Hobby Zone "Book-Out" Challenge in Honor of Book Lover's Day and Lazy Day!
Happy Book Lover’s Day!
Today we celebrate our love of books and reading! Although, who doesn’t celebrate that every day?!
[Image: Wall of bookcases with the text “You can’t buy happiness, but you can buy books. And that’s kind of the same thing”]
There are so many things to love about books. By reading books for just 30 minutes a day we are able to gain valuable knowledge, exercise our brains, improve focus and memory, have fun, increase our ability to empathize and communicate, reduce stress levels, improve our mental health, and maybe even live longer!
Sometimes finding our love of books simply requires finding the genre or genres that spark our interest. Sometimes we just need to make the time and find a comfortable space to retreat into the pages of a story. Whatever it is, perhaps a book lover resides in you?
[Image: Person with a flashlight laying inside a propped open giant book reading at night]
Did you know? Tonight is also the peak of the Perseid Meteor Shower so when the sun sets you can put down your book, lay back and look to the sky. But don’t worry, tomorrow is Lazy Day, so what better way to carry on the celebration than to spend your Lazy Day sleeping in and reading books?! Join us for a book-out, that's right, put down the tech, take some time to be lazy, if you want, lay on the beach, or just lay on your bed and read away the day!
[image of a pile of books with a mug that reads “Sorry I’m booked”]
Join our “book-out” challenge if you are able and take a day this next week to escape into the pages of a good book. Either way, I want to hear about your love of books, so maybe consider the following questions:
Do you love the feel of a paperback, are you a hardcover snob, or maybe you like ebooks? Do you have a preference or are you just happy so long as you have something to read?
What section of the library or bookstore are we most likely to find you browsing? Non-fiction? Mystery? Sci-fi? Maybe some books about your other hobbies?
Book series? Love them or leave them? And do you read them all at once?
For our LGBTQ+ readers, and allies too, you may want to check this post out as well!
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@EmotionsListener
Do you love the feel of a paperback, are you a hardcover snob, or maybe you like ebooks? Do you have a preference or are you just happy so long as you have something to read?
I like physical paperback or hardcover, anything I can touch. I don't really like ebooks because I'll procrastinate on it and do something else on my phone lol.
What section of the library or bookstore are we most likely to find you browsing? Non-fiction? Mystery? Sci-fi? Maybe some books about your other hobbies?
I like to find books in the YA or horror section, or like books like Barbara O'Connor kids' books (I read all of them lol). Fiction always for me.
Book series? Love them or leave them? And do you read them all at once?
My favorite book series are "Killing November/Hunting November" by Adriana Mather, but I like the first one the best. "How To Hang A Witch/Haunting The Deep" by Adriana Mather is good too, I like the first one the best. My favorite books seprate though are "Look For Me By Moonlight" by Mary Downing Hahn, and "Go Ask Alice" by Beatrice Sparks. Love all of them. I don't read them all at once.
I used to be a book-reader craze in middle school, but now I'm not so anymore :/. But it's okay.
@AliWriter
I like how you mention that ebooks can sometimes be on devices where we can get pulled back in to things like text messages, checking things online, playing games, etc. This can make it too tempting to split our focus. I also find when I don't need to stop and mark my page it's easier to just stop, when reading a physical book I'm more likely to do the "just to the end of this chapter" before marking my page and putting it down.
Fiction sounds good, though horror sounds creepy, for some reason I picture reading it under the covers with a flash light just to add to the experience. 😱
Those sound like some interesting series and books, I may need to add them to my reading list!
Sometimes it can be hard to find the time to read, the book that makes you want to read, or just the focus and motivation to do so. Do you think you'll be taking a day to "book-out" this week?
@EmotionsListener
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Do you love the feel of a paperback, are you a hardcover snob, or maybe you like ebooks? Do you have a preference or are you just happy so long as you have something to read?
i love the feel of paper back but i also am a hardcover snob it just hurts my hands lol
What section of the library or bookstore are we most likely to find you browsing? Non-fiction? Mystery? Sci-fi? Maybe some books about your other hobbies?
Oh i am always in the fiction section<3
i also like reading self help books as well
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Book series? Love them or leave them? And do you read them all at once?
