Let’s talk about anything bookish!
If you have been following my blog, you will know that I am a mood reader. What this means is that I pick a book based on my moods or what I’m currently feeling. This also means that I am unable to follow any sort of TBR or any sort of themed challenge where I pick the books that I will be reading for a specified period.
I joined the ARC August challenge last month and it was clearly obvious based on my challenge results that I ultimately failed the challenge. See, I lined up books that I promised I would read for the month and I didn’t follow through. I ended up reading ARCs that were not on my list at all.
I know, I’m weird.
And it sucks!
Basically, I am guaranteed NOT to ever finish a challenge where I list down books to read because I already know that I won’t be able to read these books (for the most part).
Now, here is why it sucks.
As I mentioned above, I am guaranteed not to win these types of challenges. And yeah, it sucks for me because it ultimately reinforces the fact that I will always fail. KWIM?
This is precisely why I don’t join a lot of themed challenges. As evidenced by my progress in the Flights of Fantasy challenge.
It also sucks when the books I am lined up to read are ARCs because this means that there is a deadline for when I can post a review. I don’t strictly follow this, though but I do try to post a review a couple of weeks before or after the book is released. So now, what happens when you are a mood reader? Well, this means that I may or may not read the book in time for me to post a review around the release date.
One of the most irritating (in my opinion) thing about being a mood reader is that I almost always book hop. That is, I read multiple books at the same time and stop in between reading a book to read another one. This happens when the current book I’m reading doesn’t suck me in.
As a result, I forget the plot of the books that I am reading. This usually happens when weeks pass and I didn’t get back to the book that I abandoned.
I admit. I am a book abandon-er (if there is such a word). *hides in shame*
Obviously, I know my faults but it’s also very hard to stop myself from being a mood reader. Sometimes this annoys me to no end.
Through the years, I have learned to embrace this flaw. I try not get too anxious and pressured when I read.
And yes, I embrace being a mood reader. Even though it sucks, sometimes.
Are you a mood reader?
What are the ways you do to avoid jumping from one book to another?
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Definitely a mood reader here, although I don’t book hop TOO much. I am a pretty fast reader, so if I’m into a book, I’ll finish it quickly . I agree that challenges are nigh-impossible though. This may be one reason why I really like Dewey’s 24 Hour Read-a-Thon–I can participate while still reading whatever I feel like. I’m doing a Mt. TBR challenge this year too, which is also pretty comfortable for me because I have SO MUCH on my TBR that I can just mood-read off it.
My biggest problem is that I am constantly picking up books that look good and reading them before I’ve even gotten them onto my TBR, so I feel like I’m not making any progress, so to speak. But then again–who cares? As long as I’m enjoying my reading, it’s not a real problem.
that is absolutely right, Wendy! I also do this ALL THE TIME! hahaha I hardly join read-a-thon’s because of this! 🙂
Sometimes you just have to know something like this about yourself and embrace it. I liken this to my disorganization—it’s something about me that I sometimes hate, but I’ve given up on really trying to change. I just go with it!
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UGHHHH I relate so much! I’m SO behind on ARCs. I made an ALL ARC TBR this month and I’ve only read one…which I DNF’d. I also book hop. All the time hahah
haha same here, Molly! 🙂 It gets better but there are just those days when not one book interests me at all 😀
I relate to this so painfully much. It’s one of the reasons I am always reading more than one book at a time. ?
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Me too! Ugh! It’s a little annoying, but I have managed to read a lot of books this way!
I am a mood reader, and could not imagine making a monthly TBR. I try to do a weekly TBR, and I do fairly well with it, but usually one book gets displaced for another because of my mood. Hey, I like to read, and if I feel like reading one book versus another, I will.
I can’t believe you can have a weekly TBR! That’s even better!
I am sooo a mood reader and unfortunately I just haven’t been in the mood to read lately. I am terrible at reading ARC’s too and I have failed at every challenge I have tried, so I don’t even bother with them anymore. Right now I have been in the mood to relisten to old favorites…despite all the new books I should/could be reading instead but I’m not gonna force myself to read them until I actually FEEL like reading them. 🙂
Don’t fight it. I never follow my tbr either. I do challenges but don’t get stressed out about them. Mood reading means that you are always striving to read the perfect book for you right now. It is amazing when you find it.
I totally agree, Heather! There are some books that I read that I marked as DNF, but then get a chance to reread it again during a different time and mood and absolutely love it!