Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by the Broke and the Bookish. Today’s theme was:
Top Ten Blogging Confessions
Some of these are just book nerd confessions, but I tried to do some blogging ones as well even though I haven’t been blogging for long.
1. I am not a fan of e-readers, but I have a Kindle. It’s ancient. It’s like the Kindle 2 or something. I used it for a little while when I first got it and then didn’t pick it up for several years. I’ve only recently picked it back up to read e-ARCS from Netgalley and Edelweiss. That is probably the only reason I will use it from now on. I just realized I prefer real, physical books that I could hold and smell and flip the pages of and see on my bookshelves.
2. I’m so happy I started my blog. The book blogging community has helped me find something I love to focus on. I’ve made new friends and now have so many people whose opinions I completely trust when looking for new books. I love blogging.
3. I don’t believe in “guilty pleasure reads.” I believe you should read whatever you love to read and no one should judge you for it. Even if the book you’re reading isn’t exactly something I’d like *cough*50 Shades*cough*, I’m just happy to see people reading because…
4. I honestly can’t understand people who don’t read. It doesn’t make any sense to me. I just believe they haven’t found the right book for them. Along those lines, if you don’t have any books in your house when I come to visit, I probably spent most of the time while I was there wishing I could leave.
5. I try to respond to every single comment on my blog. Actually, I’m pretty sure I have. I feel that you guys have taken the time out to read and comment on my post, the least I could do is say thank you. But honestly, I just love talking to all of you. I love my blog and talking about books. 🙂
6. I love to learn and expand my horizons. Which is why I’ve started reading more graphic novels and children’s and MG books this week. I don’t think I read enough of any of those categories; actually I hardly read any. I’m excited to start reading some.
7. It makes me really happy when someone who read my review of a book checks it out and ends up really enjoying it as well. I love being able to give my honest opinion and have people find new books to love based on it.
8. I feel like most of my reviews are either me fangirling/freaking out about how much I love a book or rambling nonsensically about why I didn’t like one. I do think sometimes my points are clear and well-written, but I’m self-conscious about most of my reviews.
9. I would seriously rather spend a few more dollars to buy a new copy of a book than buy a book someone else has written in. I love used books; I have no problem with a well-loved book, but I don’t want someone else’s thoughts in the margins while I read. I want to form my own thoughts and opinions. I just don’t like written-in books. I only have ONE book that I’ve written in myself, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, because it’s my favorite book and I have read it more times than I can count.
10. It may sound crazy, but sometimes I get really sad about the fact that I will never be able to read all the books I want to read in my lifetime. I won’t even be able to read a FRACTION of the books I want to read. And more books are constantly being released that I add to my TBR. SO MANY BOOKS.
Okay, so I guess none of these are really confessions. You guys probably knew most of them, but whatever. 🙂 Do you guys relate to any of these? Let me know which in the comments. And if you participated in Top Ten Tuesday, link me to it so I can check it out!
Caught Read Handed 
Right now, I find myself liking middle grade books better than young adult books in many cases, although I’m sure some people would argue they’re “less sophisticated.” In some ways, YA is a glutted category and I feel more people are “writing to the market” there than are doing so in middle grade–so the stories are better. Just a personal opinion. 😉
I think that’s true. A lot of YA books are similar and there are so many wonderful stories in MG or children’s books. 🙂
Great list today 🙂 I’m with you on #3, and nope-I didn’t feel one bit of guilt when I read the 50 Shades series, lol. Same goes for YA-I’m a mom of three kids who has no problem going into the teen section at the library and picking out books, shoulder to shoulder with the ‘kids’ 🙂
Love the look of your blog and your writing style-just became a new follower of yours through bloglovin 🙂
Bingo, number four (well, except the part about the books in houses and you ditchin’). I think I’d appreciate the whole reading concept if people actually considered taking an active effort to read in any capacity; whether it’s the newspaper or comics, anything. It’s so easy to dismiss reading with all the other distractions available to us so even if you or I can get one person to pick up a book…I’d be quite the happy camper.
Cheers,
joey via. thoughts and afterthoughts
Well, I count comic books and graphic novels in the “book” category, so I’m definitely happy if I see those.
Exactly! I just love inspiring people to read. Read anything. 🙂
#4 made me LOL. Reminds me of a BBQ we had at my house a few weeks ago. Most of us ended up sitting around in my living room with books in our hands, not feeling a bit guilty that we were reading instead of talking to each other. It was fabulous!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
That sounds like a good BBQ to me. Haha. 🙂
Thanks for stopping by!
