I’m here today to absolutely gloriously hack your life.
In a good way! Maybe… Okay okay shh, shh. Don’t listen to those whispering voices * of doubt in the background because they know nothing, Jon Snow. I am here for you and I want to help make your bookworm life as easy and comfortable as can be. So I’ve put together 17 splendid bookworm #LifeHacks that will help you achieve success in your reading career. **
The trick is to follow my instruction really closely so you don’t accidentally summon the spirit of Napoleon. Also to ask an adult for help when using open flames.
You’ll be fine.
TIME TO HACK.
* FLEE !! WHILE !! YOU !! STILL !! CAN !!
** Don’t come at me with your “Reading isn’t a career, Cait” nonsense. It is. I’m just waiting to be paid for this. Any day now.
I also have some #Bookstagram Life Hacks for those of us who are photographish inclined! I may need to do writing and blogging life hacks too because obviously I sooooo know what I’m doing here and my levels of helpfulness are EXTREME.
Congrats to I and my thoughtful voice in this world.
LIFE HACK #1: IF YOU’RE NOT READING YOUR BOOKS, USE THEM FOR OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES.
We all get those doubters in our lives who start whining in a super nasally voice, “But whyyyyy do you need so many books?!? You’re only reading them once.” Well HA to you sir. Books can be used for more things than reading. The minute you start doubting a book’s capabilities, you have fallen.
For example, when not reading, try using your books for:
- general household decor
- weapons against the zombie apocalypse
- a hat
- a conversation starter because when you hit people with it, does this begin a discussion or what!
- something to save an extra seat
- a ladder to reach your higher shelves or perhaps heaven
- a door stopper, especially if it’s written by Brandon Sanderson because his books are square cubes
- an igloo to live in
- an instruction manual for life
- a dinner companion
- a fan to wave under your fire alarm to disperse smoke as it goes off because you tried to make a creme brûlée and failed because what even are you? a failure that’s what
- Or you can WEAR THEM. I don’t know. Be creative on your own.
LIFE HACK #2: IF YOU’RE OUT AND SUDDENLY REALISE YOU’RE WANTED FOR MURDER, USE A BOOK AS A DISGUISE.
Just hold it up in front of your face and walk briskly. There are slightly dangerous side-effects that include walking into people and walls and random angry cats and possibly in front of an ice cream truck and losing your left leg. BUT! At least people won’t see your face and you won’t be recognised as that infamous murderer.
Not that you would be an infamous murderer…haha haha…
…ha…
Right?
LIFE HACK #3: ABSORB BOOKS AT NIGHT BY SLEEPING WITH THEM UNDER YOUR PILLOW.
This is guaranteed to both (a) help you get through your TBR pile way faster, and (b) give you a serious neck ache that’ll probably make you cry throughout the day. But isn’t that worth it for the books?
DO IT FOR THE BOOKS.
#Osmosis
LIFE HACK #4: TREAT READING LIKE A PRIORITY.
People always ask me “OMG HOW DO YOU GET SO MUCH READING DONE!” and then follow it up by throwing small sharp objects at me. Which seems rude, but I’ll survive. And the truth is? Reading is a priority for me. This is also because I’m a writer, and you can’t be a writer without reading. You just cannot, you dear deluded fish. That’d be like being a baker and never eating food.
So I make time for reading, like I make time for lunch. Even if I just put aside that hour to get through 100 or so pages — IT HAPPENS.
I also don’t watch a lot (hahah…any?) TV or movies, I work from home so my schedule is flexible, I read fast, and if my family requires me to be social I send a dragon secretary in my place. It’s so cool because they don’t notice the difference.
LIFE HACK #5: IN ORDER TO GET THROUGH YOUR TBR, BE IMMORTAL AND LIVE FOREVER.
Although I’ve had this pointed out to me that your TBR will become as immortal as you are which seems like a step backwards??
So outwit your TBR. Be twice as immortal.
LIFE HACK #6: TYPOS DON’T KILL PEOPLE.
Unless, I guess, you’re texting your local hitman and say “hey I want to kill someone” when you meant to say “hey I want to kiss someone”. Then typos literally do kill. *
But otherwise, here is a lifehack that will avoid people wishing to scoop your eyes out with a spork and feed them to an intergalactic squid: don’t just point out typos and say nothing else! It’s like saying someone’s mistake is the ONLY thing worth commenting on. Ruuuude. It is like one of my top pet peeves, right after people referring to me as a common human when clearly I am much much more.
