Dangerous Hero Addict Support Group discussion

I know that I am very intense and excited about reading. I can love a fair amount of books with a passion, and hate a few equally passionately. Have you ever had someone say, "It's just a book" to you and you got annoyed? They just don't get it. To them, it's just a book, but it's so real to you. So important.

What are your thoughts on this?

Do you get really excited about books, or are they just ways to pass the time for you?

Have you been judged for your enthusiasm for a certain book/series?

I've seen passionate love for a series turn to passionate hate. Has that happened with you and a book series?

definitely has happened for me and still happening right now lol well first it was the twilight saga which I loved with vengeance... well more the thought than the language it was written with.. then The Host... but then, my dear, I got into Christina Dodd's Darkness Chosen and from there I read almost all her works (still reading them) and then went to Black Dagger Brotherhood which I inhaled quickly and not I'm in the Dark series by Christine Feehan and I can't put them down too.. I have over 1000 books on my to read list.. and believe me I've read almost as much when I was younger.. I believe books are passion... and sorry to say whoever doesn't think that is NOT a reader.. Book=LOVE! :)

I so completely understand your feelings.
When I read, and when the book is good, and characters compelling I soon find myself completely lost in the alternate reality of my heroes. I talk to them in my head, I have the utmost ridiculous thoughts concerning their future endeavors, and I just go completely insane.
When I read I laugh so hard, and cry so much that my mother often says "Kitty, you're not normal, you know that right?" and I have to admit I've known that for most of my 25 years on this often fantasy-less planet.

No one is able to take this away from me. You laugh at me, you can not understand me, but it all doesn't matter because all that silliness simply makes me happy and adds to who and how I am in real life, ;-)

I totally understand what you're saying!! And I would never laugh at you.. with you mostly cause I'm definitely the same.. I was caught a hundred times smiling like an idiot over sweet things that I've read.. and laughing like a crazy person over so many funny things... so I totally understand :) and don't worry about people cause they definitely won't understand.. and only the people that matter will understand ;)

The worst things...very often in my case, is the fact that I laugh at stuff that shouldn't be funny in the first place...and then try to explain it to the uncomprehensive masses.. ;-D

well I usually go for the line.. "it's something I'm reading, you wouldn't understand..." lol and that will keep them out of my reading credenza ;) I LOVE to read in a place where I have my own music and with no one to disturb the thoughts that come to mind when I'm reading a particularly good book ;)

I'm passionate about characters. Sam is my baby. Dave is my second baby.

To outsiders it may just be a book or character, but that's their opinion. It's not just a book or character to me.

Arch wrote: "I'm passionate about characters. Sam is my baby. Dave is my second baby.

To outsiders it may just be a book or character, but that's their opinion. It's not just a book or character to me."

@Arch.. that's true.. it's like they are alive and have souls and all :)

DK wrote: "@Arch.. that's true.. it's like they are alive and have souls and all :)"

Yes. I will admit, I sometimes wonder what they are doing now.

Arch wrote: "DK wrote: "@Arch.. that's true.. it's like they are alive and have souls and all :)"

Yes. I will admit, I sometimes wonder what they are doing now."

I sometimes wish they were alive and breathing... at least then so much despair would disappear from this world of women whose only fault is look for true men to love them and be there for them for the rest of eternity..

DK wrote: "I sometimes wish they were alive and breathing... at least then so much despair would disappear from this world of women whose only fault is look for true men to love them and be there for them for the rest of eternity..
"

They are alive to me.

Reading is my passion. I inherited it from my mother and was lucky enough to have in her someone I could always discuss books with because we also had similar reading tastes.
I am also fortunate in my profession as an English lit lecturer so I get to talk about books with my colleagues. I have only occasionally met people who don't understand my obsession with books and when they comment that it's only a book, I just smile because I really feel sorry for them. They don't know what they're missing...

I'm just like everyone else who has commented on this subject, except that I'm not that hooked on Sam and Dave. LOL!

