July 24, 2014

Chatting about my reading habits: a delightful Q&A for booklovers everywhere


From the very earliest age, before I could even read myself, I have been an immensely passionate bookworm. Prior to developing the ability to decipher the printed word myself, I would soak up every story read to me with great interest and intensity, and treasured trips to the local book store in the town of Abbotsford where we lived at the time, where my parents would let me select a new children's title of my own to bring home and add with great love to the wee bookshelf in my pink bedroom.




Throughout my youth, no other destination brought me as much joy, nor saw me haunt it as frequently, as the public library. No matter how many times I visited, I always felt a fresh jolt of excitement at the thought of going and would return home with with my backpack bulging with a diverse selection of new reads.

Everything from the Babysitters Club series to titles in the excellent Eye Witness series to works by classic authors like Dickens and Emily Bronte (I think I was seven or eight when I read Wuthering Heights for the first time) were a part of my early reading repertoire, which would only continue to branch out in even more diverse directions as time went on.




My parents and grandparents encouraged and fostered my love of reading, as did my early childhood teachers and even some of my neighbours, and I will forever be grateful to all of them for doing so. In helping me not only become a voracious and devoted reader, but the kind of person who finds an immeasurable amount of joy in books, they enriched, enhanced, and at times even shaped my life in a powerful, and very important way (as well helping make books a deeply important catalyst and continual source of inspiration for my own writing, very much including blogging).




To this day, I'm never without at least one book on the go, still visit the library often (rather charmingly, it's the exact same one I haunted frequently as a child after my family moved to Penticton shortly before my ninth birthday), get giddy at the thought of visiting a bookstore (new or used), and have a beloved collection of books on a wildly diverse array of topics.

I also happened to, much to my immense delight, marry a fellow bookworm and together in 2010 we founded and have since run a fabulous free new book notification service website called Any New Books (which allows users to sign up to receive weekly emails featuring a hand picked selection of new book titles that have been released in a broad spectrum of topics, opting for the categories that most appeal to them; it is a truly stellar way to stay abreast of the latest releases that are relevant to your interests).




Adoring books so very, very much, I was flat out delighted to see a super fun blog post Q&A surface a few months ago (though it may very well predate that point, that's just when I caught wind of it first) on some of the great sites I follow, such as Purple Pinky Honey, that shines the spotlight on one's literary habits.




I knew the first moment I caught wind of this post idea, I'd be whipping up one of my own at some point and today, on this immensely lovely summer morning, before the hustle and bustle of the day starts and the temperature soars rapidly, I'd take some highly enjoyable time to do just that.



Do you snack while you read? If so, what is your favourite reading snack?

Very, very rarely as I'm not a snacker in general. If I am going to nosh while flipping pages though, I usually opt for something that's unlikely to risk damaging the book in any way if dirty finger prints got on the pages or there was a spill. Say, an apple, baked potato chips, or a few squares of gourmet dark chocolate.



What is your favourite drink while reading?

Much as with eating, I don't usually feel compelled to drink when I read, and I'm afraid my answer is woefully dull, when I do: water (it's the only beverage I drink, no joke, 99% of the time because so many others are challenging for me for medical reasons).



Do you tend to mark your books as you read, or does the idea of writing in books horrify you?

It doesn't horrify me, but it's not something I've ever done, save for textbooks or workbooks in school when we were explicitly instructed to do as much, and doubt I'll ever do as I really do like keep my books in the best shape possible.



How do you keep your place while reading a book? Bookmark? Dog-ears? Laying the book flat open?

Bookmarks, always. My very first business ever, when I was just ten years old, was actually going door-to-door with my two younger siblings and selling handmade bookmarks that we'd made to our neighbours and other homes in the general vicinity of ours. As such, I've always had a special spot in my heart for bookmarks of all sorts.



Fiction, non-fiction, or both?

From my teen years onward, I've leaned heavily in the direction of non-fiction, with titles in this vast category making up the bulk of my reading. That said, I'll always have an immense fondness for many of the classic writers (and an especially great love for nineteenth and early twentieth century Russian literature), whose work - along with a handful of modern fiction authors - I adore pouring over throughout a given year.



Are you the kind of person who tends to read to the end of a chapter, or can you stop anywhere?