* BUT WHY THE HECK ARE YOU TEXTING A HITMAN ANYWAY???? WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOU, SON???
LIFE HACK #7: IF YOU WRITE DOWN LISTS OF BOOKS YOU NEED TO READ ASAP YOU HAVE A VISUAL OF YOURSELF FAILING.
It’s a life hack because it can be motivating and invigorate you to try harder. It can also end up with you weeping into the carpet while it gently pats your back and soothingly collects your tears and sings calming lullabies about the moon.
So maybe don’t do this life hack, to be honest.
Also what is up with your carpet and should I be concerned.
LIFE HACK #8: YOU DON’T EVEN NEED TO COMMENT ON REVIEWS THAT HATE ON BOOKS YOU LOVE.
This one is so STUNNING in its wonderful complexity!! I mean, you see someone give The Raven Cycle 1-star…which is obviously absurd and ridiculous and actually murders your delicate soul.
You stop and ask yourself will telling them they are MORE STUPIDLY WRONG THAN THE INVENTION OF LETTUCE actually fix the situation??? You also ask yourself, “Is this a personal attack on me how they do not like my favourite book?” And then when the answer is NO and NO, you gooooooooo on your merry way without leaving a narky comment.
Look. World wars have been averted.
I’m genius.
LIFE HACK #9: IF YOU WANT TO EAT + READ AND NOT MESS UP THE PAGES, JUST EAT FOOD YOU DON’T NEED HANDS FOR.
Like drink soup with a straw or hire someone to pop grapes into your mouth like you’re an ancient Caesar. Alternately, get someone else to hold the pages for you. I think you can hire people to do this specifically?? I think it’s called “servitude”. Or, if you have spawned offspring, you can force them to hold and turn pages for you, because why else did you have children.
Alternately: you could read an audiobook and then you can actually eat Caesar and all the croutons and messy dressing glory by yourself. And I mean, um, the salad. Not the man.
Why are you always talking about eating people, Cait, what the heck.
LIFE HACK #10: GET STICKERS EASILY OFF BOOK COVERS BY MURDERING THE PERSON WHO STUCK THEM ON THERE.
This can get a bit bloody but is 100% guaranteed to stop the problem happening again for others.
Also apparently you can use rubbing alcohol or a hair dryer or alternately just weep on the cover until all the moisture peels the sticker right off.
If the sticker is printed on the book cover, just…just go back to suggestion one. Kill them all.
LIFE HACK #11: WANT TO REMEMBER A QUOTE IN A BOOK? TAKE A PHOTO OF IT WITH YOUR PHONE.
This is for lazy queens like me who couldn’t be bothered actually taking notes like “excellent quote on pg 25, line 3” because who has time for that. UUUUGH. So I just take a photo of the page with the quote on my iPod and then the page number.
This is assuming you have a phone/iPod with you at all times but obviously you do because how else would you breathe oxygen.
LIFE HACK #12: NEED TO STOP BUYING BOOKS? PURCHASE PREORDERS INSTEAD.
This way they won’t come straight away so it doesn’t feel like you have a problem.
But you do have a problem.
Seriously, Jan, you do.
LIFE HACK #13: TOO MANY BOOKS TO READ? GO TO GOODREADS.COM AND ADD SOME MORE.
Wait wait wait…this…this doesn’t seem??? Like a hack???
I’m confused. Who’s writing this post, we need to talk —
LIFE HACK #14: CAN’T CHOOSE WHAT TO READ NEXT BECAUSE YOU’RE A MOOD READER? MAKE A TBR JAR!
Write all the books on your TBR onto little slips of paper, put it in a cute jar, shake the jar, and then pick out a paper! Congrats! You now officially know which book you don’t feel like reading.
Continue until you cry.
LIFE HACK #15: IS YOUR BOOK COVER CURLING BECAUSE OF THE HUMIDITY? PUT IT UPSIDE DOWN AND PUT MORE BOOKS ON TOP.
This’ll help straighten out the cover, unless it’s a queer book and then stop trying to change it, you monster. But putting the book upside down will make the cover flatten faster. This is a fact and not something I just made up. I SWEAR.
Also, alternately, you could just stop living in a humid place. I hear Jupiter is nice this time of year. I also own Jupiter and charge reasonable rent (like just your soul) so contact me.
LIFE HACK #16: WHEN WRITING BOOK REVIEWS, JUST PICK 3 THINGS TO FOCUS ON.
