Anyone that knows me will tell you I’m a bookworm; I have books in every room, shelves, cases, boxes of books, and as much as I love them, I often find myself in a bit of a love/like relationship. What I mean by that is, I either inhale novel after novel, and can’t get enough, or I don’t look at a book never mind pick it up and read it for a few months.
I’ve only really been this way since I finished university. I studied English at BA and MA level so had four years of reading novels that I didn’t necessarily want to. I studied more literature than language, and mainly Victorian literature so the novels weren’t exactly small. After I graduated in 2013 it took me a while to start reading books that I’d chosen, that I liked. I’d been collecting novels during my uni years as I planned to dive into them once my degree was over but it took me so long to actually get round to it. My brother used to mock me saying he was going to sell them if I didn’t start reading. It was weird, I just needed a break.
I think because I’d spent so long analysing novels and scribbling on pages I forgot what it was like to lose myself in a book. Not only did uni change how often I read, it changed what I read. I used to love an easy-to-read piece of chick lit, and now I can’t bear them. Luckily my love of crime fiction wasn’t destroyed, I still hold a thriller close to my heart. I’m also a huge fan of the supernatural; anything with witches, magic or vampires (except Twilight, sorry guys) and I’m all over it. I’ve recently jumped on the YA bandwagon and don’t think I’ll be getting off it any time soon. A friend over on Twitter recommended a few series and as soon as I’ve finished Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard, I’m onto that.
Maybe I should write more book reviews. I guess I haven’t done so many because I keep going in and out of this love/like phase. I enjoy critiquing novels and giving my opinion on them so we’ll see. Let me know what you think to more book reviews in the comments.
Since I’m a night owl, I spend time reading before I go to sleep. I’ve always been this way; except when I was at school and had to read during the day obviously; but each night I’d escape into another world, and often fell asleep with a book on my pillow. I envy people that can read as soon as they wake up or during the afternoon – for some reason my brain can’t do that. I did whilst at uni, I had so many bloody novels to read and had no choice, but now, during my leisure time, I just can’t. Maybe I should try plan it and see how I get on. Maybe that way I won’t have a love/like relationship with books but just a love. We’ll see.
What are you reading at the moment?
14 thoughts on “My Love/Like Relationship with Books”
I've been in a similar reading rut recently, and like you, I tend to go through phases of indulging and then slowing down. I'm halfway through a book at the moment though which has taken my be storm and I can't put it down. It's The One Safe Place by Tania Unsworth and if you've just gotten into YA and enjoy thrillers and elements of horror / dystopia you might like it. It's very different to what I thought it would be and there are some nice twists and changes in the lead character that set it apart for me. I'm also really loving Talon by Julie Kagawa which is all about dragons, if you're into your fantasy as well. Crime is a genre I need to read more as I get recommended so many books but never pick them up! The Glass Sword looks interesting too. – Tasha
Gosh, I can't imagine studying English for that long! I need to read books more often, I'm awful tbh! The last novel I read was Gone Girl & Girl on The Train, so I'm definintely more into thrillers etc! I'm sure you'll jump back on the reading bandwagon soon! 🙂
This is such a beautiful blog post and I feel like it reflects my emotions perfectly! I'm in second year of an English BA and over the summer I only read one book for myself, which was absolutely mad because when I was younger I would easily have got through 10 to 15. Studying something definitely changes your perception of it – I can't read a book without analysing it too much.
I really hope you can discover your love of books again, Sarah.
This is going to sound really pluggy which I don't won't because this is such a personal post. But it might actually help you, so it's worth making myself look a twat for. I've actually just started a kind of blogging book club over on my blog, where I set a theme and book each month. Maybe that will give you a kind of structure like you're used to without the feeling of doom about the essay at the end of it? Or maybe not, but if you want to learn more it's my latest post!
Again, I really hope you get your reading mojo back.
This is such a beautiful blog post and I feel like it reflects my emotions perfectly! I'm in second year of an English BA and over the summer I only read one book for myself, which was absolutely mad because when I was younger I would easily have got through 10 to 15. Studying something definitely changes your perception of it – I can't read a book without analysing it too much.
