Let's Talk: Your Reading Habits

Friday, July 26, 2013




Let's Talk is a weekly feature here at i swim for oceans. I think it's important that we all have our say, and there's something to be said for raising our voices. Simply put, here on the little old blog, I like to host some of my very own discussion posts because, well, I like to converse with you all.

And so, Let's Talk will feature questions or prompts, which I will answer, too. Love it or hate it, weigh in or don't, it's my hope that Let's Talk will at least get you thinking...and maybe even get you discussing with the rest of us!
How would you describe your reading habits?

This might sound like a complicated question, but it really isn't. I was thinking about it the other day, and I discovered that I have rather strange reading habits. I read rather sporadically, at best, and at odd hours of the day. I do most of my reading either very early in the morning, or rather late at night. I simply struggle to read in the middle of the afternoon.

Furthermore, I have a bit of a rough time if I force myself to sit and read for a long time. Rather, if I allow myself to read whenever and wherever I please, I find I'm able to read for far longer. Plus, I do my very best to read both for pleasure and for reviews more often than not. If I don't, I seriously lack balance.

There's also the matter of what I read since I began blogging again. I used to only read books sent by publishers and authors for review. These days, however, I'm not so afraid to turn down a book that is offered for review if it doesn't spark my interest. I read what I want and, for the most part, when I want.  I think it's important not only for me, but also for my blog. I'm proud to feature titles that don't always have the most hype.

Above all else though, I read for enjoyment these days. If I am really struggling with a book, I don't finish it. I don't think it's fair for me to taint my reviews with the struggle I faced reading them. This just means that I feature books I'm proud to share with my thoughts, whatever they may be, with my readers.

What about you? How would you describe your reading habits these days?

19 comments:

  1. I took this week's question a little too literally and talked about an entirely different subject to you. However, I recently decided that I COME FIRST with my own damn hobby, and I'll read what I want even when I have heaps of books for review, otherwise I'll burn out and just won't read. And I recently have become fearless at dropping a book I don't like.

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    1. I liked your take on it! And amen to that, doll. It's your blog, your choice and if you aren't having fun, it's not even worth it, you know? Thanks so much for linking up this week!

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  2. I really need to take up a lot of your reading habits Melissa, I don't try and request as many books as I used to, as I used to find myself totally overwhelmed. But I do really need to find more time for my own books now, as my pile is seriously getting out of control! Thanks for sharing your reading habits with us Melissa, I hope you have a great weekend! :)

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    1. I used to request SO many books, Jasprit! It really burned me out quite badly. Now, I just take my sweet time, and it's so much better! :)

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  3. I tend to read what ever I feel like but I need to try and stick to my schedule as well at the same time. I haven't been blogging as long as many others so I am still trying to read every book sent to me for now, however my library hauls always seem to get out of control. -.-

    Thanks for sharing! (I have a similar post up today, so I linked it up!) <33

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    1. Thanks for linking up, doll! I used to stick to a strict schedule, but I got burned out really fast. Now, I just try to have as much fun as possible with it :)

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  4. hahaha I used to use a schedule, but it went to shit when all the books I had to review. That's why I try to make it more fun and relaxed these days :)

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  5. I read early in the morning and late at night, as well. During the summer, I do read most of the day.
    I can't schedule the books I want to read. It all depends on my book. I tried scheduling my tbr list for 1 week and I ended up not finishing them, because I wasn't in the right mood.
    Thanks for sharing, Melissa! :)

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    1. I know what you mean, Nick! Scheduling works for some people, but it really doesn't for me. I need to be in the mood to read a book :)

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  6. I routinely describe my reading habits as masochistic, to the point where marking a book DNF last night actually shocked a GR friend of mine. It takes a lot for me to put a book down, because I love complaining about the bad ones as much as squealing over the good ones.

    But more to the point of your question: I'm a right-before-bed reader. I'll snuggle under the covers an hour or two before I actually want to sleep to give myself time, and even then there's nights I stay up too late.

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  7. I HAVE to read before bed -- it calms my brain and lets me drift off (unless it's a really good book, then I stay up too late reading it and it kind of defeats the purpose). I'm usually too busy during the week to read any other time (sob) so I have to sneak in reading otherwise.

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  8. Love this question! I've found the longer I blog, the more books for "fun" I need to read to keep my enthusiasm for blogging going. There are of course periods where it all just feels like too much obligation and I can't quite muster up any energy to read review books because I HAVE to rather than want to. I've found that if I alternate between review and fun books though, everything just runs more smoothly for me. I read a review book, write my review, and then buy something completely different than what I just read to keep things interesting:) I'm usually not a big read in the middle of the afternoon either, I'm a night owl all the way!

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  9. Yup, same here! I read for pleasure and often turn down review books. I also read mostly on the train/bus, during the afternoon, and again late at night. Great discussion post, Melissa!

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  10. Blogging actually negatively effects (affects?) my reading habits. Well, not blogging per se. The internet mainly. I waste so much time on the internet that often I'll go a whole day without reading. Then I read little bits at night.

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  11. I actually never read early in the morning because I'm simply too tired. In the summer, I tend to read in the afternoon and very late at night. I'm actually not a sporadic reader, I need to schedule reading time for myself so I can get IN THE ZONE. I think I actually need to be better about reading more of my review books... But I really loved this post, thanks for sharing, Melissa!

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  12. My reading habits are nonexistent right now due to studying for the GRE to get into graduate school. It's consuming my every moment. But when I do have time to read, I read every spare moment I can find and tend to plow through books.

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  13. I used to read during break time at school or at work, but usually, I read before dinner if I'm home, or before bed. There's something very calming about reading in bed! I also do enjoy travel reading, like if I was on a plane or something. Haha. Something about traveling and reading that's awesome.

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  14. Definitely reading at my own pace. I've never successfully continued with a Book Club, just because I enjoy the freedom of choosing what I want, and reading it at my own pace. And I always read before going to bed. I can't sleep well if I don't at least read a page of something.

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  15. I love mid-afternoon reading. On the weekends, I usually read a whole book during that time. I love lazing in the sun! As someone who adores sleeping, I am usually sleeping during late night so I can't see how you're managing that. Thanks for sharing-it's fun to compare our reading habits!

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