Miscellaneous is the tagline to store random posts that don’t really belong elsewhere. They may involve tags, awards, challenges, and other book blogging nonsense.
What’s Miscellaneous Today?
The Reading Habits Tag
Good ol’ Saturday tag posts. I was tagged by Summer @ XingSings to complete The Reading Habits Tag. While I feel like I’ve answered similar questions that are asked, I haven’t specifically done this exact tag (at least, the tag name doesn’t ring any bells). Onward!
Do you have a certain place at home for reading?
Room-wise: bedroom, but it differs depending on the format I’m reading ebook (I sit at my desk because I don’t own an ebook) or paper-based (bed)…but we all know the bed is a trap. Without fail I will fall asleep unless the book is incredibly well paced and is gripping. Give or take 3-4 chapters and I’m out for a nap. So sometimes I do take a short break and refuel via. Buzzfeed articles or something of that level of thought-provoking mindlessness.
Bookmark or random piece of paper?
I use a square post-it that’s 2×2 inches. The colour swatch ranges from neon lime/white/neon blue/neon pink and the choice depends on the book cover (even if it’s perhaps limiting to begin with).
Can you just stop reading or do you have to stop after a chapter/a certain amount of pages?
While I’m fine with both, I’d prefer to stop at the end of a chapter. Let’s say I was on commute and the subway is like, “here’s your damn stop, Joey” do I a) read till the chapter ends; or b) stop reading. Yeah, probably the former latter.
Do you eat or drink while reading?
Absolutely. For eBooks in particular, I have to read on my computer/laptop so it’s like any other day I’m usually eating at the desk. I’ll fire up some ramen, no biggie.
Now if I’m reading a physical copy [on my bed], that’s a little different. I’ll have a beverage going but food-wise? Probably not. Unless maybe it’s like a finger food…but that steps into dangerous territory. Plus, unless the book is like We Were Liars and there’s page-after-page of food (not to mention the snobbery of classy as shit edibles) then I’m not usually hungry/hangry when I read.
Multitasking: Music or TV while reading?
People who read with background noise are wizards; especially when they’re studying for an exam with instrumental (or otherwise not) music playing in the background. Like, I don’t know how they/you do it. You’re weird. Stop it (or teach me your ways). This isn’t to be confused with the noise of people on commute—I can deal with that unless I’m actively ease dropping and throwing judgment…but that’s entirely different.
One book at a time or several at once?
Ideally, the process would go one book > review it to hell and back > start another book. Now I’m reading 3 books at once which is mainly because what I read at home (eARCS) is different than what I read on commute.
Reading at home or everywhere?
Everywhere—depending on if I actually want to read versus listening to music or conversing with the people I’m with. But I can turn on rude mode and read while having a conversation (it’s exactly as it sounds). Think people who look at their phones when you’re trying to have a conversation with them. #imahypocrite…only for reading.
Reading out loud or silently in your head?
Silently in my head. Reading out loud is a mystery to me but it might go back to the fact that they could be that they’re audio learners or something?
Do you read ahead or even skip pages?
Nope. The only spoiler-y things I’d do is peruse some reviews but even that’s a rare thing to do. Unless it’s a scholastic textbook—then SKIP ALL IRRELEVANT PAGES. Otherwise I don’t understand why you would potentially spoil yourself.
Breaking the spine or keeping it like new?
If it’s a paperback, I try to keep it new but it only lasts like a few seconds before boom—broken. There’s the adage that a broken spine and worn pages means the book has been lived in…yeah, no, I’ll just stop you right there. My heart can’t deal.
But I don’t gravitate towards paperbacks unless there’s no other option; it’s usually hardbacks for me. Yeah, I’ll take the usual permanent marker dot on the top/bottom of the book for a cheaper hardback.
Do you write in your books?
When I was in university, I did annotate my textbooks (with all the notes and smiley faces). But when reading fiction? Gosh no. If I need to remember a page (e.g. quote or important event), I’ll tab it with a post-it and come back to it if necessary.
I tag these individuals:
(I don’t know how many I’m supposed to tag, so I’ll do 11 because it’s the 11th of July.)
Josephine @ Josie’s Book Corner
Jesse Nicholas @ Books At Dawn
Josh Hart @ Been There, Read That
Afterthoughts:
Overall, I’d think I’m an average reader…minus the fact that I do not prefer to read ebooks on my phone or own my own e-reader.
Also, major thanks for all the praise and support for the “What If Bloggers Had Blurbs” discussion. It really makes me want to open up a feature for it (which was my original intent).
Cheers,
Joey
connect: afterthoughtAn // twitter | anotherafterthought // goodreads
thoughts and afterthoughts. 
People who can study WITHOUT music – this I find weird.
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Whaaaaat? Do you blast music with lyrics when you study? I can understand when people chew gum when they study then chew the same gum during the exam…but I don’t know about this music thing….
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The chewing gum thing sound revolting, haha.
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Oooooohhhh, a feature! *rubs hands together in anticipation* Can’t wait to see what you decide to do! (No rush, though, obviously) Interesting answers, and thanks for the tag!
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Oh the Blogger Blurbs was going to be part of the main feature but I didn’t know how well-received it would be (or if everyone would be like “LOL THIS PERSON IS NOT ME, I’M BETTER #ego” or something. Although I guess the think piece was more a trial by fire test run to see if people enjoy it–so I could adapt a spotlight feature for bloggers using blurbs but even then I don’t know how many people care for those things.