Debbie wrote: "I'm just like everyone else who has commented on this subject, except that I'm not that hooked on Sam and Dave. LOL!"

lol Debbie. More Sam and Dave for me.

I do love those guys, but they have already had their stories.

Debbie wrote: "I do love those guys, but they have already had their stories."

cloning anyone? looooool

Its probably why I stay on here so much. I don't have anyone around here to discuss my passion for reading with. I have a few hunky heroes I claim as my own personal property (lol) but I love talking about them and seeing others feel the same way even if I have to fight to keep others away from my guys. My family is pretty tolerant of my reading but they wish I'd stop and enjoy the outdoors more with them but I'm not into the great outdoors. Fishing and hunting and things like that.

I'm the same way Pamela. My family gave up on me a long time ago and just deal with it.

Debbie wrote: "I do love those guys, but they have already had their stories."

Everyone pretty much already had their story, expect Jaz and Lopez.

I'm quite passionate about my reading. My enthusiasm for certain books may put "weird" for many, but I try not to care. My brother seriously think I have a problem because I'd rather stay home and cuddle with a book than going out to places. My parents support my reading 100% because I'm their only kid who picks up a book without them having to tell me to read, but there are times when I can read for the entire day, and they would get a bit irritated that I let a book take over my day. You seriously can't blame a person who loves to read.

Ashley, some stories can be so juicy that it makes the reader forgot about other things. I know when I'm reading a juicy book, I don't want to do anything, but read that book.

My mother and sister are cool with my reading addiction. They are also readers, and we share books. They are very kind about my enormous book collection. My sister even encourages me to buy more books. What a sweetie.

I am definitely excited by books. I think I always have been. I have way too many books I want to read, which is overwhelming at times, but it gives me something to look forward to. A buzz, if you will. My aunts are coming to visit, and I am sure they will make some comments about all the books we have in the house. (Rolling eyes!)

I actually have a lot of characters I love, but it's also about the stories, the plots, the scenes, the ideas in books that get my juices revving.

Some book series I am so excited about and I'm sure people just want me to shut up talking about:

Black Dagger Brotherhood by JR Ward
Immortals After Dark by Kresley Cole
GhostWalkers by Christine Feehan
Mercy Thompson by Patricia Briggs
Anything by Anne Stuart
Most books with a dangerous hero! (which makes me glad that there are so many people who joined this group)

I, too, get very excited about books. Which is just as well I guess, as I am a librarian. LOL! I was the only one in my family to read all of my childhood, so they all thought I was (and still am) very very weird. None of them get the thrill of opening that new book, that steps you out of your own world and into someone elses. There is just NOTHING like it. As a CYA librarian I believe sincerely it is my mission to connect books with kids and I just absolutely love a day when I have been able to turn a reluctant reader onto a book they are excited to explore. It is so rewarding and the major enjoyment of my job.

I am gratified that my daughter is a reader and she totally gets me. Some of the best times her and I have when she is down visiting is when we are sitting curled up together with a cup of tea or coffee and reading together. We skype each other about what books we are reading and she gets excited about books she finds at the library. (She lives 7 hours away from me).

On my TBR pile I have enough books (unread), that if I read one book a day I would have enough to last me 3 and a half years! gulp! My hubby doesn't read and doesn't get it either, but luckily he works shifts and after 25 yrs together we get each other, foibles and all.

LibraryLass wrote: "On my TBR pile I have enough books (unread), that if I read one book a day I would have enough to last me 3 and a half years! gulp!"

One of the nicest things about hanging round on Goodreads has been finding other people whose TBR piles are as insanely large as mine. ;) I haven't actually counted my TBR pile, because it makes me feel guilty about buying more books, but I suspect that it's about the same size as yours. ;)

I love it when a book gets my heart thumping. Like, literally, palpitating. A few books have given me those feelings and they are usually five star reads. If a book or character can make me physically feel an emotion then its a masterpiece ;)

I love it when a book arrives for me (either at work or in the post) and I get that silly giddy feeling, like I cant wait!!! Just like a kid at christmas.

