I’m curious…what do readers do, act like, think like while their reading. Seriously, its time to dish on your reading quirks. I want to know what’s the strangest thing you’ve ever used as a bookmark. And whether or not you read the ending first. And how many pages do you actually give a book to prove itself? I’m looking to learn more about you. your fancies, your whims. What makes you tick?
And this is not just to see if I’m the only crazy person in the world. Girlscouts honor 😉
To kick things off, I’ll give you my own quirks:
When I’m in a bookstore, I study the publishing logos. Yep, I literally run my finger along the top edge of the shelf and do a roll call. Which publishing houses are here, which have the most on the shelves, which houses publish the books I love.
I read every bit of text in a book. From the copyright data to the cover credits on the back. I like to know who edited it, who it was dedicated to, the authors bio, everything. Maybe it’s a writer thing. Of course I only do this on books I read. And I’ll admit it, I rarely give a book more than 5 pages to get me. I know. I’m a horrible person.
If I get to a really exciting scene, I tend to skip words. I basically just read too fast. It’s kind of like eating too fast but without the indigestion. And once I get through it, I might go back and read it more slowly. I should probably develop better patience 🙂
Ok, I dished. Now your turn. What are your reading quirks?
Photo credit: Beauty and the Beast, 1991
I have a friend who always reads the ending before she'll even buy a book. Say what? I cannot imagine that, but she said one time she'd been burned and spent way too long on a book and got disappointed once. Not me. I will even hold my hand over the next few lines so as not to pre-read a sentence ahead and perhaps spoil what's to come.
Sometimes if I'm convinced I know the twist, I'll read ahead to see if I'm right. Or if a book is too tense or sad, I'll skip to the end to make sure the payoff is worth it.
And sometimes I find myself skimming long passages of description. Maybe this year I should force myself to slow down! 🙂
I never read the ending first and I'll give an author about 100 pages (unless it's utter dreck) to pull me in.
I've used a knee-high as a book mark. If the book is really good and funny, I'll talk aloud to the characters. "You're so crazy! I can't believe you told him that!" Things like that. LOL
When I start a new book I have a few quirky things I have to do before I start.
I first have to study the cover and read and re-read the back cover. Then read all the reviews about the book on the first few pages. Then check out the table of contents to see how many chapters. Then I check how many pages are in the book and find the half way point.(I know weird):) Then I usually read the authors notes at the back of the book. Then I start reading!
I love to savor every word, so I'm not the fastest reader. I love authors like Liz Curtis Higgs…so many great words to savor in her books! And I never read the end, that would ruin the story!
My strangest bookmark has probably been a kleenex (I won't confess if it has been slighly used but probably not as I always have one in my hand it seems). I have been known to read the ending first IF the book is stressing me out and I'm not sure I can hang on until the end. I love to read the author bios and reviews and usually start with those. Lastly a book better grab me within the first few pages or it goes on the pile to return to the library!
You ladies crack me up! I'm loving learning what your quirks are. I'm one of those who can't read the ending until the end. Probably the strangest thing I've used as a book mark is a Walmart receipt. Not nearly as hillarious as a knee high! =)
Love all these quirks. I'm getting better at putting a book down if it doesn't grab me instead of slogging through it. I, too, read all the credits, and even though I've never studied publishers imprints in the bookstore, I've noticed that my tastes do run with certain ones.
My quirk? I calculate all the time how much I've read and what percent is left. p. 75 of a 300 page book is 25% of the way through. 75% left. Compulsive counting is a family trait – my son does it too and he doesn't use a bookmark at all – he just remembers what page he's on.
Fun topic!
Fun post, Joanne!
I don't use bookmarks. I dog-ear the pages. Awful, I know. Especially when it's a library book. *Oops* I do try to straighten the fold back out when I move on, though…
Don't know why I don't just buy a bookmark.
I thought I added a comment, but I see the somehow it didn't post. I read *everything*, cover to cover, appendix, index, glossary, usually at least part of the copyright page. I tend to read quite fast so when I read a really exciting part, my tendency is to want to read even faster, but part of me still wants to read every word. So I put my hand in the way to slow myself down and so I don't spoil the story without reading all the good parts.
As for bookmarks, I always have several books laying around and have been known to use another book as a bookmark. Normally, though, I use one of my business cards. Someday I'd like to see my name on the cover, but this is close. 🙂
I open the book to the middle to sample the writing style. This is a writer quirk! I know that the first chapters get so much attention from editorial that they may be very different from the rest of the novel. So I have to open it at random to get a good peek. 🙂
Well, I read the first paragraph to see if it gets me. Then, (hopefully) I'll keep reading. I'm a sucker for a good beginning. BUT, at some point in my reading, I normally skip ahead and read the end, then go back and read the middle.
Weird, I know. But as the tension starts to ratchet up, I get too impatient. I HAVE to know that the book ends well, and I HAVE to know it now!
Interestingly enough, I tend to plot my books the same way. Think of a really dramatic beginning, then come up with a breath-taking end that includes a riveting twist and powerful character moment, then I figure out the middle (you know, how to get from the dramatic opening to the breath-taking end.
And wow, I just rambled way too long about my reading quirks. Can anyone say "writer nerd?"