I can stop anywhere in a chapter, no problem, but do generally like to finish the end of the page that I'm on, if at all possible.



Are you the type of person to throw a book across the room or on the floor if the author irritates you?

Goodness, no! I don't have a fiery temper in the slightest and would never fathom potentially hurting a book by tossing it across the room (even if I thought it was the worst or most irksome book I'd ever read).



If you come across an unfamiliar word, do you stop and look it up right away?

If at all possible, yes. This is something I've adored doing since I first learned to read and greatly appreciate how much it has helped expand my vocabulary. If I can't look up a word in the moment, then I try to jot it down on paper, the computer, or the notepad app in my phone and make sure to research it later.



What are you currently reading?

I'm actually in the midst of my annual summertime read reread of Kerouac's classic On the Road, which I've read almost every summer since I was nine years old (I point I discussed in this 2011 post about how I'm distantly related to Jack Kerouac). There's just something about the sticky, sweltering, marvelous dog days of summer that make me yearn for a similar cross country adventure of my own and that also seem so tremendously well suited to Kerouac's gritty, earnest, fantastic style of beat generation writing.



What is the last book you bought?

Baby, Let's Play House: Elvis Presley and the Women Who Loved Him by Alanna Nash. I haven't stared reading it yet, but the moment I've finished rereading On the Road and have wrapped up a couple of library books I have on the go, it will have its turn on my trusty nightstand right away.



Are you the type of person that reads one book at a time, or can you read more than one?

Definitely! I can easily read multiple books at once (well, in the same time span - not necessarily, literally, simultaneously :) ) and most often do just that.



Do you have a favourite time/place to read?

I've always been a late night reader in particular, but welcome the chance to read any time of the day. Ideally I like a cozy corner (be it a bed, couch or armchair), adequate light, and silence (I've never been the type of person who likes to listen to music or have the TV on while I'm reading - ditto for if I'm writing).



Do you prefer series books or stand-alones?

Reading primarily non-fiction, I'm not usually presented with my series. As a youngster, when I read a larger volume of fiction, I enjoyed stand-alones and series equally, reading scores of each.



Is there a specific book or author you find yourself recommending over and over?

Many! Though my suggestions really depend on the genre at hand. Some that I will forever recommend when it comes to fiction are Dickens, Dostoyevsky, Steinbeck, Vonnegut, and Fitzgerald.



How do you organize your books? (By genre, title, author's last name, etc.)

Much like most libraries, I organize by books by category, further breaking them down by subcategory, if applicable (I also keep my vintage books in area of my home library and my modern ones in another).



{To learn more about any of the image used throughout this post, please click on a photo or illustration to be taken to its respective source.}


 photo Librarybooksdividergraphic_zps55732176.gif




If you're a fellow bibliophile, then this charming Q&A is certainly for you as well. I loved setting aside a slice of time today to really think about my reading habits, passions and interests, and highly recommend doing so yourself via this post (or simply in your own head or care of another kind of post pertaining to reading) anytime your heart desires.




After talking about books so much, in fact, I think I might just have to hightail it down to the beach today, find a spot of shade, and curl up on the gloriously warm sand with one of the many great reads that are waiting for me to crack open their spine for the first time and loose myself for a few marvelous, magical hours in their printed word, wisdom and literary loveliness.




Happy summer reading, everyone - I hope this magnificent season is giving you plenty of time to kick off your heels and cozy up with a terrific book as well.

36 comments:

  1. *blushes*
    Thanks for the mention, Jessica.
    It's a great pleasure, to read about people's habits. That is how we truly get to know others; and realize we are much, much more alike than we think we are. It's true what they say: "The world is a village"; and more I explore it, more I find out - it's not the differences that I notice, but the similarities.

    Big hug
    Marija

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  2. hello my dear bookworm!
    i´m one too! i can´t imagine a life without books. hubs and i always say we could live in a library (this cosy oldschool ones) doing nothing else then reading and talking about that......
    if i should recommend a author i would say Gabriel Garcia Márquez. love his books.
    i will copy the Q&A for a post later in the year - show me your books and i say who you are :-)
    tons of hugs!

