library!
Marie Rose wrote: "Vanessa wrote: "Going to the library and finding out they have the first 2 books in a trilogy but DONT HAVE THE LAST ONE!!!!"OR they have the last two but not the FIRST one"
Oh, that's the worst!
I am a newbie and I can find some of the symptoms in me :-D. Happy to read.
MaryannC.Book Fiend wrote: "Steven wrote: "Leah wrote: "cindy wrote: "3, 7, 15. Those are my demons.Oh, and 13, when they finally returned it, but with dog ears, food stains or worst, cracked spine. :("
Yesss!! People don't ..."
"Neither a borrower nor lender be" sound advice from the Bard.
A problem that I have listening to audio books is that I will occasionally miss sentences due to background noise.A second problem I have when looking at my bookcases is whether I should read cover to cover some of the books picked up in my travels. The books were purchased more for occasional reference. Examples of the books are: "Norway's Stave Churches", "Pre-Christian Ireland" and "Interior and Northern Alaska". Maybe I can read these in retirement.
I definitely suffer from all those listed. One of worst for me though is getting to one of those major tear-inducing sections in a book; start tearing up, then remember; "I'm reading on the bus!" Believe me, people look at you strangely if you start crying for no apparent reason while riding the bus!!
While the read books increase linearly, the TBR books tend to increase exponentially.Indeed! Because if I like the first book in the series, I always put the whole rest of the series on my to-read shelf! So now I have more books there than I will ever be able to read in my lifetime . . .
My biggest problem: When the new volume of the book that I've been waiting for is released but there's still no translation.
(so this
gonna be me looking at the Japanese characters, wishing I could read them all...
)
Lord, I know I love to read.. I get so carried away. I have so many books. I have like 65 in my room and so many more and my shelf and in storage. Help me please, I think I am going crazy. I am trying to sell them. So if anyone needs an almost brand new Percy Jackson Book Series. I will let you buy it from me........
omg!! yeeees!! the only one i dont suffer though is #1 because my mom doesnt allow me to buy books but i still do and have the shelf problem. it got so bad that i had to buy a whole new shelf with double the space. my first one actually broke because there were too many books on it.
Rebecca wrote: "omg!! yeeees!! the only one i dont suffer though is #1 because my mom doesnt allow me to buy books but i still do and have the shelf problem. it got so bad that i had to buy a whole new shelf with ..."OMG ur shelf Broke??? lol
Definitely items 1-5, 7, 9, 14, 15, 16-20 relate to me.
Saying to yourself, for the umpteenth time, "Damn, I wish I had written that!"
to be part of Third World Countries and your country doesn't sell english contemporary books :3 it really sucks to read only electronic versions
Finally getting to see that there are people out there who suffer the same way I do on a daily basis... Having a dilemma right now.. who can help? Wondering If I should continue my draft that report at work while trying to fure ways tto finish read a book without getting caught.
Getting WAY to many books at the library (at one point I had like 60 books out) and not being in mood the to read any of the 60 library books.
Felicia wrote: "I have no shame in saying I suffer from all the above-stated problems."Same. Lol!
Not being able to read an awesome series because you're not allowed to