Sunday Blog: My Reading Habits

Happy Sunday everyone!

I was reading some blogs during the week and thought I’d take some inspiration from a post by Kelly at Paperback Adventures and create a blog post on my reading habits so you can get to know me a little better.

1. Do you have a place at home for reading?

As much as I would love one, I don’t have a dedicated reading place. I usually read in my living room or in bed; wherever I can get comfortable. My dream is to have a house with a library and a dedicated reading chair. That would be amazing.

2. Bookmark or random piece of paper?

I will bookmark my page with anything I can find! At the moment my bookmarks consist of an actual bookmark, a National Book Tokens card, a coffee stamp card and a credit card-shaped USB stick. I don’t really care what it is as long as I don’t lose my place.

3. Can you just stop reading or do you have to stop after a chapter or a certain amount of pages?

I like to stop at the end of a chapter when I can – abandoning a book in the middle of a sentence or before the end of a paragraph just feels so messy! Or is that just me…?

4. Do you eat or drink whilst reading?

Drink – absolutely. You can’t beat a book and a brew.

Eating depends on the scenario. I try not to eat and read a physical book at the same time – imagine the horror of dropping something on the pages or getting grease on the book! If I’m reading on my Kindle then yes, I’ll happily eat and read. I’m prepared to sacrifice my Kindle!

5. Can you listen to music or watch TV whilst reading?

Pretty much! I usually have BBC Radio 4 on in the background while I’m working or reading. I wouldn’t choose to have the TV on whilst I’m reading but I don’t mind other people in the room watching TV, as long as they don’t mind me having my head stuck in a book.

6. One book at a time or several at once?

At the moment I’ve got three books on the go, so I’d have to say several at once. If I’ve got a book that I’ve really been looking forward to then I will give it my undivided attention.

7. Reading at home or everywhere?

Everywhere! If there’s an opportunity to fit in a few pages I will take it. I’ve been known to be engrossed in a book in the middle of a rammed New York airport without any awareness of what’s going on around me…

8. Do you read ahead or skip pages?

My initial response to this question was ‘never’, but on reflection, that’s not true. If I’m completely engrossed in a book and I feel like something big is about to happen (e.g. killing off a main character) then sometimes the anticipation gets a bit much and I’ll jump to the end of the chapter to see if I’m right. I do this very, very occasionally but I have done it.

9. Read aloud or silently in your head?

I typically read in my head, but I love reading stories to the youngest humans in my life. I’ll only usually read aloud if I’m struggling to comprehend something or if my concentration is a bit off.

10. Break the spine or keep it like new?

Always like new! Nothing makes me happier than finishing a book and it still looking pristine at the end. I went to University with someone who used to crack the spine of her books so they laid flat and I couldn’t even watch her do it.

11. Do you write in your books?

Never. If I want to take notes, I will add in a sticky tab and number it, and then the number corresponds with that note.

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I hope that’s been a bit of an insight into my reading psychology! Let me know what your habits are. If you decide to create your own post with your reading habits feel free to link it in the comments below, and don’t forget to check out Paperback Adventures as it’s a great blog.