Reading Rituals

[Manda Robertson]

I just finished an *incredibly* GOOD book (Shift by Jennifer Bradbury) and realized that I DID NOT want to give it back to the library. So for now I'm keeping it, not reading it, just carrying it around in my already obese backpack because... I don't even know why. My best idea is that this is a reading ritual, and it turns out I have a lot of little habits I go through with books. What are your reading idiosyncrasies?

[Claressa Wilcox]

I do the same thing, except at the end of the chapter, not the whole book.

[Bridget Channing]

Well after i read a good book, where it be a novel or comic, I tend to bring it with me everywhere, incase i need to read it again or I want to skim through my favorite parts. I also sniff them and occasionally I read the last chapter or a chapter in the middle when I first get the book because 1: It makes me feel dangerous and 2: I feel it makes me read faster so that I can get a to certain part.

[Erin S]

I nearly always re-read a book at least 1 time.  I feel like I can't appreciate the whole story until I've re-read it.  Also, I'm an analytical type of person, so I love to go through and re-read the book from a different perspective.  It helps me to understand characters better, and it's made me a better reader overall.

[Maria Jane Bentzen]

I do this too, just to pick up on the things I missed the first time!

And other than that, the only habit I have is that if a book's really good, then I want to own it, not just borrow it from the library, so I buy it even though I've already read it. 

[Ali M]

Well first, I go through a picking ritual. I judge the title of the book. If it passes, I pick it up and judge the cover. If it looks dumb, I put down. If it looks moderately interesting (depending on how desperate I am for a book to read), I read the summary. If it doesn't have a summary, then screw it. Has anyone ever come across a book with no summary? None at all, not even on the inside cover? It pisses me off... Anyway, if it seems moderately interesting, I open it up at a random place and read some. Usually I end up reading the last page. If it passes all of this, I get it.

I don't think I really have a reading ritual. The one thing I always do is try not to read the end and then fail. Especially if it's a good book. I just can't help it! Also, I never reread a book. Never ever. Not even if I loved it. The only time I will is if I have to for school or if it's a series and the next book is coming out but I can't remember what happened in the one before. I don't know why, really. I guess I think I'll find it boring since I already know what happens. Or maybe it's because I'm afraid I'll find mistakes that I didn't see the first time and start to hate it.

[Megan Alexander]

Once I finish a book, I stare at the last page for a while, just thinking about the book as a whole.

Then I close it with the back facing upwards, I run my hand over the back, turn it over and do the same on the front.

Then I smell the top of all the pages, keeping the book closed.

And sometimes I flick through all the pages and left the scent blow onto my face.

[Victoria Linner]

First, I smell the book.

Second, I read the front and back covers, every single word.

Third, I read the dedications and thanks if there are any.

Fourth, I read the first chapter.

Fifth, I read the last sentence/ page.

Sixth, I read the rest of the book.

Depending on how much I like the book I might repeat steps. And I also might keep the book with me for a while after I finish.

 

[Margrét Halla Johnson]

when I'm reading a book I take it with me where ever I go.. even though I know I wont have time to read it where I'm going, I still keep it in my bag. I also like to smell the book. and if it is a new book (paperback) I love the sound when I open it and a crease forms on the spine : )

[Miranda Henckel]

I always have at least two books in my backpack/bag/on my person, and I always make sure that one of them is always in my hand during free time or passing period. :)

 

And I constantly smell my books when I'm nervous. And I always have to have tea or coffee with me in my trusty cup. :)

[Claressa Wilcox]

Hello, I just joined this group!

I do this with every book I read, so I've forgotten that it's even a "thing". I write my thoughts/reactions in the margins and underline parts that I like. Of course if I have to give the book back (to a friend, the library, etc.) I go through afterword to write down what I underlined and erase the marks.

Also, I can't stand dust covers, so whatever I'm readind stays naked until I'm done with it (though sometimes I forget to put the covers back on when I'm done, so I end up with a big stack of empty covers on the bookshelf).

[Alaska Is Beautiful]

I hate dust covers as well.

Everyone who sees me reading says, "If you'd put the cover on, the book will retain its quality and not be as tattered."

And I understand that...

but I can't read with the book covers. It makes me paranoid, and the book slides around in the cover sometimes which makes me irritated.

I like to just save the book covers in a box of mine (full of book covers and nothing else) because I think books without the covers look amazing. Sometimes the covers are just stupid and the plain book looks so much better.

[Clara Baker]

When I pick up a book, I like to run my hands on the cover and feel the pages. Then I smell it. If it passes both of those little tests (I often do these things while I read, so if the book smells unpleasant I don't want to read it because every time I pick it up, it'll smell like crap.) then I look to see if it has a good cover and I read the description and the excerpt on the back.