Sometimes reviews are haaard because what do YOU EVEN SAY?!?? So I generally pick three things to comment on and those (for me at least) are: (1) characters, (2) writing style/dialogue, and (3) how it made me feel overall. Notice I don’t generally talk about what the story’s ABOUT or the plot very much!? Because #spoilers. I like to go into books blind, so my reviews are generally very feels-focused.
Obviously you can pick ANY 3 things! Maybe you want to talk about themes, messages, or the plot (you can!! Just because I don’t doesn’t mean that’s the only way!) or even how often it mentions that the characters eat a delicious snack. But this is a great way to keep your review focused.
LIFE HACK #17: IF YOU’RE IN A BLOGGING OR READING SLUMP, TRY DOING SOMETHING COMPLETELY UNEXPECTED.
Instead of writing a review, write a list of 10 foods you hate. And instead of reading the next book on your TBR, go get something in a TOTALLY different genre to what you generally read! Honestly I absolutely gnawed like a wild gerbil through this adult book about vampires because I never never read that sort of thing. And it was different and intriguing.
Also identify WHY you’re in the slump. Is it because you have too much pressure on your reading time and you’re not reading books you want? Is it because you need a break? Is it because you’re too busy/tired? These things are all okay to feel! You can either solve them (say no to review-books and just read what you want!) or not put so much worry and pressure on yourself about them. Okay so you can’t read much this month because you want to nap and then stitch a blanket for your newborn penguin. THAT’S OKAY. LET YOURSELF.
No one said you had to read 500 books this year.
Take care of your self, your sanity, your health, your penguin son.
Or alternately — push through your slump. I actually do this and get over any slumping-ness by just telling myself I’m not slumping. I’m very stubborn. I have actually destroyed the existence of lettuce on planet earth just by believing it doesn’t exist. *
* True story. Farmers all over the world are confused. I reign supreme.
My new #lifegoal is to be twice as immortal… please write a #lifehack post with instructions on how to achieve this.
Great post and gorgeous photos as always!
This made me laugh wayyyyyy too much. It’s like 8PM here and all quiet and now I’m laughing because in #10 and #11 … like you went from murder to real advice in the span of ten seconds. :’) In all seriousness, I like the idea picking 3 things in a review! I think my shoddy reviews are shoddy is because I spread myself too thin. Usually a book sucks/stands out because of a few strong things right, like characterisation? It’s a really good way of going into depth, I think! 🙂
I have a policy of not getting into fights on the internet, so I feel life hack #8 on a spiritual level. :’) I have a couple post drafts which are finished, but which I’ve deemed too controversial to post. I am an avid watcher of the drama, but I’d like it to stay far away from me, please and thank you. :’)
When I started uni, I used to read during meals to save time. Then I had to read Blasted. Don’t read that when you’re eating. Don’t. Just don’t. Suffice to say, I don’t do it anymore. I’m a big believer that a book that looks like it’s been dropped in the bath and run over with a lawn mower is a book that has been loved, so I’ll be sad if I get food on a book (tomato is a disaster), but I don’t see it as the end of the world.
Yeah, I try to push through slumps too. I started Crooked Kingdom. It is glorious. I am saved. XD
I love to read and eat! because 1, I’m often hungry, 2, who wants to stop reading? 3, it’s efficient. (wow, I spelled efficient correctly the first time! 😀 ) I get stickers off book covers by picking at them while I’m reading the book. because my hands like to be fidgeting. dunno why. *shrugs* I just re-read The Last Olympian for the billionth time. even though it’s the one where everyone is tired, and people are dying all the time, I’ve practically memorised it so it feels like home. 🙂
Most crazily, ~Olive
Dear Cait,
Your blogs are at the very top of my favourite blogs-list. You crack me up every time, laughing out loud here at the visualisations your words give me, AND you provide such insightful tips. I mean, of course you know; you created them (or stole them and didn’t tell anyone – which to be honest, I don’t care about).
Another life-hack: I’ve actually applied for a voluntairy job as a book reviewer to get through more books. It gives me a higher social status (well, at least in the book world – or so I believe it does and it doesn’t really matter what others think, right?) AND I actually get free copies of books that I choose to review. Win-Win.
Keep up the excellent work!
Love,
Petra
True story: when adults started seriously asking me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I’d say professional book reader. (Then stick my fingers in my ears and run away before they could respond. You don’t need that kind of negativity in your life.)
Also, where can I get a dragon secretary? It seems an essential kind of thing to have. I’m willing to negotiate price-wise. (Will consider two to three souls. [Catch: they come complete with younger siblings.} [you didn’t just read that. no catch. no catch at all.])