Jessa, I am the same way. I need to be emotionally involved in a book.

LL, I love that giddy feeling when I can look forward to reading a new book. Going into a bookstore is like an adrenaline rush for me!

Erinaceina, I'm actually ashamed of how large my booklist is. I can't help it though. I love books too much to say no!

I love browsing, buying, trading, reading!!!! I get so emotionally involved with characters that some stick with me forever!

I am not a big e-book,kindle reader because there is something about the feel and look of a book. I go into a book store looking for one particular book and end up buying 5 to 10. I have a TBR pile in my house that is floor-to-ceiling (and getting bigger, lol) so to all you people out there who say "its just a book" well its not and for one it also increases your vocabulary and grammer skills without you even noticing. When i am down about the only thing that perks me up and takes me away is a great book!!!

But if i hate a book (i will still finish it cause i feel guilty if i don't, lol) but reading a book that is sooo good that you can't put it down, there is nothing like it!

P.S. I have on my iPad calender when all books come out that i am waiting for so i get a message pop up reminder, lol

Wow, Cindy. I could have written your post in message 28! Very uncanny!

I love to read and I always have a book with me. I could be going for a simple walk and have to take a book with me.

Everyone at my local library knows me there. I always check out a bulk load of books to read. I remember this one time I was at the library getting a whole of books to check out and this lady who was checking one book out looked at me like she couldnt' be I was checking all those books out.

Cindy wrote: "P.S. I have on my iPad calender when all books come out that i am waiting for so i get a message pop up reminder, lol"

lady Danielle i always laugh that every time i go into Barnes & Noble and buy books at the register they say "our return policy is 2 weeks" lol like i would ever return a book and i also never need a gift receipt they are always for me!

My father chain read like me, sadly he has been gone for 12 years now. I still have the last book he was reading and the page is still bent where he left off. So i am the only reader in the family. My mom tries but it takes her a year to finish a book.

Cindy, that is a very poignant reminder of your father. I am sorry for his passing. My father died about seven years ago, and it still hurts. He wasn't a big reader, but my mother is.

Why do we get so passionate about it? Maybe because many of us step into our fantasy world after unplugging from real life with all it's hectic chaos and craziness. Our books are the world we can pretend, we can drift into someone Else's life and experience things that our own lives would never face. It is a special place.

Agreed, Katya. When life is getting me down (like now), I can find some solace in a good book!

It's going to be okay Danielle. If you need to talk, contact me. You can email me.

Thanks, Arch! I have missed chatting with you.

Authors create so many different worlds each time, its a pleasure to jump into them for a while. To watch all these characters you end up loving go through life, to feel what they feel. Plus you learn a lot from them and it can help in your own life.

I've seen passionate love for a series turn to passionate hate. Has that happened with you and a book series?
That brings to mind one series, Twilight. I was in love with this book about 5 years ago. It wasn't popular at all in Ireland at that time so it was pretty special to me and two of my friends. Over the years its grown to pure hate among us. I can't look at the books or the movies without this red haze clouding my vision (lol a gross exaggeration) but more or less true.

As an aside, can I ask, has anyone else become short sighted due to their passion for reading? My eyes I think have gotten weaker as I read a lot.

Roshio, I would think this might happen, but my up close vision is great. I am horribly near-sighted though.

Lady Danielle "The Book Huntress" wrote: "Thanks, Arch! I have missed chatting with you."

Same here.

Roshio wrote: "As an aside, can I ask, has anyone else become short sighted due to their passion for reading? My eyes I think have gotten weaker as I read a lot"

I've been reading from an early age and became short sighted in my teens. I think in my case it is genetics because my mom was near sighted as well. Of course, she was also an avid reader so its possible that it is a combination of genetics and reading.