The Next Best Book Club discussion
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Other book related quirks?/bookmarks
Kellie, with your love of dogs, I think you will truly be mesmerized by not only the story, but the beauty of the language he uses. This one will give you so much to chew on on so many levels. I think I would read it again, and I don't usually do that.
I don't know if anyone else has mentioned this quirk, but I can't put a book down unless I have read the left and right pages.
I also usually read one book at a time. If for some reason I am reading 2, one of them is usually a collection of short stories that I can read in one sitting, which I take with me on bus rides, doctor's apointments, etc. - I cannot keep 2 long storylines straight in my head.
I have a silver old spoon that bought at a craft fair. It's been flattened (and I mean FLAT), and bent over upon itself. It sort of paperclips the pages together to become a bookmark. I use the handle part to mark my page (rather than the spoon part) and I have a system of clipping it over the page that I've finished on. I don't seem to have an issue with stopping in the middle of a chapter, as long as I know where!
LeAnn, I am glad to see that someone else abhors the book club edition and movie covers for books. I avoid them entirely, too. I, also, love hardbacks, especially those that I have signed by authors. I tend to buy paperbacks for series books that I enjoy, but I don't particularly count as a part of my favorite collections. Of course, sometimes, paperbacks serve the purpose of easy portability.
Kellie, I remember having a book with me that had an Oprah Book Club sticker on it that I had forgotten to peel off (I usually do that as soon as I buy it, if I buy it after Oprah has selected it). Someone commented on the Oprah sticker, and I quickly replied that I wasn't reading it because it was an Oprah pick. I, also, quickly peeled off the sticker. It's not that I don't think she has good taste in books or has some excellent picks, I just don't want people to think that I have to depend on Oprah to know what books to read. As avid a reader as I am, I feel that I could advise Oprah.
Whenever I'm buying a book, I have to look through all of the copies until I find one that doesn't have any marks, scuffs, dust, etc. Even if nobody else will notice a tiny mark in the corner...I do. Yeah. I've definitely been given odd glances before, as I hold 5 copies of the same book in my arms, studying the covers intently...Also, I know some people HATE notes in books, creased spines and underlined passages, but I LOVE them -- only if I'm the one who has done it though! It makes a book seem so worn in and loved. :)
I'm with you, Karen! I've totally taken to "loving" my books with comments and underlines. I especially love it when I find a great quote. I usually underline it and then write the page number in the front of the book.Or sometimes, you just have to cheer on the hero or "scream" at the wrong-doer.
This is why I simply must own everything I read. (I know, I know, I'm such a book snob...I don't have a problem with lending people my books, but I like to own the books I read so I tend not to borrow from others.)
I like to own all my books, too. No real reason. I don't write in them, they do get 'loved', though. I just like to look at my full bookshelves from time to time. It's kind of like looking through a photo album. And they're full, I actually need to get another one or I'm going to have to start piles on top.
KathyI agree with you 100%
Avid readers could ADVISE Oprah.
Although, I have to say, she probably boosts a lot of sales to the books she picks.
I just get tired of her "I'm a victim" themes.
I have read some of the Oprah choices and liked them.
But there were some that were just TOO MUCH!
The Bluest Eye, Icy Sparks, Black and Blue...to name a few.
IMHO, the problem is not so much in Oprah herself (because you've got to take your hat off to a woman who KNOWS what she wants and what she likes), but maybe lies in the masses who blindly follow her just because she is Oprah.But then again, if many like her picks, why not? To each his own! :)
I love to cross stitch too although I haven't done it since last fall when I decided I was going to make a Christmas stocking for my son. I worked on it all through the World Series and then stopped and haven't picked it up since. Maybe if I start again now I'll have it done by this Christmas. My husband loves to fish and I found this pattern of Santa fly fishing with the elves so we thought it would be funny for our son. I also have at home, unfinished, the stocking that I started for my niece when she was born-she'll be 19 in October! Maybe it's the stockings that do me in.