You know they had a genuine lettuce shortage in the UK fairly recently. That must have been you.
Thanks for making me laugh. It’s been a long day.
But Cait, what if they’re texting their local hitman because they want to kiss them but they’re shy and don’t want to tell them directly?
Also my personal life hack for getting through more books is to ignore any kind of healthy sleep cycle, read all night and just sleep until the afternoon. This is totally going to be fine when I start my actual adult job in an office in August….
You know, I ate Caesar last week, so… no one can anymore. Sorry. *holds a book up to my face and walks away*
Loved this post, Cait, and yessss, please do blogging and writing hacks!
I may or may not be having a serious problem – can’t find any other blogs I like cuz none are Cait-esque enough (yeah, that must be the reason), please heeelp. Should I blame you for this? I’m gonna blame you for this. Me being slightly crazy has nothing to do with it, nope.
I love your hack on picking three things to talk about in a book review! I never know what exactly to write about so my reviews tend to wander all over the place. Definitely going to try that one.
I love your point about treating reading like a priority. People always say that I must be a fast reader because I read so many books, but in actuality I just spend A LOT of time reading.
These are awesome hacks! 🙂
Ok but the TBR Jar one might be genius. Why didn’t I think of this? Imma do that next time I can’t figure out what to read.
Also, I think Jupiter would still be pretty humid. Mercury or Mars or maybe Pluto would be a better option to escape humidity. Just sayin’. Jupiter has a lot of gas that probably isn’t very good for books, plus there’s that whole storm thing going on with the red spot? So yeah. Let me know when you’re renting out property on Mars or Pluto and then we’ll talk.
This is awesome advice! Also, I have discovered books under my pillow. I don’t actually know how they got there . . .
Cait, why you talking about eating people?? *glares*
and ugh, humidity and curling book covers- that is literally the worst thing EVER. Right next to the fact that the B&N copy of The Hobbit has the ‘soon a major motion picture’ sticker LITERALLY PRINTED ON IT OVER THE LOVELY ILLUSTRATION OF SMAUG. *cries tears*
This is a great list! Thanks for the chuckle!
Cait, you are truly a work of art. I have no idea how you take the time to write these posts, then make me laugh on Twitter, as well, and have written a gazillion novels (which btw I want to read so let me know when you actually publish). You’re an inspiration to all bloggers. Also, your dragon secretary should remember to show you this comment. (P.S. publish your books!!)
I love this! Your posts are always so funny and genius! These hacks are fantastic! 🙂
The putting the book facedown with heavier books on top is something we do in my house! It works pretty well!
GREAT Black Books gif. 🙂
Omg the sticker one reminded me of the time when I got Lord of Shadows in the post and I open the package all happy and what do I see??? A frigging sticker for the frigging Netflix show, which (1) isnt that great at all (2) has nothing to do with TDA in the first place. I swear I might have actually died a little inside because HOW DARE THEY??? Luckily, I managed to peel it off.
Also, I tried blogging last month and neglected it again this month. I failed like I usually do xD
OMG! I laughed all the way through this post! It was like reading my own thoughts, Cait! As far as eating and reading, I do it all the time! My fiance actually gets to pick what meal I don’t do that during. Usually, it’s dates that I’m not allowed to. Or special occasions. Or if we’re visiting his family. Hmm might have to talk to him about that one…A good place to practice eating and reading is cereal. Spoon, read and chew, swallow. Besides, then you get to be a real cereal killer and not just hire a hitman!
I giggled so much reading this post! You’re hilarious. 😀
#2 is some quality advice that I may need someday when I take care of the whole stickers-on-the-front-of-the-book problem. Also I feel #14 on a personal level because I’ve tried that before and you’re right, it’s a great way to figure out which books you don’t actually want to read.
Reading Hack #5 sounds like my life goal. I plan on becoming an immortal goddess and conquering a small country to dwell in (I would also not complain if the locals brought me pastries as offerings). Though I suppose if I was immortal, I might run out of books one day. #goddessproblems
Great post, really funny. I get the stickers off my covers with baby whiles, the ones without oil. Easy to use and they don’t damage the covers.
I should not have been reading this post after midnight because everything, particularly this – Or, if you have spawned offspring, you can force them to hold and turn pages for you, because why else did you have children. – seemed reasonable. Except for one problem. My offspring is barely four months old and cannot hold things yet.
Also now I want to pick up the book I’ve been procrastinating on but again, it’s after midnight and I should not. Tomorrow! (Ha.)