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    1. Is there room for two more in that library, because Tony and I always say the same thing, too. No matter where we've lived, what our budget was, or any other factor in life, we've both always surrounded ourselves with books and are veracious readers.

      Can't wait to see your post and get to know more about your own passion for the printed word, dear Beate.

      ♥ Jessica

      *PS* Thank you for the author recommendation.

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  3. Now that´s a Q&A just after my taste. It´s always great to read about other peoples love for books and I actually found myself in many of your answers. As soon as I have a few quiet minutes I´ll give it a go myself!

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    1. Me too! Even if their tastes differ substantially from my own. I love books so much in general, it's always great just to hear someone enthuse about their interest/passion in the written word.

      I've long followed you via Bloglovin' and really look forward to seeing your answers to these delightful reading habit questions, dear Katrin.

      ♥ Jessica

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  4. What gorgeous pictures...sadly reading wasn't a priority in my home when I was growing up...which is a shame as I feel I would have been a lot cleverer if I'd read a lot more! Reading is very important...and it's because of this I always buy my little niece and nephew book and read to them when I visit. ;)

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  5. Aww, this is great! I love that you're a reader, and I think it would be fabulous if you did an occasional book recommendation post. I read mostly sci-fi and fantasy, but I'm always interested in non-fiction - it's just hard to find a book that I think I would like.
    I'm also impressed that you actually organize your books. Mine just get crammed onto shelves any which way that they'll fit, these days.

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    1. Thank you very much, dear gal. I've done a small number of book reviews here over the years (such as this one last year: http://www.chronicallyvintage.com/2013/09/book-review-1940s-fashion-definitive.html), but not a ton for sure and it's something I can certainly look at doing a bit more in the future. I got a generous Amazon.ca gift certificate from Tony this year and that's certainly going to provide me with some new reads soon, some of which I'm sure (haven't picked my books out yet) will be relevant to my blog and its audience).

      ♥ Jessica

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  6. I LOVE THIS! May have to do this on my blog! I'm such a huge book nerd. Just today I was thinking about the books I need to order and where am I going to put them. Shelf space is a serious issue. ;) I chuckled at the throwing a book across the room question. I did that one time only, in frustration at Mansfield Park. In my defense, Fanny Price can be extremely trying. Haha!
    ~xoxo!!

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  7. Oh my gosh.... what about Nancy Drew and Cherry Ames??? :) My mid-century life would not have been the same without them!! Since you are so much younger than I, okay.... I understand. LOL

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    1. Those are both beloved favourites for me, too. My mom had a vast collection of Nancy Drews from her childhood that I lapped up with gusto when I was little, and I enjoyed reading Cherry Ames stories from the library (I even wrote about Cherry's tales back in this 2011 post: http://www.chronicallyvintage.com/2011/03/exciting-adventures-of-cherry-ames.html). Being young has never, ever stopped me from enjoying and appreciating elements of the past! (So hence my blog :D)

      Big hugs & many thanks for your comment,
      ♥ Jessica

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  8. I love this! I found myself answering the questions in my head as I read. The only one I couldn't easily answer was which book I most recently bought. I rarely buy new books. I love acquiring books via Paperbackswap.com (US only, for simplicity with postage and mailing -- I'm not sure if there are equivalents in other countries.) And there's a HUGE benefit "white elephant sale" in Oakland each year. If you go on the last day, you can fill a tote bag full of books for six dollars (which includes the bag.) I always do, and they last me ages, since I also read a lot of library books.

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    1. That's an awesome deal for sure! One of the local service clubs hosts a big used book sale here every year and they charge by the pound. It isn't cheap, quite frankly, but less still than you'd pay for new and they do usually get a lot of diverse books, including plenty that have long been out of print, plus it's for a good cause, so I don't mind their somewhat steep prices. I so which that someone would do the same kind of flat rate deal here as well though!

      Thank you for your lovely comment, dear gal,
      ♥ Jessica

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  9. I love books and I remember since I was young that every time I got some pocket money, I rushed to a book store and got some books. Best were always the hidden book stores, turned into a small exclusive cafe....
    I'm a book junky.
    http://balearaitzart.blogspot.com.au/

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  10. I loved reading Eye Witness books when I was little! Although my favorite author now is definitely Jane Austen. Her books are like my best friends and I own every one of them!

