Oops - I think I did it again

I may have forgotten to post again. (Bad Reading Addict!) To be fair, there was Christmas, much Christmas - and you all know how hectic that gets. On the plus side I got some muy awesomeful books for Xmas - City of Fallen Angels (Cassandra Clare,) some Darren Shan, and Clariel (Garth Nix.) You wouldn't think I was in my 20s, sigh.

I have finished The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins (which is a bit more grown up) - and what a very random book that is. I do recommend it though, but be prepared for 19th century battiness.

Merry Xmas, Happy New Year, and Happy Reading!!!

Apologies from a reading addict

I didn't realise just how long it had been since I posted. My sincerest apologies, you find me a pitiful penitent for my unreasonable and wilful neglect of such an austere and momentous responsibility. I assure the fair and patient reader that I will do my utmost to ensure the avoidance of this woeful digression in the foreseeable future.

And that dear children is what you end up sounding like sometimes in internal monologue when you read as much 19th century literature as I do. In 21st century-ish speaky - Sorry, I'll try to post more often. I forgot.

True Confessions of a Reading Addict

Woke this morning to find my room smelling of old books - the result of a closed door and window in the night, combined with the heating being on now that the nights are colder. Not too much of a problem, but a little odd!

Places I am currently storing/stacking books include: two bookcases, a desk drawer, a few slotted on a desk shelf, two large storage boxes, under my bed, the bottom of my bed, and a very large pile that's looking more and more like a teetering Jenga tower/city to the side of my bed (next to a gigantic stack of magazines) - oops! Oh, and a few in the spare bedroom.

Bookish problems

Ok, I have found the Booktube area of Youtube. I think I may be doomed. Watching other people talk about books, and their own overly-long tbr lists is just awesome! Makes me feel like I'm not alone for once, lol. Problem is, I do wish there was a larger variety of book lovers making videos. Most are teenage girls - which is fine, but occasionally I would like a dude's point of view, or the point of view of someone a little older (I'm 22 with the attitude of a 40 year old!) Still, I will definitely be watching.

The 5 Best Xmas Gifts for Readers

So, if that reading addict you have to buy for has pretty much every book you've ever heard of - what do you buy them? Here's a little list (in no particular order) of 5 of the best ideas.

1. Vouchers - these can be book tokens, or vouchers to wherever sells books (for example, Amazon vouchers,) it may seem like a bit of a cop out but they'll thank you for it.
2. Little reading light - if they don't already have one, this is a fab gift. It means they can read in the night, in a tunnel on the train - wherever, without the light being too harsh. Plus, they come in a variety of colours, and are typically between £4 and £7, depending on where you buy them from.
3. A magazine subscription - keep them in reading material even when they can't afford books, but keep it to a subject they like. They're not going to like it if you get a fishing magazine for a vegetarian, for example.
4. Book-ends/shelves - books take up space and you may find this is just what they need, plus you can get some really interesting/cute designs for small shelves and/or book-ends.
5. Book-themed goodies - reading addicts are a funny bunch (I should know) and will love book-themed presents. A mug with their favourite book cover/quote printed on it? Perfect for snuggling up with, book in hand, on a cold winter's day. A bag, large enough for library books, with 'I <3 books' on the front? Perfect. If all else fails, try something with Penguin classics vintage spines/covers printed on it - usually makes a pretty good gift. There are plenty of these things out there - try typing into Amazon 'book gifts,' 'book mugs,' or the name of their favourite book followed by 'gifts' 'merchandise' 'merch' or 'themed,' for example, and see what comes up.

Little warning - if you're tempted to buy an eReader, firstly make sure they haven't already got one/their old one needs replacing. Then make sure they like them - if anyone ever buys me a Kindle (shudder) I'm likely to grimace and attempt to feign gratitude while wondering how to safely dispose of it in a ecologically friendly way which still means it will never be used.

True Confessions of a Reading Addict

I admit it - I forgot to return my library book and had to do it a day late. I got a fine to the grand total of 15p. Serves me right too ;)

Of course, being in the library I had to pick up some more. It's not like we have a choice in the matter is it? I heard somewhere that there's no reading addicts anonymous because no-one wants to quit - and I can totally believe that's true. So I picked up a few more books. It was inevitable. They just sit there looking all shelved and promising... sorry, drifted off a bit there.

What did annoy me (gasp! annoyed in the library!) was the dude playing bad rap music loudly on the computer next to me was two things. Firstly, they've moved the YA books. I don't know where - probably upstairs with the kid's books, and I don't want to be bothered by screaming toddlers playing with soft toys (which there actually is upstairs in my library) when I'm trying to get my shadowhunter on (on book three at the moment in case you were wondering - so no spoilers!) The librarians gave me strange enough looks when the YA books were downstairs - I don't know why, I'm 22 and look about 12, maybe they thought the books were too old for me. And why can't adults like/love/fangirl (or fanboy) over YA fiction? And I know I'm not alone.

The other thing was the way non-fiction is arranged - yes, I know, dewey decimal and all that jazz, but either it's no longer fit for purpose (gasp! squeak! (yes, I come with my own sound effects today for some reason)) or people need to think far more carefully about how they place books within it. I can't find anything because misery memoirs seem to be quite happy to sit alongside Victorian crime, and every so often on the shelves, amongst the books on the Tudors, there's something random like a book on Georgian England - it makes no sense. Also, I saw a book about the true story of two Victorian transvestites (Fanny and Stella) in the relationships section - call me crazy, but I'm not sure that's quite right.

Shame the shamers

Ok, I absolutely hate it when people make fun of/have a go at people for reading a particular book - y'know what? People are allowed to read what they want to.

If a dude wants to read chick lit then it doesn't make him a girl - likewise if I want to read something about knights hacking each other to death, or the Napoleonic wars, then I should be able to without being made to feel like a social leper. And it's perfectly acceptable for adults to read YA/teenage/kids books.

People are different, and it really does annoy me when shamers make someone feel bad for reading something that they enjoy. People don't read enough as it is without being discouraged by people who judge others far too much. Sorry, bit of a rant. But it's something that really and truly does my head in - you should never ever feel embarrassed about what you're reading, and I would really love to see more people reading in public, covers of whatever book they happen to be reading showing proudly.