I really hope you can discover your love of books again, Sarah.
This is going to sound really pluggy which I don't won't because this is such a personal post. But it might actually help you, so it's worth making myself look a twat for. I've actually just started a kind of blogging book club over on my blog, where I set a theme and book each month. Maybe that will give you a kind of structure like you're used to without the feeling of doom about the essay at the end of it? Or maybe not, but if you want to learn more it's my latest post!
Again, I really hope you get your reading mojo back.
I've literally got draws filled with books it's ridiculous, but I'm trying to get more and more. You should totally do more book reviews my darling, they would be amazing!
I've literally got draws filled with books it's ridiculous, but I'm trying to get more and more. You should totally do more book reviews my darling, they would be amazing!
I've been in a similar reading rut recently, and like you, I tend to go through phases of indulging and then slowing down. I'm halfway through a book at the moment though which has taken my be storm and I can't put it down. It's The One Safe Place by Tania Unsworth and if you've just gotten into YA and enjoy thrillers and elements of horror / dystopia you might like it. It's very different to what I thought it would be and there are some nice twists and changes in the lead character that set it apart for me. I'm also really loving Talon by Julie Kagawa which is all about dragons, if you're into your fantasy as well. Crime is a genre I need to read more as I get recommended so many books but never pick them up! The Glass Sword looks interesting too. – Tasha
Gosh, I can't imagine studying English for that long! I need to read books more often, I'm awful tbh! The last novel I read was Gone Girl & Girl on The Train, so I'm definintely more into thrillers etc! I'm sure you'll jump back on the reading bandwagon soon! 🙂
Hannatalks
This is such a beautiful blog post and I feel like it reflects my emotions perfectly! I'm in second year of an English BA and over the summer I only read one book for myself, which was absolutely mad because when I was younger I would easily have got through 10 to 15. Studying something definitely changes your perception of it – I can't read a book without analysing it too much.
I really hope you can discover your love of books again, Sarah.
This is going to sound really pluggy which I don't won't because this is such a personal post. But it might actually help you, so it's worth making myself look a twat for. I've actually just started a kind of blogging book club over on my blog, where I set a theme and book each month. Maybe that will give you a kind of structure like you're used to without the feeling of doom about the essay at the end of it? Or maybe not, but if you want to learn more it's my latest post!
Again, I really hope you get your reading mojo back.
Bethany | Curly and Wordy
This is such a beautiful blog post and I feel like it reflects my emotions perfectly! I'm in second year of an English BA and over the summer I only read one book for myself, which was absolutely mad because when I was younger I would easily have got through 10 to 15. Studying something definitely changes your perception of it – I can't read a book without analysing it too much.
I really hope you can discover your love of books again, Sarah.
This is going to sound really pluggy which I don't won't because this is such a personal post. But it might actually help you, so it's worth making myself look a twat for. I've actually just started a kind of blogging book club over on my blog, where I set a theme and book each month. Maybe that will give you a kind of structure like you're used to without the feeling of doom about the essay at the end of it? Or maybe not, but if you want to learn more it's my latest post!
Again, I really hope you get your reading mojo back.
Bethany | Curly and Wordy
I've literally got draws filled with books it's ridiculous, but I'm trying to get more and more. You should totally do more book reviews my darling, they would be amazing!
Love, Amie ❤
The Curvaceous Vegan | Instagram | BlogLovin | Twitter| Facebook
I've literally got draws filled with books it's ridiculous, but I'm trying to get more and more. You should totally do more book reviews my darling, they would be amazing!
Love, Amie ❤
The Curvaceous Vegan | Instagram | BlogLovin | Twitter| Facebook
Ah I'm so glad I'm not alone in this. I'll take a look at that book, thank you x
Ah I'm so glad I'm not alone in this. I'll take a look at that book, thank you x
I loved studying it, it just really messed up my love of reading x
I loved studying it, it just really messed up my love of reading x
I love that idea, I'll check it out.
A fellow Lit student knows the struggle! x
I love that idea, I'll check it out.
A fellow Lit student knows the struggle! x
Ahhh thank you x
Ahhh thank you x