It Is Trish

My Tiny Obsessions did The Reader Problems Book Tag and said anyone could consider themselves tagged, so….consider myself tagged!

1. YOU HAVE 20,000 BOOKS ON YOUR TBR. HOW IN THE WORLD DO YOU DECIDE WHAT TO READ NEXT?

It depends.  I usually vacillate between fiction and non-fiction, and if I get stuck in one genre for too long, I usually switch to something else.  HOWEVER, it doesn’t matter how long my TBR pile is, if a new book I’ve been waiting for comes out, that immediately takes precedence (even if I’m in the middle of another book).

2. YOU’RE HALFWAY THROUGH A BOOK AND YOU’RE JUST NOT LOVING IT. DO YOU QUIT OR ARE YOU COMMITTED?

I used to be really bad at just letting books go.  It’s the perfectionist in me.  So I had to actually make a conscious effort to talk myself through the decision: “Tricia, you don’t like this book.  You can put it down.  Read something you enjoy!  No one is testing you on this!!”  Anyway, I’ve gotten better at quitting, but it is still a mental struggle.

3. THE END OF THE YEAR IS COMING AND YOU’RE SO CLOSE, BUT SO FAR AWAY ON YOUR GOODREADS READING CHALLENGE. DO YOU TRY TO CATCH UP AND HOW?

I don’t really set challenges for myself, online or off.  I just….read constantly, no matter what.  The only similar kind of situation I can think of is when I’ve accidentally checked out too many books from the library, and they’re due before I’ve read them all.  In that case, I hunker down and get my read on.

4. THE COVERS OF A SERIES YOU LOVE DO. NOT. MATCH. HOW DO YOU COPE?

UGH.  I don’t own as many books as I used to (thanks to three moves and three massive book purges), so luckily, I don’t often have to deal with this.  When I do, though, IT IS THE WORST, and I try to convince myself that it shows diversity or something interesting.  I always know I’m lying to myself.

5. EVERYONE AND THEIR MOTHER LOVES A BOOK YOU REALLY DON’T LIKE. WHO DO YOU BOND WITH OVER SHARED FEELINGS? 

Usually Kelly, who took over for me as children’s librarian.  We generally have the same book opinions.  But when real life fails me, there is always someone on the internet who agrees with me!

6. YOU’RE READING A BOOK AND YOU ARE ABOUT TO START CRYING IN PUBLIC. HOW DO YOU DEAL?

I generally try to avoid reading sad books in public.  Once, though, I read the ending of The Fault in Our Stars right before a library program, so when a bunch of teens entered the room for a writing club, I just stared them down with my tear-blotched face, daring them to question my emotions.  And then I told them about my emotional trauma, and the ones who had read it totally empathized.

7. A SEQUEL OF A BOOK YOU LOVED JUST CAME OUT, BUT YOU’VE FORGOTTEN A LOT FROM THE PRIOR NOVEL. WILL YOU RE-READ THE BOOK? SKIP THE SEQUEL? TRY TO FIND A SYNOPSIS ON GOODREADS?

Hmmm it depends.  If it’s an All-Time Favorite series, I’ll re-read.  But a lot of times I just dive into the new book and hope things come back to me (usually they do).  I prefer to read each one just once, then read the entire series in a go once all of them are published.

8. YOU DO NOT WANT ANYONE. ANYONE. BORROWING YOUR BOOKS. HOW DO YOU POLITELY TELL PEOPLE NOPE WHEN THEY ASK?

Well.  I like when people borrow my books!  Sometimes I force them on people, assuming that if it’s sitting in their house, they will read it even if they told me they had no interest.  My favorite books are like pieces of my soul, and I’m constantly shoving pieces of my soul down people’s throats (i.e. this blog).

9. YOU’VE PICKED UP AND PUT DOWN 5 BOOKS IN THE LAST MONTH. HOW DO YOU GET OVER YOUR READING SLUMP?

What a sad month!  Usually that means I’m tired of whatever genre I’m reading.  I’ll switch things up, or go to an old favorite, or read a comedian’s memoir – those almost always re-inspire my love of books!

10. THERE ARE SO MANY NEW BOOKS COMING OUT THAT YOU’RE DYING TO READ! HOW MANY DO YOU ACTUALLY BUY?

None of them.  I have a strict library policy (made easier because I have two people on the inside who set aside books they know I’ll want to read) for new books.  I won’t buy something unless I know I’ll re-read multiple times or else lend it to people.  I move too often to maintain the massive library of my dreams.

11. AFTER YOU’VE BOUGHT THE NEW BOOKS YOU CAN’T WAIT TO GET TO, HOW LONG DO THEY SIT ON YOUR SHELF BEFORE YOU GET TO THEM?

Zero seconds.  When I get an eagerly anticipated book in my hands, I will read it every second I can get.

I tag Recovering Potter Addict and If We Shadows Have Offended!