Click for Source Image By Ellie Bowker
After reading last week’s article on Book Reading Etiquette, I thought I would follow on from that with some “Bookworm Problems”. Bookworms face a vast array of problems on a daily basis because of their beloved books. Whether it’s reading, buying, lending or discussing your favourite books, there are always dilemmas that seem to crop up that can be fatal for hard core bookworms.
After reading last week’s article on Book Reading Etiquette, I thought I would follow on from that with some “Bookworm Problems”. Bookworms face a vast array of problems on a daily basis because of their beloved books. Whether it’s reading, buying, lending or discussing your favourite books, there are always dilemmas that seem to crop up that can be fatal for hard core bookworms.
Click for Source Image Bookworm Problem #1: No one gets that reference.
We’ve all been there. Imagine the situation, you’re just sitting around and talking with your friends when someone unknowingly gives you the perfect run up for that one particular Divergent reference. You crack the joke, absolutely nailing the punchline and feeling pretty pleased with yourself to be greeted with nothing but blank stares. At that point you’re feeling kind of silly and your friends are looking at you like you’ve grown a second head. It’s like holding your hand up for a high five and everyone ignores you. You feel like calling up your friend who has read Divergent to tell them the reference to feel that sense of self satisfaction and to be able to say to yourself, “Veronica Roth would be proud.” Instead, you’re left with an awkward silence and broken dreams.
We’ve all been there. Imagine the situation, you’re just sitting around and talking with your friends when someone unknowingly gives you the perfect run up for that one particular Divergent reference. You crack the joke, absolutely nailing the punchline and feeling pretty pleased with yourself to be greeted with nothing but blank stares. At that point you’re feeling kind of silly and your friends are looking at you like you’ve grown a second head. It’s like holding your hand up for a high five and everyone ignores you. You feel like calling up your friend who has read Divergent to tell them the reference to feel that sense of self satisfaction and to be able to say to yourself, “Veronica Roth would be proud.” Instead, you’re left with an awkward silence and broken dreams.
Click for Source Image Bookworm Problem #2: Lending out books.
I am a self-confessed book clean freak. I try my very best to keep my books in perfect condition whilst still enjoying the written word. It’s not often that I lend out books but when I do, I have to be able to trust that person to keep my book spic and span. When I let my friend borrow my copy of Cassandra Clare’s City of Heavenly Fire, I was relieved when it came back to me in the exact condition as when I let her borrow it. As a fast reader and when it comes to lending out books, if it’s not back in my possession after a week I start to get a bit anxious. What if they’ve folded the pages? What if it was ruined and now they’re replacing it? What if? What if? What if? It’s maddening!
I am a self-confessed book clean freak. I try my very best to keep my books in perfect condition whilst still enjoying the written word. It’s not often that I lend out books but when I do, I have to be able to trust that person to keep my book spic and span. When I let my friend borrow my copy of Cassandra Clare’s City of Heavenly Fire, I was relieved when it came back to me in the exact condition as when I let her borrow it. As a fast reader and when it comes to lending out books, if it’s not back in my possession after a week I start to get a bit anxious. What if they’ve folded the pages? What if it was ruined and now they’re replacing it? What if? What if? What if? It’s maddening!
Click for Source Image Bookworm Problem #3: Recommendations that just don’t help.
The question that every bookworm is familiar with is “What should I read next?” An obvious question among all literary appreciates which most are happy to help answer. However, it gets to the point where you find yourself repeating “I’ve already read that” or “that just isn’t my thing”. For example, if I’ve read three sci-fi books in a row then the chances are that I am going to want to read some more sci-fi so it’s no good recommending a 1500 page novel about the history of bread and other baked goods.
The question that every bookworm is familiar with is “What should I read next?” An obvious question among all literary appreciates which most are happy to help answer. However, it gets to the point where you find yourself repeating “I’ve already read that” or “that just isn’t my thing”. For example, if I’ve read three sci-fi books in a row then the chances are that I am going to want to read some more sci-fi so it’s no good recommending a 1500 page novel about the history of bread and other baked goods.
Click for Source Image Bookworm Problem #4: Bad film adaptations.
You’re in the cinema about to watch the film adaptation for your favourite book and you’re so excited. The trailer looked fantastic, you’ve been keeping up to date with all the news and have scoured through the internet for interviews from the cast. But you leave the cinema feeling slightly disappointed. They missed out this part! They didn’t include that! They got this character all wrong! And the only way that you can cure this ache in your heart is by rereading it all over again and hope that they get the sequel right. There’s something only marginally worse about going to see a bad film adaptation and that’s going to see a film adaptation with someone who hasn’t read the book. They spend the whole time next to you asking questions in a hushed voice that you can’t concentrate on the film. If they stopped asking questions and watched the film, they would understand (unless, of course, it’s a bad film adaptation which brings us full circle back to my point)!
You’re in the cinema about to watch the film adaptation for your favourite book and you’re so excited. The trailer looked fantastic, you’ve been keeping up to date with all the news and have scoured through the internet for interviews from the cast. But you leave the cinema feeling slightly disappointed. They missed out this part! They didn’t include that! They got this character all wrong! And the only way that you can cure this ache in your heart is by rereading it all over again and hope that they get the sequel right. There’s something only marginally worse about going to see a bad film adaptation and that’s going to see a film adaptation with someone who hasn’t read the book. They spend the whole time next to you asking questions in a hushed voice that you can’t concentrate on the film. If they stopped asking questions and watched the film, they would understand (unless, of course, it’s a bad film adaptation which brings us full circle back to my point)!
Click for Source Image Bookworm Problem #5: Second hand embarrassment.
Stupid, silly characters doing stupid, silly things that leave you shaking your head in utter embarrassment. There have been moments whilst reading where I have had to put the book down for just a moment to wallow in the second hand embarrassment that I feel for a particular character after they have done something utterly mortifying. I shouldn’t be feeling that much embarrassment for the character but I do and what a consequence it is. If only you could rewrite that whole scene! However, there are some things that you just can’t un-read.
Stupid, silly characters doing stupid, silly things that leave you shaking your head in utter embarrassment. There have been moments whilst reading where I have had to put the book down for just a moment to wallow in the second hand embarrassment that I feel for a particular character after they have done something utterly mortifying. I shouldn’t be feeling that much embarrassment for the character but I do and what a consequence it is. If only you could rewrite that whole scene! However, there are some things that you just can’t un-read.
So, bookworms, do you find yourself relating to any of these? Do you have other Bookworm Problems that haven’t been touched? What are some of your biggest problems?
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