There are all manner of tags and memes which go round the InterWeb and as a rule I don’t often do these. However, I saw one recently on Annabel’s blog, which she had got from Calmgrove, and Calmgrove had got it from Bookforager and who knows where it was before! I thought it was quite fun, and so before you could say Proust, I thought I’d have a go myself – so here goes!
1. Inside flap/back of the book summaries: Too much info? Or not enough?
I like something which gives me a hint of what the book is about although not too much – I want to go on a voyage of discovery in a book, after all, and if the whole plot is laid out there it rather puts me off reading a book. But I *do* need to get some idea of whether the book is going to be for me, so it’s a balance really. Much as I love Persephone’s books, for example, they really don’t tell you a lot on the cover! What I do get fed up with, though, is the modern trend of covering book covers with endorsements from other authors. I prefer a sensible quote about a book, like the ones Fitzcarraldo put in the front of their books; or a couple of endorsements like the two which appeared on M. John Harrison’s recent “The Sunken Land Begins to Rise Again” from Robert Macfarlane and China Mieville. That was just right; any more would have been too much.
2. New book: What form do you want it in? Be honest: Audiobook, eBook, Paperback or Hardcover?
Never an eBook. I loathe reading on a screen; it’s not good for my eyes, I can’t take it in, I work on screens for a good part of the day anyway, and I can’t bear not being able to flick about within a book. As for hardback or paperback, I can’t really give a decisive answer to that one. What matters to me most is readability in the form of text size and handleability. Sometimes a nice, decent sized paperback that flops open easily can be just as good, if not better, than a big hardback and doesn’t have the weight issue.
3. Scribble while you read? Do you like to write in your books; take notes, make comments, or do you keep your books clean, clean, clean?
Never. Absolutely never. I do not write on books ever. I don’t understand why you would do that. I mark bits with post-its and write scribbly notes on bits of paper if I need to. But never on the book itself. Shudder…
4. Does it matter to you whether the author is male or female when you’re deciding on a book? What if you’re unsure of the author’s gender?
It doesn’t matter in the slightest; I choose a book entirely because I think it will interest me, entertain me, move me, take my thinking in different directions or change me permanently (and any numbers of the books have done all these things to me over the years). It doesn’t even matter if I don’t know what the author’s gender is; I can’t see why that would be relevant. What matters to me is the book and what it’s going to say to me and the places to which it will take me.
5. Ever read ahead? Or have you ever read the last page way before you got there?
Only extremely rarely, and that would be in cases when I was so invested in a particular character that I couldn’t bear to wait to find out if something would be resolved. But this is very rare, and I usually hate doing that kind of thing.
6. Organized bookshelves or outrageous bookshelves?
All over the place bookshelves… I’ve got books and shelves all over the house and they’re sort of in some kind of rough order, though it is becoming harder to always track things down. I used to fairly reliably be able to find a book, but that’s not the case nowadays. I’ve shared any number of my #showusyourshelfies online, which made realise how scattered my books are. The dream is to one day have neat, orderly single stacked bookshelves all in one room and in an orderly fashion, so that I could find whatever I wanted whenever I wanted, and know exactly what I own. But I suspect that may never happen…
7. Have you ever bought a book based on the cover (alone)?
Often! Not just because a cover is beautiful (although in the case of e.g. the British Library Crime Classics, the vintage designs are irresistible.) Sometime a cover can strike a chord or resonate in an unexpected way. The earliest one I can recall is “The Abortion” by Richard Brautigan, because the author picture on the cover reminded me of someone I had a teenage crush on!
8. Take it outside to read, or stay in?
Usually inside. I’ve never been much of a read in the sunshine type because I have pretty sensitive eyes; and I’ve developed hay fever as I’ve got older which doesn’t help. Having said that, I do try never to leave the house (not that I do at the moment…) without a book so that if I’m stuck anywhere like the dentist’s waiting room I have something to pass the time. So although I don’t actually seek to read outside, I can probably read anywhere given half a chance! 😀
Well, that was jolly entertaining! This is a fun tag, so do pinch it and join in; because I love to read about everyone else’s reading habits too!
Jul 19, 2020 @ 07:57:08
So glad this tag is circulating a bit more, it appealed to the bookish side of me without being too much related to genres (as many of these are), or authors, or series, and struck at the heart of what being a true reader is all about, I thought.
And you can’t tell you how much my heart warmed at finding your bookish likes and wants matched up with my own or were not too far distant. And thanks for the pictures, never anything wrong with shelfies! 🙂
Jul 19, 2020 @ 10:06:22
It’s a lovely tag so I was pleased to pick up on it even though I don’t normally. You’re right – they do get to the bottom of why we read.
And it’s always lovely to find we share reading likes, isn’t it? I’m a firm believer in the fact that you can never have too many pictures of books! ;D
Jul 19, 2020 @ 08:55:48
Yes, that was rather fun. I won’t do it though as so many of my answers would be so similar to yours. But I do underline or mark books with a pencil, so it ca; easily be erased. I find the post it s an unappealing sight. While I don’t read a lot of ebooks I find them very useful for nonfiction precisely because you can underline and annotate so easily.
