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Smiling Shelves

Reading Habits Survey: How Do You Read?

2/13/2016

6 Comments

 
I discovered this survey back in August on Sophisticated Dorkiness. It looked like a lot of fun, but I just haven't had a chance to get to it yet. This is finally the time! So here are some of my habits and quirks when it comes to reading:
1. Do you have a certain place at home for reading?
I read pretty much everywhere I can, but my favorite place is on my comfy chair upstairs in my library. I bought it for $10 at a garage sale when I moved out of my parents' house, and it's the perfect chair for reading in. (And I named it Harvey. Don't ask me why. I have no explanation.)
2. Do you use a bookmark or a random piece of paper?
Definitely bookmarks. I've started collecting bookmarks from my vacations, so I have plenty to choose from. My current one is from Washington, D.C., where we visited last summer.
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3. Can you just stop reading or do you have to stop after a chapter or a certain amount of pages?
It's nice to stop at a chapter break, but not essential. The only place I can't stop is on page 99 (or 199 or 299, etc.). I have to read on to page 100. Again, don't ask me why. I can't explain my quirks.
4. Do you eat or drink while reading?
Habitually. I read over breakfast every morning. And if I'm up in my comfy chair, I love to sip hot chocolate as I read.
5. Do you watch TV or listen to music while reading?
I sometimes listen to music, but only if it doesn't have any words. I don't watch a lot of TV, but I'll definitely pick up my book during commercials (exception: the Superbowl, where I watch the commercials and read during the game!).
6. Do you read one book at a time or several at once?
Before this year, I would have proudly claimed the title of book monogamist. For the most part, that's still true. But I'm working my way through War and Peace by reading 15 pages a day, and I'm finding that I actually kind of enjoy having two books going. It also appears to be a great way for me to get through a huge chunkster. So I may be doing more of this two-books-at-a-time thing.
7. Do you prefer to read at home or anywhere?
I'll read anywhere I get a chance to! And yes, I often carry a book with me in my purse.
8. Do you read out loud or silently?
Silently. I love reading out loud to my fourth graders, but I'm a silent reader for my own purposes.
9. Do you read ahead or skip pages?
Nope. In fact, I hate it even when my eyes involuntarily jump to the facing page. I prefer to know what happens in the order that it happens.
10. Do you break the spine or keep it like new?
I'll occasionally bend back a paperback to make it easier to hold open when I read. But I don't typically intentionally break spines or try to keep my books like new. If they look like they've been read and loved, I'm okay with that!
11. Do you write in your books?
Not really. I just got a notebook last month for writing down quotes I like from books I'm reading. I'd rather have them all collected in one place, rather than having to hunt them down in the original books. But I have occasionally been known to write notes in the margins of books I know I'll be revisiting.
6 Comments
Monica
2/13/2016 10:38:48 am

This was fun! Thanks for sharing your answers! :)

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Julie @ Smiling Shelves link
2/15/2016 08:05:01 pm

You're welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed reading them! :)

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Kate @ Mom's Radius link
2/13/2016 04:31:40 pm

I love this. So interesting to read your responses and compare to my own in my head. I may need to do this on my blog too. I love your thing about pages ending in 99.

Reply
Julie @ Smiling Shelves link
2/15/2016 08:05:51 pm

My husband thinks my page 99 thing is hilarious, but I can't help it! I'm looking forward to reading your answers! :)

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Christine @Buckling Bookshelves link
2/14/2016 01:04:34 pm

I never thought I could read more than one book at a time for a REALLY long time...but once I started branching out to audiobooks, it got easier and easier. And with children's book collections or other kinds of books I can dip in and out of, I sometimes amaze myself with how many books have ended up on my "Currently Reading" shelf on Goodreads!

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Julie @ Smiling Shelves link
2/15/2016 08:06:42 pm

I haven't really gotten into audiobooks yet, but I see how you can end up with a lot of books going at once that way. As long as you can keep them all straight, I say keep adding them on! :)

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    My name is Julie, and I own a lot of books. As in, they are stacked on the floor because I've run out of room on the shelves. And those shelves? There are so many books on them that they smile -- not sag; smile. This blog will cover book reviews and all manner of other bookish things.

    You can contact me at julie@smilingshelves.com.

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