I have this weird habit… Actually I have a lot of weird habits, but we’re not here to talk about how I arrange my socks in morse code for send cake. We’re talking about books. SO MOVING FORWARD. I have this weird habit about procrastinating reading books I’m 99% sure I’ll adore. It makes no sense, folks. No. SENSE. Yet my brain occasionally riots and insists on reading mediocre books while the ones that look so epic and cool wither away on my shelves.
Surely I’m not the only one? Right? Riiiiiight?! (Oh my gosh, just lie here, if you must, and make me feel better.)
I decided to analyse this habit of mine, because surely my brain has a reasonable explanation for this.
1. I’VE OVER-HYPED THE BOOK IN MY OWN BRAIN AND NOW I’M SCARED OF IT IN CASE IT FAILS MY PERSONAL EXPECTATIONS.
And I’m not necessarily talking about community hype — I mean Cait Hype. Cait hype is when Cait spies a book and goes “OH PRECIOUS CAKE POPS, THAT BOOK IS FOR ME” and then proceeds to obsess over it day and night until it is in her clammy paws. Wherein, then, she cannot read it because she’s obsessed too much and what if the book is no good?
There is no reason to talk about Cait in the 3rd person. I’m actually feeling left out of my own conversation here. Sheesh.
I overhype books to myself for NO REASON and I do it all the time.
2. THE SERIES IS ENDING AND I AM IN DENIAL.
I admit to being a slightly skittish bean over series endings. Because it’s so hard to get a completely satisfactory ending! This is because a) I think important characters need to die in series finales, and b) pleasepleaseplase don’t you dare kill the characters. These contradict each other, I KNOW. Now do you see my problem??! Or one of them. We’ve established I have many.
I often put off consuming series finales so the fabulousness can continue in my brain.
I often put them off because I know pain is coming too. This is my entirely relationship with the last 3 Skulduggery Pleasant books. This is why it took me 2 months to read A Dance With Dragons. This is why I have still not finished The Seven Realms series. I HAVE CLOSURE ISSUES.
3. GOOD BOOKS ARE ALSO EXHAUSTING.
This might be just me, but it takes a lot of energy to read an excellent book. I often get overwhelmed by the SHEER AWESOME and end up procrastinating the book because I know my delicate emotions are going to be in a tangle.
Plus I’m like 94% Vulcan and I dislike anticipating those dastardly emotions. I love the feels. But at the same time, I need to brace myself for them? This might take 2 days. Or 2 years. Who can tell? Please standby.
4. IT’S JUST NOT A GOOD DAY?! OKAY?! THE TREES ARE NOT ALIGNED. THE SKIES ARE NOT PURPLE. THE GALAXIES SAY NOPE.
I’m entirely aware that this is sheer procrastination. But at least I’m not in denial, okay?!?! Sometimes it’s just…I’m not…ready to read a book I’m sure I’ll like. Maybe I’m too busy and frazzled and feel like I can’t focus fully on this book that promises to be awesome. Maybe MY ELBOW HURTS and I can’t hold up the book. Maybe…oh who knows. It just isn’t a good day for this potentially new book.
5. ALSO THERE’S WHEN I’M JUST NOT IN A GOOD MOOD AND I’M SCARED THAT’LL AFFECT THIS POTENTIALLY DELICIOUS MEAL.
Life is not all fricasseed frog and eel pie. And sometimes if I really, really, really want to read a certain book — then I want to make sure I’m in the mood to enjoy it. Mood doesn’t always affect my reading. I can be devastated because my dragon burnt the latest batch of evil cupcakes, but my current read is still pleasing. BUT. There are times when I’m scared that I’ll dislike a book because of no reason except that I’m HAVING A BAD DAY.
6. OTHER RANDOM NONSENSICAL REASONS THAT MY SOUL IS FRETTING OVER.
For instance:
- The book is huge. Huge books scare me, okay?? Why does it take you 600 pages to tell a story? SURELY YOU DON’T NEED THAT.
- My friends
have threatened my life if I don’t like itare really excited to see my thoughts…what if I despise this book’s mortal soul and my friends riot? - I just spent, like, $30 books on that dang book and I’m not RUSHING into it because I need to make it last because of that exorbitant price. (This really makes no sense but…go with it.)
- I heard it has a cliffhanger and the sequel isn’t due out for 9 years. Bury me now.
Why is being a bookworm so full of these complications?! LET US SIGH IN UNISON. The biggest problem I find when I fall into this habit of “oh no I can’t read that book not yet” even though I know I’ll love it…is that I end up reading a ton of subpar books instead. It feels like a waste of time! Quality over quantity, right? I need to write that on a pretty plaque and gift wrap it and mail it to my brain.
One thing that is handy with this, though, is that I always have a Potential Good Book on my TBR ready to read! And that’s kind of comforting.
Now excuse me, I need to go devour Wolf By Wolf and The Orphan Queen which I’m sure are me books and thus I am entirely scared of them. IT MAKES NO SENSE. IT’S WHO I AM, BOB.
Yes, I’ve done this. LIke it took me quite a while to want to read Passenger, which I finished this morning and I eked it out over a week and that was 25 $ oh my gosh. Also, when it’s something like Winter and you juast want to be happy it’s sitting on your shelf because it might not be good enough. Also, when you really really want to read a book. This happened to me with Clariel and it’s going to happen to me with Goldenhand also. (Cait by the way you NEED to read the Old Kingdom Chronicles. Please. For me… not that I’m putting pressure on you to like it or anything….) Series finales freak me out… at least with the Lunar Chronicles we get short stories! and graphic novels! so it never really ends. I’m more afraid of my favourite writes stopping writing altogether, because that would be terrible.
YES. The whole “it might not be good enough” thing is terrifying, tbh. Especially if it’s part of a series and you’re already hugely emotionally invested. *dies a little* AGHHHHH I KNOOOOW!!! I will eventually!! *glares at ominously creaking TBR*
I never put off series finales, because I read the rest of the series and I’m pretty sure I’ll love the conclusion. Its like raven boys I’m sure everyone will not be disappointed on how that ends (That saying, I have the Raven Boys but have not started the series and know nothing about it, other than thousands of people love it. Please no spoilers I will try to start the raven boys as soon as possible.). Raven Boys is one of those book I have put off. I all so put off the first Game of Thrones book for a long time and finished the first book in a month. Also The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon, the heft of the books scare me. I’m with you on that. That is why the world has invented kindles, so we can read and never think about pages and lugging around amazingly heavy books (*cough* Outlander, and Game of Thrones*cough*). That being said I have read Wolf by Wolf and Orphan Queen, and hugely recommend them. They both have fantastic world building and that is all I will say (*zips lips and throws away the key*).
ZOMG I LOVE THE RAVEN BOYS SO MUCH I COULD SCREEEEEEAM. It’s like my #1 series of the universe. :’) And dooo not worry. I shall say nothing. Although Maggie Stiefvater’s finales have NEVER let me down before?! So I don’t think The Raven King will or anything, but I AM super super nervous about it. *gnaws fingernails* Hopefully I don’t procrastinate it when it comes out. EEEP.😂
Omg but when the world invented kindles they invented “estimated reading speeds” and I try to race those and it’s mildly stressful too.😂
(And I’ll get onto Wolf by Wolf and The Orphan Queen ASAP I PROMISE!!! Maybe…😂)
I do all of these, no clue why, it also expands to my t.v shows and movies. I am basically a professional procrastinator, who overthinks everything.
I think that ought to be like a title: Professional Procrastinator Who Overthinks Everything. I NEED THAT ON A TEE SHIRT TBH.
Such a cool title, makes it almost sound NOT derogatory in nature. I for one would hand myself that title.
I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND YOU. 100% not lying here, I promise. Most of the time, I tend to slow-read really good books whenever I’m close to finishing them.
*Sees bookmark*
*Finds outs there’s only 50 pages left*
*hyperventilates*
“WAIT WHAT HOW CAN THERE ONLY BE 50 PAGES LEFT WHAT WILL HAPPEN HERE I CAN TELL THERE WILL BE A CLIFFHANGER AM I READY TO WAIT FOR THE SEQUEL I HOPE SOMEBODY DIES WAIT NO I DONT WANT ANYBODY TO DIE UGH WHAT EVEN IS THIS SORCERY.”
…Also, I like to slow-read books I’ve spent all of my wallet money on. Like really, I spend TONS over this book. I can’t just binge-read this in one sitting… right? >.>
Fun post, Cait!
omg that moment when there are NOT enough pages to resolve a book?!? THAT MOMENT IS SHEER HYPERVENTILATING TERROR. How do we bookworms even SURVIVE?!?!??!? Our feels are SHREDDED OMG.
I put off reading books that everyone seems to love all the time, mainly because I am so sacred that I will hate it and feel bad about it.
It took me such a long time to read the Lux series but when I started I read the whole series in less than a week. I normally don’t put off reading the last book in the series, because I need to know how it has finished, i cannot control myself.
Us bookish peeps have wired habits. Thanks for the post
It’s not really fun being the black sheep right??! Not that I feel BAD about my opposing opinions, it’s just I feel like I really misunderstood the book or something.😂
Omg but good on you for bingeing the Lux series!! I have NEVER binged a series right through…but I should. Someday. ;D
AND WE BOOKWORMS ARE SO WEIRD.
Okay, so this is freaky that you wrote this now. You know what I’ve been putting off for many of these reasons? THE RAVEN BOYS. And I’m not even 99% sure that I love it anymore, I’m only a little way in but I already love it 100%. BUT I’M SO BUSY AND I DON’T FEEL LIKE READING WORDS AND GAHHH I’M A SILLY LITTLE GRAPE.
But, I console myself with: I love writing, I love writing more than almost anything……..Yet I still procrastinate from doing that like crazy.
So, yeah.
Great post, Cait!
YOU ARE A SILLY LITTLE GRAPE, EMKAY BECAUSE YOU KNOOOOOOW….THE RAVEN BOYS IS THE BEST OF EVER AND I’M GOING TO SIT HERE AND SHRIEK AT YOU UNTIL YOU READ IT. *shrieks* AFDJKSALD I LOVE THOSE BOYS AND BLUE AND BLUE AND THOSE BOYS. *hyperventilates quietly* Actually I’m kind of stuck halfway through The Dream Thieves (re-read, obviously😂) because I’m on audio and I just haven’t had a chance to listen to it yet?!
I do this too, I guess. Like, I think I’ll like a book, but what if the reviews are wrong or I just won’t like it or the characters are super annoying or something? Then I’ll remember i have all these other books to read which I don’t fear. Or I reread, which always makes me happy because I can trust that I’ll like it and it’s like hanging out with my old friends rather than having new people who you don’t know well enough to like yet, even if you think you will. (just go with this image, okay?) Yes bob, I’ve got strange habits.
It’s sometimes SO much easier to read books that we haven’t really heard much about right?!?? LESS PRESSURE.😂 And I’ve only just discovered how fun re-reading is. :’) And so much less stressful since I know what’s happening, hehe.
YEP!! I do all of these. I don’t even know why. Especially when it’s a series I’m reeeeally loving it, I guess I don’t want to walk away from that world. But after a book ends, it’s so heartbreaking because it’s finished… you know but I’m still in denial for a few…
SAME! I hate saying goodbye. Plus I hate sucky finales?!? So I’d almost rather not know.😂 Which is rather insane, when I think about it..
So relatable, as always! Yet I try to fight against these despotical brain decisions and not to procrastinate books too often because, when I wait for too long, I lose the extra energy/motivation I have just after buying them, and I’m afraid I won’t find them as good without it. Also, when two books on my TBR pile compete for my attention (and it’s highly competitive up there), just like with the “election” of the class representatives, it’s always the youngest one (i.e. the one that I last bought) that wins, so the books that I procrastinate kind of end up waiting for me to read them as if they were waiting for Godot.