Jul 19, 2020 @ 10:08:04
It’s a nice tag – I enjoyed it. I can live with marking books in pencil (and may well have done so in the past). But I’m still recovering from that Philip Larkin book defaced with pens and highlighters – shudder…
The one thing I do find useful about e-books is the fact that it’s easy to copy and paste a quote – so my ideal configuration is a nice hard or paperback, with an ebook backup when it comes to reviewing!
Jul 19, 2020 @ 09:34:27
Very interesting answers.
Your opinion on ebooks seems so common. I think that they have reached a plateau of popularity and will not become more popular as a result. I personally love them but I think that I will always be in the minority.
Jul 19, 2020 @ 10:09:06
I know they’re useful for some readers, but my eyes just can’t handle them. Plus, I like the feel of a book and being able to flick back and forward, weigh it up in my hands and have a real idea of its length. I think I will always be happier with tree!
Jul 19, 2020 @ 09:42:31
Totally worth you, except that I – apologies – write in books! Well, I used to, anyway. 🙂
Jul 19, 2020 @ 09:43:09
*with you, that is 🙂
Jul 19, 2020 @ 10:09:26
LOL!
Jul 19, 2020 @ 10:09:20
Eek! I’ll forgive you….
Jul 19, 2020 @ 11:10:47
Thanks for the link, glad you enjoyed this tag and again we’re of similar minds in our bookish habits. Loved your note on the Brautigan cover!
Jul 19, 2020 @ 12:00:47
Welcome – it was a fun tag and I think we agreed on several things! As for Brautigan, it was pure chance I stumbled across that book and was attracted to his writing – but it led to a lifelong love! 😀
Jul 19, 2020 @ 12:06:37
I used to loathe the idea of e-books, but I’ve come to appreciate their convenience at times. I can prop one up on the little shelf in my kitchen and read it while I’m doing dishes or cooking, and I can turn pages with my nose! But I’m with you about not being able to flip around in the book, I hate that.
Jul 19, 2020 @ 12:18:31
I can accept the convenience, and if I had an e-reader rather than a nasty tablet app I meet feel differently. But I need that bookish flippability!
Jul 19, 2020 @ 12:08:21
A fun meme that I’d like to do, but probably won’t. So, I’ll answer some here! I prefer trade paperbacks. Not e-books, not audiobooks, but hardbacks can be too heavy and small paperbacks too small (for my aging eyes). I write in my books, in pencil. My mum would say that she couldn’t read what I’d written – which made me happy.
Gender, hmmm … I do like to read a good proportion of books by women, but in a sense I read what comes my way which is mostly review copies, and books scheduled by my reading group (and we do tend to read more women.)
No, I never read ahead. What’s the point? And yes, I try to keep my bookshelves organised.
I love beautiful covers, and sometimes a cover will attract me, but I’ve never bought on the cover alone.
I mostly read inside, but I’ll read wherever I am, if I can. However, I don’t find it easy to read in the sun with glare on the page, or if I’m physically uncomfortable.
Jul 19, 2020 @ 12:20:18
It is a good tag, isn’t it? Yes, trade paperbacks are a good thing – hardbacks are nice, but the bigger books are literally a handful. I *do* read a lot of women authors, but I would never choose my next read by gender only by mood (unless, obvs, I was lookng to read something for WIT month or the like). And yes – sun and glare are hard on the eyes (I try to take care of mind) so inside is often best…
Jul 19, 2020 @ 13:35:55
We Have To Talk About Kevin. Lionel Shriver ramped up the tension so well I couldn’t help going straight to the end. That’s the only time I remember doing it.Otherwise I only do it if I’m finding the book unconvincing and know I’m not going to bother finishing it.
Jul 19, 2020 @ 15:00:30
Yeah, it’s very rare for me unless I won’t finish it or the tension is just too much!
Jul 19, 2020 @ 14:14:14
This is fun. I’d love to do it too but I have blogged myself silly today reporting on two digital events and I’m going to bed.
To read, of course.
Jul 19, 2020 @ 15:00:07
It’s a fun tag, but I can understand you feeling a bit burned out! Happy reading! ;D
Jul 19, 2020 @ 16:58:59
It’s not just all the endorsements on the cover even worse are ‘stickers’ that don’t come off. The cover of The Lonely Postman is absolutely beautiful and now it’s been ruined by a prize winner sticker right on the front – why not on the back by the bar code? Everyone picks a book up and then turns it over to look at the back, it wouldn’t be lost. I haven’t, but am tempted to buy a ‘before the sticker’ ‘ edition.
Jul 19, 2020 @ 19:29:11
Oh yes – don’t get me started about stickers – infuriating! And the ones that are actually printed onto covers to you can’t even peel them off and use sticky stuff remover – grrrr! Why would you *do* that to a beautiful cover???
