Modern Good Reads discussion

Hello everyone

Please read my latest blog post and tell me what kind of reader are you?

http://www.amyheugh.com/

I do not believe that I fit into any of the categories listed in the blog. Perhaps you will create another for a reader such as I.

I am an avid reader who prefers reading a book to watching TV, listening to music, or playing games, and I always have a book in the process of being read. Anywhere from one to three weeks is required to finish reading a book.

The majority of the books read were borrowed from the local public library. I only buy one which I intend to read again someday or if it is one of a series.

Traditional print books currently owned include: 32 non-fiction and 69 fiction.
Books on tape or CD currently owned include: 1 non-fiction and 8 fiction.

That said; I only read when there is nothing better to do at the time.

I guess I am a cross between bookworm and over endulger. I usually read a new book and then reread a book.

That's interesting. I'll think about it and come up with something and update the post. Maybe you're a Easy-going Reader or even a Chronological Reader? You take your time reading books, you're not in a rush. Thanks for your feedback Jim

Bibliophilia, for sure! I have to be reading something, whether fiction, non-fiction, magazines, sports, newspaper...anything as long as its well written. I will say that if I read something that doesn't strike me as interesting or particularly well put together, I'm ditching it.

How long does it take for you to find a book interesting Andrew, a page, a chapter...what, it's interesting that it's simply the cover or the blurb that grabs my interest, then the first page, but if it's more than a chapter I put it aside. The thing is though I read everything, kids stories, YA, Drama, historical but the true stories must have a story line, not much into autobiographies or biographies and don't much like short stories or condensed ones because I'm finished before I get my teeth into them. A novel with about 500-600 pages suits my style of reading.

I find it hard to ditch books after I start reading them, although I have on occasions. It seems wrong to stop before the end.

I ditch books that don't live up to their promo's Lynne, the thing is there are a huge number of books out there that are worth reading, one doesn't have to put up with sub-standard

Good question Grace: I've put books down after a paragraph, and I've slogged through 100 pages or so of some others: Jane Austen, Jonathan Franzen and Salman Rushdie, for examples. Just couldn't do it. I don't feel as bad with nonfiction, because much of the time its not necessary to read all the way through in sequence.

It was War and Peace that converted me Andrew, talk about hard going, never again, most of the classics though I've read and enjoyed even though their style is dated.

I have always been "The Bibliophilia, aka the bookworm" first paired with another type. I am trying to limit my collection to a wall unit (which my husband couldn't fit a book of his own on it if he tried). I'm attempting to replace books I love most with digital copies when I can to free up space. I'm to the point where, I prefer digital books and I'm hooked on collecting them. I check often for free kindle books and daily deals.

I usually keep about a dozen on the go books spanning different generas (including multi-genera assortment of novels, a few self help or how to that require practice or introspection) and have become quite "The Explorer aka the risk-taker." A digital library lets me go with the genera I'm most in the mood for where ever I'm at. I keep a collection folder for "currently reading" books in my kindle app. Some books I abandon but I finish many this way.

When I get involved with page turners, they usually don't survive 24 hours. This is why I rarely start reading a series before the final book is published. I also do audio books while I craft, cook or clean. Unlike "The Over-indulger, aka the re-reader" I NEVER reread the same novel twice unless I'm progressing in the series and I've forgotten most of the details. For example, I followed Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth Series over decade ago 4 long books before it ended (each paperback was around 800 pages) and stopped when I started college. I intend to reread what I had read so I can finish the series; a decade is too long for details. Wizard's First Rule was the first fantasy novel I ever read. I might reread non fiction passages or a whole book if there is content I wish to ingrain or alter my habits.

If the cover grabs my eye and is professional enough (great cover art, professional clean and readable typeface etc) I give it a try. I sometimes check the description though really more often than not the next novel I read is one selected based on a cover that haunts me begging to be read or a book I agreed to review. I know the saying "you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover" but I'm rarely disappointed by books with great covers. If an author cares enough to make sure there is a good cover, they probably took the time to make sure that their plots, characters, themes, word flow and grammar are up to par. There are exceptions to this rule but I find them few and far between. There are thousands of books out there and a limited amount of time.

Characters have their own personality, flaws, and strengths just like real people. So many times I see books bashed because a person doesn't like the lead or main supporting character's personality. Like a person in real life, you don't have to like their personality to appreciate the role they play. It's their life and their decisions are their own that have their own consequences. If a character stays true to them self even as they evolve or progress in a story, there's a quality of honesty I greatly value above those flaws.