Saaaaame. There are some books I’ve got that I remember nearly DYING because I wanted to read them so much. And yet there they sit. Unread.😂I’m absolutel hopeless. hehe. And omg I hear you with the competitive TBR. But at least it’s nice to be wanted by our books. *twirls majestically*
YES I DO THIS A LOT! Most of the time it’s because I’m a mood reader and so just haven’t picked it out of the TBR. But I can put it off because I’m terrified of hype and/or scared of the series ending. Sometimes I deliberately put off a sequel because I have plans to reread the previous book(s) first but don’t have the time.
I never even knew I was a mood reader until recently?!?!? Like I read ARCs when I’m supposed to, but books I own for myself?! OMG. I HAVE TO ONLY READ THEM WHEN I’M IN THE MOOD OR IT’S TERRIBLE.
…The Tulio and Miguel gif made me want to rewatch that. Thanks a LOT. 😛
But yep, I am with you on so many of these. Pretty much all. Eep.
It made ME want to re-watch it. So I might as well…instead of picking up one of my books I should’ve read 9000 years ago.😂
This is me. All day. Every day. I have no idea why I do this to myself. I feel like I’m constantly working towards reading them and then I stop and am all like, honey – there ain’t no rules here, you can just pick that book up with your hands. Right now. But nooooo. I put off reading Allegiant for OVER A YEAR because, a) many people were weirdly reactive to the book and that scared me, and, b) I just wasn’t ready to read it. What even is this ‘not ready’ business? I feel like someone could do some research on bookworms and discover something from this . . . Maybe we’re just really optimistic people hoping we’ll find the good in a book on a level that no-one else has yet?
But then again if I were to read all of these amazing books one after another I’d fall into the trap of oh no I’ve rated the last ten books I’v read 4 or 5 stars QUICK rate this one 3!! We can’t have people thinking we enjoy our books so much!! (Because apparently there are two of me now). THE PROBLEMS.
*sigh* . . . . . . . . . . . . *picks up mediocre book*
I KNOW RIGHT?! This “not ready” business is a real thing though. Omg. I have a small mountain of books I’m just “not ready” to read yet for exactly no reason.😂
BAHHAAHA can’t have people think we enjoy our books so much.😂 Okay I’ve NEVER had that problem. Only the opposite! like after a slew of 2-star reads, I’ve occasionally bumped up a rating so people don’t think I’m totally cranky over everything. hehe.
Yes! I do this. I loved Anna and the French Kiss and Lola and the Boy Next Door – I read them both really fast, but when it came to Isla and the Happily Ever After, I dragged it out so much. I got through the first half in a few hours, but then I put it down for a couple of weeks because I couldn’t bring myself to finish the series because I loved it so much.
I so so relate to this!! And I was actually the same with Isla?!? Particularly when I saw a whole slew of negative reviews I was just like “nope, waiting forever”. 😂 Although I did read it eventually. GO ME. 😂😂
I am completely your opposite in this regard. When I think I am going to love this or that book, I jump at it and devour it as soon as possible. Same goes for series finales. If I am huge fan of series, 99% of time I start reading last instalment on the day of release. I just can’t resist 🙂
Well you are MUCH wiser than I am, Lucia.😂
Actually I don’t procrastinate reading books. Unless it’s a Wheel of Time book. Then I procrastinate bc the books are a) always over 500 pages long, and b) filled WITH GLORIOUS PAIN.
BIG BOOKS ARE SLIGHTLY DAUNTING…though completely necessary to society. *nods* How else would we hope to survive the zombie apocalypse?
I do this. All. The. Time. I still have QUEEN OF SHADOWS & ACOTAR sitting on my shelf… unread (and despite mixed reviews of QoS, I’m pretty certain I’ll love it). I mean, I WANT to read them, but I know I’ll love them. And once they’re read, they’re read, and you can’t unread them. (that… totally makes sense.) basically what I’m saying is this: you know those books you really wish you hadn’t read so quickly, because they’re amazing and you completely loved them? Yeah, basically.
Bahah, well I don’t blame you for not reading QoS…but I do hope you like it instead of being a disgruntled goat like me. *nods* BUT YES. I mean, it’s also the “once it’s read it’s gone”. It’s like eating the last chocolate, right?!? And you can only read a book for the first time once. #truetragedy
AGREE.AGREE.AGREE. I DANG DO ALL OF THIS. A LOT.
WE ARE LIKE TWINS IN THIS MATTER THEN, RICAH.
I do this mostly because the book is huge, and even though I know that I’ll devour that huge book in a couple of days, the procrastination process of starting to read it takes too long. And when the book ends, I know that I was panicking over nothing because it had an end like every book does and I’ll die if I don’t start reading the next book. BUT when the next book arrives in a week or so, I’ll procrastinate again only to re-live the same thing over and over again. Why? I HAVE NO CLUE.
THIS CYCLE IS SO RELATABLE. Omg. You and me both, Ezgi.😂
Omg I do this! I put books I am really excited about on hold sometimes because I am scared of book hangovers. I am also a little worried all the other books on my tbr will suck compared to that book. I want to give every book on my tbr a fair shot at being one that I love. Us bookworms are so strange sometimes.
Great post!
Oh oh and potential book hangovers are SO EXHAUSTING. So we have to like psych ourselves up for that too, right?!
We bookworms ARE so strange. BUT YET ODDLY PROUD OF IT.
Oh, I absolutely procrastinate reading good books. That why I’ve had books on my wishlist for several years. I have every intention of reading them…I’m just not ready for them yet. That’s why it took me so long to start reading the Percy Jackson series or even the Throne of Glass series. They’re books that seem to be loved by all, and I’m terrified that they won’t meet expectations. I’ve been burned too many times by hyped up books!
SAME! It’s the “I’m not ready for it yet” thing that is always me. 😂 It doesn’t mean we don’t want to read them just…not…yet.😂
These are totally legitimate reasons. *nods sagely*
I do this all the time when I overhype the book to myself and then am terrified that just maybe I won’t love it.
I also completely agree with having closure issues with series. This is a legitimate reason for real. I have some books that have been on my bookshelf for quite some time but I can’t bring myself to make the series end. Most recently this is Stars Above by Marissa Meyer that is sitting on the shelf daring me to pick it up.
Thanks for sharing, Cait, and I hope you have a good weekend.
AGH. SAME WITH ME AND STARS ABOVE. Like I know I’ll love it because I’ve rated everything by Marissa Meyer 5-stars. But…still. (Mostly I know it’s ALL OVER once I’ve read that one. *weeps*)
I absolutely do this too! Part of me is scared it won’t live up to my expectations and I’ll be crushed with disappointment. Or I’m not in the mood and thus scared I’ll hate it because of that.
Saaaame. It truly is an aching tragedy right?! Omg.
I am proud of you for finally reading A Darker Shade of Magic, Cait :’) But you must read Wolf by Wolf nowwwww because February #DiverseYABC is about Wolf by Wolf (I nominated it, haha) and it’s next week on the 27th and IT SHALL BE LOTS OF FUN IF YOUR MAJESTY JOINS US. I procrastinate reading good books all the time — normally it’s just because a shinier book has caught my eye, or a slimmer book. I AM LAZY SOMETIMES. But oftentimes if I procrastinate it for too long I proceed to want to just finish it ASAP and skim. Gah.
BUT I NEVER PROCRASTINATE READING SEQUELS/SERIES ENDERS BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THAT CLIFFHANGER TO BE RESOLVED.
I procrastinate BUYING books a lot, though, because $$$$$$. Even when there are preorder campaigns I procrastinate because those campaigns always seem to end before everyone reviews them and I am extremely picky about buying books. Gah.
AND I LOVED ADSOM SO YOU SHOULD BE LIKE DOUBLY PROUD. *nods* Also I will read Wolf by Wolf. I PROMISE.😂 Hopefully in February…omg…why is February so short. The universe is conspiring against me doing all the things. And I am lazy sometimes too *heavy sigh* Sometimes it’s just easier to read a smaller-meh book than a large-excellent book.
I SWEAR I WILL NOT PROCRASTINATE THE RAVEN KING. Or A Gathering of Shadows when it happily arrives on my doorstep. :’)
(I have not ever pre-ordered. OKAY. Except for AGOS? But I hardly feel that counts because I ordered it like 2 days before release.😂)
My reaction to the title: YES. ABSOLUTELY. Finally someone else who has this problem!
My reaction to the rest of the post: YES. This is absolutely true. Especially the first one . . . like, I know I”m going to love it, but I’m terrified of “What if I don’t?” And so I hold off and read other books.
The other reason I tend to procrastinate is that I want to save it for a time when I can read it allllll the way through in one sitting, which is a leftover from when I would borrow books from my friend at Friday night Bible Study and then get up super-early on Saturday morning to read the whole thing before breakfast. Magically, I usually managed it. And I still like to be able to read books all the way through at once- or at least, read for an hour or two when I’m starting a new book I’m excited for. But sometimes during the school year, that doesn’t happen. And so I have to say “Ok, it doesn’t matter that I only have 20 minutes to read; I’m starting this book.”
Apparently there are TONS OF US who have this problem😂 It’s actually such a relief, right?!? hehe. We’re not alone in our intense weirdness…Ahem.
I hate the “what if I don’t” moments so so much because I really want to like ALL the books I read!! AND OMG I HEAR YA WITH THE ONE-SITTING TOO! Like I’ll put off books I know I’m too busy to enjoy thoroughly?!
I guess I’m the opposite? Because I don’t read anything unless I think I’ll really like it. I do my research, read reviews, read the preview on Amazon. This is mainly because I do not have all the live long day to be reading. I can’t always get my hands on books. So when I do, they darn well better be worth my time.
I’m going to get monies today from working. So hoping I can spend those monies on books.
Well you are MUCH smarter than I, that’s all I can say.😂 I want to spend all the monies of ever on books, omg…I need a gold mine. OR SOMETHING.
YESSSSS!!!!!!!
!!!! I’M GLAD YOU AGREE.😂
I’m totally done this. I do it all of them time and I still haven’t figured out why. When I go for a new book the stars must have to be aligned and space must have to be purple or something… It’s strange that we do this. Of course, I end up loving said books that suffer from this after reading 100000 books I didn’t think I’d love. Awsome post, Cait.
It is so strange…but it’s kind of awesomely relieving that I’m not alone in this weirdness.😂 I guess we know how much emotional energy goes into loving a book and we’re just getting up the courage?!?
By the time a book I NEED comes out, I’ve hyped it to the point of no return. It will never live up to my dreams (apart from Embassy Row, in which case I was told a character did not feature much in the second one and proceeded to think that the sequel would be a let down – they told me LIES). I tend to buy books from my favourite series the moment they’re out and read them just as quickly.
This may be the only thing I don’t procrastinate on…
I’m like half and half??! like I hype every Maggie Stiefvater book up an UNREASONABLE amount and yet they always exceed and blast my expectations?!? But tbh it’s so much more relaxing reading books I have no clue about.😂
#2 forever. I have a few series that I’m just hanging on to the last book of because NOPE.
There’s some books that have been overhyped (in my brain and on the internet) that I can’t bring myself to face. And some I’m just worried I’ll hate, but they sound so good 🙁 and of course, it would be the end of existence as I know it, if I hated something! (Except not really).
Me too. hehe. I’m glad I’m not alone, but omg, you and I need to get onto this, don’t we?!? 😛
I’ve done most of these things, oh my. Especially the first one always kills me … like, I’m SO EXCITED for a new book but then, when I have it I’m suddenly not so sure anymore. I’m scared if I’ll like it and if I don’t, what about my precious time that I wasted reading this book I was so excited for??? IT’S STRESSING! Also, I’m incredibly scared of huge books … I have a few of them on my shelves and while they work extremely well as a weapon, I’m so anxious to read them. It’ll take me forever!