I love book series, and i usually read them all at once if i have them all in my posession, theres nothing more annoying than getting to book four and not having book five to see what happens next!! Grrrrr lol but i love the fallen series<3 highly reccomend to anyone who has never read it. I would consider it fantasy.
@magicalOcean594
Hardcover can sometimes be a bit heavy/hard to hold especially if you like to hold it with just one hand. Although I'm probably a total hardcover snob. I even take off the jacket when I'm reading and try to keep the book looking as though it's never been read.
Yay another fiction lover! Any sub-genre that you gravitate toward? Self help books can be useful too, though I find I am very picky about those in general.
I also love reading a whole series at once, so much that I try to make sure I have them all in my possession before I start reading the first book. My worst nightmare is when the library has book all but book 3 of a 5 book series, it's just cruel that they don't replace book 3 and in a way render the rest of the series neglected. I really liked the Fallen series too, might have to take some time to read it again. Do you ever re-read the same books?
Will you be finding time to "book-out" this week?
@EmotionsListener There's something amazing about the feel and smell of a real book. But It's actually easier for me to use an e-reader because I don't go out in public much and tbh - all the book shelves here are packed with real books so the e-reader helps with space lol
Tbh - I'm all over the place with browsing
I do like series - especially if it's got really good characters in them - you can kind of get attached to certain ones
@mytwistedsoul
There are definitely pros and cons to ebooks, I know I like being able to borrow books from my library at 3am on a Sunday morning if I so choose or get a new one to start as soon as I finish the last without having to leave the house. As to space concerns that was my main motivation for getting an e-reader years ago - to be able to have a whole library in something smaller than the average book that I can take with me anywhere. Do you find you prefer reading ebooks on a dedicated e-reader or is any app for e-reading the same to you?
As for all over the place browsing, having a variety of interest is great, gives you that much more material to enjoy!
Getting attached and invested in the progression of characters in a series can be great, though then I find it more heartbreaking once I finish the last book in the series, It can almost be like losing a friend. Thankfully I'm happy to re-read the same books over and over. That's actually my rule for owning a physical book - I have to read it at least every 1-2 years.
So, going to dive into another book and "book-out" this week?
@EmotionsListener Exactly! You never know when the need for a new book might come up. I usually read things on a kindle but I've been known to read things on what ever sometimes
I think I've read the Harry Potter books at least a hundred times - There's a few Dean Koontz books I've done that way too
Tbh - I've been trying to finish a book I started a few months ago and I have a new series here by Jonathan Stroud - The Bartimaeus Trilogy lol
@mytwistedsoul
I actually just finished a book this morning that I've been trying to get to for a few weeks, I was a bit disappointed when I finally finished, in that I didn't particularly enjoy the style or the story/message. Guess it's time to pull out an old favourite that I know and love!
I hope you've made some progress on The Bartimaeus Trilogy!
LOVE THIS THREAD!! 😄
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Do you love the feel of a paperback, are you a hardcover snob, or maybe you like ebooks? Do you have a preference or are you just happy so long as you have something to read?
When ever I go to an appointment or a long drive I take a book with me. Usually a paperback. But at home I do audible a lot. I set a goal of 100 books this year. I reached it last year. Not sure about this year, but I'm working on it. Been a busier 'news year' with all the turmoil going on. I gotta turn that off more and tune in to my books. I've been an audible member for over 12 years now. I have over 1000 books in my library. I have many favorites that I like to listen to at least once a year.
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What section of the library or bookstore are we most likely to find you browsing? Non-fiction? Mystery? Sci-phi? Maybe some books about your other hobbies?
I love some sci-phi, like the books, "14, and "The Fold." I mostly look for non-fiction though. Like "The Finest Hours" - the story about the small Coast Guard rescue boat that saved all those men off a sinking tanker. Survival stories are one of my top favorites. Another one is "Fatal Forecast." Also other stories of disasters like "Isaac's Storm" and "Dark Tide," (the true story of the explosion of a huge harbor molasses tank). I also like memoirs like, "Hidden Figures," (about the black women mathematicians who helped win the space race in the U.S. - also liked the movie).
I recently bought a book to help me with my embroidery designing adventure, "Digitizing Made Easy." It's a paperback. I gotta get into this one because I just bought the software and I need to explore my creative skills, go deeper into what I can do with my creative abilities.
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Book series? Love them or leave them? And do you read them all at once?
