If you hadn’t guessed, I’m a big reader. I always have a book with me, which is even easier in this tech age because I can have a complete library on my smart phone.

Beyond reading, I also love to talk about books and bookish things. Here are my 7 bookish thoughts for today.

1. Read What You Like

As a reader, I also spend a lot of time on book sites, many which have forums where users can post, among other things, questions about books. People will ask all sorts of questions from the content to formats to any adaptation(s).

When leaving a review for A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness (which I loved, by the way), I saw a question that made me pause and it stuck with me. A 25-year-old stated that premise of A Monster Calls sounded great. He wanted to read this book, but he worried that given the age recommendation (12 to 17) if he would enjoy it the book. I didn’t respond to his question because others already had.

I feel strongly about this topic. People should just read whatever they like, without judgement from anyone else. Reading is reading and it’s awesome.

While my favorite genres are fantasy and science fiction, my personal library has books for all ages, from picture books to 1000+ page epics. My StoryGraph shelf has middle grade (MG), young adult (YA), children’s books, and more.

Who cares what the recommended age says. Read whatever you want.

2. To Reread or Not

I have found that rereading is an either/or situation. Either people reread or they don’t. There’s no in between.

You might read those last words on that final page and never touch a book again unless compelled to for work or school. But us re-readers, we have a set of favorites, a list of greatest hits that we turn to when we need an escape.

For me, rereading is like sinking into a warm bubble bath. Sometimes I reread when I need a balm for anxiety, or know what to pick up when I need a cathartic cry. Or sometimes, I just want to sink into a familiar world to block out the noise of the real world. Or times when I’m in a reading slump, I turn to a fave to reignite my reading.

I enjoy rereading because I’ve found that a story will sometimes tell me different things at different points in my life. A story I read as a teen or young adult will hit me different now as a middle-ager. Or my lived experience might reshape my understanding. Reading with fresh eyes can add new richness and meaning to an otherwise familiar tale.

A reread can be about comfort, or they can be a tool for deeper leaning. It’s also how I learned to listen to audiobooks.

3. Book Talk

I am a book nerd, if you hadn’t already figured that out. I love to talk about books—whether debating them in book club, discussing them with friends, leaving reviews on them, quoting them.

I love book quotes.

This must be Thursday . . . I could never get the hang of Thursdays.
– Douglas Adams, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

I also love bookish stuff, like book nerd t-shirts (I have so many from Out of Print!), bags, pouches, and books about books.

My mother says I missed my calling as a librarian. She’s probably right.

4. The DNF Debate

Did not finish (or DNF) is a huge debate in the book world. Some readers will happily proclaim they DNF’d a book. Others insist on sticking through until the last word on the last page.

I used to force myself to slog through a book I wasn’t enjoying. But in more recent years, I’ve changed my mind on this. I now will DNF books that aren’t sparking joy. For me, life is short and my TBR (to be read list) is way too long to waste time on books I’m not enjoying.

Also, I found that when I’m not enjoying a book, like most people, I will procrastinate and find other things to do rather than read that book. This just means I’m not reading as many books as I could. Again, why waste the time?

Of course, once in a while I’ve found it’s simply a matter of timing. I may have picked up that book at the wrong time. And if I pick it up again months or even years later, I will read it and enjoy it. Sometimes books have a season and you just have to find the right season to read a particular book.

Regardless, I don’t hesitate to DNF a book I’m not enjoying.

5. Just read, please

It physically hurts when people tell me they don’t like to read.

Seriously. It causes a slight panic attack where my skin gets clammy, my hearing goes a little wonky, and I can’t quite catch my breath. I usually have to ask them to repeat themselves because I am sure I didn’t hear correctly.

I honestly don’t understand the sentiment because there’s a book for everyone. There are audiobooks, e-books, comic books, manga, novellas, novels, fiction, non-fiction. There are books on physics, science fiction, horror, action, adventure, trains, romance, geology, sports, monsters . . . I could go on. There are just so many options!

Bonus, many movies or shows you may watch on any of the streaming platforms were likely adapted from a book. Shows and movies like Bridgerton, The Last Thing He Told Me, Project Hail Mary, Off Campus, Rivals, and Remarkably Bright Creatures. I’ve watched many movies that I didn’t even know were adapted from books until after the fact. Then, of course, I go read the book.

The point is there is something for everyone. All you have to do is just read. Please.

6. Picking a Fave Book

When people find out I enjoy reading, I usually get the dreaded, impossible question:

What is your favorite book?

Nope, nope, nope. There are simply too many factors—the genre, the season, the month, the time of day, the weather, my mood, where my towel is, and whether or not I’ve had a proper cup of tea.

Even then, I will probably give you a list of at least 5 to 6 books (probably closer to a dozen) and immediately send you off to your local bookstore (independent bookstores rock!) to buy at least 2 of these books for their life-changing and/or humorous properties.

At the minimum, asking me my favorite book will be a lengthy conversation that will require a pot of tea.

7. Bookmarks Determine Your Evilness

Like many bibliophiles, I’ve been known to use anything that’s handy, including photos, leaves, a gum wrapper, and of course, receipts.

But I never, ever, ever, ever, dog-ear a book. Dog-earring a book (turning down the page corner) is simply monstrous. Only beings like Prince Humperdinck or Randall Flagg dog-ear books. And break the spines of paperbacks. And annotate or underline in books in pen.

Seriously, don’t be evil.

Despite my proclivity to use random items, my bookmark preference are magnetic bookmarks. They don’t fall out as easy when I inevitably drop my book.

So to wrap-up, I like books and think only monsters dog-ear or write in pen in books.

What are your thoughts on books? Share yours in the comments.

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