Some of the books I still need to read are … The Raven Boys *hides*, A Darker Shade of Magic, The Wrath & the Dawn, Demon Road, Truthwitch, Cress, Revenge and the Wild, The Bone Season and and and … the list goes on and on and on and on. 😀
SAME SAME. The fear is REAL. And scary. And omg I read so many just “meh” books to procrastinate the good ones and it’s soooo silly bUT I CAN’T STOP. *collapses in a heap*
BUT DUDE. The Raven Boys. THE RAAAVEN BOYS. You need get onto that one immediately *nods* And I procrastinated ADSOM for like…9 months?!? I owned it and I STILL WOULDN’T READ IT.😂
I GET YOU!!!!!!! Ugh I do this alllllll the time….a
WE ARE TWINS ON THIS MATTER, CLEARLY.
YES YES YES x1 million. IT’S SO GOOD TO KNOW THAT I AM NOT ALONE.
And, yet again, you have convinced me that procrastinating reading these books is a perfectly sensible and normal and right thing to do. Bless you.
We are ALL sensible normal people, OF COURSE. *flaps around being sensible* I’m sure this isn’t weird of us…I’m suuuure.
I feel like hype is the most frequent cause for me. I’ve built a book up only to be terrified that I won’t like it once its in my hands. Another problem for me is books just getting lost in the shuffle. With so many releases coming every week and trying to read other things, some just get pushed aside. Case in point for me: A Darker Shade of Magic was one I was so excited for upon its release but I didn’t get around to reading it until January of this year. I blame drowning in books!!!!
AGH. I’m glad it’s not just me, but omgggg, hyping up books for oneself is like THE WORST.😂 And so hard tos top! And OMG SAME SAME SAME FOR ME AND A DARKER SHADE OF MAGIC!! I literally had it for a year and only just read it now. (It was perfect, btw. :’)
Yeah, choosing when to read a highly anticipated book can be hard! It’s like… you want to make sure that the conditions are *just right* so that you’ll be able to fully enjoy the experience, but conditions are just right maybe, like, 4 times a year? But then, like you said, you end up wasting time on a lot of middling-to-awful books in the meantime.
BAHHAH 4 times a year. *dies laughing* So true. Okay maybe I brave up a little more than that…but I do spend a TON of time reading “meh” books to protect my feels.😂
I FEEL YOU WHEN IT COMES TO EXPENSIVE BOOKS. For my entire life, my parents have complained about how quick I finish a book that they spent a lot of money on, because they think I didn’t appreciate it enough?! I don’t believe in not appreciating a book just because you devour the pages. Actually, isn’t that the BEST way to appreciate a novel? I don’t know. But, I guess they’re right – it kinda hurts when you spend SO MUCH MONEY on the damn book and then within two hours, it’s gone. You’re made it: you’ve read it and now there’s no way back. But procrastinating fantastic books is fine; once you’ve read it, you’re going to be all like: “WHY HAVENT I READ THIS SOONER” and I somehow like this feeling.
BAHHAH I HEAR YOU THERE.😂 Although I’m the one who’s like “yeah I need to take a break because I’m reading too fast”. Which is so ridiculous. Like isn’t it the biggest compliment to read a book mega fast?!? AT LEAST IT WAS A WELL SPENT AMOUNT OF MONEY ON THOSE TWO HOURS. *nods*
I do this so often! Mostly because the books aren’t at the library and I can never make up my mind about whether it’s REALLY worth it to buy a copy, but there are a couple that are already on my shelf that I have no excuse for. What We Left Behind by Robin Talley was one of my most anticipated releases for last year, so I got it as soon as it came out…and I still haven’t read it. And Between Shades of Gray has been on my shelf for almost a year now. Those are both victims of Clara hype (which is a term I’m DEFINITELY using from now on. It applies to so many books!) There are times when I think about waiting to read series finales, and then I end up devouring them immediately anyway because I DON’T WANT TO BE SPOILED. That happened for Allegiant and I’ve learned my lesson.
I’ve meant to read Between Shades of Gray for A ZILLION YEARS TOO OMG. All this procrastination. *flaps about aimlessly* And I think we should all start naming hype after ourselves. Clarahype Caithype…it just is an excellent idea, tbh.
(Omg the spoilers for Allegiant were SO HARD to avoid. I was away from internet the month it released…thank goodness.😂)
Nailed it!
I definitely am put off picking up a book when I am in a bad mood when I am so excited to read it. Though sometimes, if I risk it, the reward is so good and it picks up my spirit and I kick myself for being so silly in the first place.
I am equally scared and excited to pick up a finale book to a series I love. Words cannot describe the emotions I went through when I picked up and finsihed Ruby Circle last year in the Bloodlines series.
(PS Orphan Queen is fabulous and totally worth it)
Ohhh I totally agree! Half the time all my procrastination and howling is for ZERO REASON and I love the book and it’s perfect.😂
OH MY WORD I DO THIS SO BAD. FOR ALL THE REASONS YOU MENTIONED. Like, I got The Girl From Everywhere from Netgalley and I just ‘nope’ every time I think about it. Also I bought Code Name Verity WITH ACTUAL MONIES like forever ago and I keep smiling fondly at it on my shelf and //not touching it//. I have so many unread and potentially awesome books on my bookshelf. I just… IT’S NOT THE RIGHT DAY YET.
also, writing ‘send cake’ with your socks in morse code XD you adorable human.
OF COURSE I AM ADORABLE. THAT’S LIKE MY MIDDLE NAME.
Bahahaha…I’m glad you did get the Girl from Everywhere though. AND I HOPE YOU GET BRAVE ENOUGH TO READ IT SOON. *nods* Although the pain of Code Name Verity is real, Lisa. Make sure you, like, are very emotionally prepared. Ahem.
I think that’s one reason I keep putting it off??? Everyone I know who’s read it says it is so much pain??? i are a scaredy
I put off reading quite a lot, for literally no reason?!?! Oftentimes it’s because one of the characters is in a tight spot and I just CAN’T BEAR TO READ ON AND SEE THEIR SUFFERING ANY LONGER.
– Ellie
http://ontheothersideofrealitynew.blogspot.com
AGHHH I HEAR YA. I usually don’t put it off while I AM reading. But sometimes I put off books for absolutely no reason than just not being prepared to see characters suffer. XD
Oh my gosh, I do this like you won’t believe. I took me MONTHS to read Blue Lily, Lily Blue after it came out because I was so sure I was going to love it dearly. Same thing with Fangirl and Ready Player One. I don’t want to be let down so I just don’t read them! I need to work on that.
Also, totally read Wolf By Wolf. I cried. And I almost never cry during books.
I DO ACTUALLY ABSOLUTELY BELIEVE YOU BECAUSE I DID THE SAME.😂 I didn’t even buy it for like 3 months after it came out?!? I was that nervous.
Omgggg…maybe my Vulcan heart will fail and I’ll cry too?!
I totally get the over-hyped in my head and series ending things, but I’m still always too eager about the book to postpone it more than, like, a day lol. If I’m in a bad mood though, I will definitely wait because I agree that that can totally ruin a book! But again, that usually doesn’t postpone much. The only other reason I can think of is that sometimes I use books as a reward, like, I can’t start ABC book until I’ve done XYZ. But holding off on rewards that you’re giving yourself is hard because willpower. Lol.
Bad mods are the WORST when it comes to reading. *nods* Or like reading slumps?? When you’re in a rut and hating everything. 😂 Or maybe that only happens to me. hheh.
This summarizes my life completely! I’m so behind on so many good books (mainly because I need money to buy them – I only buy books I’m sure I’ll enjoy) and it makes me feel like I’ll never catch up! I haven’t finished the Seven Realms series either!! Like I know at the end she’s going to end up with one of the two guys and I’m not sure what I’m going to do with my life, especially since I can’t decide which guy I’d like her to end up with 😫. I also need to read Percy Jackson, Robin Hobb’s books, Brandon Sanderson, and the list goes on…
(I only like to buy books I’m like 98% sure I’ll love too.😂 It makes book buying rather stressful..but better than having a house of ugh books, right?!) I NEED TO READ THE SEVEN REALMS BEFORE THE NEW SERIES COMES OUT OMG. *hyperventilates slightly* So much to do…yet here we sit. Procrastinating.😂
Oh my goodness, yes! I haven’t been able to really put it in words myself, but all of these make so much sense!
Maybe I had such high expectations for A Game of Thrones that I just can’t enjoy it now?
Is this self-sabotage, and if so – why do we do this to ourselves?!
Great post, made me giggle and sag with the ‘I’m not the only one!’ kind of relief.
WE ARE LIKE TWINS IN THIS MATTER THEN, ANNIKA. *hi fives* And I’m pretty sure we’re just doomed to suffer. So we might as well eat cake. *shrugs* *breaks out the cake*
YES, *hi five!*
well, if there’s cake everything will be alright 😉
I do this too! Recently I’ve been procrastinating a certain book I knew I would love purely because the next book in the series isn’t due out for a while and so I wanted to span it out until nearer the release date. I couldn’t hold it off any longer though and now I’ve read it and have to wait ages for the next one! 🙁
That’s me with The Orphan Queen because I’ve heard the cliffhanger is wicked.😂 IT’S SO HARD WAITING THO.
There are so MANY series that I haven’t read the last book to. I just can’t take the pain if my favorite character dies.
THE PAIN IS TERRIBLE AND REAL. *gives us both chocolate cake for past traumas*
omg tHIS IS LITERALLY ME. I do this so much like I’ve been putting off books like Uprooted by Naomi Novik and The Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson and The Wrath and The Dawn and A Darker Shade Of Magic and I’ve been picking up just these filler books in between that I forget about literally the next day like wHY DO I PROCRASTINATE BOOKS THAT I KNOW IM GOING TO LOVE. It makes zero sense most of the time and it’s always for the most absurd reasons ever lmao
Oh oh I totally understand putting off the Mistborn series. I THINK BRANDON SANDERSON WANTS TO WRITE A BOOK AS TALL AS EVEREST SOMEDAY, OMG. Those books are huge. (Although excellent!!)😂 And zomg I hear ya with the filler books. I do that too. WHyyyyy?! It’s like wasting my time and YET I CAN’T STOP.
YESS! I totally do this too! Ugh. It’s a terrible bad habit I need to break. Thanks for the great post, Cait!
It IS hard to break this habit.😂 Ahhh, we bookworms are such strange creatures.
BRAIN TWIN. I AGREE WITH EVERY POINT. Ugh!! I do this so often it’s ridiculous. Like, if I can’t dedicate at least like four hours, I won’t even start. For weeks. It really is sad. And series finales, oh goodness, the more I love them the harder it is to read.
Right now I’m half way through Raven Boys and REALLY LIKING IT. I’m trying not to avoid it though, forcing myself to pick to up even if I only have five minutes. I’m not regretting it. It’s still as good. 😉
OMG HI FIVE ME, MY BRAIN TWIN. *flails about wildly* It is ridiculous. Whyyyyy are our brains such odd things? And omg I don’t start books if I know I don’t have enough time to read them too!! 😛
I AM FREAKING OUT ABOUT THE RAVEN KING. BUT ALSO NOW FREAKING OUT THAT YOU’RE READING THE RAVEN BOYS. *FLAILS WILDLIER* SQUEEEEEEEEE.
*HIGH FIVES YOU* It’s crazy. xD And Raven Boys is going WAHNDERFULLY EEEEEK!