Another thing I will do is read books that have a huge controversy in the media or among friends. Fifty Shades of Grey is my latest example; I breezed through the first two books but the third was hard to get into not because of the controversial taboo sex but the prolonged perfect honeymoon phase that envelopes the first four chapters. Another example, are books that the Church go against, such as The Golden Compass or Harry Potter (which didn't stop the success of any of those books). I feel people who express such strong emotions rallying against another's written work, threatening book burning or banning are trying to impose their beliefs on others rather than opening their minds to the value hidden between the covers. I see it like a challenge daring me to actually read those books. Life is not perfect. We are not clones. Even in the darkest of books you get the contrast to appreciate the best of circumstances.

Recently, since reading Vampire Academy, I started reading books before watching the movie. So much gets left out; various scenes/characters that mildly enrich the story --- inner feelings, impressions, dialogues or even the devil/angel conscience banter. For example, a romance movie will often give the appearance of love at first sight when in the book timeline it's actually many dates/months/years in the making. It was for that reason I stuck to the movies only since I'm a very visual person. Mentally visualization is nothing like seeing a character before your eyes on screen. But books... there are facets of personality that get left out. I love the big picture through the details. Reading and watching is something new I'm playing with.

I also noticed Goodreads makes a scatter plot of publication years of read books and most of mine were published in 2005 or newer with a few outliers in older books. I'm sure if it included all the books I read in high school this would look different... but it's where I'm a now.

***So I'm an ebook-hoarding/cover-judging/open-minded/one-time-only/controversy-seeking/series-digesting/where-ever-the-pages-take-me kinda reader.*** That's me and I kinda like it.

I'm a combination Bibliophilia/Explorer/Overindulger. I've an apartment full of books, my favorite genres include thrillers, mysteries, horror, sci-fi, fantasy and historical novel, and I hope to re-read the books I like sooner or later.

Hi all, I have a little request (and after going through all the threads this seemed most logical).
I'm conducting a short survey for a university study on social cataloguing for books (aka Goodreads!) and was hoping you'd all help me out by completing it.
I can't offer you anything if you do, except my most heartfelt thanks and deepest appreciations for helping a girl out.
It should only take 5-10 minutes, so if you can click through the link below:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RFLW5SK

And feel free to share this across social media and with all your book loving friends.

P.S. If its not appropriate to post this here please delete/let me know.

I'm definitely an over-indulger, I love re-reading the books I enjoyed. Although I have done this less this year. I think I'm also a nitpicker, I do tend to over-analyze things a little. But, I think after studying Literature at A-level, and now at University it's become kind of natural to do so.

I am definitely the super-fan (except for more than one author) and the bookworm. I always have a book near by.

I see bits of myself in most of the categories, but if I had to pick one, I'll have to admit that I'm most like the Elitist. I used to have a lot more time to read, so I would have classed myself as the Bibliophilia, but now that my time is constrained, I want to be choosy about what I read.

Firstly - WOW on the website, just love it! and great post! (love me some minions)

Then, if I had to be honest, I'm probably a little of most - except the non-reader (just cant wrap my head around the fact that someone actually CHOOSES no to read...insanity) but mostly I'm probably :
The Bibliophilia, aka the bookworm
The Over-indulger, aka the re-reader
The Explorer aka the risk-taker

I'm Divergent.

I am a mix of the Bibliophilia (AKA The Bookworm) and the Explorer (AKA The Risk-Taker). :) Sounds mighty accurate to me!

I'm a risk-taking, over-indulging bookworm. :)

I for sure, am the bookworm. I had never liked reading and tried hard to avoid it at all costs until 6 years ago but since then...well I devour books to the point my children (even the English major) say Mom, how many books are going to read? I respond as many as possible and I'm always suggesting books to them. I cannot read a paper book much anymore so I had to go digital. it was the TV or a book since I cannot even make digital work after watching TV but I still buy the paper book when I see them on sale or ask for them for my birthday so I support the author and have them on had for people to borrow. I love a good book. I have a very sickly existence and a book will take me out of it every single time. So, hi, my name is Dawn and I am a bookworm!

I would say I am an exploring bookworm. I like to be challenged with my reading that is why I am a devoted supporter of translated fiction and have lately even discovered romance books I would never have put a hand on as a teenager or young adult. I also love to just fall into a book and let go of everything and enjoy myself. I try to support self-published authors. Not sure yet what exactly it is that makes that reading experience different from those published the traditional way. Maybe it is because they are more raw, more individual and more adventurous than the traditional ones. Who knows. Over the years I had phases where I could not find a book I would have loved to read but then there are phases where I devour books on end. Right now it is a devouring phase ;-)

I have no TV.

MY reading has highs & lows.
When I get a couple of great book, then I become a suepr-avid-reader..but after 3 or 4 "PROPER-COOKIE-CUTTER" books (Grisham,etc..), I lose hope. And I get bitter.

So, I'm hoping to keep the high up..and finding out new books

I'm constantly reading.