I really agree with number three. Books shouldn’t make people feel guilty. I’ve heard a lot about Edelweiss lately. I use NetGalley. Is it similar, or are there some key differences?
I use Edelweiss for WatchPlayRead (I’m a contributor). It’s pretty different. Edelweiss seems to have more publishers and more books. Plus it has more information about the books. I like both sites.
Oh okay, cool. I’ve just seen a couple other people mention it, and so I’ve been wondering. Thanks for the information 🙂
No problem!
I’m very self conscious about my reviews too. And I also get sad that I won’t get to read all the books. Sometimes I’m afraid that something will happen and I’ll die before the next installment of a series comes out and it freaks me out!
Thank you for bringing my attention to another thing for me to freak out about! 😛 I never though about that. 😦
Sorry! I think about it all the time haha
Ugh, yes to all the things! I also feel very self-conscious about my reviews! I’m afraid they sometimes come off as “I liked it” or “I didn’t like it.” Haha Definitely don’t believe in guilty pleasure reads! Read what you want and don’t feel guilty about any bit of it! Oh, and yes. #10. Once, during a highly emotional state (and probably hormonal as well), I actually cried over this. -__-
Haha. Exactly. That’s me too: I feel like my reviews are just “I liked it” or “I didn’t”. It’s been nice to see that other people are self-conscious about their reviews too.
I don’t know if I’ve ever cried, but I’ve felt very melancholy for an entire day before when I thought about it. I try not to think about it.
Oh my goodness, I think about #10 ALL the time! I will buy a book and think “will I ever even be able to read you?”. And then things generally take a way too morbid turn from there. And I think you are 100% correct about the “not finding the right book” thing. Because once you find the right book, you can’t stop!
Starting that train of thought is like beginning an existential crisis. Haha.
I agree with #1, I have the Kindle app that I use for eARCs, but I did buy a Nook when it was on offer from £79 to £29 to try an eReader. It’s ok. But I prefer a tablet/smartphone screen and being able to highlight and make notes helps massively when it comes to reviews. I find reviews I write for eARCs to come together much quicker than for reviews of physical books (I should probably learn to make actual notes when I review – but I don’t). I agree with #4 – I just don’t understand!!! And as for #6, I’ve been tempted to dip my toe in the graphic novel waters, I’m just not sure where to start. I used to dismiss them as something I wouldn’t be into, but I’ve seen some BookTubers talk about them and now I’m not so sure. If you find any you love let me know! #7 – My read of Fahrenheit 451 is coming up soon!! #8 I agree, I’m always kind of conscious of mine too – what if I completely miss the point of the book? Or somehow offend someone?? Or if I rate a book highly and all the bloggers I know hated it?!?! And as for #10. I totally get it. It’s depressing as hell. I’ll be 90 surrounded by a TBR pile.
My TTT
I don’t know about on the Nook, but on the Kindle, you can highlight and make notes. I also always have a notebook with me to take notes in.
I’ve just started my first graphic novel this morning. It’s called Saga. I should have the review up by the end of the week. It’s pretty good so far. A little offensive (I was warned of this). I like it.
YES! Exactly. What if I miss the point of the book? I’m not worried that I’ll feel differently than everyone else, because it’s my opinion. I just would hate to miss what the book is trying to say or something like that.
Thanks for stopping by!
You can on the nook, but I prefer the app/tablet interface. I haven’t tried making actual notes while reading, that makes it feel like studying for some reason… I’ve heard of saga, I like the covers so that’s a start!!
Ah. Yeah, at first it feels like studying, but now that I’ve been doing it, I really enjoy it. I’m able to write down first reactions to characters and quotes I love, etc. 🙂
Saga was amazing. Review soon!
That is one good thing about an ereader, no one knows what kind of a book you are reading. I feel self conscious reading in public. (Not that I’d read a book like *cough 50 shades cough*)
I know how you feel, I always have to turn down the fangirl when I review a book I really liked!
I’m a used book reader all the way. I’ve never gotten a book that someone’s written in, I guess I’ve been lucky. I got a new book for my birthday and it was so strange to read a new book. I probably looked funny reading it and trying not to crack the spine.
Haha. That’s very true about using an e-reader in public, but I don’t read anything I’d be ashamed of. That’s because I don’t think you should be ashamed of what you read. 🙂
I do love used books, but I just can’t stand ones that are written in.
