I’m opening my bookish soul to you right now. Don’t judge me.
I would also like to mention my insane Professor X skills. I wrote this post a week ago, just for an interesting post. I didn’t realise it was the next TTT prompt. (I never look ahead because I’m not that organised!) Be wary of my skills.
But onwards.
I’m linking up with The Broke and the Bookish for their incredibly awesome meme: Top Ten Tuesday. This is a meme involving lists, peoples. LISTS! I love lists.
This week’s prompt is: Top 10 Bookish Confessions. Which is really very scary to be admitting out loud (on screen?) to you, so be nice. I expect YOUR confessions in the comments pronto, so I’m not alone.
1. I don’t buy books.
For a book blogger, I realise this is very unusual. What can I say? I’m poor. I could probably count on one hand how many books I’ve bought this year, and most of them are second-hand. (Helloooo $2 books. The creased spines are a downside.)
This really, really frustrates me, because a) I want to support authors and b) often I miss out on reading books I really really want to read. If the library doesn’t have it, I don’t win it, and I don’t get an ARC: I don’t read it. That sucks.
2. I don’t really care about series.
Plus: I forget.
Unless the whole series is out, I forget what the previous books were about before I get to them. I’ve got Of Triton (Of Poseidon #2) out from the library…but I’ve forgotten so much from the first book. I don’t have time to reread. I’ve got 52 million books calling for my attention: WHEN DO I GET TIME TO REREAD?
3. I like book to movie adaptions.
They sure take a beating…but I like them. I love them. I’m not sure I would’ve picked up City of Bones if I hadn’t watched the movie and adored it. I don’t think I’d be hankering for The Book Thief if I hadn’t watched the movie. I love comparing them. And who am I kidding? It’s easier, sometimes, to swan-dive onto a bed and just nap and watch a movie instead of reading a book.
My eyes get tired.
4. I usually squawk “don’t book bash” but there are some books I really, really, really hate.
I can’t even begin to say how much I hate some books. They make me, a) furious and b) insulted and c) angry that they were ever published. I don’t want to feel those things! Who am I to doubt an entire publishing house that believes in a book’s quality?? I’m nobody. They are professionals. So I pretend that I view all books logically.
But I don’t. I throw private tantrums (hopefully never on the Internet) and hate some books very, very much.
5. My bookshelf is completely unorganised.
This disturbs me. Most of the series are together, but otherwise? MY BOOKISH OCD IS SCREAMING. I have marvellous plans. Do I act on them? No.
6. Contemporaries often frustrate me.
Don’t get me wrong, I have bucket loads of contemporaries in which I adore every single comma. Buuut, to be blatantly honest? The drama. It kills me.
In contemporaries everyone makes stupid decisions and breaks people’s hearts and looses trust and ruins their scholarship to arts school. In epic books? The term “stupid decision” holds so much more weight. Too many of them and you’re not grounded…you’re probably eaten by dragons or your race goes extinct. The stakes are higher. It feels less petty.
7. That saying: If I’m not in the mood for an epic fantasy, the 500+ pages are torture.
I like short books, which is why (despite the drama) I do read a lot of contemporaries.
Dear Epic Fantasies: is the prologue worth it? Are the 2 chapters of info-dumping and description necessary? DO I CARE ABOUT THE MAIN CHARACTER’S FAMILY TREE?
8. I don’t read blurbs.
All I care is what a) the book’s about, b) what genre it is, c) if it has a pretty cover, d) and if someone’s recommended it.
I’ll sometimes read the blur just before I read a book, but if I’m reading reviews on someone’s blog? I just look at the book cover and go, “Hmm, I think I want to read this.”
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I basically decided to read these off covers alone. |
9. Basically I’m a huge cover judger.
While I love getting ARCs because it’s my dream-come-true, it makes me so sad that often times they have fake covers. Like Searching for Sky (which I reviewed yesterday) came with a picture of a palm tree and beach on the front and totally uninspired me to read the book. THAT’S NOT LOGICAL. (Of course I always read them and usually love them, I’m just saying: covers are my one-true-love.)
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These are sad little ARC covers. Their goodness is definitely inside, not out. |
10. I read books so I can say “I’ve read them”.
I don’t mean classics. Even I can’t fool my brain into eating classics (I don’t know why, but they just don’t make sense to me). I mean, if a book was or is famous, I read it. For instance, I had to try Harry Potter to say that I’d read it. Same with City of Bones and The Program and Twilight and Alice in Zombieland. I basically need to try EVERY BOOK EVER so I can say I have. But also, I usually end up liking the books anyway, like City of Bones and Harry Potter.
It’s an exhausting life goal. But hey, so is World Domination, and I’m still actively pursuing that, too.
Cait is a deep mysterious pit of evil secrets. You should see what else she’s hiding in her devious little mind. (Actually, don’t. Because then they won’t be secrets anymore and her masterminding villainy will be spoiled.) Currently, she’s reading THE PROGRAM and simultaneously plotting two books to write. Soon she’ll have to pick between two of her kids. Who gets written first?
