1. I'm pretty meh about bookmarks
I have a couple that I love, but it's not something I'll go out of my way to collect or spend money on. I feel like they get damaged so easily!! I really like the #currentlyreading wooden one from Nook and Burrow because it's super sturdy, but I'm just as happy to use a meaningful card or picture my five-year-old has coloured.
2. I'm also pretty meh about the "classics"
I can appreciate that Pride and Prejudice is pretty much the first romantic comedy ever, and I do love Leonardo DiCaprio as Romeo, but the classics in general are not reading material to which I turn often. Which is ironic if you take a look at #3....
3. I used to be a huge book snob
Huge! Like so so super judgey. Fantasy, romance, horror, basically anything that wasn't historical fiction I would silently (and sometimes not-so-silently) declare trashy and beneath me. I feel particularly proud of myself for overcoming this flaw. Now I read Harlequin romance and young adult fantasy on the regular. I still read historical fiction, and I love a good memoir, but those other previously shunned genres are also very present in my reading life. My friend Dan calls them "dessert" :)
Also, check out this essay by Neil Gaiman. It will get you rethinking your perception of what literature we "should" be reading.
4. My TBR pile of books I already own is out of control
Like 200+ out of control. I'm actually surprised Rob doesn't give me more of a hard time about it. The thing is, the more I read and the more I write about books, the more book piles seem to grow in our house!
I have been trying to tackle this situation more thoughtfully with #theunreadshelfproject2018. You can read about it here. I also post about it pretty often on Instagram @jennbairos.
5. I don't really understand audiobooks
I've listened to a few audiobooks on long road trips, but overall, this is not a book format that I can get to work for me. I always catch myself drifting off or checking my phone and missing parts of the story. I can't multitask when listening to an audiobook, so I figure, why not just hold the real thing?
6. I don't enjoy novellas or short stories
Novellas are a pet peeve of mine. Just put it in the freaking book! Don't make me hunt down the other "bonus" storylines. I mean, if I loved your book, I'll do it, but I'll be annoyed about it.
Short stories I'm unlikely to read all together. I love being fully invested in my characters and storylines. Trilogies are my jam. A short story always feels too quickly wrapped up for me. I need more.
7. I don't always keep autographed books
Five-years-ago me would have never let go of a personally autographed book. Ten-years-ago me would have never thought I'd be lucky enough to own an autographed book at all.
We live in a small house, and I can't keep every book I receive, and even if it's autographed, if I didn't love it with all my heart, I'll pass it along to the free little library on our street. I know this probably sounds like I'm complaining about all of my good fortune, but I do hope that someone else will enjoy the nice surprise that comes there way when they see that special signature.
8.
I justify this because I feel like it's great that he knows reading is an important value in our home, and it's soooo easy to hibernate at home in the winter, but I hope to do this a bit less now that spring is on the horizon.
What about you? Do you have any unpopular opinions when it comes to books? Or do you share any of mine?
xo
Jenn
