We readers are a funny bunch. Here's a list of some of the many weird and relatable things that we find ourselves doing. How many do you do?
Smell our books!
Close the book once we have finished a reading session and check how much progress we have made by seeing how much closer the bookmark is to the end of the book.
Run our fingers across the embossing on book covers.
Think about how many other people have touched the pages before us and wonder what their stories are (and what they thought of the book).
Judge books by their covers (not always, but sometimes we may even select a book based solely on its cover... without even reading the blurb!).
Lose track of a story element then have to flick back to remember who someone is or where they are (or why they have gone wherever they are).
Picture things in our head one way and then have to mentally rearrange things when a detail in the book throws off what we had in our mind.
Feel proud when we see books that we have already read on shelves at the store or library.
Like to point out the books that we have already read that are on shelves at stores or libraries.
Give our opinions of the books that we have read that we point out on shelves at stores or libraries eg. "Read that. Loved it," or "Didn't like that one. Couldn't get into it."
Get excited to start a new book. Like, smiles and butterflies.
Go on dates with our books. I'm talking candles, wine, and soft music, maybe even a bath or a picnic under a shady tree.
Mourn the end of a good book (and being unable to go through that first amazing time ever again).
Feel sad and anxious about the thought that there are too many amazing books to be read in the world and not enough time.
Develop very real crushes on very fictional characters.
Recommend and lend books to people you care about as a display of love and affection.
Keep your most favourite books in pride of place, likely set apart from the rest.
Love the feeling of history that comes with a secondhand book.
Love the special ambiance of being around books (there is a different one for each setting - bookstore, library, thrift shop, market - all have their own special vibe).
Set themselves times that they will stop reading eg. at 10pm or at the end of the chapter, then feel a very real resistance and think 'just a little bit more'. Then all of a sudden it's midnight.
Get a kick out of finding errors in a book.
Fight really hard with ourselves trying not to let our eyes jump ahead to find out what happens later on the page.
Have an enormous list of books that we want to read, then struggle to remember any the second we step into a library or bookstore.
Keep a list of books we have read and books we want to read (to avoid #23).
Have a large pile of books on our bedside table (der).
Use anything as a bookmark (it doesn't need to be flat).
Remember only odd or specific details about a book that we have read, then think 'Oh yeah' when we read a review that mentions the main points of the story that we forgot
Know that book lovers get a little more vicarious living done in their lives than non-readers.
Just me? I don't think so!
I want to know...
How many of these do you find yourself doing?
Much love - Marley x
Hi Marley, I'm a 12/28 with the above list. P.s I'll add 1 to the list, I wipe over the front and back covers of my second books before placing them in my pile of books to read 🙂 Sylvia