Book Nerd Problems, Part Two

Back in April, I had a lot of fun writing the post “The Never-Ending To-Be-Read Pile and Other Book Nerd Problems.” I was happy to see it resonated with several of our readers. Since then, new “book nerd problems” have been popping into my head on a daily basis, especially since it’s summertime, when I do a lot more reading for pure enjoyment. Read below for my latest set of observations.

You know you are a “book nerd” when:

1. You voraciously read Amazon and Goodreads reviews of the book you just finished. Most of the time, I immediately set the book down and head straight to the review websites. I sometimes spend up to 30 minutes reading through the reviews, from worst to best. I did this recently with The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom. The subject matter of slavery on a tobacco plantation in Virginia held my interest, and I finished the book in two days. I knew there were things about the book that nagged me while I was reading it, and I was happy to see those issues pointed out in the reviews, especially, (no spoilers, I promise) the ending!

2. You receive a book store gift card and labor over what books to spend it on. A gift card, as you know, can be the greatest gift bestowed upon a book nerd. Except when the time comes to spend it. I always want to hold onto it for as long as I can, and even make a wish list, ranking the choices and comparing them to the prices of the books in the store and online. After all, I want to make the most of the gift!

3. Sometimes you cleanse your reading palette with books that in no way, shape, or form could be considered literary. Have you ever had several days in a row of eating really healthy, nutritious foods, only to break down on day four and gorge yourself on a greasy, cheesy pizza? I do that with my reading. In the past few weeks, I’ve read several “book club” novels and then came across a celebrity memoir at the library that I couldn’t resist. I’m not going to say who the celebrity is—let’s just say it’s a reality star nowhere near the likes of Audry Hepburn or any other charitable and wordly movie star. I have no excuse, other than it’s just mindless, relaxing celebrity gossip, which I have a weakness for.

4. You buy yourself a book as a reward and tell yourself you’re going to save it for an upcoming vacation or trip. No cracking the cover until then! Yeah . . . right. This happened to me when I came across a signed copy of Judy Blume’s new adult novel in Target the other day. I brought it home and showed it to my husband, who promptly asked, “Are you going to try and save it for the beach at the end of the month?” (I’m already about 100 pages into it, so we’ll see.)

Do you see yourself in any of the above four book nerd problems? Please share if so! I would love to hear that I’m not alone.

Renee Roberson is an award-winning freelance writer and editor who is also obsessed with books new, old, and digital. At any given time you can find her reading three to four books simultaneously. When she’s not reading, she also writes fiction, articles for regional magazines, and works as a blog tour manager at WOW! Women on Writing. Visit her website at www.finishedpages.com.