Happy Wednesday, friends! I hope your week has been good to you so far. I kind of wanted to talk about lighter topics today and what’s lighter than books?
I know, when they’re like 1000 pages and fall on your head, they’re not that light, but that’s not the point.
My lovely friends Malka and Chana wanted me to talk about my bookish addictions and… well, I couldn’t resist, so here I am, ready to rant away, I hope you’ll enjoy me talking about
1) What is the longest amount of time you can comfortably go without picking up a book?
I think this really depends on what’s currently happening in my life. When I’m travelling, I can go a couple of days without picking up a book, at all, and feel completely comfortable about it. When I’m particularily busy, I guess this can happen, too, but I’d say like, 3 days tops.
2) How many books do you carry on your person (or kindle) at any one time?
I’m the kind of person that almost always has a book on them. When I have my e-reader with me, I have well, all of my ebooks with me at a time, so I’m guessing around 30 books? (I have no idea how many e-books I actually own). When I am currently reading a physical copy, I only carry one book at a time.
3) Do you keep every book you buy/receive or are you happy to pass them on to make space for more?
I’m kind of a book-hoarder and I’m keeping 99% of my books, which means I’m definitely running out of space. I would love to do some sort of spring cleaning though, so if you have any tips….
4) How long would you spend in a bookshop on a standard visit?
I do have bookshops where I live, but they’re not filled with the kind of books I’m reading (the struggles of being an international reader and blogger…). Whenever I’m lucky enough to travel a little bit and get to visit incredible bookshops with all the books I want, I can easily spend at least half an hour in there, making piles of books and then screaming and crying because I don’t have enough luggage space and money to buy everything.
5) How much time per day do you actually spend reading?
On an usual working week day, I spend between 1 hour and a half and 2 hours reading. On weekends, I sometimes spend 1 hour reading or less, or more, it depends.
☂️ Related blog post: How much time do I spend blogging?
6) Where does the task ‘picking up a book’ appear on your daily to-do list?
It’s not really a ‘task’, because when it is, that’s when it starts being just a thing on your to-do-list and you’re not enjoying it just as much, at least I see it this way? Usually, though, I kind of have a routine. Since I have a long commute to and from work, I read there in the mornings and evenings, as well as during my lunch break. Otherwise during other days, it’s just when I feel like reading.
7) How many books do you reckon you own in total (including e-books)?
I…. I don’t know, most likely over 100 though. I do have a lot of French books too, from when I was a baby reading in my own language.
8) Approximately how often do you bring up books in conversation?
Hmm… tough question. If you’re talking about conversations in real life, it depends who I’m chatting with. If I’m talking with my sister, it’s, well, really often, while if I’m chatting with literaly anyone else, it’s not that much, really.
If we’re talking about online conversations, all the time would be the right answer.
9) What is the biggest book (page count) you have finished reading?
I think that prize goes to Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. I mean, that was a massive book.
10) Is there a book you had to get your hands on against all odds (i.e searching bookshops, online digging, etc.)?
I wanted so, so, so badly to get my hands on Lauren Oliver’s most recent release, Broken Things. I am such a huge fan of everything the author writes and the concept of the book sounded absolutely incredible and like something I would adore. Somehow, I still don’t know how and I’m still crying about it, I got lucky enough thanks to the #bookishwish initiative on twitter to receive an ARC of this book.
I’m still crying everytime I see the book on my shelves.
☂️ Related blog post: My story with ARCs as an international book blogger.
11) A book you struggled to finish but refused to DNF?
Oh this is a hard question… I feel lucky enough not to have DNF-ed a whole lot of books in a while now so… nothing comes to mind right now?!
12) What are 3 of your main book goals for 2019?
I’m not really setting myself a whole lot of book goals, because I’m scared not to meet my own expectations, so… let’s mention these goals:
- Read 60 books: this is my goodreads reading challenge and I kind of know I can meet it, since I’m already ahead, so yay!
- Read books by Asian authors for #YARC2019: I’m not usually doing reading challenges, except from the goodreads one, but this year I participated in this one, with a low goal. Still, for now I’ve only read 3 books and I’d love to get to… I want to say, 10, but let’s say, 8 books for this one!
- Do better with series: I have A LOT of series I need to finish or continue on reading and I am the worst at that. I’d love to do better.