I don't buy a lot of books either and I definitely agree with #2. I hate reading a series that just came out because then I have to wait a whole year for the next book to come out and by then, I forget what happened in the previous book. Unfortunately, I couldn't resist the temptation to read The Lunar Chronicles, so now I have to wait forever for the end of the series to come out in November 2015. I know Fairest is coming out in January, but that won't tell me how the series will end. I love book-to-movie adaptations, too, because it's so cool seeing the book come to life. Contemporaries frustrate me too, but there are some exceptions. Yes! I am a total book cover judger! I adore beautiful book covers and often I don't even want to read a book if it has an awful cover. I don't necessarily judge the quality of a book by its cover, but if I'm on the fence about reading it, I'll make my decision based on the cover.
Oooh, you and I are like book confession twins then. x) I usually don't resist series, I always start them and then just…wander away. Who could resist Cinder?!! I COULDN'T. Also: Throne of Glass. I'm going to be old and grey by the time all 6 books are out, but I'm in there for the haul. It's taxing on my nervous though. Little character lives are in the balance and I won't know for years and years how it all pans out.
I don't read series either. Whew! Glad to know I'm not alone. And…here's a crazy one…if I do read a series, I don't care if I read it IN ORDER. Yes. And…even odder, I suppose, I read books any way I want. Last night I went straight from the middle to the end and then wandered around through the rest. Yes. Any Way I Want.Here are My Bloggish Confessions!
WOAH. NOT IN ORDER?! I can't do that. I just can't. (Although I don't particularly read prequel novellas in order.) But still: you do what you want. #ultimateLoki
I didn't realize you were a non-book buying blogger as well-I thought I was the only one, lol. I have an annual book buying budget of $20 and that covers a few ebooks that my library doesn't carry. Otherwise every single book I read comes from the library 🙂 And I don't like series either-they usually annoy me (seriously, Twilight could have had two more chapters added and Meyers could have called it good, snort). When I deleted my TBR list a couple weeks ago I deleted the large list of series that I had started and I only wrote down three of them, that I actually wanted to continue with :p
*hi fives for non-book-buying-bloggers* This would change if I had money. BUT I DO NOT. I'm so so lucky to have a library that supplies me with awesome books, free too, unless they think they're adult and they're actually YA. I have to argue that sometimes. If I'm like so so in love with the world and characters, I'll be chained to the series until death does us part. (Like for Throne of Glass and The Lunar Chronicles.) But otherwise…I wander away…
I love your post. I agree with the Book to Movie adaptations. I usually enjoy them and then I get upset when everyone didn't enjoy them as much as I did. I'm also not a big book buyer also. I usually try my library first and then if they don't have it and I feel as though I must read it ASAP, I will buy the bookMy Posthttp://myislandofbooks.blogspot.com/2014/07/top-ten-tuesday-top-10-blogging.html
I know book to movie adaptations get a LOT of bashing and it just makes me cringe. Sometimes they legitimately do suck! But there are just sucky movies in general out there. On the most part, if I think of them as based off and don't get hung up over details, I'll love them to bits. I often appreciate the story more too. x)
I am also a fan of short books. Sometimes I actually go to the end to check how many pages are left and kind of count down. Which is awful. I too read books to say that I've read them (I've grown out of doing it for classics, but I still do for famous books!). I do buy books, though…for now. That might change when I become An Adult and have to do important things like Paying Rent and stuff. (I'm bluffing. I actually have no idea what adults do).I thought I was the only one who didn't read blurbs. I'll start reading a book that's been highly recommended, and then I'm like…what's this actually about? It's happening right now with Pivot Point, although I DID recently discover what it's about. Go me.
I DO THAT TOO. I'm always checking how many pages I've read. I'm sure this is bad…but hey, now I don't feel so guilty. 😉 Ugh, yes, I suppose when I do have enough money I'll be properly Adulting and doing all that paying-thingies-stuff which will then eat my book buying money. Why is adulting so complicated? Seriously, I think it should be: buy a house by the sea, read books all day, eat pizza. The end. Huzzah! Go you! I have embarrassing moments with not reading blurbs though. I fully thought The Program was about a you-can't-fall-in-love kind of story…but maybe I was thinking of Delirium? Least to say, I read it today and I got a big shock. It's actually about suicide. Who'dve thought!
Great list! I always laugh when I read your posts, I love that about your blog :)I'm not huge on series myself, unless it really gets me invested before it's finished – I start series when they're completed. I was hooked on HP when that was being released, but I was totally invested, much like Anna/Lola/Isla by Stephanie Perkins. The Hunger Games, on the other hand, is a series I read when it was completed, after I saw the first two films. Because much like you, I too enjoy book to film adaptations. I usually prefer to read the book first, but I'm happy to see the film first if I don't have the book on hand, which is what happened with THG. Here's my TTT 🙂
Awww, you're makin' me BLUSH. XDOh, I'm invested in Anna/Lola/Isla now (not that I've read Isla but I want to of course). I'm invested in a LOT more series than I used to be. Like Throne of Glass…*sobs a little because will be here for another 5 or so years until all the books come out* I TRY to read the book before the movie, but I failed in The Book Thief's case. >-<
I THINK YOU ARE MY BOOKISH SOUL-MATE!!!I don't buy books either. Except when I have spare cash. Which is maybe once a year. But I have managed to convince my family and friends that books are the best birthday/Christmas/imhappyyourealive gifts ever. So I'm getting more of them these days.Basically, every single confession is the same for me, except for the one about blurbs. I love reading blurbs. If a blurb is sucky, I refuse to read it. I can't.
