First spotted this fun, little tag on Ritu Bhathal’s blog, But I Smile Anyway, then saw it on Shelley Wilson’s blog, Motivate Me.
I’m a book lover and both Ritu and Shelley invited anyone to play. So here I am. And here we go.
Do you have a specific place for reading?
I wish. Like a spot under a weeping willow or in a gorgeous garden blooming with roses or a soft window seat with sheer, billowing curtains. *sigh* No, I read in the car, in bed, while I’m walking from room to room, sitting on the couch…
Bookmarks or random pieces of paper?
I have a ginormous collection of the silliest, sweetest, loveliest, most awesome bookmarks ever. Yet…when I need to keep my place in a book (which is often as I’m constantly interrupted), I usually grab a random receipt, scrap of paper, or business card.
Can you just stop anywhere or must it be at the end of a chapter?
I can stop anywhere. Literally anywhere. Mid-paragraph. Mid-sentence. Hell, mid-word. This isn’t my preferred way to read (or, rather, stop reading) but has become that way. I used to finish chapters but, alas, times have changed. Or lack of time has changed. That said, if I’m two sentences away from the end of a chapter, I try to crawl my way to the finish line.
Do you eat or drink while reading?
Yes. I love sitting with a cup of tea or glass of wine while reading. It’s my “me” time. But that doesn’t happen very often. I’m usually reading whenever I get a spare moment so I’m chugging some water or my morning coffee before I’m on to the next thing. I don’t really eat while reading though. That would be disastrous.
Music or TV while reading?
I can barely concentrate when the neighbor is mowing his lawn so, no. No music or TV. As a matter of fact, if the kids are awake when I want to read, it’s DEAR (Drop Everything And Read) time! (A.K.A. silence-in-the-house time.) Luckily, I have a book-loving family.
One book at a time or several?
Something a bit more than “several”. Always a few nonfiction/reference books plus a novel or two and some anthologies and short stories. I’m… Ooh! Shiny! *runs away*
Do you prefer to read at home or elsewhere?
Home. But I will read in my car provided there is NO ONE else there and I’m parked somewhere quiet. Never in a coffee shop or even a library because, regardless of how quiet places are supposed to be, there are always distractions.
Read out loud or silently?
Hmm. Do people read out loud? Now I’m wicked curious who reads out loud to themselves. Do you? Let me know in the comments. (Do I need to say that I read silently?) Although…now I must admit I read out loud to my children. But that’s totally different.
Do you read ahead or skip pages?
No. No! Who does this? Do you? What are these questions? I mean, if it’s a reference book, sure, but not a novel (novella, novelette, short story, whatever).
Breaking the spine or keeping it like new?
You could sell my 15-yr-old books in a bookstore they’re so new-looking. And I’m a big fan of rereading. Still…spines intact. (Except my Harry Potter series. They’re like an old, favorite stuffed animal. Worn and loved.)
Do you write in your books?
All the time. I draw and doodle and make rude comments in the margins. No! No, I don’t write in my books. That’s like… Just no. In my nonficiton/reference books, I highlight. I’m a huge highlighter. (Oh, and I will admit to trying some black-out poetry in a completely destroyed, unreadable copy of Harry Potter that was going to be thrown away and I saved. Because. Harry Potter.)
I’m going to follow suit in the nomination/tagging here and say that if you’d like to play, you’re tagged. (You should play. Just saying.)
Have fun, fellow book lovers!
Love your answers! I wish I had a designated reading spot too, but really, anywhere will do!
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Exactly. As long as there’s time, anywhere will do. If I get to read, I’m thrilled. 💖 Glad I saw this on your blog. Thanks for inviting fellow book lovers to play.
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You are most welcome! Book Lovers Unite!
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Love this! I chuckled at your ‘Ooh, shiny!’ – I’m like this too. 😉 Great post x
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It’s kind of unfortunate that I’m scattered but can be super useful at times. 😉 Thanks! Fun tag.
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Fun questions and answers
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Thanks! 🙂 Hope you play…
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Maybe 😊
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You are my book writing twin, so I guess I won’t be participating in this game as I don’t want to be accused of copying and pasting another blogger’s content.
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I totally could have fixed this but I wanted to leave “book writing twin” in your comment. I wish!
Cool that your reading habits are so like mine. We have to meet up and open a bottle of wine and read and not talk at all.