My take was that I wanted to shout-out names in the blogosphere, so we’ll see.
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Shoutout names…so kinda like a “if you like this blog, then this blog is for you”? That’d be cool. Even if it’s not, I feel something good coming; and if you wanna do it—do it—see how it turns out. Who cares about the people…It could crash and burn (I doubt it), but you really can’t know until how the train will go, until you actually leave the station. Looking forward to the magic up your sleeve!
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Sort-of-maybe-I-don’t-know-LOL.
Apprehension is a necessary evil. I blog for all my current and future readers as much as I blog for myself. I probably break every single “blog for yourself” adage out there (even the words of encouragement I say to others) but it’s just my own style of blogging perhaps–to combine something worthy of entertainment I guess. It’s not that I ask “would others find it interesting” but more so “is this something I’d be able to put my own stamp of word-vomiting-approval towards”. So we’ll see how it goes. Most likely I’ll defer this feature idea to when I self-host in the future. Or maybe not. Who knows what will happen tomorrow!
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I’ve always envied people who can have conversations while reading a book (or anything at all, to be honest). But maybe it’s because I get distracted way too easily?
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Maybe. It depends on the conversation for me though and I only read like a paragraph or two before I [typically] have to reply. So it’s not like it’s a lot of reading!
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Thank you for the nomination. Just like you, I prefer reading to the end of a chapter. In fact, I’m slightly obsessive when it comes to that. If I HAVE to stop in the middle of a chapter, when I go back to the book, I make myself start the chapter all over again.
I can listen to music when doing things such as studying, but when reading? Nuh uh. Reading fiction books gives off their individual vibes and having music in the background ruins it and also my attention.
Thankyou again for tagging me! 😁
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The end of the chapter just gives that much needed finality to a scene; almost as if those few chapters are it’s own little story in a much bigger story. I think that’s the best way I can explain it for me at least.
Most of the music that I’m harking on is music with lyrics. While I do listen to instrumental tracks a lot, I can’t remember (recently, at least) reading with instrumental music in the background.
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Wait, whuuut? You have a switch button for rude mode? Like, all this time, you can actually turn it off? WHYYYY?
So, okay. Gosh. I don’t want to be in the same train/bus as you if I’m chatting with someone else. (And, yeah, I’m a complete hypocrite right now, thank you!) But I’m on board with you on the read > review > next. Also? The “broken spines and worn pages” thingy baffles me. Like, just, stop.
PS. I’m not weird. Listening to instrumentals while reading helps.
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Um, no. Rude mode is when people look at their phones while you’re trying to have a conversation with them–that’s rude! This reading-version of that is sort of like that but I seldom read while I’m having a conversation with someone. Only sometimes. Then I’ve turned on rude mode for that moment.
The adage isn’t my saying. I don’t even like paperbacks–hardbacks all day every day!
P.S. You’re weird.
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Love your answers! I can agree with most if not all of them. Thanks for tagging me. Mine will be up shortly 🙂
– Jesse Nicholas @BooksatDawn
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Thanks Jesse Nicholas! Yes, I Hope to see what your interpretations of these questions even if it’s similar.
Also: I have now come to the realization that yes, your name is one of “those names” that require saying both given name and surname for an added oomph factor.
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Well then, if it suits your fancy continue using both names! I do not mind at all.
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I am with you on the music/tv while reading. I just can’t do it. I tried reading last night while my husband was watching tv and just got distracted and sucked into his stupid show. Most nights I don’t care what he’s watching and can tune it out, but ugh…I was unsuccessful last night. I absolutely can’t listen to music and read at the same time.
Have I told you about abebooks.com? You may find some good deals on books and they have an option to search for free shipping, too. I’ve found some good used book deals on there. Just trying to help feed your hardback obsession.
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This “stupid show” dragged you into all of it’s tomfoolery. I think that’s a win for Team Television!
I don’t think you have! (How fail of me, it’s a Canadian company too LOL.) Ohh their prices ain’t too shabby (I’m gauging it on a basic search of Colleen Hoover. BUT, I’ve been dabbling with the thought of buying an e-reader because reading eARCS is such a pain on computer/cellphone. So, that might happen (maybe) soon. I don’t think it’ll replace hardbacks for me..but, you know, maybe it’ll be easier to just get an ecopy of Hoovers books then binge all the promised books.
BUT I’m sure you’d want a picture of my shelf with a Hoover physical copy just chillin with the other greats. (Note: I also do not have a bookshelf. Everything is actually sprawled all over my desk/night table/dresser)
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It is my life goal to get you to own a Hoover book and display it for alllll to see. I am shocked you don’t have bookshelves. Getting an eReader would solve the book hoarding problem – I highly recommend. Instead you just hoard books on your eReader instead and the one clicking becomes an addiction. I don’t see any problem with it.
Seriously though, if you are really thinking about it I recommend the Paperwhite. It’s the best. And I totally understand the reading on computer/phone/iPad, because all the glare. Hate it. I have a Kindle Fire that I never read on. The glare makes me crazy. The Paperwhite is like looking at an actual book page. And there’s my Amazon plug (they should pay me for everyone I’ve pushed their products on).
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I moved a lot within the past few years and it usually happened when I was in school–so there was no need for furniture for me.
I’ll probably be doing a lot of research before I finalize an eReader purchase but thanks for the pro-tip!
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