We all have reading and book-related habits we’re proud of. Whether it’s a reading plan of such mind-boggling complexity that it makes government spending plans look like a toddler’s crayon drawings, or a meticulously designed reading room that required years of planning, blueprints, and trips to IKEA to get right, we’ve all got them. But for every reading habit we’re proud of, there’s also those habits we’d rather not have. This week’s Top Ten Tuesday prompt is devoted to just that.
Top Ten Bookish Habits I Want To Quit
- Borrowing more books from the university library than I can conceivably read in an entire year. There’s a reason libraries usually have twelve-book limits. Damn my extended postgrad borrowing privileges!
- Buying more books than I can conceivably read in an entire lifetime.
- Hyping myself up for the release of a new book and then promptly forgetting about its very existence two weeks before its intended release. And then finally reading it. Two years later.
- Making insanely long lists of all the books I want to read, which I always end up abandoning and eventually losing in the recesses of my desk.
- That irrational pang of horror I feel whenever I accidentally crease the pages of a book that I’ve been carrying in my bag.
- Carrying books in my bag without adequate padding or internal organisational systems. Planning is key!
- Panicking whenever anybody asks me what my favourite books are, and giving a long-winded answer which includes the name of not one single author.
- Joking about characters from books like they’re real people. Seriously, this is just embarrassing.
- Reading the Introduction to a classic text before I read the book. I don’t know how I am still doing this.
- Persevering with truly terrible books. I need to overcome my instinctive aversion to the DNF pile.
Which bookish habits are you eager to abandon?
(majoring in literature) 
33 replies on “Top Ten Bookish Habits I Want To Quit”
Haha this is amazing! I loved and enjoyed this so much. All of my points are literally the same as yours! I do all of those things but really great post! P.s. I love your blog
Thank you so much! :)
You’re so welcome! (:
Hi! Half your list applies to me :) !-4 and definitely 8! Great list
My TTT
Leslie
Thanks Leslie! I dot #4 and #8 way too often. :D
If I read the introduction at all I’m doing it after I’ve finished the book.
Check out my TTT.
Definitely the way to do it!
I can relate to many of these! But I’m a keen DNFer – too many good books out there to waste time on the ones that don’t grab you!
Definitely! I need to get better at doing it, at the moment I seem to be finishing books simply for the sake of finishing them, which is such a waste of time.
I can relate to so many of these! I’ve finally broken off my “over-borrowing at the library” habit and it’s been so refreshing!
Good to hear! It can be a pain when you come home with twelve books you’re excited to read, but two days later know you won’t have time to finish! It’s such a disappointment.
As with others I can relate to many of these also! Buying more books is my very bad habit. I’m working on slowing that down however, and learning to donate books to the library once I”ve purchased and read them.
That’s such a great idea! :)
We share a lot of the same bad bookish habits. I’m really bad about buying more books than I could ever read. I’m trying to be better about it, but I’m pretty sure I have bought at least one book a week for the last 6 years. Great list! Happy reading!
Thanks! I think it’s a very common bookworm problem. Still, it’s better too have too many books rather than too few! :)
Hoo boy, I can relate, especially to 2, 7, and 9! I tend to read the introductions in spurts though. I usually start them before the book but then abandon them midstream and come back when I’ve read part of the book. They make more sense then.
Definitely! I sometimes read them at the beginning and then go back and re-read them, which is why I’m thinking I should just read them once I’m done with the book itself.
I love your list! If I never buy another book, I will have plenty to read for many more years to come. Not a lifetime because I hope to live a long life, but probably close. :-) #3 is so me. Haha And #4 and #7. Even #8. With #9, we aren’t supposed to read the introduction anymore? ;-) I do that too.
Haha, I think I’m the same – I have more than enough reading material to last me a good decade or two.
I’m trying to read the Introductions to books last these days, because they often spoil plot points and don’t make a lot of sense until after I’ve read the book, but sometimes I just find myself reading them at the beginning out of habit.
1,2, and 7… yeeeeeeeesssss lol Me too My TTT
I don’t think we’re alone there, which is always nice to know. :)
You are not alone. So true.
Haha! Thanks Ruth. :)
Since I started keep tracking about five years ago, I think I’ve abandoned one book. I really should have dropped more. I have the tendency to just let them ruin reading for me instead.
I’m exactly the same. I just feel this terrible compulsion to finish books, no matter how little I enjoy them.
I am guilty of buying, way, way more books than I can read in a couple of years, but I refuse to read a bad book to its bitter end. I just cut my losses.
I am so guilty of giving long winded answers whenever anyone asks me anything about my reading habits.
I’m the same! I’m terribly long-winded in general, but when it comes to books I can go on for ages without making much sense.
Great list! #2 is the bane of my existence. I have an addiction to buying and hoarding books.
Thanks Trisha! Yep, it’s the hoarding that’s a particular problem. I never regret the money I spend on books, but every time I look at my bookshelves I just feel ashamed.
I’m so guilty of #10! I wish I could get better at it!
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2015/10/06/top-ten-tuesday-25/
Haha, it’s definitely a tricky one! :)
I NEED to be better at giving up on books that just aren’t enjoyable. I tend to think that they’ll come around, and I tell people that I’ll give up at 100 pages, but I never do. So many books, so little time right?
So true, Sunny! :)