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You just described my perfect evening.
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I mean, book reading twin.
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📚❤️
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Specific place: Yes, in the bedroom with the door shut!
Bookmarks: Gods, no..that’s what the edge of the dust jacket is for. 😉
Stop anywhere: Nah…make it the end of the chapter
food or drink: Yes. Coke is probably what’s in the glass
music or tv: GODS NO!! I can’t read with noise….seriously….shhhhhhhhh
one book or several: One
home or elsewhere: home
out loud or silently: um….silently…..
read ahead or skip pages: I am not a heathen….
break the spine: if the book is mine, yeah…maybe I’ll bend it a little….but if it’s borrowed no
write in your books: I am not a heathen… 😉
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Eric, you played! Love it. ❤️ #mast
“I’m not a heathen.” 😂 Right? Seriously. Oops. *shhhh*
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😂😂😂 who reads out loud, Sarah?….who….i have so many questions..#mast
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Many questions, my friend. So many… 😉
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Loved this! ❤
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Awesome! I hope you play… If I tag you and send you chocolate?
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Actually, I did plan on joining. I’ll be reblogging you and adding my two cents, lol. Hopefully by the weekend. ❤
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That’s wild. Because I’m “linking” to you this weekend. 😉 I’m excited you’re going to join! Look forward to your answers.
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Funny. I think I will take up this challenge.
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It’s fun. 🙂 Let me know if you do!
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Absolutely love your answers, Sarah. Especially the ones on reading ahead and writing in your books. The very thought of either of those has me staggering around the room, clutching at my heart! GAH!!! (One of the things I love about reading on Kindle is that I can highlight to my heart’s content, without damaging a single page of my print book. And I often have the same book both places.) 😀
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I completely love that visual of you staggering around. It made me laugh out loud.
I know, right? I mean…reading ahead? Writing in books? Blasphemy! 😉 (I have quite a few books in both print and kindle, too.)
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I stagger around the room often, these days. Sometimes clutching at my heart and yelling, “Why? WHYYYYY? Why would anyone make a mark in a book? What? She read ahead, too?” More book-related staggering. But other times, just staggering, because, OLD. 😀
I often read a book on Kindle, decide it has earned a place on one of my MANY bookshelves, and buy it in print, just so I can walk by and pat it on the cover now and then. Books? Treasure? Same thing.
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I know! Marking up books. Breaking the spines. I thought I knew my friends! 😂 I get the staggering (old) thing. Especially in the morning. Ugh…
Ha! I just wrote a post about books/treasure! They ARE the same.
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Your first answer begs the question, how much do you read in the car? Lol mid word? Got some strong skills 😀 I’m also a crawler btw 😀 hooray for a book loving family btw 😀 I’ve focused this year on tackling single reads to get the most out of my books. Have known to simultaneously read 12 books and do not recommend it lol. With great lines I read out loud. I check to see how many pages I have left in a chapter or the whole book. Btw, worn and loved… what a lovely way to describe your HP books. And saving HP books to black out poetry. Ravenclaw greatness right there. 😀 I only write notes in reference books. Have done the video version of this but will do the write up version as well 😀
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Well…I read in my car more than I’d like to. I’m always waiting and, if not that, I sit in my car near a park or in a cemetery and read. The mid-word thing is not a skill, it’s a necessity when you have children. I never used to do that. I don’t know if I could – never had to test it out. I do read out loud to the kids and every once in a great while (at least once a week) startle the hubby by laughing or gasping and reading a line out loud to him while he’s falling asleep. 😉 Yeah, I’m a real catch.
I know! I was trying to remember where I got that HP book but can’t. Anyway, yes, it was AWESOME for black out poetry. Ravenclaw greatness. And my little one (who is also a Ravenclaw) did some black out poetry with me. It was so fun.
So glad you’re going to play! I’ll have to find your video version. As you know, I’m spectacular at finding and watching youtube thingies. *cringe* Sorry…
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Reading near a cemetery is a thing? Lol. And sorry to hear about all the waiting. I’m sure kids make things quite interesting and that you develop super powers you never thought you had. Lol I’m sure he loves being stirred from slumber with a line from a book. Well maybe if it’s fifty… never mind hehehe.
So lovely to see you share the blackout poetry with your darling Ravenclaw.