I hate finding a book that starts out with a freebie as Book 1. I usually pass them by as a hook to pull me in to an expensive trail into some la la land. But, sometimes there's one that might appeal to me. I do have the audible series of "The Lord of the Rings," " Hunger Games," and "The Twilight" series. Not much beyond them. There is one little known series though, by Bobby Cole that I enjoy, "The Dummy Line," "Moon Underfoot," and "Old Money." The last one was a real hoot. This is one series I listen to at least once a year.
I prefer to read, or listen to one book at a time. I immerse myself better into the story this way.
@EmbStitcher33
Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed this thread!
I forgot audible books! I personally am too impatient to listen to an audible, even playing them at double speed I can read faster. I also notice if I try to listen to an audible I lose focus because I'm almost bored. So what is your favourite part about audible books?
I also hope you are able to reach your goal of 100 books, the year may be in it's 8th month, but that means you have 4.5 months left! 😄
The non-fiction books you mentioned all sound like intense stories from real life, do you find that adds a degree of inspiration or motivation for you where something fiction may not be as effective in doing so?
Creating your own embroidery designs is fun, I usually make cross stitch patterns instead but that may be because those can be as simple as laying a grid over your image and finding the dominant colour, or colours. I hope you'll enjoy learning and growing your embroidery!
Ah yes the free book hook! I find I will read them, often I even check if the library has the series before I start in case I want to keep reading. The Lord of the Rings, Hunger Games and Twilight are among my collection of hardcover sets. Which means they are some of my favourites that I read at least every year or two! Do you ever like to re-read or re-listen to the same books?
It can be great to immerse yourself in the story, glad you've found how to do that best for yourself! Do you think you'll find some time to "book-out" in the next week?
@EmotionsListener
Audible isn't for everyone, but for me, it gives me something to focus on while I work with my hands at another task. And also, I just love to be read to. (Maybe a hold over from childhood...lol, no one ever read to me that I can remember).
For me, if the story is good, I'm never bored listening to a good audible book. If it bores me I shut it off and start a different one. But rarely have to do that.
The intense stories from real life I listen to do give me a degree of inspiration... It reminds me that humans have great capabilities, even among our many frailties. It's only the rare fiction that I'll listen to. If it sounds like a feasible story, one that could happen it could appeal to me. But I do gravitate more to non-fiction disaster/rescue/survival stories.
I use to cross stitch a lot. I prefer doing it by machine now. They both have their beauty.
I would never start a series that wasn't already complete. I hate having to wait for the next part of the story. It's hard enough to wait for the next season of a good TV story. Like Virgin River, and Grey's Anatomy.
Listen to a book over again? O YES, I have my favorites. Some I'm on my 4th or more listen. I like to relive the story over and over again if I really liked it the first time through.
I'll try to pick up the book, "The Help" and start reading that this week.
Thanks for the thoughtful response! ❤️ 😄
@EmbStitcher33
I understand many people enjoy being read to, our teachers did that in class when I was young and most people would put their heads down and "listen" (take a nap) but I liked to have the book open so I could read along. I guess even then I knew what I liked. 😄
Glad you find some measure of inspiration from your reading. It can be good to see what people can do and overcome especially when things seem impossible.
I often try to resist reading the first book of an unfinished series, but sometimes it's not clearly a part of a series until you are nearing the end of the book and the story is too far from being resolved to wrap up in those last few chapters. But the wait for the next book in a series to be published can be so long.
I hope you are able to enjoy "The Help", and will have an enjoyable weekend and week ahead!
@EmotionsListener
Do you love the feel of a paperback, are you a hardcover snob, or maybe you like ebooks? Do you have a preference or are you just happy so long as you have something to read?
Definitely paperback but I just need a book to be happy so I have all three.
What section of the library or bookstore are we most likely to find you browsing? Non-fiction? Mystery? Sci-fi? Maybe some books about your other hobbies?
Most probably in the fiction section but could be sci-fi, science or even historical fiction.
Book series? Love them or leave them? And do you read them all at once?
Love them if they are good but not all of them. Some of them are not worth reading for me. But I have quite some that I love some so long I didn't finish.
@Ginevra962
I can relate to having all three even while having a preference, I may like hardcover best but it's what I have least, and I won't stop reading just because I don't have a hardcover!