I'm STILL trying to convince my family that giving me books = happiness forever. But they think I have enough books. (That's insane. They're insane. I don't even understand this concept "TOO MANY BOOKS". It just makes zero sense.) *hi fives for confession twins*
Love your list, so honest!I remember when I was really poor, and charity shops and the library were my source of reading material. But budget cuts made the library a bit short-for-choice.Cora @ Tea Party Princess
The trouble with second hand stores is FINDING the books you want to read. Mostly I find Nancy Drew and Huckleberry Finn. -_- But when I hit a goldmine? (Like I just bought Hunger by Michael Grant and Inkspell by Cornelia Funke) it makes. my. day.
I LOVE book-to-movie adaptions! TFIOS? Divergent? I loved 'em. Of course, there are exceptions *cough* Percy Jackson * cough*. Loved this post!
Weeell….Percy Jackson #2 was way better! I laughed! So that's saying something. x) Let's not talk about Eragon though, okay? I'll just be here…shuddering.
I rely on birthdays a LOT for my book supply…my mom has to make me ask for things other than books, LOL. Garage sales and thrift shops are my best friends too. 🙂 My bookish confession is…I'm a bit of a book hipster. If a book becomes popular overnight or is overhyped because of its popularity, I tend to steer clear of it (case in point: The Hunger Games. Put off reading it, had very high expectations for it because of hype when I did read it, but I only really liked the first one. Please don't shoot me.)On the subject of contemporaries…I usually hate them too. Give me some steampunk, some fantasty, even historical fiction! However, I'm currently writing a contemporaries, and the drama is making me headdesk repeatedly, even as the author. Gotta do something about that.
I WON'T SHOOT YOU. I PROMISE. *lays down weapons* It's okay! I think the internet has spoiled a lot of THG, plus it's impossible not to know the plot twists now. >-< I think there can be awesome contemporaries. I'm a HUGE fan of things like TFIOS and Dead Ends and Anna and the French Kiss. It's just when it's all boyfriends/girlfriends/drama/drama/drama…ugh. That's not for me.
I have a lot of trouble with series, too. If they're not all out, then I have to wait; if they are, then it's so many more books on my list! I'm still weak to it, though. Booookssss.Re: not buying books: I had that problem once too, which is why now I try to do giveaways fairly regularly and stuff like that. I get to support the authors now and get books to people who might not've been able to buy them, like people did for me back when I didn't have a job.My confessions.
I assume one day when I'm adulting to the full, I'll have money to buy books. I want to support authors!! And 2nd hand books just don't do that. But seriously, you said it: boooooksssss. They are life. They are beautiful.
I'm one for looking at covers and if it's something I like the look of I'll pick it up and read the blurb and than judge whether I want to read it or not and I know I've missed some great books in the past by doing this so I've been making a BIG effort this year by trying not to do it that way and letting the blurb speak for the book alone. I must say I have found some fab books with crappy covers and I'm glad I made the effort.Thea @ Gizzimomo's Book Shelf
I've missed a few good ones from cover judging. >-< Buuuut…in the whole scheme for me having read over 100 books already, gah. Sometimes you just have to skip a book and keep your eyeballs in tact a bit longer, right?!
I like book to movie adaptions too, I love seeing my favourite characters on the big screen! Great picks 🙂
I do too! Sometimes it worries me, but if I haven't read the book particularly…I'll probably really like the movie.
I'm really poor as well, but I just can't seem to control my book buying! It's a horrible, horrible habit, and I'm so in awe of your self-control, lol. What's worse is that I buy so many books but don't read them, because I have way too many ARCs to read at the same time, too. ISN'T THAT HORRIBLE?! In my defense, the libraries here suck, and there aren't any good second-hand book shops with books I'm interested in, soooo…. 😛 And whoa, I think you're probably the first person I know who's ever admitted to liking book-to-movie adaptations! I don't hate them, but I don't like them much either, with a few exceptions, of course. The Percy Jackson adaptations were horrible, but other movies like LotR and HP and THG were wonderful. I have the MESSIEST bookshelf too! I mean, I keep seeing all these amazing pictures of bookshelves organized by color, height, width, WHATEVER and I am just stunned. I could never do that. Even if I had the time, I'm just not organized like that. I mostly just make sure books in the same series stick together, and that's it. I have books piled on top of books, too. It's crazy. I'm the total same with contemporaries as well. Like you said, I've read quite a few good ones, but on the whole? I'd take a fantasy/paranormal/sci-fi over a contemporary ANY DAY. The tropes, man, the tropes. Pfft, I'm pretty sure everyone is a cover judger. 😉
Hehe… COVER JUDGERS! WE'RE CONFESSING ALL!I know I'm one of the few people confessing to liking bookish movies. Eeep! I'm feeling brave! *struts around blog in brief moment of foolhardy bravery* There are terrible ones, I totally get that. Like Eragon. *shudders* But for the most part, I quite enjoy them. All you need is good dialogue and good actors to make a movie enjoyable. ONE DAY I'LL ORGANISE MY BOOKSHELF. BUT IT IS NOT THIS DAY.