There were other things I do actually, like take photos of quotes? I post them on Tumblr then because I LOVE good quotes. Also the thing to flatten book covers, I always do that.
As for reviews, I focus a lot on how I feel, and crafting of characters, and whether the story drew me in. Sometimes if something else sticks out at me – a particular plot twist – I talk about that (without spoilers if possible), but in general I focus on feelings a lot.
I like this list, Cait. Again, it might be the past midnight thing talking, but good list.
Read,eat, and listen to an audio-book at the same time; that’s what i do. i swear you don’t go crazy and sacrifice pigeons from the multitasking. 🙂
OKAY A NOTE ON STICKERS – DO NOT use rubbing alcohol if there is a special finish on the cover. Like, if the cover is that soft-matte-texture-thingy, DON’T DO IT YOU’LL TAKE THE MATTE off. I speak from experience, and dreadfully, being forced to put stickers on books at work. I would rebel, but I need money for books so I probably shouldn’t rebel at the book store I work at?? HOWEVER, oil dissolves like everything ever. But again, BE CAREFUL. Too much oil = a book who wants to actually be a french fry.
I eat and read! I’m a hungry hungry hippo.
I need the lettuce for my rabbit, pls give IT BACK HE’S SAD.
Also, have you always read that fast?? Or did you become faster because you read sooo much?? I need to solve my tbr somehow and I kind of read like a page a minute I think (THIS IS NOT IDEAL FOR ME). Have you eliminated subvocalization?? halp.
I haven’t had much of a problem with stickers on book covers, except when they’re on a non-glossy book jacket. But it seems that the bookstore where I buy most of my bargain books uses stickers with decent glue that actually comes off. What a novel idea!
To be honest, though, I don’t always take the stickers off. I’m more interested in reading the books than displaying them. Once they’re on my shelf, all I can see are the spines, anyway.
I read most stuff on my laptop these days, and I have no problem with eating at the same time. I just try to be careful not to get crumbs in the keyboard. (Or grease from grilled cheese sandwiches on the mouse!)
I like the idea of a TBR jar! I may have to try that one soon, I’m kind of in a reading slump right now.
My hack is just to avoid people and any thing time consuming like a social life. Then I have tons of time to read.
* BUT WHY THE HECK ARE YOU TEXTING A HITMAN ANYWAY???? WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOU, SON???
More importantly, WHY would you text a hitman that you want to kiss someone? Why would they care about your love life? That’s not their job. That is the exact OPPOSITE of their job! XD XD XD
And I usually eat dry foods while reading. Like crackers, chips, candy, cereal by itself…stuff like that. And as for the stickers, ever try nail polish remover? 🙂
Okay, question 1: how does one burn creme brulee? I mean, even once you get to the brulee part, it’s pretty hard to actually burn it. O.o I’ve scrambled them before but…do you have food burning powers? Is that a thing? I wonder how one would use that kind of power…
I definitely add more books to my TBR when I can’t figure out what to read. *lol* Also, Amazon is good for making preorders. You can shop early and they don’t take the money until the book ships! 😀
Stickers, ugh. -_- Whether it’s about the book becoming a movie or putting a lot of pressure on a sophomore book, they’re horrible! I try to peel up a corner first, to see what kind of sticky situation I’m dealing with. If it’s possible I’ll peel that sucker right off and use a baby wipe to clean the book of any residue. Harder ones are an issue. I hadn’t tried rubbing alcohol. How well does that actually work?
I always read while eating because it is prime reading time and how can you give up that time for concentrating on mere food? I have fiddly little behaviors for food that is messy (pasta, etc) and then food that is really messy (Cheetos or something like that), but I will not let mere energy replenishment get in the way of a good story.
Omg. The post about doing a post about something that isn’t a review if you’re in a review slump IS SUCH A GOOD IDEA. WHY DID I NOT THINK OF THIS BEFORE. WOT. Also hacks 8 and 6 ARE EGGCELLENT!! I agree times seven million. People who go cray personal and aggressive over other people’s negative reviews are the worst. But I think the best hack is number 2, the police will never catch me now I have disguised myself as Bookie McBookFace!! Bwa hahaha!
#12 made me laugh. 😀 its so true. if we can’t see our purchases right away we can delude ourselves into believing that we did nothing at all and it eases our consciences.
And I am an avid fan of reading and eating at the same time. i do it too often and stain books all the time. Its a bad habit. I destroy books. Also, what’s wrong with lettuce? i believe it is one of the better vegetables. Definitely better than capsicum anyway.
