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A Break From Reading With The Book Lover's Tag

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Reading is something I never thought I'd consciously take a break from. Ever since I can remember, I have always been a book lover. Right from hunting around for libraries around home to borrowing way too many books from the school library, from being caught with 'Memories Of Midnight' during my 8th grade and reprimanded by the teacher to being the only one who was allowed to borrow and read classics from the school library, I have come a long way in terms of reading. Every year I read a lot of books, as much as I can. Reading took a backseat once I started dating my husband and then eventually got married. We were busy with each other all the time during the courtship and marriage hardly gave me any time to read while managing a house and a full time job and the brand new pressure of being married and staying with the in-laws. For those two to three years I barely read ten books in total. I am a fairly fast reader and I felt like I was losing my rhythm.

One fine day, I decided that I am no longer putting reading on the back seat. I got a part of my book collection from my mother's place and started a new collection by buying more books. It wasn't easy to start reading again. With hardly any time and drowning in expectations, it was twice as hard. But once my husband and I moved to a place of our own, the whole world became my reading nook. I quickly picked up pace and I was back to reading two-three books in a month. The mojo was well oiled and back with a big bang. There was no looking back after that. I managed my time well and reading soon became a priority. Over the past three years, I have read many many books and have loved every moment that I have spent with a book. This year I set a challenge of 50 books for myself. I finished it last month and couldn't be more prouder. As of today, I have read 51 books and I'm on my 52nd one. I covered many many genres this year. From comics, classics, romance, contemporary, thrillers, mystery to graphic novels, I read them all this year. I'll do a detailed post about all the reading I did this year towards the end of the year.

Now, I've decided to take a break from reading and focus on my other interests. I will finish my 52nd book though, which is a P.G Wodehouse classic. 52 books a year is pretty good enough for me. It's almost the end of the year and I'm in a very creative and celebratory mood. I want to spend the rest of the days baking goodies, creating art and designing stuff.

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Just before I sign off from reading for the year, I wanted to do this tag. I saw this tag on many blogs and I have been wanting to do it since then. As a book lover, I owe it to myself. So here we go.

1. Do you have a specific place for reading?

I need a comfortable seat for reading with good back rest. It can be at home or anywhere, but I need the seat to be comfortable.

2. Bookmark or some random piece of paper?

Bookmarks, always. Thanks to the number of books I have ordered online, I have so many complimentary book marks at home. But, my favorite bookmark is a 'Leo' bookmark that my husband gave me as one of the gifts for my birthday in August. Since then, that's the only book mark I use while reading paperbacks. One of the things I do not like about reading on a kindle, is the inability to use actual bookmarks.

3. Do you eat or drink while reading?

Yes! But I make sure I do not spill any thing on the books. I usually read over a cup of tea in the evenings, once I'm back from work.

4. Music or TV whilst reading?

None. I need silence while reading. While I'm always focused on the book and am not easily distracted while reading, I still need silence. This is like one of my OCDs.

5. One book at a time or several?

Until a while ago, it used to be just one. But sometimes I read a paperback at home and an ebook at work during my breaks. I do carry paperbacks to work, but somehow don't feel like reading them at the workplace. That's when I downloaded a few ebooks and read them as and when I take a break. So yes, I read two books at a time, at times. Never more than that.

6.  Do you prefer to read at home or elsewhere?

While I can read anywhere as long as there is silence around, I prefer reading at home when I'm alone. This is a vital part of my me-time that helps keep me sane.

7. Read out loud or silently?

Loudly? Who does that? I read very silently. But yeah, I do give out loud exclamations at times.

8. Do you read ahead or skip pages?

Never. I hardly ever abandon books, but I would rather do that than read ahead if it is a not so interesting book. The only book that I've skipped chapters and gone ahead is 'The Devil Wears Prada'. The book was utterly boring and I couldn't wait to be done with it.

9. Break the spine or keep it like new?

I know most bibliophiles will hate me for this, and will consider this as sacrilege, but the first thing that I do before I start reading a new book is break the spine. At five places, exact. That's another OCD that I have. I can never read a book with the spine intact, I find it really difficult. Weirdly, I'm also the one who holds the book with one hand, so having the spine intact would make it really hard to read. I love my books, all of them, and as much as I like to keep them as new, I do break the spine. Yet, most of them still look new, so it's a win win. Well, almost.

10. Do you write in books?

Apart from my name and the date I started reading it, no. It is an age old practice. On the page that holds the title of the book, apart from the front cover, just before the start of the story, I write my name and the date I stared reading it. Also, it is like marking my territory.