Haha, I don't think any of these are that shocking. I think the one that upsets me the most is that you don't buy books – not because I don't understand that they cost money or because libraries are bad or anything like that – but because I want you to be able to have all the books you want in the world! TAKE THEM ALL! PET THEM ALL! LOVE THEM ALL!Ahem. Besides that, I more or less agree with all of these. Ooh especially when it comes to covers. I like me a pretty cover. So I don't mind that I never read ARCs, because they rarely are pretty. And I also don't read blurbs as well! Which can be both a good and bad thing. In other words, you're not alone. If someone goes to throw a book at you, they might as well throw one at me too ;)I'm not sure if I have any exciting confessions to share myself. I feel like I'm a pretty unexciting reader. :/
I WANT THEM ALL TOO!! IT IS THE BANE OF MY EXISTENCE. I would love more than anything to walk into a bookshop and just by a book. I've never done it before. (Because if I do buy, I scour online for the cheapest option, and heck, it usually takes 3 weeks to get to me, too. *sobs a little*) When I'm adulting with a job and money I will be able to buy books. x)Awesome, we can duck the bookish onslaught together! Huzzah!
I still have a box full of books, because I have no room in my room to put them. By name, a room ought to be full of- room! But mine is sadly lacking. I never organize my books. I'll put series together, but even then. Currently, The Hunger Games trilogy starts on the left and goes to the right, and, uh, my Divergent trilogy is facing the opposite way. . . I don't seem to have the OCD most bookish people claim to have.When I was younger I couldn't stand to see a book on the floor. I still can't bare it when there's one in the living or dining room floors. It's a dangerous world out there for books. Little people, dogs, a cat, food. But, now, in my room? There are stacks of books all over the floor. *hangs head* I am shamed. If an author "earns my trust" with the first book, I'll almost never read a blurb to any of the author's other books, I won't even read the back of the book. I just read it. I will check out ten books at the library, and only read maybe two or three. I don't always finish books to completion. After the first couple of chapters, or sometimes pages, if I just don't feel attached to the characters or like I've got to know what happens or if a friend hasn't strongly recommended a book to me (I'll usually endure anything in the latter case), I just won't finish it. Life is busy and I have other books to read. And I really hate that, because I wish I could finish every single book out there. Like I owe it to the authors or something to at least read their whole book.
I don't always finish my library books as well…(gosh, I could've had MORE than 10 confessions). Like this week, I'm sending back 2 books I haven't read, just because my TBR is out of control and I need to calm my overwhelmed eyeballs. I can't DNF books though. It kills me. My OCD screams. So even if I hate it, there's a 99% chance I'll finish.
Fabulous list. I prefer historical novels to contemporaries. I also judge books by the cover. I'm always a bit disappointed when I get an ARC without a real cover.Thanks for visiting The Book Connection.
I'm not disappointed, per se, but it DOES make me desperately wish I had money to run out and buy the real cover! XD
Honestly, I love series, I really do. It's just that I end up never ever finishing them! And it's so sad because I'm a procrastinator and life gets in the way. AND I PRETTY MUCH AGREE WITH EVERYTHING ON YOUR LIST. I so badly want to read contemporaries, but then there's all that relationship drama. Like no. Don't want to deal with it. AND THEY DON'T COMMUNICATE. Like come on.Though I do buy books, but only from Amazon and only when I have a gift card. Usually I just go to the library or request it, etc. I'm such a poop though because I like bashing books if I really really didn't like it. I'm just so much more passionate about it then, let's say the 3 stars I give out. Plus I know exactly what I didn't like about the book. While 5 and 4 star books for me are just THE FEELZ EVERYWHERE.
WE ARE BOOKISH CONFESSIONS TWINS, ARE WE NOT, VAL?I think every second contemporary could be solved by a) everyone having a good meal because their blood sugar's obviously dropped and then b) everyone TALKING. It's not that hard to communicate! Okay, maybe it is. But they could email? Post-it notes?I've won a few gift cards through Amazon which is aaaawesome, but I usually use them for bookish giveaways on the blog. See my sacrificing soul? It's amazing.
I don't like long books either, which is probably why I love my contemps so much. 😀 Great confessions! 🙂
Long books make me sleepy. I love to look at a book and say, "Yeah, I could eat you in a day if I wanted." There's no possible way to eat 600 pages for me in a day…so. There's that.