YOUR USE OF GIFS IS A+++! In all seriousness though, thank you for writing this post I love coming to your blog just as a way to lighten up my day because your videos are so funny! Thanks for sharing Cait and BEAUT PHOTOS! <3
Whenever I tell myself that I’ll just read your post and not comment I end up commenting anyway… Because… who knows why.
“LIFE HACK #7: IF YOU WRITE DOWN LISTS OF BOOKS YOU NEED TO READ ASAP YOU HAVE A VISUAL OF YOURSELF FAILING.”
I do have a list of books that I bought/received as a gift or that my family has. It’s all of the stuff that’s already available, whether print or on kindle. And then I have a few humongous wish lists on Amazon…. 🙂
“LIFE HACK #12: NEED TO STOP BUYING BOOKS? PURCHASE PREORDERS INSTEAD.” Lol, very helpful
teensliveforjesus.blogspot.com
All fantastic tips although some will get your followers in trouble w the local authorities 😛 Especially the one about not commenting on reviews that don’t agree with your views, I don’t get why people randomly start picking fights with other reviewers on GR? If you loved the book so much, just go and write your own positive review of it? Why give anyone else grief? Especially when you certainly don’t need my permission to like a book? *sprinkles salt circle around my GR to protect against such negativity*
I like that suggestion about picking 3 things for a book review. I’m usually at a lost when reviewing? Sometimes I do know exactly what I want to say, but usually I just can’t. So three things sounds like a good place to start.
Books are the best dinner companions! My grandparents and I will go to a restaurant together, and we’ll all read our own books. XD Or even at home, we’re read over breakfast.
Also, that part about not commenting on a review that hates on a book you love. YES! Why can’t people keep their mouths shut? One does not have to reply to everything that comes their way. Like I usually cannot comment on Allegiant reviews, ever. Or when contemporary readers review fantasy books . . . They don’t seem to understand that fantasy is a different beast. BUT I am nice by not saying anything. And I once read a post that disagreed with Loki’s fake death and seeming resurrection in The Dark World and I was so seething. 😛
#16 is so relevant for me. I actually did my discussion post of spoilers this week. And YES! I got nuts when I see reviews that talk about the formatting of the ARC or the typos. There must have been more to that book than that, right? I was reading a physical book the other day, and snapped shots of the quotes I wanted, since I did not have stickies or paper on hand — great tip! So many truths up this!
Sam @ WLABB
I did not know about putting the book upside down against covers curling. That is a great hack!
Are these colour-coded books yours? My sister would adore that shelving arrangement, if the rest of us might not throttle her. But it’s certainly beautiful! I love the violin with That Savage Song and Our Dark Duet.
I’ve done a few of these, aye. Flattening curly covers by turning them over and stacking hardcover textbooks on them. Gentle applicator alcohol soaked terrycloth to get stickers and sticker sticky off of covers. I like the murder option too… I honestly don’t know why people stick stickers on books if they are not the easy peel off kind.
CAIT. You devilish overlord! I literally laughed out loud on #15! And why didn’t I think this first: “a conversation starter because when you hit people with it, does this begin a discussion or what!”? I mean. Obviously, I’m only SLIGHTLY upset that I didn’t write this post. But then again, I’m not Cait. Huhuwhatislife?
YES PLEASE DO A WRITING & BLOGGING HACKS POST!!! I will immensely enjoy it. 110% guarantee.
THIS POST IS VERY HELPFUL THANK YOU. And duuuude my biggest problem with eating while reading is that the crumbs get stuck in between the pages and I CAN’T GET THEM OUT!!! But I keep doing it… because food + books = everything you need for life. I also love your point on making reading a priority — I strive to read at least 30 mins a day (and for some reason I read more during weekdays???), and if I DON’T… I just stay up until the thirty minutes are up. BOOKS > SLEEP.
YES I TAKE PHOTOS OF QUOTES I LIKE AND IT’S SO HELPFUL. Except usually I’m too lazy to reach for my phone. SO. THERE’S THAT. And also, I love your tip on writing reviews! I feel like I cover characters, plot, writing style, and overall feelings — but not in ALL my reviews (except characters — I always talk about them). But I think I just mainly talk about my likes and dislikes and they fall into those categories. XD
I totally NEEDED this, especially since I plan on being wanted for murder in the near future… And Number 13??? #me.