AAFJDKSALD I AM SO GLAD YOU’RE LOVING MY DARLING LITTLE RAVEN BOYS. *casually falls in love with all 4 of the boys*
This happens to me all the time! I just know I’ll love the book; it sounds like SUCH a Rachel book. But then I keep finding excuses or distractions that prevent me from reading it. Then when I do eventually pick up the book, even though I’m loving it I tend to procrastinate more and it takes me even longer to finish the book even though I’m loving it. It’s probably a mix of me never wanting the book to end (I took a week with CoHF because I DID NOT WANT IT TO END *cries* and I don’t know what the other half is. Maybe it’s just my mind rebelling against the awesomeness of the book? Who knows… Great post as always <3
Saaaaame. I have like a STACK of books that are perfect Cait Books right now…and yet. Have I read them? NOPE. I almost like ARCs over buying-books because at least the ARCs have that “due date” and I’m forced to read them, highly anticipated or not.😂
Yes to all of this!!! It’s so annoying when your brain does the thing!!!
OUR BOOKWORM BRAINS ARE SO WEIRD, OMG. #bookwormproblems
Hah, I suffer from pretty much all of these problems. Being a dedicated bookworm IS hard. I also put off books if I have a Kindle copy from my library, rather than a physical library book. It’s so easy to save them for “later.” Just don’t ask me when “later” is. xD
When you figure out when “later” is, let me know. Because I’m waiting for it too.😂
See, this is a new thing for me, and I blame book blogging. Or rather, I blame book blogs. I never used to have as many books I was highly anticipating. It was more likely I’d be at the library and go, “WHAT? There’s a new Reginald Hill out? Awesome!” then I’d take it home and read it that afternoon. (Well, over the next two days in Hill’s case, because his books got really long towards the end there.) But now I’m all, “Patrick Ness has a book coming out in two months, so I must get on the holds list now and then check it out and not read it and have to turn it back in because someone else wants it so then I convince myself that I can buy it because it’s YA and I can donate it to my classroom, but I can’t let them have it until I’ve read it and oh gosh it’s been sitting on my desk for three months now, why haven’t I read it?” This is partly due to being aware of new and upcoming books in ways I wasn’t before, and partly due to feeling like so many books have been recommended to me by the community, instead of having to find everything on my own like I used to.
Which definitely leads to fear that I’ve over-anticipated something that might just be good, not great.
We can probably blame book blogs for….EVERYTHING.😂 I never even used to have a TBR before book blogging, hehe. I just borrowed a few books from the library and got to them whenever? ;D But hehe, I relate to this comment SO MUCH. I don’t regret it?! But it can be overwhelming suddenly knowing ALL THE RELEASES and trying to be organised to read them and then avoid spoilers on the internet and etc etc. GAH. #bookwormproblems
Sometimes I stall reading a good book if I have a lot of books to read because it’s like saving one for dessert? But generally, NOPE! Not at all!
OH OH SAVING IT FOR DESSERT I LOVE THAT. Books for dessert. :’)
Sooo, since I am not a bookworm, I don’t have this same problem exactly. But I do put off writing letters EVEN THOUGH I love to write letters! Like, if I know the letter is going to be really long, I put it off, even though long letters are one of my favorite kinds! So that’s similar to your predicament, but not ezactly the same.
You’re not a bookworm? O-o
*whispers* What do you DO with your life?!?!?!?!
It totally works for like ANYTHING right?!? 😂 And omg I put off long emails…soooo bad. So I understand the letter predicament too!!
A big yes to #1. There are a few books like that that I can think of. And yet, when I do read one of those books, I’ll usually say, “Why did I wait so long to read this awesomeness?!”
We’re silly little readers sometimes, aren’t we?
SAME. I love/hate that moment of “whyyyy did I not read this sooner?” 😂 I had that with A Darker Shade of Magic just last week actually. I legit procrastinated that book after owning it for NEARLY A YEAR. Omg. I am so weird.😂😂
*raises hand* I do this too. And yeah…. sometimes it just doesn’t feel like the right time to read that book. BUT YET I MUST HAVE IT. I WON’T READ IT FOR THREE YEARS BUT I WANT TO KNOW THAT I WILL BE ABLE TO READ IT WHEN I’M READY.
As for series finales… sometimes I just like imagining that my ships haven’t completely sank and everyone is happy instead of whatever final apocalypse they had to go through. And I am also very scared for The Raven King, despite the fact I have it on pre-order. Maggie is going to smush my feels and then dance on them! *pre-TRK flail and freakout*
SAME SAME ABSOLUTELY AGREE WITH THIS. Sometimes we must just own books for the RIGHT moment. *nods sagely* How one is to tell when that “right” moment is upon us…pfft. No clue. But omg I hate it when my ships sink. OR WHEN I KNOW A GOOD CHARACTER IS GONNA DIE. I’m terrified about The Raven King. I’m 99% sure someone is going to die and probably not Gansey? But that doesn’t make it any better. LEMMMMMMME CRY.
*NODS* I have had Linger in my possession since Christmas and I do want to read it, but I am not emotionally ready to have my feels willingly smushed that hard. I was exhausted after I read Shiver!
*nods* I still think Gansey will die, because Maggie has said over and over that he will, but I think that it may be he doesn’t stay dead? (There’s a difference between all dead and mostly dead, you know.) Or maybe they all die, so it isn’t as sad? Or maybe it’s not a physical death? (I’m just trying to be optimistic, but optimism probably won’t help that much.) *starts crying with you and offers tissues*
I agree. I think he WILL die but won’t stay dead. I honestly think Adam/Ronan/Blue will sacrifice themselves for him. And I am 10000000% not okay with that idea but I THINK IT’LL HAPPEN TBH.
Oh my goodness, you pretty much just described my mind here. I get so nervous about starting books that I’m super excited about, and it’s always been weird for me. But I’m worried I won’t love them or I’ll be in the wrong mood while reading them and that will ruin them for me forever, and like, everything you listed. I’m especially shy about series finales because I get disappointed a lot, and I don’t want to get disappointed. And it’s nerve-wracking.
Anyways, I agree with this post 10000% percent.
And it’s like the WORST thing to really really want to like a book and then it falls flatter than a pancake. BOO. And I get that a lot, because I’m such a tough critic these days #mybad and I want to love ALL THE BOOKS. *flails sadly*
Oh gosh yes, I also do this. And I don’t know why either! Maybe because I don’t need to know if it is good or not because I know it is going to be….. at least I really hope I know! And really it is quite silly… but I do it.
I kind of love/hate not knowing if I’m going to like a book?!? Like the adventure is grand…buuut. THE SUSPENCE HURTS.
OMG CAIT IT HAS BEEN SO LONG SINCE ONE OF MY COMMENTS HAS GRACED YOUR WONDROUS BLOG. i apologise profusely. it’s been a busy time aka revising for exams is killing me and i haven’t peeped my head out the hole i burrowed myself into for WEEKS.
BUT HEY, I’M BACK (for who knows how long!) ready to get my teeth into your debate.
For me, the ONLY reason I procrastinate reading a book I have been wanting to read for AGES is because I am not ‘in the mood’ for that type of book. I am a huge mood reader. so if a fantasy book i HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR FOR A YEAR finally reaches me but i’m only in the mood for sci-fi i won’t read it, lest i ruin a potentially good book due to my mood and not the book itself.
Other than that, i dive straight in (and sometimes it kills the ‘mood’ i was in and i’m suddenly all for that certain book’s genre.) e.g. Winter landed on my doorstep and i was only in the mood for contemporary. But i was like HECK I’VE WAITED THIS LONG I’M GOING TO READ IT NOWWWW, and i did. i read it in a day. and i didn’t regret it. (I really need her new book in my life now, and Fairest. AGH, bookworm struggles.)
YES IT HAS, HAWWA, SHAME ON YOU. MY BLOG HAS BEEN WITHERING WITHOUT YOUR DIVINE PRESENCE LET’S BE HONEST NOW. HOW HAVE I EVEN SURVIVED? I DON’T KNOOOOOOW. Ahem. But omg exams!! *sad noises* *gives you cake*
Mood reading is a HUGE THING. *nods* I can’t even stand the thought of tackling a huge fantasy if I’m not in the right headspace for it. It kills a good book, you know?!? And if I’m really cranky after a slew of dodgy books, I’m very likely to rate a book low.😂 IT’S BAD BUT IT IS WHAT IT IS.
WAIT. YOU READ WINTER IN A DAY?! *bows to your skills* It took me like 2 weeks…but then I listened to the audio so I blame that too. 😛 I HAVE STARS ABOVE TO READ SOON THO!! *flails*
Oh yes! All of the above, but also if I read the book then it’s read. I don’t have it waiting for me anymore. I feel rich with a stockpile of ‘I-know-I-can-count-on-this-book-to-be-wonderful’ books. As long as they’re not read, I can anticipate the enjoyment. But also, what if they’re not quite as good as I hoped, or I’m not emotionally prepared to plunge in and engage or…
Omg I LOVE the feeling of “I-have-read-this-book”…I honestly adore looking at my shelves and thinking that I’ve read them and how awesome that feels.😂
LOL this was such a coincidence because I was just thinking of writing about this topic! You wrote it infinitely better than I could’ve though, so it’s okay. XD
#1 is so totally me though. Like, I’m just dreadfully scared that I’m going to be disappointed?!! I DON’T GO WELL WITH DISAPPOINTMENTS. Hehe. Also, series finales are so stressful sometimes! There’s just so much that could go wrong. <3 Amazing post, Cait!
Awww, sorry for stealing your post!!😂 (But honestly, go ahead and write your take!! I would be so interested to read it. ;D) I HATE DISAPPOINTMENTS SO MUCH TOO. Gahhhhh. They are total sad things. *heavy sigh*
I do this ALL THE TIME. In fact, most of the unread books on my physical shelves are ones I’m sure I’ll love. Honestly, I buy books in bulk so it’s not even about the books themselves…it’s just that I forget about them. And they’re all like that. So none of them particularly stand out and say READ ME READ ME. So my brain goes “forget those. You have ARCs that you requested 2 years ago that you need to read. They’re probably crap but you HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY. You can get to those good books when you’ve caught up on ARCs.” Which never happens because I have SO MANY [probably mediocre] ARCs to read. The only time I allow myself to read books I know I’ll love is if I’m re-reading a series. (Like Harry Potter, which I’m doing right now in between blog tour books.) It’s a sad life.
Hehe, basically WE HAVE SO MANY BOOKS THAT DEMAND OUR ATTENTIONS OMG. It gets overwhelming.😂 But we neeeed to read them all. And I often put off reading books I buy too, in favour of those ARCs with their pesky due dates. ;D Actually the du dates are good?!? Because then I don’t procrastinate reading them. XD
I”m with you 100% on the “this series is ending and I’m in denial” reasoning. I adore L.A. Meyer’s Bloody Jack series so much that I can’t bring myself to finish it. I own every single one of his books, but just thinking about it reading them and bringing the series to a close makes me want to weep. :’-(
I AM THE SAME. But with Skulduggery Pleasant!! AGHHH. I just foresee so much pain, but whenever I read a book I rate it 5-stars.😂 I have problems.
I do believe I could have just wrote this column myself as everything you said was me. As I sit here and respond to your column I stare at a stack of books, I long to read but have failed to open their pages as to do so would go against what I have always done. Why I do this, I have no idea….it drives me crazy as sometimes when I make the plunge I am totally disappointed that I waited so long, that my expectations were so high that I feel deflated. I have vowed this year to allow myself some instant gratification, to take the plunge more often and not hold back because why should everyone else have all the fun. I know what I say and what I actually do, is going to be an uphill battle but it’s a goal I really want to strive for.
Thanks for your message today- it was real and it hit home. I’m not alone and I like that there are others who are with me in this procrastinating world.