☂️ You might be interested in: my reading, blogging and writing goals for 2019.
13) Have you ever had the privilege of converting someone into a reader (maybe via inspiration or incessant nagging)?
My sister told me herself that she’s read more and more because of me, so… I think that counts?
14) Describe what books mean to you in five words.
Uhhhhhhh. A whole damn f*** lot ?
☂️ I’m tagging…
- Kelly @ Another Book In The Wall
- Rita @ Bookish Rita
- Sofii @ A Book A Thought
- Noémie @ Tempest of Books
- Catarina @ Pages & Plots
- No obligation if you don’t feel like doing this tag! And if you do and you’re not tagged, feel free to!
☂️ The questions to copy&paste!
2) How many books do you carry on your person (or kindle) at any one time?
3) Do you keep every book you buy/receive or are you happy to pass them on to make space for more?
4) How long would you spend in a bookshop on a standard visit?
5) How much time per day do you actually spend reading?
6) Where does the task ‘picking up a book’ appear on your daily to-do list?
7) How many books do you reckon you own in total (including e-books)?
8) Approximately how often do you bring up books in conversation?
9) What is the biggest book (page count) you have finished reading?
10) Is there a book you had to get your hands on against all odds (i.e searching bookshops, online digging, etc.)?
11) A book you struggled to finish but refused to DNF?
12) What are 3 of your main book goals for 2019?
13) Have you ever had the privilege of converting someone into a reader (maybe via inspiration or incessant nagging)?
14) Describe what books mean to you in five words.
Can you relate to some of my answers, friends?
How long can you go without reading? Do you find yourself talking about books a whole lot, outside of the book blogging community? I’d love to hear from you in comments!
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Rasya says
I’m going to steal this tag *wink*
I also have no idea how many books are there inside my kindle lol. Probably more than 50? I talk about books which my bookworm friends and book bloggers that I found from my years if blogging. It’s nice to have someone to talk on our love for books. Most of my best friends, unfortunately, are not a reader so they couldn’t relate lol. The only thing they get is how crazy I am with books.
Rasya says
And Marie, a tiny request. Can you please list the questions (without the answer)? It’s hard to copy paste lol
Marie says
I just added them at the end 🙂
Rasya says
Thank you ?
Marie says
You’re welcome, can’t wait to read your answers 😀
Marie says
Oh please do, I would love to see your answers 🙂
Thats why I love the online community so much, it’s so great to have people we can talk to about all the books 😀
Camilla @ Reader in the Attic says
I always try to brin with me a book! I usually tend to bring my kindle anyway, because… I love bags. Big bgas or little one, and sometimes with curious shapes, so I end up having no actual space for said book unless it’s super thin. Which never happens.
And I definitely could spend half an hour in a bookshop, especially an English one. Here, the section in English in more famous bookshops aren’t that great, but recently I found one amazing shop! It has mostly paperbacks but wow, there were so many titles in there!
Marie says
I love bags as well and it’s always nice to have some room to carry a book, we never know when we might get the need to read :p
Ohhhh yay this is amazing! I love it when you find these hidden gems you could spend days in. that’s so great 🙂
Thank you for your comment, Camilla<3
flippingthruthepages says
Lovely answers, Marie. I think, I too can go without reading for 3-4 days depending on my current life situation. I don’t have anyone to talk about books in my real life.. no one reads ?
And I hope you would be able to complete your reading challenges ? I too want to start and finish many series ? I am worst with series.
Marie says
Well at least we have each other to talk books so… that’s good! 😀
Glad I’m not the only one, I’m so not good with series, I need to get better haha 🙂
Thank you so, so much! <3
Aurora Librialis says
This is such a fun tag and your answers are super relatable! I always have at least one book with me (sometimes I gotta have a backup in case I finish the first one) and I’m a big book hoarder too. You never know what book you might want to reread, so it’s best to just keep them all ?
