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BTP's Book Pet Peeves

All committed readers (or individuals dedicated to any craft) have facets of books and the way others read/treat their volumes that bother them. I consider myself a very specific and detail-oriented person. I think that is why I have so many book-related pet peeves. 

First, the definition of a "pet peeve" as defined by Merriam-Webster:





Here is a series of statements that sum up my book-related pet peeves that I am aware of. I am sure I will discover more as I get older. 

A special edition or sale-announcing sticker right on the front of a book or across the synopsis that is impossible to peel off even with the longest nail in the world is a deed of evil that cannot be undone. 

The reading interrupter said by the close family member or a complete stranger that is, "WHAAAAAT R U REEEEADIN' ?" is just a shrill sound that takes me out of my sweet reading trance. I always just show the cover by placing the book in front of my face as to block out their voice from my reading ora. 

When a trilogy or series of books ends badly or much worse than they started, I have to let my school know I won't be attending for at least 2 to 3 days just to recover from the sheer disappointment of my trekking through all the books only to feel crappy at the end. 

If the original cover of a book is replaced with the cover of the "soon to be a major motion picture cover" featuring a scene from the undoubtedly worse-than-the-book movie, I leave Target right away. Every time. 

PSA: I don't need to see you crack the spine of your book like you are a licensed chiropractor or something. 

If you brag about "not reading much" or about liking to "see it" on the TV, just assume we cannot be friends. Ok. Sorry. It's not you, it's me. Have a nice life. 

If you don't turn in the library book I currently have on hold by the exact due date if not sooner, especially if it is the next book in a series, I will hunt you down. It's happened. The victims have asked to remain anonymous. 

It does not matter how much I love the book I am reading, if I cannot find the perfect position to read in I will be mad for a long time. On the stomach? It gives me a headache. Hold book over my head while lying on my back? I skipped arm day at the gym, and I can only last 20 seconds in this one. On my side? I can only see one page at a time. You see my dilemma. 

E-books ARE books, Hallie. E-books ARE books, Hallie. I can't convince myself sometimes. Books are an ESCAPE in our day and age from a screen. I know a lot of people love them, but how can you say a book is a real "page-turner" on a screen. It's a real "scroller"? tsk-tsk. 

Reading makes you more intelligent. This is a scientifically proven fact. Don't use reading to look smart. You sitting wistfully with your blue-light glasses in your hand and your long brown locks playfully tugged into a clip doesn't make you a reader. You will naturally look like this if you love reading. Get the book, get the look.

Don't use quotes from a book you've never read for an Instagram caption. Just don't. Puh-leeze.

When an audiobook is read by a person with an unbearable voice, I can't. I just can't. This is coming from a person who had to change her Siri settings in order to get a more enjoyable Apple product experience. Seriously. 

If you have sunscreen on your hands, don't touch my book, even if I loaned it to you. 

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