OMG SO WE ARE BASICALLY TWINS, SANDY?! *hi five* I relate to your comment 1000% too.😂 I hate the deflation thing. Like mostly books are fine? GREAT even, and all my worry was for nothing…but sometimes I honestly over-hype myself so much that they just have no chance of living up to my expectations and I end up wailing. LIFE IS SO TOUGH FOR BOOKWORMS.
UM YES. I put off reading Storm Siren by Mary Weber because it just sounded so awesome, like the story I have in my head, and I was so desperate for it to be perfect, and it sucked that I was so scare to open it because Mary had sent me a signed copy!
Anyway, I eventually DID read it and of course I LOVED IT and I wanted to have its babies.
Part of it I think is because I’m reeeeeally good at surprises, so I’m good at waiting patiently for things, and I wanted to enjoy the book even before I opened it. I still have Lego on the shelf I bought weeks ago I haven’t built because I’m trying to enjoy all aspects of it. I think it’s the same thing. You can’t go back and read a book for the first time again.
I UNDERSTAND SO MUCH. 😂 That is legit me half the time…like all the procrastinating because of fear? TOTALLY unnecessary.😂 But yet I persist in doing it, omg. whyyyyy, brain, whyyyy.
I put off reading Blue Lily, Lily Blue by Maggie Stiefvater for months because the Raven Kind seemed like FOREVER away. Now it’s so close to coming out and I’m scared.
I UNDERSTAND. I put off Blue Lily for…omg, maybe 3 or 4 months?!? I wouldn’t even buy it. (Naturally it is now one of my favourite books of all time BUT STILL. THE FEAR IS REAL. I honestly hope I read the Raven King when it comes out straight away tho…I’m terrified someone will spoil it for me otherwise. :P)
THANK YOU FOR PUTTING MY THOUGHTS INTO WORDS. Honestly, I relate to all of this 100%. These reasons are why I haven’t read most of the books that I really really want to read. I never quite understood why I couldn’t bring myself to read them either, but now it all makes sense. Thank you!!
YOU ARE MOST WELCOME, ERIN. WE ARE TWINS IN THIS THEN. *hi fives*
Cait this is so accurate it’s actually starting to become slightly creepy.
…
…
DON’T WORRY I STILL LIKE YOU *sends panda hugs*
My biggest pet hate is that one about when you’ve heard it ends on a cliffhanger and the next book doesn’t come out for ages. BUT. Sometimes I can actually read a book, enjoy it, cry over the cliffhanger, etc, and THEN. The author takes SO LONG to release the next book that I ACTUALLY FORGET that book and have to READ IT AGAIN. Which is PERFECT because then I can read the first/second/whatever-number-of-books-there-are again, relive the story and all the pain and torture and cliffhangers and then LOW BEHOLD a GLORIOUS next book ARRIVES!
But there’s a fine line between “waiting such a long amount of time that you forget the first few books” and “waiting a [normally] long amount of time in which you are suffering the entire time”. All about TIMING, Cait. TIMING.
Okay I’ll stop now because my AWKWARD AND STRANGE CAPITALISATION is starting to IMPLODE. This is what happens when you INTERNET when you’re TIRED.
WHAT CAN I SAY. I AM A MIND READER AND I KNOW EVERYTHING. *cackles*
Ahem. But seriously now *nods* those cliffhangers…authors do it PURELY to torture us. And it’s like a vicious cycle? Because when a reader has had ENOUGH, they just turn into a writer so they can get their revenge. And the cliffhangers keep coming.
TIMING IS IMPORTANT. I DON’T DENY. But, tbh, I just forget things within a week of reading, so you can imagine how fast I forget them when I have to wait a year plus.😂
AWKWARD STRANGE CAPITALISATION IS MY FAVOURITE THO.
Cait, you make no sense to me. LOL. Although the books that are usually the crazily-hyped ones aren’t often genres that I love. Like…the Red Queen hype just flew right over me, because dystopian = death.
Why is there not more hype for contemporaries, goshdarnit. Actually I wrote a post on that. Shh.
(I do admit to sometimes putting off books if I’m not in the best reading mood…great books have been spoiled because of that)
OF COURSE I MAKE NO SENSE. That should honestly be the title of my blog. Instead of Paper Fury. It should be “Cait Makes No Sense”. BECAUSE THAT’D BE THE TRUTH. *collapses*
(I don’t even know WHY Red Queen is hyped. It’s totally cliche/overdone. -_-)
*reads title* YES 100%
I completely agree with you on this one, especially point 3 – good books are INCREDIBLY exhausting. It’s like my version of exercise. You just have to really new in the right frame of mind, and connect with the characters, and be wary that you won’t be able to put the book down so your arms will be facing severe book pain. Is it worth it? Of course. Does it make me procrastinate reading them? I’m so lazy, it honestly does.
Also, I hate it when your friends have hyped a book up so much, and you’re scared that if you don’t like it they will hate you and your opinions for the next lifetime. Like that’s not okay for me – I need friends to balance out my book obsession to maintain some sort of semi-social life (leaving the house once a year, fab) 😛
OMGGG YAY I AM NOT ALONE IN MY WEIRDNESS.😂 And omg I love the exercise analoyg. YES 😂 Tired arms are a real thing too, *nods* and honestly I strained my wrists the other day on a particularly large book. THE HORRORS WE BOOKWORMS FACE.
Also being worried that your friends will hate you for not liking a book….MEEEEE. XD I mean, we probably don’t need to worry? But still. I hate confessing I hate someone else’s favourite!
(Pfft, why even leave the house once a year? I’m all for once every 7 years, tbh.)
I always find myself putting off amazing sounding books, mainly becasue of your first point actually. I read and see all this hype about said book and then I get super excited and I just want the raw happiness to last forever! I know that when I finally read the book it will either be a massive disappointment or it’ll be so good that the feels will just hurt TOO MUCH. I also love seeing all the, hopefully, great books I have left on my shelf to read. Obviously this occasionally leads to late night freak outs about how I can never read all the amazing books I want to read in this lifetime, but most of the time I just like having lots of interesting books to look forward too!
Thanks for the great discussion post! I’ve actually never thought about this but now I’m seriously questioning why I overhype so many books and procrastinate from reading them. : )
The excitement of will-this-book-be-my-next-ultimate-favourite IS SO HARD TOO.😂 I often hype books just by myself though, omg, and then get scared that I’ve over-hyped them. *facepalm* Also it’s horrible when the books you reeeeally want to love turn out sucky, right?!?
WE ARE TWINS IN THIS, PROBABLY, KATE. *hi fives*
WE ARE TWINS IN THIS! But I’m not sure that’s a good thing if we both put off of books we know we’ll love X D
It’s probably a terrible thing.😂 BUT AT LEAST WE’rE NOT ALONE.
I do this all the time. It’s stupid. I’ll buy this book I know I absolutely have to read immediately…. and then I don’t read it immediately. I think the hyping it for yourself is a very strong reason for me putting off reading books, but also the bad mood thing and the various other stupid reasons. There is no logic to it, but I do this over and over again. It took me a few months to read Carry On by Rainbow Rowell because I was scared I’d be disappointed. I do it over and over agin for no apparent reason and I think it’s a habit I should break but I then do the same over and over again. I think some people are just like this, it’s just another unusual quirk of my personality.
It is stupid, omg, WHY DO OUR BRAINS INSIST ON DOING THIS, BECKY?!? I have a pile of books I had to “read immediately”…and still have not. *facepalm* Sometimes it’s actually easier to read books I have zero expectations or knowledge about.😂 And I was absolutely the same with Carry On. 😛 I just didn’t really get how it’d work as a book? LUCIKLY IT WAS BRILLIANT.
I do this too, especially, when I read the first part which is amazing and then there is the second part which I’m exited about, but the third part is out the next year which means SO MUCH WAITING! Also, if the first part is amazing, I’m scared whether the second one will be as good or not. Snow like Ashes is the case. SLA was my favourite, but I heard a few not so awesome thing about the second part and now I’m panicking because I don’t want her to end up with Mather and I fear it will ruin me.
By the way, I’m scared by huge books too. I thought I’m the only one! I mean, there are huge books I know I will like, but if it’s just the first part… thanks but no thanks. I don’t want to judge by the number of pages because every book is beautiful but I tend to avoid them.
OMG THE WAITING IS A KILLER.😂 Plus I totally concur on the Snow Like Ashes front…I have Ice Like Fire out from the library BUT I’M TERRIFIED OF IT. I’ve heard such bad things! But SLA was amazing?! So idek…we need to get brave I suppose.😂 (Also Ice like Fire is HUGE. Omg, I huge books are just the biggest fear of my ever.)
This is ME!!!! I am the worst at this – and I think your non-purple sky excuse is probably the most logical explanation because, for the life of me, I can’t figure out an ACTUAL logical reason for why I do this. Especially when it comes to series enders. I was so incredibly proud of myself when I finished the Unwind series last year, but I still have like three or four series that I ADORED where I haven’t read the last book. It’s nonsense – pure nonsense! (Oh, and go read Wolf by Wolf and Orphan Queen. Tell your brain that I said they’re really horrible books and you don’t need to put them off – but don’t check my reviews or anything!)
I’m really honestly sure the non-purple sky thing is a BIG DEAL and muchly overlooked. *nods* But it has to be the reason for most of my bookworm problems.
(Omg I like KNOW I’m going to love Wolf by Wolf AND the Orphan Queen. They look like such CAIT BOOKS…except I’ve heard that The Orphan Queen has a wicked cliffhanger. AM I GOING TO BE IN MUCH PAIN, NICOLE?!)
OMG YES TO EVERYTHING IN THIS POST!!!! X 1000. Out of all of these though No. 1 is 100% me! Great post!
WE ARE LIKE TWINS IN THIS THEN, KRISTIN.
OMG OMG OMG OH.MY.GOD. This is actually me!!! I still have to read Allegiant and Opposition but I just can’t force myself to do it because I don’t want it to end. I had a problem when City Of Heavenly Fire came out and I bought straight away but couldn’t put my hands on it and actually start reading it because it meant I was about to finish that fantastic series and I knew my heart couldn’t stand it. Am I crazy saying so? I don’t know but God knows how that feels. And it feels weird. I’m glad I’m not the only one tho…
YOU ARE NOT CRAZY BECAUSE I AM THE SAME. Or…wait. Maybe we’re both crazy?? < -- Very real possibility. I bought a Peter Pan retelling recently because I WAS SO FREAKING EXCITED FOR IT. Have I read it? Nope. 😂
Oh my gawd! There is comment numbers insanity on this post! Ha ha! Yeah, wanting my mood and environment to be optimal is one of my big problems. I need a good block of uninterrupted time and the right season for the angle of light coming in the windowS to be perfect, and have all the books so cliffhangers be damned, and…. ALL THE THINGS!
Clearly we are all secretly procrastinators.😂 ANYWAY. BUT YUS. Mood is a big thing, actually. Like I never would’ve pegged myself as a mood-reader??? But I am. *nods* Because I often am putting off fantasies until I’m in a good mood for them. Plus fantasies take waaaaay more brain power, omg.
Yes and no.
Last year with Outlander #8 I came out, I started right in after I downloaded and then abruptly stopped because I felt i was reading it too fast. 🙂
Most of the time, I try to jump right in as soon as I get a book, but I don’t do much if any pre-ordering so usually I have been waiting ages to get a copy of a book and want to read it NOW.
Hehe, I’ve done that!! I was just blasting away through this book that was unusually expensive…so I totally set it down because of that reason.😂 WHICH IS KINDA DUMB, BUT I AM A WEIRDO. I don’t do much pre-ordering either….or any. I’ve literally only ever pre-ordered one book and that was like 3 days before release so I’m not even sure it counts. 😛
I DO THIS TOO.