Fiction can be great! I also find historical fiction can be fun, sometimes more interesting than history too!
Sometimes the size of the series can be demotivating, I know there is a series I enjoy but it's become a "book churning" enterprise so what may have been a great 5 book series now has 16+ books and novellas that I find detract from the original work. Probably because they feel almost lazy and less well written just churned out as something to sell riding the coat tails of the original 5 books. As for those you enjoyed but didn't finish, do you think you will go back to them and finish?
So do you think you will "book-out" for a day over the next week?
@EmotionsListener I love this :)
I love old hardbacks, the ones with beautiful swirly patterns on them and old pages that seem like they have seen a million years.
I always hid it from others but my favourite genre has always been fantasy. Books with big maps and magical places have always been my escape. I also love classics, especially Jane Eyre :)
I love a series because there is more to read! You also learn to love the characters even more. I tend to binge them in a short period of time!
@Cassiopeia25
Oh that is a lovely image of old hardcover books, though when they are so old I somehow worry I will tear the pages so they often become a book I love but actually read in another format. 😊
If I list my favourite books it's very clear that I am also someone who loves fantasy! Definitely a way to escape this world and travel to a whole new one where you have to learn about all the rules and realities of that new setting. As well, classics rarely become classics without being worth a read!
Yay for binge reading! I remember one day I was at my parent's wanting to read and my mom had the entire Lemony Snicket "Series of Unfortunate Events" so I took and afternoon and read all 13 of them. I regularly like to disappear into a series and read a book or two a day until I'm done. Do you have a favourite series?
So are you going "book-out" and take some time to binge another series this week?
@EmotionsListener
Thank you so much for your lovely response! I can relate to you binge reading when you were younger - I used to stay up late reading to my teddy bears with a torch when I was a child haha! When I was about 12 I started reading the Eragon series and that was such an escape for me growing up, so I'd say that was always a favourite of mine. Now, as an adult, I'm really looking forward to starting to read the Witcher series, which I've just picked up but haven't started yet!
I am most certainly going to try to find time to 'book-out' although I'm starting a new job (eek!) so will have to squeeze it in when I can!
I hope you have an amazing day!
@Cassiopeia25
Good luck with your new job! Maybe reading can be a good stress reliever during that change? 😁 Either way I hope it goes well for you!
I grew up surrounded by books, am still growing through books.
Books have been my best friend from childhood to now.
When I used to travel to work by bus, the journey was never dull because I always carried a book with me.
In a library I can be found in non-fiction section.
My all time favorite book is 'LOVE STORY'.
I am still the die-hard fan of hard copy books.
HAPPY READING
@RideaRainbow Lovely to see you!
I cannot believe you said this! "My all time favorite book is 'LOVE STORY'."
That book and the film is so so soooooooo sad, I cannot bear to watch it. Is the book any different
Listening - One Step At A Time!
Where do you find love like their's... 🤷🏻
That is what is endearing about it and has left a lasting impact on me...
Each to their own perception and interpretation.
Glad you made time to comment and stop by.
🌹 🌹 🌹
@RideaRainbow
Happy reading!
Books can indeed be a steady companion in our lives, giving us lots of friends and experiences all by turning pages. As you say they can add interest to an otherwise dull day, and teach us new things and help us grow.
So is there something you love most about non-fiction? Do you find you like to go back and re-read your favourites like "Love Story"?
Do you think you will "book-out" for a day over the next week?
I sure enjoy fiction but non-fiction is so vast... Autobiography, travel, hobbies, spiritual and so many more. Each one leaves an interesting trail.
@EmotionsListener
Do you love the feel of a paperback, are you a hardcover snob, or maybe you like ebooks? Do you have a preference or are you just happy so long as you have something to read?
I mainly read e-books because they're much more accessible. They are always there when I have the chance to read without having to carry a big book with me. I also sometimes don't like people seeing what I'm reading. I can also get the first few pages to get an idea of the book, it helps the environment and I can see how much time it'll take to finish! I much prefer paperback over a hardcover though - so much easier to hold!
What section of the library or bookstore are we most likely to find you browsing? Non-fiction? Mystery? Sci-fi? Maybe some books about your other hobbies?
Non-fiction.
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Book series? Love them or leave them? And do you read them all at once?