Gosh, it would suck if I could only get my books from the Library or winning them, my library selection sucks 🙁 But such is the way of a small town…I'm not big on big books, hehe..big on big books…I don't read blurbs that much anymore either, usually the title and cover alone can make me pick up a book 🙂
I live in a teeny town too, but our library branch is HUGE. I reserve books from all over the place and it's freeee. x)
LOVE the list! I know exactly what you mean. If only I had the money to buy every single book I wanted to read. I'd be the happiest human alive.I also know what you mean about series' but if it's a series I love, I am going to end up finishing it no matter what. I just wish there were more stand-alones though. It would make my life so much easier. I hate that so many books these days are part of a series *sigh*And ditto on contemporaries. I don't like them as much as I like other genres but at the same time, they are just so readable! They are quick reads to flip through and usually make for good brain candy. I hate angst though so I got for fluffier stuff. Fluffy contemporaries FTW.BUT EWWWW. I hate book to movie adaptations. I always feel like they mess with my imagination. It really bothers me .-. Don't judge. LOVE.On a side note, world domination just became harder for you because you'll be up against me. I AM TAKING OVER THE WORLD. BACK OF YOU.Rashika @ The Social Potato
*sobs a little* I KNOW, RIGHT? I just want money to buy books. Not much to ask, right? I won't judge you on the book to movies, because we're similar on so many other things. Can I smush cake in your hair? Come onnnnn. Pfft. I'd like to see you try, ma'am. Since I'm pretty extra sure my superpowers are coming in. Any day now…aaany day.
+JMJ+ I don't read many Contemporaries, but I find your critique interesting! That's because I read a lot of Paranormals, and I feel that the drama in them often doesn't reflect the truly high stakes. Are these very different genres just two sides of the same coin, after all?
Well, I suppose all books share similarities, right?
I do get why you don't purchase that many books since they do cost a lot. Some of them. That's why I almost always wait until the paperback is out so I can get that one instead of a hardcover that costs 2x more and I'll still be supporting the author. Libraries are fun! I wish mine had more of the popular YA titles. They're mostly translated into my native language so.. yeah. Books just don't read that well in Estonian even though it's a gorgeous laguage. Heh! I don't really care about series either 😀 I mean, some series are great and I can't get enough of them (Hello Addicted by Krista and Becca Ritchie, Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi etc.), but honestly? GIVE ME ALL THE STANDALONES PLS. I use Recaptains for "re-reading" since I almost never have time either. You adored CoB? Heh. That's one of the few thumbs up I've seen/heard 🙂 Oh yes! I hate book bashing. I always rant to someone, but I try not to bash anything in my reviews. Haha! I like shorter books too. Not too short, I like my books about 300-400 pages. Under 300? Eh. Pretty hard to develop unless it's Gayle Forman and If I Stay ;_________; *sobs* Still not over how emotional that one was for me. COVEEEERS!!!! These are gorgeous. Me loves all of these covers *stares* I read books because I love reading, but I do get what you mean! It's so good to say that I've read this and discuss with others 🙂 Great post, Cait!
I feel very alone in my little CoB fandom, don't worry. Hehe. I hardly find ANYONE who even looks at that without wincing….so strange. I luuurve it. x) *ahem* SO YES. I love Recaptains for rereading too, saves me life all the time. And YES I might bash books mentally, but tie me up with a paperback if I ever do it on the internet. -_- I don't want to be that kind of blogger. I just finished WE WERE LIARS which is like 220 pages and ohhhh my gosh, perfectly developed, even though it's so short!
That's actually why I don't do ARCs or freebies anymore. I did sign up for Edelweiss to get free books for reviews but I only get the ones whose authors I really want to support–then I read it and post a review on Goodreads and my blog. (Okay, so far I've only done one, but I've signed up for two more!) As soon as the book is official, I'm also going to post an Amazon review on it. The reviews can really help authors, so if you can, I'd suggest doing that after you get the freebies. It actually means more to us than you buying the book–speaking for us new authors!
Ahaha, you're so right with #7! Sometimes I adore A Song of Ice and Fire… and sometimes I really don't care for the pages upon pages of infodumping. Or the appendices filled with family trees… >.>
Hmm. That's funny. I would make the exact same confessions as you, except for number 5. I'll replace that with #5 I give away many of my books! Unless I will reread it someday or I adore the cover, I don't keep it.
I think most of dislike bashing books, and it's easy to read someone's negative review and think "Way harsh!" but then we realise we've all been there, some books just inspire rage!I don't mind book to movie adapts. either! Sometimes you've read a book and want to re-live it and the movie can be a good way to do that!
I very rarely buy books either because I am trying to get my son through his undergraduate work at university without taking out any school loans. I frequent the library, too. Most of what I do buy is a Kindle deal, but my son buys me books for all gift giving occassions. I look forward to a time when I am approved for ALL on Netgalley and Edelweiss!!
*winces* No offence, but that Searching for Sky ARC cover is gross >.< I mean, It IS YA isn't it?? Not y'know, a travel book on where the best palm trees are found?? 😉 And question: Do palm trees actually FEATURE in the book?? :PWe share alot of the same bookish confessions, Cait! 😀 I was going to do this TTT, but instead ended up being out all day 😐 The sentence, 'scheduling ahead of time because things like that might happen' come to mind, lol! x)Frabjous post, Cait!!