Jul 19, 2020 @ 17:15:40
I really enjoyed reading this, thank you! i am three reviews behind at the moment arghhh so won’t participate, but I have loved reading people’s notes. I am a serial post-itter too, and often end up with torn up larger post-its when I don’t have tabs to hand …
Jul 19, 2020 @ 19:28:15
LOL! I’m the same – scrappy bits of post-it everywhere! Mind you, I don’t know what we did before we had them…
Jul 19, 2020 @ 17:44:41
I’m with you in the dislike of covers emblazoned with quotes telling me how wonderful the book is and if I loved X then I will be sure to love this one… I stopped writing in books (always pencil) when I stopped studying literature and was practicing the advice to read actively. Now I just use post it notes – problem is they do have the annoying habit of coming adrift from the page they were meant to mark.
Jul 19, 2020 @ 19:27:23
Yeah, that *is* the problem with post-its. I should have a notebook and pen to hand to jot down page numbers etc but if I’m really into the flow of reading I don’t want to stop!
Jul 19, 2020 @ 19:07:06
This is such a good tag, I hadn’t seen this one yet. I have come to love my kindle, though I couldn’t read on a kindle app, a proper kindle is much kinder on the eyes. Though I shall always prefer real books. I spent quite a long time out in the sun this afternoon reading, it was very relaxing. I don’t make nearly so many notes as I should, I’m sure I would find reviewing easier if I did.
Jul 19, 2020 @ 19:25:42
It’s a good tag, Ali – you should have a go! I think I would probably get on better with a real kindle rather than an app, but for now I’m happy to stick to tree books! 😀
Jul 20, 2020 @ 01:51:04
I don’t usually mark in books unless in pencil but not comments, just a vertical line alongside a passage I want to revisit. I only look at the last chapter if an animal is the main protaganist because if it is going to die or be injured I need to know. (lol). I hate those blurbs in publisher reviews or on book covers that other people thought it was brilliant. Who cares? I want a brief outline of the plot of character. I’ll read eBooks on an app but can get distracted in a slow spot and check emails instead. I enjoy listening to audio books late at night when I can’t sleep but I prefer ‘real’ books very much as long as it’s not too heavy. It was fun reading your responses to these questions.
Jul 20, 2020 @ 09:26:56
It’s a fun tag, and I agree with you about the blurbs – I just want enough of a hint of what the book is about to make me want to read it! 😀
Jul 20, 2020 @ 08:28:31
This is a fun meme and I’ll give it a go ☺️
Jul 20, 2020 @ 09:25:47
Excellent! It’s a good one!
Jul 20, 2020 @ 11:20:44
I’m a sucker for little post its in my books – great tag!
Jul 20, 2020 @ 14:47:56
It’s a good tag – and yes, post-its are so useful!
Jul 21, 2020 @ 07:16:55
Jul 21, 2020 @ 19:21:09
What fun! I enjoyed reading your answers and guess what…I’d have given very similar answers to yours! Books are sacred and I’d never write on them even in pencil. I take down notes in a separate notebook.
Jul 21, 2020 @ 19:48:56
LOL! It’s nice that we bookish types all seem to think alike! I can’t write in books, though the post-its are rather getting out of hand lately so I may have to slow down the reading speed and resort to a notebook too!
Jul 21, 2020 @ 22:12:33
Such a fun tag! Lovely insights! The thing about blurbs about books is and I do want to say that I do need to know about a book before I buy it….but many a blurbs written today do not actually represent the plot and are instead a flimsy premises, written by someone who has skimmed the first 10 pages. So my blurbs are followed by a quick search on GR. Also I cannot track anything on my shelves anymore and my sister and I keep talking that we need some kind of index system to track our books but I really do not know when we will get to it ….so I totally get your pain. Do you mean people actually leave their house without a book handy ? *********Shudder******** lol
Jul 22, 2020 @ 08:17:45
It *is* a lovely tag! And you’re right about the blurbs and also the infuriating quotes from other authors drive me nuts. I need some kind of sense of what the book is like so I know whether to spend time on it. I think I will have to look into some sensible way of organising my books over the summer, because it *is* getting harder and harder to control where they are….
Jul 23, 2020 @ 18:14:05
I think I realize something…writing in books (for me) is like nail biting. I struggled with as a child, and I finally broke the habit in adulthood. When I read, I immediately write notes in the margins. I do not want to, but I find ways to justify it bc I cannot not say anything while I read; however, it also would take time to write on something disconnected from my book. But I realize it is just another matter of forming a habit. And so I am going to give it a go. You inspired me to just try to NOT write directly in my books. I am starting two new books soon — we’ll see how it goes. So thanks!
P.S. I enjoyed reading your answers!
Jul 23, 2020 @ 19:11:13
Thank you! And good luck with the habit breaking! Post-its are a good way forward, because you can just grab one and plonk it onto the relevant bit. Quick, and it doesn’t interrupt the flow of reading! 😀