11. What books are you reading now?

'Jill The Reckless' by P.G. Wodehouse.

12. What is your childhood favorite book?

'The Secret Of The Silver Dolphin' by Carolyn Keene was the first mystery book that I ever read and is my all time favorite childhood book. Enid Blyton and Agatha Christie happened after this.

13. What is your all time favorite book?

This is a very difficult question and I have a long list of my favorite books, but today I'll stick with my favorite books that I've read this year.

The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern
The Book Thief - Marcus Zusak
Paths Of Glory - Jeffery Archer
Big Little Lies - Liane Moriarty
V For Vendetta - Alan Moore
Winter Garden - Kristin Hannah

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If I have to pick a single book as my all time favorite, it was, is and will always be Mario Puzo's 'The Godfather'.

I loved doing this tag and I think every book lover should do it too. If you are a bibliophile like me, go ahead and let me know of your quirks.

Comments

  1. Now you're really tempting me to do this tag ;)

    And why am I not surprised at most of the answers?I do know you well. Except for the break the spine thing. Now that was new! I am so so happy that you managed your 50 books challenge and super thrilled for you.

    Enjoy the rest of December, celebrating. I look forward to 2018 when I know we shall meet. Notice the optimism.

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    1. Do it, do it! I want to know the Zen's quirks too :P

      You do know me, don't you? Thank you so much, Shy! You've been a great support this year to me.

      Well, one can always hope :D

      Delete
  2. You break the spines!!!! OMG! I had a heart attack, but then when I read that your books are as good as new, I breathed easy. Godfather is my favorite too and I have been meaning to re-read it sometimes soon again.

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    1. Well, almost new. Please don't hate me :)

      The Godfather is such a great book, very hard for something else to match up to it.

      Delete
  3. I just did the tag too. It's so much fun. That question on whether you read aloud or silently - weird, it is! I mean who reads loudly, unless they are reading to someone?
    And you read 50 books - that's awe inspiring. I'll manage my 35 and be grateful for that.

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  4. Wow! 52 books is quite an impressive number, Soumya!Great!
    I am happy to know that despite you breaking the spine of your books, they retain their newness...so all's well there!
    And, yes, I, too write my name on the first page of the book. That's a must for me, too. It's MINE!:P
    Fun reading your answers!

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    1. Thanks Shilpa! Yay, you too? It gives me a sense of satisfaction.

      It was fun reading your answers too :)

      Delete
  5. Aww.. It was great knowing your reading habits. I did the tag too. But Uh.. Oh.. Break the spine! Hmm.. :)
    I'm reading big little lies now.

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    1. I do, but I love books so please don't hate me :)

      Yay, you;ll love it I'm sure.

      Delete
  6. This tag is so much fun, isn't it? But then I guess anything related to books is :) So happy to get to know more about you and books. Keep reading and I love the Hemmingway quote you shared!

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    1. Anything to do with books sure is! I loved it too :)

      Delete
  7. I should probably do the tag. But wait, I should probably start reading again, before I do it :P

    [Also Devil Wears Prada was one of the few ones where I absolutely enjoyed the movie a whole lot more than the book]

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    1. You better start reading soon, else you might forget how it is done.

      Yes, the movie was way too good. That is why I got the book, but it sucked to no end.

      Delete
  8. You break the spine! My son must not read this.😊 Apart from that most answers I had guessed correct. I still use random bookmarks so that way I stand out. And really, who reads loudly?

    Am in awe that you have almost finished 52 books. Amazing, really!

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    1. Don't tell him, please :)

      That reading loudly thing baffled me. Who does that, seriously?

      Thanks, Rachna :)

      Delete
  9. Omg 52... Damn! This year is terrible in terms of my book reading. Barely reaching 30. You sure are a fast reader. Love how you make time for your hobby.
    I haven't read Devil Wears Prada but will keep in mind. Guess the movie was much better then.
    You break the spine! Ok you are the only one I know who does that deliberately.

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    1. Hahaha, yes, I do that deliberately and with immense care. I know I'm weird that way :P

      You are my inspiration my dear, with all the things you manage to do.

      Delete
  10. Very cool post... Interesting tag

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  11. 52 books is so impressive!! Loved reading your reading habits :) Breaking the spine is kind of hard for me though. My Dad even now gets surprised at my books. He asks if I ever really read them.. LOL.
    Haven't read Devil Wears Prada but loved the movie.

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