Not a big book series fan, unless I come across a 5* book or an author I enjoy reading. I'm a slow reader so usually not all at once. :P
@SilentSerenityy
The convenience of e-books may be their main selling point for many of us it seems! It's interesting that you also mention the anonymity of what you are reading that comes with ebooks, I don't usually read in a public setting and am all too happy to share what I'm reading but I can see how that would be another benefit! It's great to see all the different ways we each love all the formats of books and the many reasons behind them.
So what do you enjoy most about non-fiction?
Sounds like series for you need to be worth the time and investment that you make to read them! Have you found any series that you enjoyed? In contrast I read quickly and am often told to slow down and savor the experience, but I just grab another series and race through it too.
Do you think you will find a day this week to "book-out"?
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Do you love the feel of a paperback, are you a hardcover snob, or maybe you like ebooks? Do you have a preference or are you just happy so long as you have something to read?
Hardcovers & paperbacks are both fine. Used to read e-books until I lost my Kindle in the mid-2010's; now I stick to texts on paper. I prefer those anyway because with real books, Google/Fakebook/Chinese gov/FBI/etc. can't get up in your business just through your reading. You can't hack into a paperback novel.
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What section of the library or bookstore are we most likely to find you browsing? Non-fiction? Mystery? Sci-fi? Maybe some books about your other hobbies?
History, most of all! Military & religious history were my bag until recently, but am slowly getting into economics-related stuff. Aside from that, you might find me in certain political sections (but not others). I rarely ever read fiction...when I do, it's either literary or post-apoc.
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Book series? Love them or leave them? And do you read them all at once?
The only series I've read in recent years is by Justin Cronin: The Passage & The Twelve. The first one is better than the 2nd one but The Twelve is still pretty d**n good. Haven't checked out the 3rd & final book yet.
I don't read them one after the other because life has too many disruptions.
@slowdecline48
I can understand preferring a physical book on paper, I find there are a lot of benefits, including you can read it even if you forgot to charge it! I also find reading it is more effective at giving me the escape and enjoyment I am looking for.
Sounds like a lot of very informative reading for you!
I hope you are able to get to "The City of Mirrors" (book 3) soon! As you say for many of us it's hard to carve out a space of time to sit and read an entire series, I feel spoiled that I can!
Do you think you will find time between the disruptions of life to "book-out" and lose yourself in the pages of a good book this week?
😄 I wish I could but the week is more than half over, plus I have an appointment this Friday that I don't want to miss...too many other things to do these days.
I do want to read Hall of Mirrors in the near future, though.
@slowdecline48
Sounds like you are very busy, I hope you have a good week regardless. But yes sometimes it can be hard to find the time.
@EmotionsListener Great thread! Thanks so much Emo!
Do you love the feel of a paperback, are you a hardcover snob, or maybe you like ebooks? Do you have a preference or are you just happy so long as you have something to read?
I love hardbacks and have the whole of HP in hardback! But I also love my kindle hehehe, I have even been known to swipe a real page and wonder why it hasn't turned over! But I also love audiobooks now! earphones in and off I go to the garden, ideal for weeding and planting.
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What section of the library or bookstore are we most likely to find you browsing? Non-fiction? Mystery? Sci-fi? Maybe some books about your other hobbies?
Sci-fi, I love vampire series! Non-fiction has to be a real book not an electronic one.
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Book series? Love them or leave them? And do you read them all at once?
All at once of course! Even tv series I have to wait till the end and binge, oh, unless they are reality shows.
But that said I waited in line for the new Harry Potter at midnight!
Listening - One Step At A Time!
@MistyMagic
Thanks Misty!
Fellow hardcover lover here! I also have the entire HP in hardcover, but I have the "adult" covers so they are all black instead of the original more colourful editions. As for the tapping or swiping real paper books after using ebooks for a while... *Guilty!* 🤣 A lot of people seem to enjoy audiobooks as well! I've tried to listen to them while cleaning but find I become too passive a listener and sometimes have to go back and re-listen to the same minute 3 times because I just can't seem to stay focused.
Sounds like you are happy to explore a bit of everything. What are some of your favourite vampire series? I've read quite a few myself!
Yay more binge reading! What food, sleep, I'm reading, I don't need food or sleep until I'm done all 7 books! Right? Waiting in line at midnight, definitely a dedicated reader!
So you going to take a day to binge on books and "book-out"?