I'm a huge cover snob too! Even though ALL my friends may recommend a book (like Vampire Academy), and I KNOW I'm going to love it (like Anna and the French Kiss), I'll still put it off. I just refuse to read it until I'm gutsy enough to get past the cover (Anna), or they release a new version (VA).
I am totally with you 500+ pages and I love book to movie adaptations too 🙂
I love book to movie adaptations too! Even if I end up hating the movie, it's still fun to compare. I'm putting off The Vampire Academy though, because I'm thinking that would will suck ass. And I feel you on buying books. I buy a lot of books, but it's rare that I don't snag them on sale. I like food and I need to eat. Can't do that with no money!
I read spoilers. No, not just if I happen upon them, but if I'm interested in a book, I will hunt down spoilers, see if I can figure out how it ends, and then I'll read it if I like it. I also skip ahead and read the ending of books.BUT, my shelf is organized, most of them labeled with the Dewey Decimal system. (Some of them are newer, and haven't received that honor.) I may, or may not spend more time organizing my shelves than actually reading the books. I've already read all of the endings, so why do I need to read the rest of them?
I am the opposite- I LOVE series. And they usually kind of interrupt my life. Like, I absolutely cannot quit midway through a series. If I know a series has more than 5 or 6 books, I don't even start it. Confession: I bought the Baby-Sitter's Club books well into high school because I couldn't stop myself. I skimmed through them even, just to say I didn't quit. When I finally convinced myself to stop, I was a junior in high school, literally driving myself to buy these books. And only 10 more books were published after I stopped. Had I only known, I would have kept going! I had over 200, what's 10 more?But I am totally with you on unorganized shelves (just two days ago I finally separated them into "read" and "unread". And contemporaries are very hit or miss with me too. I agree, sometimes I am just not in the mood for their nonsense. Oh, and I am totally intimidated by huge books. City of Heavenly Fire is still sitting unread because I just can't. I am too tired to think about it.
I also really like movie adaptations — though I know some people who absolutely will not watch a the film if there's a book of it. I don't really get it, but to each their own, I suppose. I guess I just like watching something come to life in front of me, you know? My bookshelf is also very unorganized. Pretty much I just put books wherever I find the room for them, ahaha. I almost NEVER read blurbs, either! It's actually really good to see someone else say (write) that, because I thought I was pretty alone in that one… I'm a huge cover snob, so. Most of the time I don't even know what the book is even about before I start reading it. O.o And urgh. Prologues. Just no.
I love book to movie adaptions, some of my favourite movies of all time are those. And I do read books just to say I have read them like Twilight and the Hunger Games and I plan to finish Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones as well.
I actually don't buy much books either, most of my books are either ARCs or from the library. Honestly the books at my local book store are quite overpriced ahah. I'm quite apathetic towards series'. If I really enjoy the first in a series, I'll continue it. If not then I usually end up leaving the series behind. Though sometimes I have these moments where I wonder what happened to these characters in a series I didn't continue.My bookshelf is so unorganized omg. There's really no rhyme or reason to it. My favorite books from when I was 10 are next to my favorite YA stories and it really makes no sense. I do read blurbs haha, I'd definitely have trust issues if I didn't. I've been played a fool to beautiful covers holding not so enjoyable stories within too many times :p
I'm a huge cover judger, but I don't always let bad covers stop me. I read blurbs when I decide to get books, but don't read them before I read the actual book. So I basically pick my next read from cover/title, which has resulted in many surprise books, good and bad.
You've summed up the problem with contemporaries so well! Often times the drama is so predictable that I can usually only handle them in small doses sporadically, or else they all start to blur together!
I don't buy a lot of books too! And contemporaries are a little underrated on my reading life. I mean I don't usually tend to that genre except if a contemp book is highly recommended by a friend 😀 Same same with movie adaptations! I love watching them and I don't care what the critics say!! Yay, great list!
I never finish series anymore because I always forget about them! I used to HAVE to finish every series I started, but that changed when I became a book blogger. I just don't have the time or memory to hold my breath and wait for the next book in every series to come out sometimes a year or more after I read the book before it. For me that's a little bit sad because I'm sure I'm missing out on some great books. :/ I couldn't agree more with 6, 7, &10!
I love your list, Cait! I also don't buy books often because I have this Android app that lets me read new books for free just a couple of weeks before their release. Usually I just buy when I've already read the book and I really, really like it. And it's tough to read series. I'm reading City of Heavenly Fire now and I cannot remember some of the characters in the past 5 books. I like book to movie adaptations only when they get the details right. Hollywood changes a lot of things in the movie. And my basis for reading books are 1) covers, 2) blurbs, and 3) author.
An unorganised bookshelf! Oh Cait, how could you?I can actually hardly talk. Mine was organised, it was like a rainbow shelf, but I had to take them all out to clean, unfortunately (a bit of an arduous task, but it was nice seeing all my books out again) but in the next week I'm going to reorganise and alphabetise. I am incredibly excited!