Marie says
Oh thank you so much! <3 I'm glad I'm not the only one ahah, I just love my books, yet I feel like I need more room for them all now haha 🙂
ashley @ socially awkward bookworm says
So many great answers, Marie! I love this tag. I need to do it on my blog ASAP! 😀
Marie says
Ahhh yes please do, I’d love to see your answers 😀
Amanda @Cover2CoverMom says
Oh man! What a perfect book tag 🙂
I really don’t think a day goes by when I don’t pick up a book in some format (physical or audiobook) There are days when I only read for a few minutes, but generally I read at the very least a little every day. If I had to go without reading, I’d say I’d only last 1 day at most lol
I always have a physical book and an audiobook (on my phone) on me at all times. You just never know when you’ll have downtime to fill 🙂
Marie says
It really is a fun tag! Feel free to do it as well if you’re inspired 😀
I think that’s amazing that you read every single day -I think I mostly do that, too, but sometimes I like having that day break to get back to reading even happier, somehow 🙂
noémie, tempest of books says
Thank you so much for tagging me Marie ♥ I loved reading your answers, and honestly that answer to the last question is a MOOD. I couldn’t have said it better. I alsolove spending time in book stores, when I used to go with my friends we’d spend so much time, showing off books we loved to each other, looking for books we planned on reading… I loved it.
Marie says
You’re so welcome, Noémie! <3
Ahhh that's so amazing to go to bookstores with your friends, this is the beeest thing ever <3 I'm lucky enough to have my sister @nyxcorner to go to bookstores with when we travel and we can spend hours making piles of books we want hahaha I love it so much. <3
Raven @ Dreamy Addictions says
Great post, Marie! I can go without reading for a short period of time but not long. I don’t talk much about books outside of the blogging community because most of my friends and family are not into books as much as I’m.
Marie says
Thank you so much, Raven! <3 It's so good to have the community to chat about all the books with 😀
Sofii @ A Book. A Thought. says
I LOVED the tag, Marie! I’ll DEFINITELY do it on my blog, have questions that I’ve never answered, so I think it could be fun! ?
Thank you SO much for tagging me, beautiful ❤️
I agree with you in several of here, especially in that I don’t think that picking up a book should be on my to-do list, I do it simply when I feel like reading, and I fully understand what you mean about that it’s not a “task” because it’s supposed to be more like something you do because you enjoy doing it, when you feel like reading. So I support that ???
Marie says
Ahhh thank you, so happy you enjoyed it, I can’t WAIT to read your answers 😀
Agree, more often than not it can feel like a task, especially when you’re a book blogger and suddenly have a massive TBR haha. It’s important to remember that we love it and shouldn’t force ourselves 🙂
annelottemaasland says
I can relate to this post so so much! Love your blog, just followed you 🙂
Marie says
Oh thank you so much, so happy you enjoyed it!! Thank you! 😀
Nandika says
Broken Things by Lauren Oliver was an AMAZING novel!!! I loved the mystery and it was such a thrilling read! I didn’t expect the book to be like that when I first started it.
Marie says
Ahh I’m so glad you enjoyed it, it was such a great book, I agree 😀
Jas @ XIV blog says
Oh I like these questions!! Might use this for a post on my own blog 🙂
I can definitely relate to not set reading goals for the year. My TBR-pile is already massive and giving me stress that I have to read it all RIGHT NOW, so I don’t need any goals to add to that, ha!
Love the post, Marie! 🙂
Marie says
Oh yes please do, I’d love to see your answers for these questions! 🙂
Thank you so, so much for your sweet comment! 😀
Jessica says
This is such a cute tag! I might just have to do it myself 🙂
Marie says
Ahhh yes please do, it’s such a fun tag 🙂
Thank you so much for your comment!
Beth (Reading Every Night) says
Oh I really loved this post Marie, and reading all your answers as well. <3 When it comes to books we're all addicted aren't we? It's why we're all blogging about them. I always have to have a book on hand as well, most of the times I have my Kindle which has probably somewhere between 50 and 100 books on at the moment (I haven't counted so I can't say for sure) but considering I have a four hour commute each day I would honestly be lost if I had nothing to read. 🙂
Good luck with your goals for this year. The Goodreads Reading Challenge is a main one of mine and finger's crossed this year we both exceed our goals as well. 🙂
Great post. <3
Marie says
Oh thank you, Beth! Feel free to take part in this tag as well if you’re inspired 🙂
I get that, I would be so lost without my book in the commute ahah, somehow it makes it all go by faster and I’m so grateful for that 🙂
Thank you!! <3
Beth (Reading Every Night) says
That’s all right, and yes I may have to add this to my tag queue. 🙂
When we’re travelling for that long we need something to take up the time right?