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  11. More proof that we're secretly sisters. I spent my whole childhood reading in our local library and continue reading to this day. The best way to expand one's vocabulary is to see an interesting new word while reading, stop, and look it up. The New Yorker is great for that. Every issue presents me with new words.

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    1. I'm with you there entirely! As a youngster, well into my teens actually, I usually carried a wee pocket dictionary with me in my purse or schoolbag wherever I went just for that very purpose, and if one wasn't to hand or the word wasn't present in it, I'd be sure to jot it down and look it up later. I still try to do and absolute delight in adding new additions to my vocabulary.

      Many thanks for your great comment,
      ♥ Jessica

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  12. Thanks for sharing! I can't wait to post my own version on my blog. I love Fitzgerald, by the way! He's one of my favorite authors (I think of him as my author crush) :). And I look forward to exploring your website!

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    1. Thank you very much, sweet gal, I (and Tony) really appreciate that. Author crushes are the best! I had one on most of the beats as a teenager, and think I'll always have one on Lord Byron (which I'm sure he'd appreciate :)). My perpetual author crush will always be Hunter S. Thompson. Should I ever be blessed with a son, I even plan to give him the middle name Hunter in the first and best gonzo writer's honour.

      ♥ Jessica

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  13. Grrrr. blogger!I

    Picking up where I left off...

    I will never be able to read your blog without a jazz soundtrack now that I know you are (distantly) related to Kerouac. Just lay off the cheap Tokay-that stuff will kill 'ya! As beatniks go, I always enjoyed Burroughs which probably says something (not good) about my character( flaws).

    The 9 year old is reading The Time Machine at the moment, but he also checked out the Complete Works of Flannery O'Connor which will be interesting to see what he makes of her.

    Have you read Brian Moore's book, The Great Victorian Collection? I think you would enjoy it. Moore was such a great, under-appreciated writer, though so many of his books made it to film (Cold Heaven, Black Robe). Anyway, something to add to the on-going list of things to look at (I'd have to live to 200 to get to everything on my list, but still better to have one than not).

    What a fun post, and a look into your reading habits/interests.

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    1. No worries there, I've never been a fan of the mad reefer myself. No qualms with other partaking, but it's not my cup of (mood altering) tea. :) Burroughs was a million miles away from perfect, but I think that despite his stellar writing, he gets too much of a bum's wrap (yes, I say that even knowing full well of his many, how shall we say, troubles). Naked Lunch will always standout as one of my favourite and most inspiring reads from any of the beats.

      Much doffing of my vintage chapeau in your son's direction. Those are some seriously excellent literary choices at any age, let alone when one is a mere nine years old. I wonder, could this early passion for great authors mean that your young lad will grow up to be a writer himself?

      I haven't had a chance to read that Moore title yet myself, no. I really should though, especially considering that he lived for a spell in Canada and I in Ireland, so there's that connect between the author and I right off the bat. I'll certainly add The Great Victorian Collection to my reading list, thank you for the recommendation (agreed, I'd need to live countless lifetimes to get everything I'd like to done, let alone read all the marvelous books I hope to).

      Thank you for the splendid comment,
      ♥ Jessica

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  14. What a fun questionnaire! I work at a bookstore and one of our benefits is the ability to rent up to twenty books at a time, and if they're used, for up to three months! It's the best perk of a job I've ever had.

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  15. really cute post! My late dad was a library director and so I love libraries and books.

    retro rover

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  16. We have too many things in common, girl! Reading many different kinds of books/genres, never damaging a book, reading more than one book in a time-period...Sister!! *ROTFL*

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  17. how utterly fascinating!! i've loved reading your answers and think it's fabulous you share genes with kerouac!! i'll have to take another whack at this because i can see myself answering some of the questions differently.