I think #1 is the most surprising. I was like "whaaaaat? Hooow?" But then again, I think you have a really great library over there so it isn't much of a problem. We don't have very good library here so I always have to buy the book if I want to read it, and it's simply awful when I come up with a dud. I just spent money on crap. But oh well. I'm also really bad at continuing a series, and I totally judge a book by its cover.
I totally agree with #7.I'll be like, "SERIOUSLY? DO I REALLY NEED TO KNOW ALL THIS? MIGHT AS WELL DRAW A FAMILY TREE" lolElla @ The Filipina Booknote
Love this list!!! And I love that you loved the movie of City of Bones, it gets bashed ALL THE TIME, I thought it was frigging brilliant! Ok, so there's one or two characters that didn't hit it off for me (my Jace didn't look like that, but he's grown on me – Magnus looks good but I'm not a fan of his acting, and Isabel is no where near as over the top stunning as I was expecting. Simon and Valentine are spot on though). It saddens me the the rest of the movies might never happen, I NEED them to happen. Reading book 6 at the minute 🙂My TTT
Yay! Another CoB movie fan!! I'm not sure why people hate it so much…I thought it was genius and kept SO many of the same movie lines! I loved that! x) Isabel could've been MORE definitely. But I watched the movie first and then read the book…hehe. My bad. But still, I don't regret it. I wasn't inspired to read until I watched.
I hardly buy any books either! I either request them from publishers or borrow them from the library. The only books I buy are ones I really, really, really love and am positive I will read again. And I'm horrible at finishing series too! For me to finish a series, I have to REALLY like the prior books in the series to even consider continuing. Cover judges FTW! <3
LIKE TIGER LILY AM I RIGHT?! See I bought that book on recommendation from you. And considering how little I buy books…hehe. Aren't you honoured? 😉
I never bought books. It was all library borrowing for me. Until last year when University gave me a scholarship I never bought books. Now I tend to buy a certain amount of books at the end of the month xD But I'm trying to cut back because I have no self control XD. I can't read a book if I haven't read the blurb. It is physically impossible for me. I'm reading the prologue and I have to stop myself from reading until I read the blurb. I dunno why. I can have a million of other confessions but can't think of any right now. Great confessions!
Sometimes I mix up blurbs too! Like I'll think a book has a blurb….but it's a completely different book I'm thinking of. Like I totally thought The Program was Delirium. I MESSED UP their plots so badly! Hehe.
I can relate to most of these two but #1 and #10 are like literally me. I almost never tell #1 to people because they always think it's weird. Plus like you said, I feel like I'm not really supporting authors and such that much :c But I don't really have a lot of money either, ha. I get 90% of my books from the library and the rest are ARCs or gifts. Great post~
I know, right?! How can we be book bloggers and literally not buy many books…I DO feel sad and bad about not supporting authors. But when I have the means I definitely absolutely will!
That's what's kind of worrying me about trying GoT. I want to try it because…I want to say that I've tried it. 😉 Buuut…those big books? *gulps*
Really?! You're great! I've only given away one of my books so far this year, and…and I just can't bear to for the others!
As long as the book bashing stays in my head and never ever leaks on to the internet, I'm okay with having some wild emotions about certain books. 😉 Some books just make me ANGRY. And I just…I just have to go all Hulk on them. Poor Mime. She gets to listen to my rants.
I struggle to read on my Kindle because it's on my iPod and the tiny screen drives me bonkers. BUT. I do love NetGalley! I was sooo freakishly excited to get auto-approved for Bloomsbury. *dances in wild circles* Other than that, hehe, I get mostly declined on there! XD
The ARC cover really sent me spinning because at first I didn't KNOW it was an ARC cover. I thought that was the legit cover!! BUT IT'S NOT. SO THAT'S OKAY. IT'S NOT. The real cover is gorgeous. x) Ahh…well, there are definitely palm trees in the book, so yes? It's fair. But it kind of initially made my head spin. >-<
Ugh, that VA cover is horrifying. >-< I want to read it too, because everyone swears even if you don't like vampires it's GOOD. Still. Coverhate and also…I'm worried it won't live up to the hype! I LOVE the new Anna cover though. x)
WE BE TWINS ON THE MOVIE ADAPTIONS. HUZZAH.
There are most definitely bad adaptions out there…heh, Eragon, anyway? BUT, for the majority, I actually enjoy them! Particularly if they're awesomely acted. Food or books…*sigh* It's a cruel world we live in.
I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU DO THAT!!! Oh gosh, my mum always peeks at the end but I never ever have. It would just ruin it for me. lol! But each to their own. I won't juuuudge. (Well, not too much.) XDWoah, you're organised! That's great! At the end of the year, I'm thinking of colour coding my bookshelves, at least just for a picture. 😉 And I think reading the whole book is the important part…at least, for me, because I learn from the writing, not just the story, you know?
Confession: We own like 60+ of the Boxcar Children books. ALTHOUGH IN MY DEFENCE: my sister is the one who was more infatuated with them then me!! And you would've had an amazing collection if you had all of those Baby Sitter's. ;)I KIND of have read and unread piles. Mostly they're just in order of when I received them and series together. 🙁 It makes me a little twitchy that there's no real rhyme or reason.