I think the fact that our TBR lists will never end is both heartbreaking and wonderful. Heartbreaking, because there will always be more books in the world than we possibly read. Wonderful, because we have the comfort and joy of knowing that there will always be other books waiting to inspire and delight us. We’ll never run out of stories. At least if we cram in as many as we can in one lifetime, we’ll be assured of coming across at least a few which are perfect. 🙂
That comment is beautiful. 🙂 Everything you said was so true.
Thank you, that’s nice to hear. 🙂 I was feeling that way today in Waterstones so the sentiment was fresh in my mind. I wanted to open all the books and take a look, but there wasn’t time, so I just have to hope I’ve made some good choices. There’ll be more next time.:)
8 and 10. Ohmygosh. SO TRUE. I write a review, and afterwards I’m just sitting there, thinking: “Does this even make sense to anyone?” fangirling is a big problem of mine, so is rambling about the dislike. I also have a really hard time writing a bad review. I always end up saying SOMETHING positive, even if I absolutely detested the book. Following you now! 🙂
Yes! I’m the same. I write out the whole review and just sit there wondering if it makes ANY sense. Haha! Me, too! I always end up having lighthearted negative reviews because I try to find something positive. Lol.
Followed back. 🙂
I share your thoughts about being sad to not have enough time to read all the books on my tbr pile. Most of your points I agree with. I too get crazy when people say they don’t enjoy reading. I just say you haven’t found the right book.
Exactly! They just need to find a book that would interest them. 🙂
It is like a daily thought I have about the fact that I won’t be able to read everything I want to read. I just need to be able to pause time and catch up on all the books that are already out that I want to read! Also so true about that 50 Shades thing haha. And don’t worry I feel like all of us are self conscious about our reviews (even if people don’t want to admit it) 🙂
Haha. I didn’t think I’d be the only who felt that way about 50 Shades.
Well that’s good to know!
I’m not a fan of the idea of guilty pleasures either. Read what you want! Who cares what others think.
I get bummed by the fact that I’ll never be able to read all the books I want to as well. If I don’t think of about it, it won’t make me sad. hehe.
I try not to think about it either. But sometimes you see your TBR pile and you just can’t help thinking about it. Lol.
Thanks for stopping by!
I had so many “me to!” moments while reading. I think about never finishing all the books I want to read all the time too! Before I started blogging I remember having moments of being like “I have no idea what to read next”, now that never happens. My TBR list is long and constantly growing.
My TBR started when I was like 10. Haha. It’s seriously long. It makes you a little depressed when you think about how any you’ll never get to. 😦
Thanks for stopping by, Alison!
I feel conscious about my reviews sometimes too. And yes to 2, 3, and 4! Thanks for sharing and for stopping by my TTT 🙂
People who don’t read scare me. Haha.
Thanks for stopping by mine too!
The last one!!! This is a crazy worry I have! There are so many books on my TBR on Goodreads that I’ll never get to read and it makes me so sad. I probably won’t even get to read all of the books I own, since I’m always buying new books. I can only hope that someday when I’m retired I can read ALL the books!!
Haha. Same here. I am always buying books even if I haven’t finished reading the ones I have. I’ll never finish them all. 😦
#8 – Yes, you do fangirl about books you love, which is precisely why I LOVE your reviews! Actually, I love your negative reviews too because they’re funny. I’m much more likely to read a book that the reviewer is obviously enthusiastic about, and I’ve read and loved several of your recommendations. 😀
Yay! Well I’m glad my fangirling works. 🙂 I try to keep the negative reviews a little light-hearted because I really don’t like doing negative reviews. I have to be honest though.
I find that very positive and very negative reviews are the easiest to write. What’s hard is the 3 star books – I feel like my review just ends up being “It was good, not great, but good.” Meh.
That’s so true! The “take or leave it” kind of reviews are really difficult. It’s so hard to explain just feeling blah about a book.
I am with you on #10! It really gets depressing when you think about it…our lives are just not long enough! And then imagine the amazing books that will come out after we’re dead!!
Nooooo! I’ve never even thought of that. I’m going to have an existential crisis over here now. Thanks. Lol.
I am like you,as far as 2,4,5,7,9 are concerned!
It’s depressing to think that I’ll never be able to read all the books in my TBR list.
I hope heaven has a sort of library.
It’s just so sad. There are so many interesting sounding books out there!
Thanks for stopping by!