As for the video, let’s make it a bit easier Reading Habits Tag
And never apologize, I post so much stuff no wonder people don’t know half of what I do. But it’s either that or keep all the crazy inside. No bueno.
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Reading IN (not near) a cemetery. And I’m not sure it’s a thing but I love walking/reading just being in cemeteries. It’s a thing. For me. 😉
Loved your YouTube book tag! (Except that you break the spines of your books! *gasp*)
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Oh I’m never gonna live down the spine breakingness? And IN cemeteries? how very Lydia Deetz of you and even if it’s kind of creepy, it’s also kind of sweet. Cheers
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That’s me. Creepy/sweet. 🙂 (And, no, you’ll never live down the spine-breaking.)
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Love your answers, Sarah – we’d get along just fine. But I can read anywhere – have no problem blocking out everything around me – drives my hubby crazy.
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Ooh…That would drive me crazy, too. Out of pure envy, of course. I’d simply be jealous of your mad reading skills. 😉
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Readalicious! I considered my answers as I read each of yours, and I had to raise an eyebrow to wonder, “how does this work when everything I do is digital?” E-books and audiobooks are my thing now. Unless it’s a kid’s book, I don’t typically have physical books at my disposal.
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Huh. I have A LOT of books on my ereader but I will always prefer a print book. I don’t know how I’d manage without a physical book. And kid’s ebooks? Nah. Those must be print.
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Great questions – and answers! I laughed at your response re: bookmarks. I have a lovely collection of bookmarks but, like you, I’m often using receipts or pieces torn from an envelope, etc.
About reading ahead… I hope this doesn’t get me banned from your site, but I do. Always. I read a couple of chapters, then flip to the back of the book and then carry on with Chapter 3. The people in my book club are horrified by this practice…but they still let me come.
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Reading ahead??? 😳 I’m finding out all sorts of unpleasant things about my friends here. I don’t know what to say… Except that I’m horrified, too. Horrified! (And surprised. And curious… Do you skip ahead and watch the end of movies?)
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Haha! I never skip ahead in movies, but I do it all the time with books. Is that a double standard?
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Hmm… 🤔 Yes. I think so.
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Pingback: Booklovers blog challenge, reading habits
So interesting to read about other people’s lives and how they squash reading in. I am like you now. I read in between and when I get a moment. I read aloud to my sons still but not to myself.
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Yes. Sometimes we have to squash reading in. Not my favorite way to read but better than nothing. When we get moments… 🙂
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Great & fun post. I enjoy a cup of tea whilst reading too. My book spines are bent though, books are meant to be bent and worn 🙂
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Ack! You’re a spine-breaker?! I don’t know what to say. I thought I knew you… 😉
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Sacha struggles with the things I do to books too. I like to fan them, flatten them, rub against my face, turn down corners etc – sigh!
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Flatten? Turn down corners? 😳 I can’t even.
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My fave reading time and place is in bed. Which I’m just about to do now. With my cup of green tea. No chance to read any other time. 😙 I love your indignation at some of these questions! You really made me laugh. 🤣
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That’s one of my favorite reading times, too. I’m just so exhausted by that time. Also, I do like earlier in the day when I can sit with a glass of wine or tea. Dreamy. I’m glad I could make you laugh. My humor is slightly off. I’m slightly off. I’m okay with that. 🙂 Enjoy your book and green tea. ❤
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That was fun. I’m like you on all points except having multiple reads going at once. I’m a one at a time girl. Ha ha. (And… occasionally, I do underline and dog-ear pages – it’s a sign of book-love.)
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Be still my heart. I have learned so much about my blogging buddies here. Dog-ear pages?! *faints*
(I used to underline in books but only reference and poetry. I don’t know why the poetry but there you have it.) 🙂
Are you going play? It’s fun.
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Ummm. Maybe. Yes. In July. After your guest post 😀
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*ahem* Yes. Right. On it. 🙂 🙂 🙂
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Hi. I saw the game idea on Marcia Meara’s blog, with her reference to you here, so I posted and linked back to both of you. A great idea, and lots of fun. Thanks for passing it on. I’ve read a few of your posts and will be back to continue. More blogs than time, these days, though. 🙂 ~ Linne
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Ah, yes. More blogs than time. More books than time. More EVERYTHING than time. I get it. Completely. No worries. And thanks for linking and stopping by. It’s a fun blog hop. 🙂 Cheers!
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