That’s all right. 🙂 <3
Marie says
Exactly! 🙂
Meggy | Chocolate'n'Waffles says
I don’t talk about books enough IRL, except when I’m at events or working! I’m thankful for my blogging friends <3 I can stay up to four days without picking up a book, but no more than that! And I need to be real busy to stay way this long!
I have over 300 ebooks in my Kindle so I carry hundreds every day :p
Marie says
300? AHHH. This is both amazing and a little stressful somehow, because so many books to read haha, but yay for plenty of choices 😀
Thank you my sweechie! <3
Malka @ Paper Procrastinators says
I’m so happy to see you did the tag! And I am quite envious that you’re able to spend your commute getting so much reading done! During the semester, I barely get ANY reading done unless it’s the weekend. And it’s so awesome how you ended up getting Broken Things! It truly was a #bookishwish come true!
Marie says
Thank you so much for tagging me, Malka, this was such a fun tag to do! 🙂
It’s, well…. in one way it’s great to be able to read during my commute and in another way, I wish I could work closer to home, because it’s exhausting, too, haha 🙂
It really was, I can’t believe how lucky I was on that one!! 😀
christine @ lady gets lit says
I went a week without reading for the Artist’s Way, but that definitely wasn’t a comfortable experience! Like you, I can comfortably go a few days without reading while traveling…but I am also that freak who reads while doing other things. I can’t eat a meal without reading (unless I’m watching a TV show or with family or in a restaurant…although I’ve definitely pulled out my kindle while eating in a restaurant alone…) and honestly, most days I feel accomplished if I read during my lunch break at work and don’t get to any other reading. Honestly I might have to do this tag as well 🙂
Marie says
I feel like… it feels WEIRD, when I haven’t been reading for a while. It’s such a big part of my life, being without it for too long feels very strange haha.
(and I’m that kind of person always reading while I eat and on lunch breaks as well, you’re not alone ahah).
I hope you’ll give this tag a try, would love to see your answers! 😀
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction says
I’m so glad you got Broken Things!!
Marie says
Thank you Nicole!! I’m so happy about it! 😀
Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight says
This is so fun! I can definitely relate to a LOT of your answers! So I DO have a tip for culling your books, if you really want to. I kind of HAD to when I moved- I had about 30 boxes of books, and this is AFTER the culling hah- but it was hard because I too am a book hoarder.
So. It was a painstaking process because I went through each book individually. I looked it up on Goodreads to see what bloggers and friends said. Then I asked myself this: How would I feel if someone told me I had to read the book RIGHT NOW? And if the answer was dread and groaning… well it had to go!
So I NEVER go more than a night or so without reading, but funny story, when I was pregnant with my daughter, I could not read. Physically just couldn’t do it. Every time I sat down to try to read, I felt gaggy, and my head hurt. No idea why either. Luckily this was pre-blogging, and also luckily I had no such problems with my son- I started my blog the day before he was born haha.
Marie says
Oh thank you so, SO much for this awesome tip, Shannon, definitely need to follow this! 🙂
I’m so glad that you don’t have this issue anymore, it must have been so frustrating, not being able to read for so long! I’m glad that you didn’t have that problem with your son ahha 🙂
Thank you so much for your sweet comment <3 <3
Julianna @ Paper Blots says
Ahhh Marie I am so happy that you were eventually able to get a copy of Broken Things!! I KNOW HOW EXCITED YOU WERE FOR IT AND IT MAKES ME FEEL SO GLAD THAT YOU GOT IT!! <3 <3 also I'm totally a book hoarder, even for books that I don't really care about?? But I've been trying to cull more books from my shelf, lmao.
Marie says
AHHH you’re too sweet, I still can’t believe it, really ahhh <3 <3
I hope you'll try to make a little spring cleaning as well, it's so hard to part with books ahhh I can't do it haha. I want to, but it's so complicateeed.
Thank you so much!! <3
Hunida says
I think around 3 days is how long I can go without reading a book, too. This was such a fun tag! Always enjoy reading your answers, Marie. 🙂
Marie says
Ahh thank you so much, I’m so happy you enjoyed it 🙂