This is how I’ve had books I’m so sure I would love on my shelf for literally like three years. Why must I procrastinate so horribly.
I seriously wish I was as good of a bookworm as you are! But seriously. #7 is my life. I’ve banned myself from Netgalley because I refuse to lose my 80% ratio!
I need to ban myself from netgalley at the moment.😂 Although my ratio is good? BUT SERIOUSLY I HAVE ENOUGH TO READ. *tells self severely as self creeps onto netgalley*
SAME. I still check it like every day because… who knows what will pop up! I need to only request things I’m SURE I want to read.
YESSS I put off books so much!!! I feel exact;y the same way as you!! I can’t even list anymore reasons because THEY ARE THE SAME!! This is a serious twinning moment… *embraces the moment* but for reals, I have been putting off reading The Infernal Devices for a year. 365 days of me passing it by in the library. 365 days of me passing it by in a bookstore. Well that is a lie as I did buy the 1st and 3rd book in January. But yet I didn’t buy the 2nd…? So it has been on my shelf for a month. And I haven’t read it… This is not the first book I have done this with… WHYYY. Whyy must I do this to myself.
WE ARE LIKE TWINS HERE, MAYA. *hi fives* I put off Clockwork Princess for like 6months. I AM TERRIBLE. 😂
I think this is pretty normal actually, especially when there are so many books to read. You want to read the boo you are SURE you like when you feel like it, like you said. You have to be really wanting to read and wanting to read that genre and about those characters (if it’s a sequel) or you could end up hating it more than you would or whatever.
EXACTLY! Although I’m usually sure I WILL like the book, I just end up putting it off for all these silly reasons, mostly…in case I don’t like it and get disappointed. XD WHICH REALLY IS RIDICULOUS. OMG, BRAIN, YOU WEIRDO.
I do this all the time. It’s funny, because whenever I do procrastinate on reading a book, I always end up loving it in the end. xD I think a lot of it has to do with overhyping, and the fact that I’m nervous I won’t like it as much as other people did.
And I totally feel you about the whole mood-reading thing. Sometimes I think to myself “Oh, I’ll read that book, but I’m not in the mood for it today.” …And then I repeat that for the next few days until I finally force myself to read it. Thanks for sharing Cait and, as always, fabulous post! ♥
P.S. You are going to absolutely adore Wolf by Wolf. It’s a total Cait book. (Bonus: I gave it a full four stars! How could you refuse now?!)
Mostly me too!! 😂 Like usually my feelings of “omg I’m going to love this” are right…but then I go and put them off in CASE I’M WRONG OMG. hehe My brain overhypes books way. too. much. for nearly like no reason at all. This is why I actually LIKE ARCs because it forces me to read books that I am highly anticipating and not be scared off them. 😂
I’m SO SO sure I’m going to like Wolf by Wolf. WHEN HAVE YOU AND I EVER BEEN DIFFERENT?!? (Okay…City of Bones. But that’s like 1 out of a million.😂)
I don’t even know where to begin responding to this post because I totally hear you on all the points you’ve mentioned (except series finales/final novels. If anything I just slow down, try to savour as much as I can before the last line)! A lot of the time I do put books off because I heard so many positive things about it and I’m afraid that when I read it it will let me down (and it’s happened on a few occasions) and I’ve perhaps hyped it up in my head a bit much. Mood definitely plays a big role for me too so I try not to force myself to read a particular book if I’m not up for it (another reason why I don’t request for many ARCs these days).
Being let down with a book is THE WORST so it’s totally natural for us to be scared of that, right?!? I hope. 😂 And omg reading a potentially excellent book but being in the wrong mood? THAT IS A SCARY SAD THING.
I definetly put off books if they’re the end of the series. I can’t handle it being over.
When I was reading Harry Potter for the first time I remember pausing in the library. I was holding Deathly Hallows in my hands and it occurred to me that that was the last book and I almost put it back. Theeeeeen I was over come with excitement and took it home. I can’t say that I’m a pleasure delayer, haha.
Fun post!
Me neeeeither. DENIAL IS THE ONLY WAY. *cuddles finales and doesn’t read them*
Let’s see… I usually don’t want to start a book because it is a) big, b) I don’t think I’ll like it as much as I expect I’ll like it, or c) I feel compelled to avoid reading it for reasons that I want not to believe. Which is confusing, but for years I just sat around and read Twilight synopses on Wikipedia because I thought Twilight was bad and immoral and I was afraid that I would get turned into an evil person if I read it (SIXTH GRADE WAS A BAD TIME OKAY??) and so I just sat around and didn’t read it and it was long.
But then I finally worked up the nerve not just to read Twilight but to own the fact that I read it. *nods* And that made it better.
Other times, I have to admit, I also convince myself that I won’t like a book a ton. And in fact, in terms of most of my favorite books, I was convinced I would hate them when I started them. Just a unique me-quirk, I guess.
Owning the fact that one reads a book can be quite a big deal too. I agree!! I was a wimp about Twilight and got my little sister to borrow it out for me because I was so embarrassed.😂BUT IT WAS A FEW YEARS BACK AND I WAS WEAK. I wouldn’t be ashamed of it now, tbh. Read what we want. *nods* I don’t like other people to tell me what to think of a book??? But I don’t deny it happens. *pats shoulder* *gives you a twilight themed cupcake*
Oh my goodness, YES. Mostly series sequels or finales- especially finales. Because I can’t. If it’s really GOOD then I don’t want it to end and I get sad because it’s over. If it’s BAD, I get really ragey and vow to never read a Veronica Roth book again 😉 If it’s “meh”, I feel wholly deprived and let down (looking at you, Dustlands series), and if it is an open ending, I ask fellow bookpeople to help me send petitions for epilogues. No matter what, my face is sad.
Now. the big book is another real issue. Because look. I have a lot to do. And all 824 pages of Winter make me want to weep. (And I haven’t even read Cress yet, but shhhh.) Also, Queen of Shadows. Because some people love it. SOme people hate it. And all I know is that I was spoiled about things (people on Twitter can be REAL jerks) AND it’s 648 pages and looks like it could severely injure my cat, so like… I am absolutely procrastinating.
Why is being bookish so HARD?
LIKE RAGING STAR. *cries* I was right to put that off, omg, and I mean I could’ve just listened to you??? Buuuuut…I HAD TO SEE FOR MYSELF AND NOW I’M PERPETUALLY SAD. Ahem.
(Omg, I can’t wait for the next Veronica Roth book.😂 I love what she did.)
I actually think Winter shouldn’t have been so long. I’M PROBABLY GOING TO BE MURDERED BY THE TRUE FANS, SO SAVE ME, SHANNON. But seriously…what book ever needs to be 800+ pages?! None, I tell you. NONE. Ahem. I…um…*raises hand guiltily* hate Queen of Shadows a lot.😂 Read Winter instead.😂😂
Been there, done that. I’m not rushing into ANY BOOK except the ones that force me to do it because I just keep turning the pages. I just can’t read books fast because I want to appreciate every moment. I will myself not to.
Glad to know I’m not the only one!
You are definitely not alone!! ;D
#3 is so accurate for me too, oh gosh.
WE ARE LIKE TWINS ON THAT TOPIC THEN.
INTJ TWINS, OBVIOUSLY.
*CACKLES EVILLY* THE GREATEST PERSONALITY THERE IS, OBVIOUSLY.
OBVIOUSLY. >:D
NUMBER 3!!!!!!!! They are so tiring….Ugh. Glad someone else gets that. I have a lot of “hyped” books that people rave about that I haven’t read yet…I KNOW I will like them but…Ugh Its just hard to move them up in the pile and commit to it…most likely because I KNOW i will fall in love with it and that’s a BIG commitment…no?
Hyped books are scary!! Particularly when everyone talks about them sooo much and your expectations are mammothly high! Eep. I get so worried. AND OMG YES. It is a big commitment. BOOKS CAN BE SCARY.
Oh my gosh, yes to all of these! I still haven’t seen the last Harry Potter movie. I’ve seen all the others, and I’ve read all the books, but it still hasn’t technically ended for me yet! I probably should see it before the Fantastical Beasts one though…
I haven’t seen ANY of the Harry Potter movies! I NEED TO GET ONTO THAT TOO.😂
I LOVE thick books, ever since I read the latest books of the Harry Potter series. But I must admit that there are days I HATE them. I need to be in really reading-mood to read a thick book. The last few days I’ve reread the fifth Harry Potter book and I must honestly admit that I was not in the mood for it right now ( It’s a really BIG book!), so I had to put it down and start on another book.
I’M TERRIFIED OF THICK BOOKS.😂 Which doesn’t make much sense because if it’s a favourite author, then shouldn’t I love having more to read from them?!? MY BRAIN = WEIRD. And I think the 5th Harry Potter book was waaaay too long, tbh.
I do this too, and usually for the same reasons.
I really like that one about the stars not aligning. XD That’s so true though. Sometimes I know that I’m going to be really busy so I don’t read the book yet. I want to give it my full attention instead of just reading snatches of it here and there. I want have time to just read and read and be immersed in the world of the book.
I couldn’t resist finding a reason to use that gif.😂 I LOVE EL DORADO SO SO MUCH OMG. Anyway. Attention is a big thing too *nods* Like I feel like I need more attention and concentration to tackle an epic fantasy? So I love them a ton, but usually am putting them off…
Yes! I still haven’t read Into the Still Blue or finished the Magicians trilogy just because I”m in denial. I’m 2 books behind in what has been my favorite series- October Daye -because I’m just a weirdo who isn’t ready. So I agree with your entire list!
I understand the denial. I UNDERSTAND IT. *shares cake of denial with you*
I’m so with you, Cait! I think the biggest reason for me is the last in the series one. I have some books that are the last in the series, and I refuse to read them, because then the series surely isn’t over, right? Because it sure isn’t over for me yet 🙂 I also have not one, but two copies of Illuminae on my shelf. One is a paperback for reading, and the other is a hardback because I love how beautiful it is. And this is a book I haven’t gotten too because of hype. Both community hype and me hype, plus, it’s a big book… so yeah, I definitely get the procrastinating actually reading all the books 🙂
Have a fantastic week!
Saaaaame. And when that book isn’t written the series is still technically going. :’) And it’s nice!! EEEP hehe. And omg, Illuminae though. <3 I can totally understand getting the paperback AND the hardcover because THEY ARE BOTH BEAUTIFUL AND DIFFERENT. That book was so heavy to hold though. Omg. I'm sure I strained my wrists.😂
Okay, so I do get this, but not completely. I wouldn’t be one to put off the finale of a series! That’s just nuts.
But I do have a habit of leaving the best for last in a lot of areas – including reading. It’s why I’ve had an Eve Ensler book sitting around on my shelf for years and I have yet to pick it up. I’ve just loved her other things so much that I want to save it. And it’s so silly, but that totally happens!
Book lovers – insane by nature.
ARE YOU CALLING ME NUTS.😂😂 XD
And I understand the saving mentality too!! I saved A Darker Shade of Magic for like 6 months. Gahh, my brain. XD It’s an odd thing. YES TO INSANE BY NATURE. #bookwormproblems
I am a 100% with you on all of these! YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
WE ARE TWINS IN THIS, CLEARLY, SARAH!!
I TOTALLY GET THIS.
I did this with City of Heavenly Fire. I have yet to read it, simply because I know it’s going to be awesome, but I don’t want to be disappointed (it’s the last book of the series, I’m expecting a kaboom or two!). I’ve backtracked and am now making my way through The Infernal Devices series. Hah.
I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND!! It took me SO MUCH WORK to just start CoHF. (Although it was wonderful and perfect and I needn’t have bothered…but omg it’s huge. IT IS MASSIVE.)