I have several! I like a lot of others on here cant stand stickers on my books! By the way I am so glad to know that I am not the only one w/ this quirk. I also cant stand dog eared/bent pages. Even if the corner gets folded down the in the least I am smoothing it down. I HATE hardback books w/ bent or torn covers. I bought a book yesterday & when opening it up I discovered the cover was on upside down. I had to fix it immediately. I also cant stand harback books w/out their cover! I know someone that removes them after she's done reading them in order to keep up w/ what she has read. That would drive me insane! Anyways, that some of my quirks/peeves.
My stress tool is that I'm constantly looking at the cover, usually with a red head on it. That's what I was doing at the end of The Sweet Far Thing. I was thinking. "I'm not picturing Gemma's hair right! What shade is it again?" And kept on looking at the cover obsessive complusively.
If I were a published author and Oprah wanted to put her sticker on my book I would say, "Thanks but no thanks for that endorsement from nowhere" (after I shamelessly benefited from all of Oprah's fans buying the book.)
Other than my obsessive keeping of a spreadsheet of all the books I've read, all the books I own and still need to read and all the books I want to read (that are all cross referenced with pull down tabs), I also "fan" books for their smell. Maybe it's the nostalgia, but I find I do that a lot with library books. There's something comforting in library smells for me. My 5 year old son does the same thing. Maybe I should worry that I'm passing on my weirdness to him?
I take books home from my shop to read but I never put them back in stock (most bookshops allow their staff to replace books they've read). Firstly I am a messy reader, I read and eat and fold down corners. But even when I wrap the book in clingfilm first and read it only in bed so its very clean I can never bring myself to put it back. Its used stock as far as I am concerned and I wouldn't want to buy it, so I don't sell it. Since I read a lot, I lose a lot of money that way.
I would imagine that you get some sort of price break on the books you sell. Maybe you can look at it as saving money, since you're probably not paying what the rest of us pay!
Haha, good point JG! Having a bookstore would be great! I'm pretty messy too. Except for it's with drinking and not eating. Or reading while I'm brushing my teeth, or in the tub....I read everywhere!
I am kinda a messy reader but it's almost always coffee but that is really not my fault. I blame it on NYC Transit (Shhh I work for them too). Too many stops too many people.I also hate stickers and writing. I would never write in a book unless I was the author and I was signing autographs or if I was giving a gift and I could track it if they gave it up LOL
Hahaa! Stickers are awful, I can mind writing but only if it's on the inside of the front cover.
Well, just not on the actual pages of the book with text. Just the inside of the front cover.
I don't mind it on the first front page (what is that called again?). But NEVER on Text!!!!
LOL, I just simplified by saying the inside of the front cover. Yes, the text is SACRED.
Very true Fiona, yes, to really think up a story about who wrote on it, why they had the book, who they were, it's amazing.
Good idea! Now your giving me ideas....:)
When I was in high school, I hung out with upper-classmen/women. They called me their little innocent. There was a book passed around among them. They would write comments in the margin and then respond to each other and really made themselves part of the story. Because I was "so innocent" I wasn't allowed to be in the book rotation.When my best friend was killed in a tragic car accident her mom asked if there was anything I'd like. I picked the book.
While I truthfully have not read the whole thing, I love being able to trace the words my best friend wrote in. It allows me to still be close to her...
For those who are wondering, the book is Half Asleep in Frog Pajamas.
Thanks, Leppaluoto. It's been many years and I know she's still here in my heart and memories, but in the beginning when I needed something I could actually feel, it was the book.I've actually never read any Tom Robbins, although I've heard faboulous things about him as an author. Looks like I should get around to reading Frog PJs.
I usually have at least one book with me wherever I go, and usually its one I own. I'm not super picky about my books, partly because so many of them I buy used or in yard sales(low budget). I do hate when someone leaves a book where it gets wet or moldy! I don't like the wrinkled pages, even though they're readable, one of the few dislikes I do have. The worst is when you get a used book and read it only to find that the last few pages are missing! Fortunately this has been rare. I only loan my books to people I know are going to read them and return them in approximately the same condition, and people only get one mistake! After that you're off my loaner list forever!
I take the jackets off my hardcover books while I'm reading them because I don't want the covers to rip. I carefully put it back on when I've finished reading for the day. :) And I'm also a proud book sniffer and sticker hater.