I actually love eating while reading, but I normally don’t? One time I had this DELICIOUS peanut butter popcorn while reading Red Queen, and it was amazing. But now I can’t find any more peanut butter popcorn, so #fail. And then there’s always the issue of getting tons of butter stains on the pages if you eat BUTTERED popcorn, so that’s definitely out…
This post was absolutely hilarious, Cait!!! I loved it!
OK #11 is brilliant! I use little post-it flag right now, but photos are the new flags!
#8 is even more brilliant and I hope everyone in the world reads it and world peace reigns supreme.
This really made me laugh! Especially the part about the tbr jar, because SO ACCURATE. 😂
LIFE HACK #1: IF YOU’RE NOT READING YOUR BOOKS, USE THEM FOR OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES.
Use them for bookshelves. 🙂
Cait this post is hilarious and awesome as always. Please please please do blogging hacks. I’m thinking about starting to blog some about books but it’s a little scary and maybe that would help? Anyway, thanks so much, this was great. 🙂
Cait! This was so great!! Not only was it hilarious, but it was really helpful!!
With moving, I haven’t been making enough time to read or write, so I’ve taken the last two days to do absolutely nothing but that. And it’s been so refreshing!!
One hack I would add would be to find a good listening playlist. Currently, I’ve been listening to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild soundtrack and music by a composer named Tom Janis while I read. When I’m writing, I’ve been listening to Matthew and the Atlas. I know some people can’t listen to music while they read or write, but I have a hard time with absolute silence. Also, listening to music while I write helps me visualize things better – especially if I find a piece that fits exactly with the tone and mood I’m trying to write.
Also, I applaud you for your basic life skill hack of not commenting if you have nothing good to say. I wish everyone could understand that simple concept. So many better things could be done if we looked for the good in others rather than the negative.
Dear Cait,
I am interested in buying property on Jupiter but have already sold my soul… Will this be a problem?
This post has inspired me in so many ways and I can’t thank you enough *tears up* my life has been changed… <3
Great post 😉
Simi
Honestly you should work for Buzzfeed. These life hacks are MARVELLOUS. Also, I admit to the pre-ordering thing…but you didn’t hear it from me.
Especially thanking you for the one about the book reviews because, you know, I want to write more reviews but I have too much to say sometimes and it ends up in a jumbled mess. I’m trying out your advice which will work, obviously.
Also, #osmosisisthefuture. One day, everyone will read this way; I’m sure of it.
Thank you for all the helpfulness, Cait. I do, by the way, eat and read, if the food isn’t particularly messy. Like, bite-sized chocolate is okay, but spaghetti is not.
You’re sense of humor is just so hysterical. Great read. Thanks for the great #lifehacks !
WHERE did you find that first gif? Oh my goodness! *proceeds to die laughing* I need to do that.
And yeah, most of these are helpful (except for the murdering Caesar one, obviously. I’ve never been particularly fond of eating Caesar. Oh well.)
All of this is hilarious and helpful but especially numbers 16 and 17! I feel like my reviews are sometimes all over the place and I need a formula to stick to make them make more sense. And I put pressure on myself all the time-I’m ridiculous! Thanks for telling me it is okay to slack off a bit! 🙂
I always read and eat, because when I was younger (and crazy) I didn’t care if I messed up my books, and now I’ve done it so much that I never get my books messy anymore. Also if I didn’t I wouldn’t eat when I was in the middle of a good book. And then I would starve… so I read while I eat.
And I totally agree, stickers on books are terrible. Like why? Why would do that to those poor books?! And the only way I can get them off is to pick at them with my finger, which takes about two hours. Bad stickers!
#10 – I have mixed feelings about stickers on books. On one hand, I quite like seeing where the book came from and how much I paid for it. I also like seeing my mum’s old books that still have a label saying ‘1 shilling and sixpence’ or whatever on the front. On the other hand, charity shop stickers are so garish and awful that it offends every sensibility I have. Should be illegal, that’s what I say.
#11 – I used to take photos too, but then I’d end up forgetting about the photo until weeks after I’d already written my review. Now I buy those cheap sticky tabs and just stick them on the page. They peel off easily, but I usually leave them. If I reread a book, I enjoy seeing what I thought was important last time I read it 🙂
#14 – This made me snort. You know, like a Lay-dee. I tried a TBR for all of one times. ‘Nope, don’t want to read that. Or that. OR that. Fun times.’
