Elite? Ego? Your feelings when you are reading or finish reading a long book

[Leea]

Ha! Yes, it makes me want to run out and buy a light read after one so long and emotional. Hey but that's just me :) I love getting past the half way mark with my bookmark...

[RandomAnthony]

This is a fascinating question. I guess it depends on the book. But I'm usually relieved, and it's a truly excellent book, elated. I'm thinking of when I finished Paradise Lost or classical history or something in particular.

I'm reading Virginia Woolf's The Waves now. While the book is only 300 pages the text requires close attention. I'm loving but I'll be happy, I imagine, when I'm done.

[JackieB]

I think it depends on the subject and/or the author. I've got "The Death of Ivan Illych and Other Stories" (Tolstoy) somewhere at home. That's pretty slim, but I'll feel pretty accomplished when I've read that. On the other hand, I've read "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" and I didn't feel particularly clever when I'd read it, although if I remember rightly, I quite enjoyed it.
Have you ever been tempted to replace the dust cover on a book you're reading with something more impressive? I did think about it when I was reading HP, but didn't. Partly because it would be dishonest, but mainly because I was worried about meeting a fan of the book I was pretending to read, who'd want to discuss it.

[Sally, la reina]

Hahah. I love this topic. I totally feel elite when I do. And smug.

[Jim]

I usually feel relief when I get done with a long book. I never feel elite though.

[[deleted user]]

Um, it depends very much on the book. I mean, there are some Jean Auel books as fat as War and Peace, but she's no Tolstoy. The later Harry Potters were fat as all hell, and I enjoyed them, but I didn't feel at all cool reading them, more geekish (which I'm used to). Master and Man or Tale of Two Cities are quite small books I own, but both would make me feel much smarter, cooler, intellectual-er.

Yeah, it's all about the author, maybe slightly influenced by the binding (i.e. leather bound vs. paperback), but very little to do with the fatness of the book. I figure the fact that I don't leave the house without a book, possibly two (have to have that back-up if I'm anywhere near finishing the one I'm on) is sufficient to prove me as a "reader", never mind the length.

[Chantelle]

I remember being on a Disney Cruise about 3 years ago, and one of the books I chose to bring along was . I had several people approach me at the pool and ask me what I was reading, and why? And if I was taking a class. LOL.

[Sally, la reina]

Good amendment to my answer, I'll say what Ameilia said. Depends on the book.

[JackieB]

I'd never thought about replacing a cover with something less impressive. Is that so no-one will interrupt your reading with questions about the book?

[Sally, la reina]

I'm super proud of my book right now. I kind of want to carry it around just to show it off but I do that enough with Leah. Mah arms are tiherehed.

[Leea]

Barb wrote: "I think you'd probably look down your nose at my bookshelf Dutch, but that's ok ... I can take it."

Dutch my bookshelf would make you run... all the way home for sure. That's okay with me :)

[Sally, la reina]

**rubs balm on Dutch the Farting Troll**

[Leea]

Hey the fact i get time to read is a miracle on it's own with 2 young kids running around the house making trouble. So i read light mind numbing stuff right now... someday i'll show off with some Epic novels :)

[Sally, la reina]

You should meet my friend Shelby, Bun. She is an English teacher who is obsessed with Harry Potter. She loves those books so fiercely.

[[deleted user]]

I love Harry Potter AND Tolstoy, my book shelves (real ones) look as eclectic as my CD collection. It's whatever strikes my fancy, which is one of the things I love about goodreads. I see some outlandish stuff on here that I never would have heard of in my little world. It just opens up a lot of new fun things for me to read!

I was just saying that I would feel more "elite" reading a nice leather bound Tolstoy than a paperback Harry Potter and the length of the book didn't matter. I'm not sure I prefer one over the other, it depends on my mood. History, historical fiction, classics, dragons elves and dwarves...even vampires. They all have their place with me.

