My good friend Stefani over at Caught Read Handed tagged me in the Book Blogger’s Test. It’s another fun way of finding out more about your fellow bloggers. So here we go!
What are your top three book pet hates?
1) Poorly edited books. I have a publishing degree, so I know how the editorial process works and roughly how many eyes a manuscript typically gets in front of before publication. The odd error here and there is acceptable, nobody’s perfect after all, but if a book is riddled with mistakes like spelling errors, missing words and poor grammar, then I find it really distracting and feel it reflects poorly on the publishing house it came from.
2) Mismatched series covers. I like consistency in my books, so I like all the covers in a series to match. That can get more difficult when a series becomes popular through a film adaptation and suddenly film poster covers are everywhere. I was impatient when trying to get my hands on a copy of The Hunger Games a few years ago, and the film cover version was all I could find. I went on to buy the other two books in the series which have different (and much nicer) covers. It annoys me to this day that the three don’t match.
3) This is a pet hate I have about my own reading habits. I have a compulsion where I have to finish reading a book, even if I hate it. It took me 5 months to read Moby Dick because I kept putting it aside for several weeks at a time because I was so bored, but I did finish it!
Describe your perfect reading spot.
I’ve been reading in bed since I was a kid, so I would say that’s my favourite reading spot. I have a health condition that sometimes means I have to spend days in bed, so books get me through those days or nights when I can’t sleep.
Tell us three book confessions.
1) I don’t own an e-reader, and never plan to. I’m not going to get into the physical books vs. e-books debate here, both have their own merits, but for me e-books just don’t hold any appeal and I would much rather have the ink and paper version.
2) The number of Star Trek novels I own outnumber all my other fiction books. If you’ve read some of my other posts you’ll already know that I’m an ÜBER Star Trek fan, so this is hardly surprising. I’ve been reading them since I was about 9, a year or so after I first became a fan. I was too young to understand everything that was going on (especially the technobabble), but I loved them all the same.
3) I often re-read sections of my favourite books, or sometimes the whole book. Even if I have a pile of new books I’m looking forward to reading sitting on my bookshelf, I often feel the urge to re-read what I’ve already read because I love it so much. This happened just yesterday, when I pulled out one of my Star Trek novels and re-read some of my favourite parts, just because I felt like it. I love how doing so brings back memories of the time and place I read the book the first time – in this case, sitting out in the sun in a local park while I was living in Bridge of Allan studying for my Masters degree – and how it makes me sit back and think “yeah, this book is as brilliant as I remember.”
When was the last time you cried during a book?
Honestly, I hardly ever cry when I’m reading. I got a bit teary with The Fault in Our Stars, but there was no actual crying. It’s been years so I can’t really remember, but I think there might have been some tears when I read Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
How many books are on your bedside table?
Just the one I’m currently reading; The Humans by Matt Haig. Since I mostly read in bed there’s always a book on my bedside table. My TBR pile lives on my bookcase.
What is your favourite snack to eat while you’re reading?
I can’t say I ever eat while I’m reading, but if I did it would probably be some form of chocolate.
Name three books you would recommend to everyone.
1) Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke
2) I Am Legend by Richard Matheson
3) The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
Show us a picture of your favourite shelf on your bookcase.
This is the shelf containing my favourite books. A dodo and a robin watch over them for me. Sorry it’s a bit blurry!
Write how much books mean to you in three words.
Imagination’s open doors. Books are gateways into the imaginations of their authors. They give us access to limitless worlds and possibilities; some that we could never hope to find in the real world. I think this is one of the main reasons why some people, including me, believe that the written word is mankind’s greatest achievement. I’m going to drop in a Star Trek reference here, the central tenet of Vulcan philosophy: “Infinite diversity in infinite combinations.” That’s what books give us, and there is little else on earth that has that kind of power.
What is your biggest reading secret?
I bend the spines of paperbacks on purpose while I’m reading them. I know some of you will be horrified by this. I have my reasons for doing so, which I explain in detail in another post.
Who I’m Tagging:
2) 101 Books
Drifting Pages 
We have so many things in common. Haha. I know that I shouldn’t keep being surprised because we’ve known each for a while now, and we’re friends, so obviously we have things in common. But sometimes I read something you say and I’m just like “I like this girl.” Haha. 🙂 It also makes me miss you a lot. Looking forward to Skyping on Thursday!
Haha, I like that! I often feel that way when I read your posts too. It’s why we’re such good friends, and why we have epic book chats! I miss you too! Looking forward to Thursday. 🙂
This has inspired me to get current. I have not reviewed or discussed a book on here since the school year ended. I’ve been keeping my reviews on Goodreads since I can share with my students responsibly. They don’t get access to my personal blogs, at least not as “follows” or “friends.” I draw that line.
Hey, thanks for dropping by. I’m really pleased to hear the post inspired you! I understand you not wanting to share blogs with your students. I felt the same way when I was an English tutor. I’m more active here than on Goodreads, although to be honest I’m not active on either as much as I would like. I’ll need to work on that. Thanks again!
This is such a fun idea! I have so much in common with you. Among other things, I bend spines on purpose and reread sections of my favorite novels as well. Also, obviously everyone should read Harry Potter!
Thanks, that’s great to hear! I think you’re one of the only other spine-benders I’ve come across. Most book lovers feel that it’s sacrilege! I’m currently reading a book I borrowed from a friend and she asked me not to break the spine. It’s SO hard not to! I keep having to remind myself that it’s not my book and to be careful with it. I can’t believe there are still people out there who haven’t read Harry Potter!