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  18. I share your attraction to, and delight in, classic literature and factual books. Much as I love the internet, reading a book satisfies the soul in a different way. I was raised in a small village where you has to make your own entertainment, and library books were a big part of my life. Infact I has read all the children's books and was allowed to start on the adults early (about age 9 or 10). There are so many I enjoy it seems a shame to pick out any but I remember Wilkie Collins and Thomas Hardy featuring heavily along with a lot of poetry :) I sometimes worry that my children don't read as much as I did because of the internet and that they are missing out. Having said that my eldest daughter is studying English Literature for one of her A levels and I notice she is reading a lot more widely, even introducing me to books. This makes me happy! Also, just in case you're curious I'm reading Nelson Mandela's autobiography at the moment (given to me for Mother's Day by my son). He had such fortitude in the face of persecution, I find it very inspiring xx

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    1. Though I don't have any youngsters of my own yet, I too very much worry about the declining enthusiasm for reading amongst some young people these days. Not all, of course, but a fair number, especially when it comes to reading titles outside of those series that quickly turn into movies, if you know what I mean (not that I'm dissing those books, I'm certainly not in the slightest, it's just that it's good to read a broad range of authors and types of books).

      Thomas Hardy was one of the first classic authors I adored as a child as well. Far from the Madding Crowd will always make it onto my top 50 list of fiction titles.

      What a great read you've got on the go right now. I deeply admire Mandela and will certainly be checking the library to see if they have his autobiography. I suspect, given his level of fame the world over, that they will.

      Thank you very much for your fantastic comment, my fellow bookworm,
      ♥ Jessica

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  19. Your book notification website is a great idea! I've gone and joined up now!

    I grew up in a book-filled house, but never considered myself much of a reader. Like many other things in my life, partially because I was comparing myself to my sister. She reads at an incredibly rapid rate that I can't keep up with at all. But I think I'm coming into my own as a book lover with time. Joining my local library has made a big difference.

    I also have to say how much I love the little girl's outfit with the beret in the third photo! Oh I can't wait to dress my little one up like that!

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    1. Thank you very much (from both Tony and I) for singing up for Any New Books, I sincerely hope you adore the service.

      It really is a charmingly sweet outfit, I agree. Aww! I love that you're going to dress your daughter in vintage. Should I ever be blessed with a child of my own one day, I very much plan to do the same, too.

      Big hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  20. lovely post and pictures. I am only just starting to get back into reading again now. Though now I am getting behind with my artworks... I like to have music playing, but I turn the tv off, because I tend to get drawn into the TV land of crappy infomercials and game shows...

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  21. I enjoyed reading this so much, what a great idea. I am definitely going to do one of my own as reading is absolutely my favourite thing to do. It was really interesting to learn more about what you like to read. When you read non fiction, what kind of topic does it tend to be on?

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    1. How wonderful, I really look forward to seeing your own answers, sweet dear. Oh my gosh, there are so, so many non-fiction topics that I read about, but perhaps not surprisingly, the most common is usually history (not just mid-century history, though I certainly read plenty on that topic, but titles on everything from the dawn of man to fads of 1990s). There's also plenty of science, anthropology, sociology, psychology, crafting, biographies/autobiographies, cookbooks (I devour cookbooks the way lots of folks do popular novels), and genealogy related titles, too, amongst others, and I'd call each of these categories firm favourites of mine. What are some of your favourite non-fictions subjects?

      ♥ Jessica

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    2. Gosh, I bet you are the person to be with at a quiz as that is a pretty comprehensive list! The non fiction that I tend to read is social history, particularly wartime diaries, particularly women's experiences. I also like biographies and autobiographies, always so interesting! Then craft books and fashion history books. Reading is just the most marvellous thing!

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    3. Wonderfully said, dear Kate, I couldn't agree more! It's one of life's greatest pleasures and blessings all rolled into one.

      That's very sweet. Awww, perhaps - I'd certainly know my way around certain topics for sure! :)

      Big hugs & happy Monday wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  22. Oh my! What a marvelous post! I also adore reading.. it's long been a favourite past time of mine. I (I LOVED The Babysitters Club too!) My preferred choice are biographies and non-fiction accounts of World War II (no surprise there). Thank you for your always interesting and unique topics dear Jessica. Erin xx

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    1. Aww, it's my pleasure, dear Erin, thank you in turn for the wonderfully nice comment. I've read a massive amount on WW2 (more so than any other specific historical event by a long shot) in my lifetime, too, and love knowing that a deeply rooted interest in this topic is another thing that we share in common.

      ♥ Jessica

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