Number 14 is so accurate it made me laugh for five minutes 😂 Sometime I’m like : I don’t know what to read/ I’ll randomly pic one and it’ll be good cause I love them all/ well not this one right now/ let’s try again x)
My mom covers books in clear contact paper when we first get them. It helps protect the covers from curling in the moisture. Now, I don’t live in Australia so I don’t know how well this trick could compete with your levels of humidity, but it might mitigate your problems?? Dunno. I didn’t realize how much it helped until I had an uncovered copy of The Raven Boys sitting around, and the cover started curling tragically until it resembled a scroll more than a book. I was like… WHAT IS HAPPENING TO MY PRECIOUS – …. oh. So I contact papered it, used Life Hack #15, and all was better (if not well – it didn’t completely reverse the curling that had already happened, but it helped).
This is probably one of my favorite book posts of the year! And #12 resonates on a very deep level–boy do I have some issues when I step into a bookstore. Thanks for the wonderful post that made me laugh.
Have I done any of the hacks?
Well, obviously #1. Specifically general household decor. Steve might have been a little overwhelmed when I moved in and suddenly every room was decorated with tomes.
#4 has actually been a recent thing for me. Used to be time to read just *happened*. Then life got challenging and one day I realized I hardly read at all and I had a sad. So now I make a more concentrated effort to sometimes even go so far as *schedule* reading time. And it makes me a happier creature.
In regards to #6, I have found my own life hack to keep my cool about typos in books/blogs/most of life. My work hired someone to produce our documents that get sent to other clinics. And she is actually the worst. And now I am charged with proof reading her documents before they are released for public consumption. So I get like an hour of week where *it is my job* to loose my shit over typos, and I get it all out of my system 😉 (this person is out of control. I actually rage out loud as I edit. Very cathartic.)
#7 I keep doing every time I get slumpish. “I feel like I am failing at life right now…. better make a list of stuff I should read/do/achieve and make the feeling WORSE!”
OMG YES TO #8. Like. Seriously. I have admittedly questionable tastes in movies, so that’s where this is a huge one for me. People will invariably say a movie I legit adore is absolute garbage and I just do not have the time or energy to argue with them. Whatever. I won’t ask them to watch it with me!
#9 another solution: ebooks. one hand to swipe pages, one hand for eating!
#11 i have only recently started doing this. SO MUCH EASIER THAN WISHING I HAD SOMETHING TO WRITE WITH.
#13…i keep doing this. sometime, i blame you.
#14 I have my TBRs in a box and reach in blind for one. And usually sepdn the following 20 minutes agonizing over whether i really want to read that one or reach in again. EFFICIENT.
#15 I went with “stop living in a humid place”. I HEART WINTER ISLAND.
#16 …this feels like something that would keep my rambling under control. REFUSE TO DO.
Anyhow. stickers off books: I pick at them and then cry when they won’t just peel off sensibly. I also eat only one handed things while reading things i can read with one hand if i want to eat & read.
hack not on the list: always have a book in your purse. especially if you have to do a lot of doctor’s appointments and have a lot of waiting to do. digital books win for this for being able to have countless books for least amount of weight! weeeeee!
As usual your post was amazing. I really liked what you said about reading slumps. I get a lot of them because I’m so busy and stuff, but sometimes I feel bad about not reading a lot, or as much as I’d like. Your words were very encouraging. Thank you, Cait.
#8 is actually really hard for me?? Like why do I even do this to myself but I like to read reviews of books I looooove and then I have OPINIONS and then I MUST SHARE my opinions and arghhhhhhhh!!! It is very frustrating because people don’t agree with me and I SO VERY MUCH want to show them the error of their ways, BUT YOU ARE RIGHT. This is a waste of precious time.
#11 is also fabulous advice except I DON’T have a phone/iPod with me at all times so I mostly lose the quote and cry at night thinking about it or go digging through the massive book trying to find the darn thing ugh.
#16 – HOW DID IT NEVER OCCUR TO ME BEFORE??? This is actually super helpful because my reviews are not focused at all???? So THANK YOU, that was perfect!!! I also like how you said to puck the three things that natter to you the most. #sensible
Cait, Cait, Cait. Caesar salads consist primarily of *whispers* lettuce. and we all know how much you LOVE LETTUCE, amirite?
but YES I DO THE take a picture of a quote in a book because I’m too lazy to reach my arm out by 1 foot and get a pen THING.
also hehe yes I walk and read all the time. then humans ask what I’m reading and want to have a disCUSSION and LEAVE ME ALONE, MIKE.
LETTUCE IS BAD. THIS IS BAD. LIFE HAS TAKEN A DOWNWARD SPIRAL.
That TBR jar is such a great idea!!! Thank you thank you thank you!! You just saved my life.