I do this all the time! But the thing is I get sidetracked with other books, and the book I’m sure I’ll love is from the library, so thats probably the reason I have the biggest library fine in the world…
Rose :3
Omg library fines!! *hides* I try my hardest not to get them BUT OMG IT’S HARD. THERE ARE JUST SO MANY BOOKS I WANT TO REEEEEAD.
Ooooh, my Mistborn series is JUDGING ME SO HARD FROM MY SHELF RIGHT NOW! It’s STARING and it’s HUFFING and it’s threatening me DEATH BY A THOUSAND TINY PAPERCUTS unless I get around to it soon. And fantasy fiend that I am, I’m POSITIVE – beyond positive – that I’ll love it. But…
… but pretty much EVERYTHING YOU SAID, CAIT! The external hype! The internal Lexiehype! The FREAKING SIZE OF THOSE BOOKS! The fact that dragons never soar over my house, so the mood is never quite fantasyish enough! (And plus, there’s a very real chance that once I finally “discover” Brandon Sanderson and his MOUNTAINS OF BOOKS, I’ll never read anything else ever again but spend the rest of my life chipping away at that mountain. Scary thought.)
This post is 739 kinds of relatable. <3 Gah. All the love.
WELL I CAN BEAT THAT BECAUSE I HAVE THE WAY OF KINGS AND THAT’S LIKE TWICE THE SIZE OF MISTBORN AND IT’S SO SCARY. AGH. I’m sure those Sanderson books will come after us. They seem epic and dangerous. Epically dangerous? Ahem. But omg I’m pretty sure it’s Sanderson’s life goal to write a book that is as thick as a cube. #legit
Lexiehype is a marvellous phrase I might add. THE STRUGGLE OF THESE ARE REAL AND DANGEROUS!
If you know me, you’ll know that I procrastinate everything. Literally everything. Even the things that I love. Even the thing that I know I’ll love… just in case, for some magical reason, they’re not as good as I wanted/needed them to be. I guess it’s a bit pessimistic of me? But lets face it, I’m a pessimist through and through. I specifically put off reading finales. There’s some series that I just don’t want to end and I can’t read. Skulduggery is one of them!
I’d yell “PROCRASTINATORS UNITE!” except, tbh, I don’t think any of us would ever get around to it?? And omg I haaate having books fail my expectations. Gah. So I think that’s a huge reason I often put them off. And omg you’re putting off Skulduggery too?! WE ARE TWINS IN THIS.
I think you hit the mark there. Unite we should, but unite can we be bothered!? 😉 Yess, I mean we already know that Derek Landy is capable of tearing all our heartstrings out and destroyed them so imagine the FINALE OF THAT! *shudders* I don’t know if I’d survive…
I’ve totally been in denial over the end of a series – I still haven’t read Dreams of Gods and Monsters! And I can really relate to it just not being the right day – great GIF!
I can relate to that so much!! It took me FOREVER to read Dreams of Gods and Monsters. XD
YES. GOOD BOOKS ARE SO EXHAUSTING. They just take all the love out of you. And god, overhyping the book on your own is ME. I mean, I already have high expectations, but ESPECIALLY IF I ALREADY KNOW I WILL PROBABLY LOVE IT. And there’s always that fear of WHAT IF I DON’T. Anyway, anyway, love this, as usual. MAYBE ITS YOUR BLOG POSTS STEALING ALL MY LOVE.
OMGGG I’M SO GLAD IT’S NOT JUST ME WHO GETS SO EXHAUSTED BY GOOD BOOKS. My brain honestly needs recuperation time.😂 And yessss, it’s not even the community hype that gets me: IT’S JUST ME HYPING RIDICULOUSLY. Especially if I really really want to like it and I’m worried I won’t. hehhhh. Ahem.
I wouldn’t put it past my blog posts, tbh. THEY ARE FIENDISH THINGS.
I’m more likely to do this with movies. It took me years to watch the final Harry Potter movies because I didn’t want it to end!
Ooh, I STILL have to watch those. Although I honestly just read the last book this year…I KNOW. I’M SUCH A SLACKER.😂
I never intentionally procrastinate reading books I think I’ll love. But I almost never buy books. I wait until they are free on kindle or try to get them from the library.
And it’s not just that I can’t afford them. I have an ingrown aversion to buying books. Especially if I’m not certain I will re’read them over and over again. ‘What’s the point of buying a book if you’re only going to read it twice? ‘ I tell myself.
Fair enough!! I love the feeling of collecting the books, even if I don’t intend to read them again.😂 But I neeeed my library so so much, because I can’t afford to buy many books AND it’s nice to use it for books I’m not sure if I’ll look. Owning books you don’t like is UGH. 😛
Actually I wouldn’t mind collecting books. I have shelves full of books from when I was younger. It’s mostly lack of money and also being in a household where fiction is mostly regarded as a waste of time. And I do somewhat agree, saving the world is a better use of time than reading about other people save imaginary ones. But since writing might save the world, that’s okay.
Okay so I’m kind of a few days late to the party here, but I totally get this! I still haven’t even bought Passenger by Alexander Bracken, when The Darkest Minds is one of my favourite series EVER. Also I’m a massive mood reader, so I won’t read a book unless I’m 110% in the mood for that particular type of book. But also, um, I know I’ve said it before, but WOLF BY WOLF IS AMAZING. *clears throat* Not to hype it up anymore than it already is. Whoops.
I don’t usually put off series finales, though, because I’m too excited to be reading another book in the series and then half way through I realise that that will be the LAST BOOK EVER and then I get emotional and start reading abnormally slowly. I bring it on myself, really. For The Final Empire, which is actually the first book, by the end it was taking me 5 minutes to read a page because I didn’t want it to be over. And now it’s 6 months later and I still haven’t read the sequel.
I totally do believe you about Wolf by Wolf. I AM JUST A WIMP.😂 I just need to omg reeeeead it already.
I need to break the putting-off-series-finales habit though, because I put them off so long I USUALLY FORGET ALL THE DETAILS IN THEM ARGHGHGH. Oh oh I haven’t read the next in the Mistborn series either. Mostly because that book HURT ME BY THE END, OMG. STILL NOT OKAY. *sobs dramatically*
I love this!! You have put words to a phenomenon I thought was only part of my personal freakery. THANK YOU.
Definitely not just you, Lydia. ;D WE ARE LIKE TWINS IN THIS.😂
*sigh* Yeah. I’ve been struggling with the excellent book procrastination lately. I have a special row of book that I keep on my desk, they’re the ones that I desperately want to read, but I haven’t touched a single one yet!
Mostly I think my hesitance is based on the “It’s Exhausting” point you made. Not only that, but I suffer from HORRIBLE book hang overs. If I read an extraordinary book it takes me FOREVER to get back into my groove and pick a new book to read. “It’s never going to be as good as the last one.” I tell myself and so I just switch from one book to another, ad infinitum. Or at least until the hangover wears off. But by then I’ve already unfairly condemned a shelf full of deserving books to the DNF pile.
Well at least you know you’re not alone. *pats shoulder* WE’RE IN THIS INSANITY TOGETHER OMG. And I’m glad you agree with the exhausting point too, because, omg, good books really take it out of you right!??? Plus the after-affects of a good book. SHEESH. IF ONLY I DIDN’T FEEL SO DEEPLY ABOUT BOOKS.😂
No longer should you feel weird about this^^ I am here to tell you that I DO THIS TOO!! *cue sighs of relief* You’re welcome Cait ;D
Most recently, I did this with Winter – I was fairly certain I’d love it but I didn’t want to face the ending of the series and I JUST WASN’T READY OK?! SO I waited until I could wait no longer and then it was ok. I also often wait till the hype dies off – in my head, or otherwise – before reading a book so I can go in as fresh as possible and not have anything be tainted dammit. Also? I’m a HUGE mood reader so if the mood isn’t right, I’ll have to wait. That’s just the way it is 😀
WE ARE LIKE TWINS IN THIS MATTER THEN, CLEARLY. *hi fives for our weirdness* 😂 And I tooootally understand about Winter. I procrastinated it about 2 months? Which is actually relatively short for me and a highly-anticipated-book.😂 I WILL NOT BE DOING THIS FOR THE RAVEN KING THO OMG.
And once again, you’ve done it, a perfect post where I relate to absolutely EVERYTHING YOU SAY. Cait, you are the queen of the universe. I procrastinate reading books when I’m SO scared to see how it ends, or mainly because everyone loves it and I feel like I will too, but WHAT IF I DON’T ?! That question just makes me feel crazy all the time, but well. This is why I take hours ordering books, because of THIS QUESTION, haha. I’m a little insane…but aren’t we all 🙂
I AM. *flips hair majestically* I AM NOT DENYING MY QUEENLYNESS. Ahem. But ohhh, the fear is real. THE FEAR IS REALLY REAL. < -- I am eloquent. I take WEEKS deciding which books to order.😂 And yes I'm pretty sure we're all severely insane. But at least we all are together?!? *shares insanity cupcakes*
“but we’re not here to talk about how I arrange my socks in morse code for send cake.” < OKAY so I knew that if I read one of your lovely posts it would cheer me up from a nasty cold (achooo) but I didn't know you would CRACK ME UP SO SOON. like how do you do this stuff???!! I DON'T UNDERSTAND, CAKE. I DON'T. snlgnkdnc so this first reason I think I HAVE A GIF FOR THIS SOMEWHERE. IT'S OF RAPUNZEL BEING LIKE, "WHAT IF IT'S NOT EVERYTHING I ALWAYS DREAMED IT WOULD BE??" oh my gosssh i know what you mean tho. I FEEL YOUR PAIN. I tend to over-hype books too and then I read them and I'm like, "……..meh." XD IT'S BAD.
“This might take 2 days. Or 2 years. Who can tell? Please standby.” XD I ALSO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. And you’ll never know when I might just break all my loyalty with a book/series and start dissing it and pointing out all the things terribly wrong with it. I HAVE LITERALLY NO LOYALTIES IT’S ALMOST SAD?? yeah. xD
“…because my dragon burnt the latest batch of evil cupcakes…” < I LOVE THIS BECAUSE IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE USING YOUR DRAGONS AS OVENS, RIGHT?? also series finales slaughter my soul. SLAUGHTER MY SOUULLL. (btw the other day my mom told me that I use the word "slaughter" in my writing a lot. I think this is something you would approve of. XD)
love,
abbiee
OMG A COLD?!? NOOO ABBIE. YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BE SICK. *sends you soup and cake..or cake soup? that should work* AHEM. MY BRAIN IS JUST A MARVELLOUS PLACE, LET’S BE HONEST. Ahemmmm.
And omg! YES. Rapunzel feels right there. Being on the brink of achieving is almost as bad as not achieving.😂
AWK. I honestly HATE turning around and hating on a series?? Like, I get SO SO PROTECTIVE OF MY BABIES. But last year…ha. I totally loathe one of my used-to-be-all-time-favourite series. 😂 SO I UNDERSTAND THIS NOW.
I am definitely using my dragons as ovens. They do everything, basically. Although they suck at managing my twitter. *heavy sigh* It’s so hard to find good help.
SLAUGHTER IS A GOOD WORD.
Short answer, yes. Always. I’ve been procrastinating ‘Demon Road’ ‘Magnus Chase and the Sword of Summer’ and a couple of others for literally months now. Not because I don’t think they’ll be good. Mostly it’s for reasons 1 and 4 on your list. And also a bit of 3. Reading good books is massively exhausting. And also, when I do take up a good books, I’m not going to do anything else for the rest of the day while I finish it, so there’s that little time factor. And I may procrastinate ‘Winter’ quite a bit when I finally get it cause I REALLY don’t want that series to end. At all. Great post Cait!