I sent you a friend req, Dutch. I wanna see how our bookshelves match up. :)

[Sally, la reina]

I like it when Amelia (read: cool people) announces her friend requests. Then they can't be ignored and must be obliged.

[Cynthia]

I love Amelia. Her honesty is quite refreshing.

[[deleted user]]

Hmmm, 12 books in common 62% similar. How can you not love Shopgirl? That is a LOVE, not just love.

Sallers, Heh, not so much to force acceptance as to assuage my impatience. :)

Cynthia, *blushes* thanks!

Ah, Bun...you have probably put up with more of my unedited blathering than anyone round this place. What's it been 3-4 years now, since the old days back in Axis? I was telling honey just the other day how you educate me. :) And, I'd never like to be thought of as mean, ever. Mean people really do suck.

[Sally, la reina]

Who did you send one to Dutch the Elevator Farter? Where? When?

[Jim]

So now she's been elevated to Elevator Farter? Is there no end to this madness?

[Sally, la reina]

Is elevator farter really an upgrade, Jimboni?

[Jim]

You didn't send me one Dutch subterranean farter.

[Jim]

Sally wrote: "Is elevator farter really an upgrade, Jimboni?"

Well, it doesn't have the word troll in it.

[Sally, la reina]

Right.

[[deleted user]]

Dutch, are you talking to Sally or Jim?

Bun, Yep, I started in November of 2007 and met Charissa right out of the gate. :)

[Jim]

She's just playing hard to get.

[Jim]

Only people with letters in their name.

[Sally, la reina]

Chill out farting troll. I only deal with friend requests when I log out/back in.

[RandomAnthony]

I keep thinking Dutch is a guy.

[RandomAnthony]

Between guys and mutants?

Somebody else answer that one.

[Sally, la reina]

The mutant farting troll is gay?

[Jim]

No.

[RandomAnthony]

But Dutch is female, right? I'm trying to keep this straight.

[Jonathan]

Dutch wants Sally's sweaty towels? That's just weird.

[Jim]

Dutch wrote: "Waiting for Sally to accept my friend request is like being 16, waiting in line for Van Halen tickets hoping that during the show, someone in the band will throw their sweaty towel at me."

Patience grasshopper.

[Jim]

Jonathan wrote: "Dutch wants Sally's sweaty towels? That's just weird."

Have you ever experienced one of Sally's sweaty towels?

[Jonathan]

Jim wrote: "Have you ever experienced one of Sally's sweaty towels?"

Alas, no.

[[deleted user]]

Sals worth the wait!

[Jim]

Jonathan wrote: "Jim wrote: "Have you ever experienced one of Sally's sweaty towels?"

Alas, no."

Me either, and I'm OK with that.

[Sally, la reina]

Tell you what, Dutch. You drink this glass of what I wrung out of this morning's yoga outfit and you can be my friend.

[Stacia (the 2010 club)]

Dutch wrote: "My sympathies regarding your Harry Potter books. I am one of few that has never been affected by them.

I'm working in a small office right now where the other ladies sitting around me are all..."

I want all the guys to friend me so they have to watch my smut go by on their update feeds.

[Cynthia]

Well, this thread has been hijacked.

[Jim]

Sally wrote: "Tell you what, Dutch. You drink this glass of what I wrung out of this morning's yoga outfit and you can be my friend."

That seems pretty mild compared to what the rest of us had to do.

You all did have to do something disgusting to be Sally's friend right?

[Jonathan]

She friended me, but I think she needed about six months to warm up to me first.

[Cynthia]

I haven't asked her to friend me. I am intimidated by her sometimes.

[Jonathan]

Is it the writhing?

[Sally, la reina]

How do you feel about Clark, C-dawgg?

[Cynthia]

who is C-dawgg?

[Jonathan]

Not sure, but I think it's you, Cynthia.

[Jim]

Just humor her Cynthia, I think it is the thin CO air.