I do highlight occasionally - especially if it's a sentence or passage I know I'm going to go back to again and again.
And I use the "return date card" in the pocket in the back of my library card as a bookmark. It's always handy.
Thanks Fiona! And you are not deranged! Who wants to invest a great deal of time holding something (especially a book) if it smells bad? I know I don't!
I have never gotten a book with pages missing. I don't think I could handle it. I will hafta be extra careful now when buying used books.I too am a book sniffer. There is no better smell.
I also got a recommendation (from a new friend on GR) for a Book Journal so I can write all the my favorite quotes so I don't have to write in the book and I can keep them all together.It is also good for keeping track of books to read and Library books
Books to Check Out
My brand new copy of Scarlett (the sequel to Gone With The Wind) had pages missing. It drove me crazy, especially when I found out that the bookstore I bought it from had gone out of business.
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I bought a copy of Water For Elephants from Double Day bookclub (when I was a member). I had to read it for bookclub (second time reading)They really messed up the end. The ending was missing, but they repeated like 15 pages.
I sent them an email. They had run out of this book so they gave me the value towards another book.
I actually threw the book out.
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Yeah....I actually felt bad when I tossed it away...But the book was totally useless. I couldn't give it away!
Linda,I don't know if anyone else has mentioned this quirk, but I can't put a book down unless I have read the left and right pages.
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I just had to laugh about this one. I am also one of those people who has to finish the chapter before bedtime. the next chapter usually starts on the right pages. Then my husband would never get off my case about reading in bed. HAHA!!
Kellie, That is by far the strangest thing I ever heard!! I need to bewareI am a member of BOMC (Book-of-the-Month-Club)I don't much about these mailers but now I know to be more cautious.
I've only gotten used books where pages are missing. Just a couple. I usually check but sometimes you miss them. I did buy a manga once where all the pages where mixed up. I was reading through it, and one line didn't make sense. I thought it was a bad translation (it happens) but then It happened again. And then I read the line that fit after the first "mistake." So I checked the page numbers, and sure enough they were all out of order. They let me trade it in for a good copy.
Thankfully, I had already read the book so I knew how it ended, but could you imagine if I hadn't?It was such a good book, I know I would have been on a letter rampage to DoubleDay DEMANDING an explanation and a new book.
Suzanne, Don't you just hate books that don't really have chapters? I feel your pain. Talk about anal, lately in order to get through all the books I am reading (usually four) at the same time, I do 50 pages a day, two books on a given day and then alternate until I get near the end of one and then just read that one to get on to the next. Phew, I'm tired just thinking about it.
If I get a text book with out any damage to it then I flat otu refuse to right in it, so for my annotations for college I put post-it notes in them. Now, I am going to start highlighting one text book because it already has some of it done in it. I got those new highlighters with the post-it tabs in them, so that during class when we go over a chapter I can mark the pages to know.
Now that I am in Grad school I figure that the books I buy are mione to keep for a long time. They will be used as reference guides so I write in them and maybe highlight.
6 years in undergrad and i never sold a book back. Although mine were mostly art history and theory books so they never stop being useful to me. Even all the others though, I kept. You never know when that "Plants and Society" book may come in handy again...Actually I would have pulled it out last night because we couldn't agree on the caffeine content of espresso vs. coffee...*goes to find book and find out. why consult the internet when you have books!!?*
I sold all my Undergrad books back. I majored in Anthropology
The Next Best Book Club
Books mentioned in this topic
Gone with the Wind (other topics)The Road (other topics)
Water for Elephants (other topics)
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle (other topics)
The Shack (other topics)
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- I also like to stop reading at the end of a chapter or a "scene."
- I like to own all the books in a series in the same print-type (hardcover, softcover)
- I can't not finish a book. Even if I can't stand the book, I will eventually go back and finish it...even if it's just speed reading/skimming to the end.
- I prefer to read one book at a time. Really the only time I have more than one book going is if I've stopped a book because I'm not interested - then I pick up a different book and eventually go back to the original. Right now I have three partially started books, but I'm only concentrating on one. I'm also listening to an audio book in my car. For some reason, I can keep straight my audio book and the book I'm physically reading.