OH GOOD IT’S NOT JUST ME. *dies quietly of relief* I mean, we bookworms really are rather bizarre, right?!? hehe. And huge books, omg, huge books are just downright scary. And I have this horrible habit of reading all the small ones first and then being left with a TBR of entirely 400+ page books *facepalm*
I PROCRASTINATED WINTER TOO. Although not as long as I usually do.
Yes, ALL those reasons. I’m way more scared to read a book I hope I’ll like than one I have no expectations of. (Like Wolf by Wolf. I wasn’t sure that one was for me and then I enjoyed it so much…)
Thanks so much for stopping by! Jen @ YA Romantics
Sometimes the books-we-have-no-expectations-for are actually better because LESS PRESSURE.😂 (I seriously am sure I’m going to love Wolf by Wolf…I just…gotta…read it.)
ALL.THE.TIME. I have shelves filled with these books. Entire bookshelves! I suffer from my own hype, too. I do procrastinate on books when it’s the series end. I *still* haven’t read the last book in the Soul Screamers series. I don’t want to say goodbye. I also have to be in a certain mood, or having a good day. And I agree with you that good books are exhausting – if it’s good, it will have taken me on an emotional ride. I also feel I have to ‘plan’ for one of those BIG books and therefore have yet to start Outlander or Game of Thrones. That’s going to be a serious time investment, you know? And if I’ve just finished an outstanding book, I don’t want the new book, that I *know* I’m going to love, to suffer from my book hangover.
I’m sure I would come up with more reasons why I procrastinate, Cait. But then I’d be procrastinating on starting this new book that I’m pretty certain I’m going to love. 😀
Suffering from one’s OWN hype is probably the most worst though.😂 I MEAN, WE BRING THIS TORTURE ON OURSELVES, RIGHT?!?? *collapses in agony*
YES I VERY MUCH DO. So much. An amazing amount. So much. Such a very lot. I get all of your reasons. I am SUCH a mood reader, so that I have to jump genre every book, and this means things get put off! And off and off and off. And I just have to wait for the perfect moment. Often I’m worried the moment won’t be perfect enough for the perfectness I’m sure is the book? Like, I have a terrible habit of waiting for holidays, because I’m always like, well, I know I’m going to NEED to binge this book so I CANNOT READ IT DURING TERMTIME. AND YET, I was just on holiday last week, but …. I was reading Les Mis?!?! The least bingeworthy book ever? I wanted to read We Were Liars! I’ve heard it’s best in a hot climate, and I was in Chile, but now I’m back in Scotland and therefore I think I’m going to wait till summer??
????
I am actually going to read Demon Road after Les Mis (and I’m 900 pages in so, soon, I’ll escape now from this world, from the world of Jean Valjean). That’s my other thing — author hangover. An author is SO PERFECT in one series (eg Skulduggery) that I’m scared to read Demon Road in case it’s not as good and my Derek perfection scale decreases?
STRUGGLES.
Also that El Dorado gif is so perfect. I’ve not watched that film in about ten years but I loved it! (At least I think I did, I was approx seven.) I want to rewatch!
I UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO BINGE TOO. *nods* I put off books for sure if I know I can’t dedicate a goodly amount of time to them. Omg, but waiting for the weather.😂 You’re adorable. I can’t actually remember if We Were Liars is summer…NO WAIT. I MUST BE SUMMERY. (Omg, though, you were in Chile?!? That’s awesome!)
DEMON ROAD IS AMAZING THOUGH. And I do understand the nerves of that. *nods* But honestly I think Demon Road will live up to Skulduggery. 😉
Oh yes, totally all of this. The fear of it not living up is so scary! If I don’t like than what the heck do I do, sigh.
Plus I always feel like books I’m going to love, I need to set aside time for it, because I know I won’t want to put it down.
And yes, emotional state when reading is very important, and a good book definitely takes a lot of emotional work .
Great discussion, Cait!
ooh, yes, setting aside time is something I do too!! I hate starting a book I REALLY think I’m going to love if I can only read it in teeny tiny increments. I WANT TO BINGE READ IT.😂
I do the SAME. I have a few large series’ I’ve been meaning to start because I know I’ll LOVE them but I just can’t seem to bring myself to do it.
YOU AND ME BOTH, MY FRIEND. Especially when it’s like a massive series and the amount of commitment is daunting.😱
YAS I DO! I procrastinated reading Wonder by RJ Palacio for years just because I knew I was going to like too much. I finished it last month and I was right xD Sometimes I put off good books because I am studying and just don’t have the time to want to shove all my responsibilities to the side so I finish the book. And seeing as I have no self control that is what does happen if I start a good book when I have heavy responsibilities I should really be attending to 😛 And Winter by Marissa Meyer? I’ve had it since it released but I have been so worried about the ending and I’m just in 100% denial of the ending being THE END.
Eeeep, it’s kind of awesome when we’re RIGHT about knowing we’ll love it, eh?!? hehe. OMg and I was SO in denial about Winter too!! Also scared because, omg huge. *gulps* BUT IT WAS PERFECT, HONEST. <3
I have done this before. My reasons are especially one and two. XD I also do feel pressured if my friends like it that I won’t like it and I won’t share their opinions. XD
storitorigrace.blogspot.com
I do this all the time! It’s the reason I’ve developed “the TBR problem”. I have perfectly good unread books on my shelves just waiting to be read and I am always re-reading old ones. I wish I had six brains and twelve pairs of eyes so that I could multitask my books. (Ugh! What I disgusting picture I would make! Perfect for Halloween)
SAAAME. Where can we sign up to get these six brains and twelve pairs of eyes, because, omg wouldn’t that be handy?!
I am so miserably bad about this. Ugh.
“4. IT’S JUST NOT A GOOD DAY?! OKAY?! THE TREES ARE NOT ALIGNED. THE SKIES ARE NOT PURPLE. THE GALAXIES SAY NOPE.” You make me laugh LOL.
I have a few books like this on my shelf and I wonder why I put them off. Why do I think I do that? I think I am saving them. Like a bookish liferaft , I am waiting for that dreaded day when there is NOTHING I want to read and then I will remember the awesomeness just sitting there on my shelf. The other possibility? The series isn’t fully released and I am worried I will love it SO MUCH and then I have to wait for the next book.
Great post!
THAT IS MY AIM IN LIFE.😂 HEHE. AHem. But saving them is also a valid reason!! Like maybe the apocalypse will happen and we don’t want to be without good books to read, amirite?!
Exactly! I am so glad someone understands 🙂
Good books are definitely exhausting sometimes. Couldn’t agree more especially where Brandon Sanderson and George RR Martin books are concerned. Also, I’m currently reading the 1000 page monster that is The Pillars of the Eart by Ken Follett. It’s wonderful but I need breaks from it….Great post girl!
ps. Also, I got the bookmarks from your Instagram giveaway. Thanks so much! 😀
OMG YES! I’m glad you agree about the exhuastingness.😂 And plus I think fantasy is more tiring in general?! It’s sooo much harder to read than contemporaries. BUT WORTH IT BECAUSE GLORIOUSNESS.
Eeep, I’m glad they arrived safely! ENJOY. 😀
I have a few books currently on my desk that are overhyped that I have still barely TOUCHED because I have OVERHYPED them so. hahahaha bookish stresss. m’fine tho. I love this post per usual, cait darling <3
THE OVER-HYPING STRUGGLE IS SO SO REAL OMGGGG. *collapses dramatically* The bookworm life is so stressful.😂
OMG you hit it on the mark. I totally procrastinate reading a book I know I will love. I definitely identify with all the reasons you posted lol. I’m not in a good mood….I’m in denial (that just happened!! I’m reading the end of 6 book series!) And then I just finished book 2 in another series but the 3rd isn’t due out til October…
Mostly I think it’s because I really want to prolong the enjoyment. I like to take my time to digest a really, really good book. If I have a lot going on in life, I’ll wait until life calms down so I have time to sit and enjoy it. Also if it’s a series, then the previous book usually lingers so I wait for that
I’ve never been afraid a book will fail me, though I totally should be b/c Mockingjay was SO DISAPPOINTING.
Cool post!!
Ooh, I TOTALLY agree with the “take time to digest a really really good book” < -- That is also perfect. I tend to put off books until I have time to focus on them too. GOOD BOOKS NEED 100% ATTENTION. *nods sagely* Aww, you didn't like Mockingjay?! It was my favourite.😂
Catching Fire was amazing. The first one was great too. Which is why I felt Mockingjay paled in comparison. The beginning of the book, all she did was sleep and break rules and hide and avoid being the leader that she was forced into being (which is a great character trait – don’t give in to manipulation) but I felt like, it dulled and prolonged the story) I didn’t mind the last 1/2 of the book, because it had action to it. Some great things happened, providing hope for the future perhaps, but the very end just irritated me. It felt completely rushed, as if the author were trying to force an ending that I didn’t find myself believing. I felt like, as a movie montage maybe it would’ve worked, but it just didn’t work in written format for me.
Now, maybe I’m wrong. I might reread it. I still like the series and recommend the series. Though I have noticed of other series’ I’ve finished, endings tend to be lack luster.
No one’s opinion is wrong! I probably have to disagree, and I adored it, but DEFINITELY doesn’t make you wrong!! It’s interesting to see it from your point of view too. ;D
i do this every single freakin time. every time! i just don’t want to begin because i don’t want it to end…
THE STRUGGLE IS REAL FOR WE POOR BOOKWORMS.
Hate to break your happy mood…but I read The Orphan Queen with the same expectations and it was just okay. One book that I absolutely LOVED that I have not seen you review, however, is Red Queen. I actually had no expectations when I began reading it, but it amazed me. Also, what about An Ember In The Ashes? Another book that I had no expectations for that was awesome!
Well, to be honest, I actually disliked Red Queen and Ember in the Ashes!😂 So maybe that’s a good sign for me to like Orphan Queen if our tastes are opposite?!? 😂
Yes, I do this. One you didn’t mention that I also do is stop in the middle of a good book because I don’t want it to end. 😛 I know I need to start reading these pearly gems soon so I can blog about them, but my fear is what if I read all the good ones and then all I’m left with is the ok ones (until I find time to search the wilderness for more and what if I found the last good book)!!!! Augh! 🙂
–Ms. Birdlady
http://www.ms-birdlady.com
Fledgling Indie Book Review Blog (Chick-lit)
I actually haven’t stopped in the middle of a good book yet!😂 I really don’t like unfinished things, but I HAVE told myself to slow down reading because I didn’t want it to be over. AHHH BOOKWORM PROBLEMS.
My procrastination tendencies come in many forms (I think a better question might be “what don’t you procrastinate about?”), so yes, I frequently do this, especially hyped books for the exact same reason. I am inherently suspicious of a good thing 🙂
Omg, you’re hilarious. 😂 Ahh, procrastination. IT IS A KILLER. hehe.
Ooh I totally feel this! I had The Knife of Never Letting Go on my shelf for a year even though I knew I would love it (and I did). Even though I’m really scared to read a series finale I can never restrain myself though (I totally feel you on the contradiction of wanting important characters to be killed but also not be killed by the way. I actually was disappointed and relieved at the same time once that all the characters had made it)
[ tbh I don’t know if I’ve already commented here but I just read this post again? and EVERYTHING RESONATES WITH ME SO MUCH. ]
the amount of books i have put off reading (I’m looking at you, Illuminae. Literally. ALSO END OF DAYS AND TEN THOUSAND PIECES OF YOU. and The Raven King but that’s more because I haven’t been able to get my hand on a copy yet) quite nuts and I DON’T KNOW WHY SOMETIMES. I mean I spend so long looking for them (END OF DAYS DO YOU KNOW HOW LONG IT TOOK ME TO FIND A COPY) but then I don’t read them until months later? WHAT IS WITH THAT, CAIT?
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