YES. I remember your awesome post about prologues. x) You and me both. I love seeing books come alive on screen. And seeing the characters act and use the same lines and ohhh, it just ignites my inner fangirl. It truly does.
I read the first LOTR, and I kind of thought I'd read the rest but…nope. It did not happen that way. >-<
Ugh, I know what you mean about overpriced bookstores. I hate it when their slogans are like "never pay full price" and you go inside and sure, the slogan is true, because you pay MORE. *growls* If I'm going to buy a book, I'll do it online and wait for a sale. Hehe.
I won't NOT read a book because of a dodgy cover. But then, I get a lot of unsolicited ARCs so I don't really get to decide. They just turn up with weird covers and I must read them. XD
Small doses = perfection. Plus mostly it could all be solved if someone ate a meal (blood sugar dropping? Why is that not considered an issue?) and talked about their problems.
We're confession twins on a lot of these then. xD
It's the memory that kills me…plus the book just keep getting bigger and bigger as the series goes on. (Look at Harry Potter!)
Woah…that sounds like an amazing app! Is it like an ARC program? I'm only just starting reading TMI so maybe I'll keep it all in my head by the time I get to CoHF, right?!
IT IS MY GREAT SIN. I want a rainbow shelf!! I just…I'm going to do it at the end of the year. Right now? Nope. BUT SOON.
I know! I thought it would be a surprise to a lot of you! And I KNOW most book bloggers buy books all. the. time. I'm so jealous. Hehe. xD But the great library does help me with this. although…I don't get to keep them, and that's so so hard.
EXACTLY. WHY DO I CARE AGIAN??!!!
Oh Cait, I cannot believe that you didn't like Harry Potter! Did you stick with it? It gets really good around book 3. I just love how you sort of mentioned that you were judgy, but then when it came to yourself you judged too lol! I don't usually read book blurbs, but I've been burned in the past when reading a review made me think it was about something else and then I realised I should have just read the blurb and formed my own opinion. I think I was even more disappointed from the positive review.I'm not a fan of ARC covers either, but hey at least we get the book earlier right? It took me TWO bookshelves to organise my books properly, and even now they are still kind of everywhere >< I attempted to keep the same book sizes, series together but some of the authors are still spread out across all of them.Great topic Cait!
I sort of want to come over and organise your bookshelf for you. OCD habit of mine! http://itsonlythree.wordpress.com/2014/07/07/my-l…
I'm all about the cover, too. My bookcases are a MESS. Seriously, just books and books and books everywhere. I buy a lot of books, but almost exclusively second-hand. We all have bookish confessions. Absolutely no judgement.
Great list! I also really love Book to Movie adaptations, they always feel totally different to me.
I'm finding it harder and harder to keep up with all the series, too. Why can't authors write stand-alones? Or wait till they've written the whole story and give it to us in one big chunk? Also? I like book to movie adaptations. I don't sit there picking apart what's different. I just like seeing someone else's vision for the story. Oh, and unless I get an ARC, I'm unlikely to read a book either, unless it's a sequel I've been coveting since I closed the cover on the first book.
Ok, so first I have to apologise for not getting to this sooner. Crazy week. Been preparing my mum's book for self-publishing, which means eating, sleeping, writing assignments, and all that unimportant stuff has fallen by the wayside. But I am back now! Anyway, I am exactly the same when it comes to not buying books. I mostly just read library books (which is why it's so hard to find the awesome ones sometimes). I just doesn't have the moneys to spend on books. Alas. I feel like a bad reader for not supporting writers more…
HAHAHA, NUMBER 10!!! When I go to a bookstore and I see books that I've read as ARCs, in my little head, I go, "Ohhh, I've read that. And that. And that. And this was awful. Now THAT… was awesome." And god knows how much I want to shout to the world, "HAHA! I've read this already MONTHS before it was released!" haha so childish I know, but those thoughts are from an irrational me so cut me some slack ;)Faye at The Social Potato
I think I just fell in love with your blog. Yup. I too am a huge cover judger (Google comments says that's not a word, but I don't care). I have often picked a book just because of the cover, without reading the blurb. Sometimes it works to my detriment. But…unlike you…I kind of book bash them a little. If I review them in any way. I have to be transparently honest…it's a fault. I really should learn how to fudge and lie better. Elle @ Erratic Project Junkie
I'm beginning to not care much about series too! Maybe it's the wait? Or the fact that by the time the sequel comes out I have forgotten the first book? Quite tiresome. :/*raises hand* Unapologetic cover judge here. First impressions are IMPORTANT, people.
I always judge books by their cover, which is why I wouldn't have read The Fault in Our Stars if it hadn't been recommended to me. Cover judging is what led me to pick up Cinder, too, I like shiny stuff. 🙂 Almost all of your confessions apply to me too, actually! One I have to add, though, is that if a book is boring me to tears, I'll skip and read the ending, and go back and finish the rest…it helps with the boredom. 🙂 Great list!
I will hold you to that, Cait. You may not have realised, but I will hold you to that.