Top Ten Tuesday: Bookish Confessions


Hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl

Person holding a finger in front of the mouth of a small dog as if to keep him or her from speaking. For today’s freebie post I’m going to be sharing some bookish confessions.

(The dog in the photo isn’t mine. I simply thought it was an amusing illustration for this prompt).

1. Reading graphic novels definitely counts as reading in general, but I personally don’t enjoy that form of storytelling. I’d rather have more words and fewer pictures.

2. I am quick to give up on books I’m not enjoying. Life is too short to read something that doesn’t resonate with me.

3. Vlogging is scary and I never want to do it. Ha!

4. I do not understand people who judge others based on the genres they do (or don’t) read. It’s one thing to say that genre X isn’t your cup of tea and quite another to say that one type of storytelling is inherently better or worse than all others. Honestly, there are gems and duds in every genre.

5. Audiobooks work best as rereads for me. When I get distracted by my workout or cleaning, I like being able to immediately figure out what I missed in the last scene or two.

6. Some classic novels have passed their expiration dates (at least for me). I’ve loved some of them but been completely bored and confused by others.

7. As much as I love reading, I relish my reading breaks when the weather is nice enough for me to spend tons of time outside every day.

8. I don’t follow as many book bloggers as I used to. I felt slightly guilty for unfollowing them, but I simply don’t have time to keep up with as many of them as in the past.

9. Horror novels are best read in the middle of the day, not right before bed. Feel free to guess how many nightmares I had before I figured this one out.

10. I’m quietly suspicious of people who think fiction is a waste of time. While I’m sure there are exceptions to this rule, the folks I’ve met who think that way tend to be less empathetic than average and really struggle to see the world from other points of view. Fiction can teach us to appreciate the many shades of grey in a conflict (or  character, or real human being, or an issue), and it confuses me to meet folks who have such black and white thinking they can’t even enjoy a simple story.

What are your bookish confessions?

100 Comments

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100 Responses to Top Ten Tuesday: Bookish Confessions

  1. These are all very good, and, in general, pretty-much-true for me, too. I’m not big on graphic novels…I have some trouble following audiobooks at times…I get scared of horror even in the middle of the day. My exceptions are that I follow more bloggers than ever and I haven’t been totally disappointed by classics yet.

  2. This is a great topic! I also will not read horror (if I must) during the night! Haha. I totally agree that some classics are past their time & I would never do vlogging either! The one thing I wish I could do better is DNF a book quickly!

  3. I share your approach to audiobooks, though if the narrator is strong enough I can experience a book for the first time that way. That’s what happened to Ready Player One (Wil Wheaton) and the ….western/fantasy I’m currently listening to. And agreed about life being too short to spend on books we’re not getting anything out of it!

  4. Vlogging? I with you. That’s a no for me.

  5. I love that you use audiobooks as re-reads. I do that, too! I don’t re-read often but that’s usually what I do when I do it. I do like audiobooks otherwise though.

  6. I agree about horror books, though I still read them at night…not that I don’t regret it in seconds, lol.

  7. Some of these confessions could have come straight out of my head, too. I don’t read true horror, but there are some urban fantasy books that I made the mistake of reading too late at night, and ended up with nightmares there, too.

    My TTT: https://bookwyrmknits.com/2023/01/31/top-ten-tuesday-just-for-fun-quotes/

  8. I agree with all of these although sometimes I really need to read a Graphic Novel because I’m reading a lot of novels. Here is my post.

  9. In college I was writing a term paper on Edgar Allan Poe, teacher assigned, I made the mistake of reading The Fall of the House of Usher at midnight when my roommate was out of town. I spent two hours in the SUB before going back to bed.

  10. The 8 is me on Instagram, now I prefer to follow friends than big accounts. And agree with audiobooks, I listening at work, so they need to be easy to follow, usually they are rereads, contemporary romance or MG stories

  11. Jo

    I totally agree on #3! There is a reason I’m a blogger and not a vlogger and it’s 100% mostly because appearing on camera is scary and I don’t want to do it. I have got more into comics over the last few years, I agree that in general I prefer regular books, but I have found comics useful for meeting my reading challenge goals and not being a visual reader, having the pictures to guide me as to what the characters look like is actually really helpful! I read a lot of audiobooks, it’s become my main way of consuming books now, but I do understand people who say they can be hard to follow. I also don’t understand people who judge others’ genre preferences: like I’m not a big romance reader, but I know it’s a hugely popular genre and I’m not going to be one of those people who says “Oh that’s not worth reading” just because it’s not to my particular taste! I also don’t really love classic novels and feel a lot have passed their expiration date. I actually really like reading outside, so when it’s a sunny day out, I will normally take my book with me and go sit in my garden and soak up the sun whilst reading!

    • I like the way you think!

      What comic books are you enjoying?

      Do you have any tips for staying focused when listening to audiobooks while doing other stuff at the same time?

  12. This list is great! I agree with most of what you said. I love this quote “Honestly, there are gems and duds in every genre.” It’s so true

  13. Vlogging is also too scary for me, hee. And I also prefer audiobooks to be rereads!

  14. I LOVE a confessions post! I’m very susceptible to nightmares so I have to be very careful of disturbing content. I totally agree that vlogging is scary! There are still classics I think I should read…..but they are hit and miss for me. A few years ago I started a project of reading all the Newbery Award winners….,that’s more discouraging than I expected….I’ve DNFed 3 of them! Thanks for sharing your confessions!

  15. I love this post. Vlogging is scary and not my thing. Life is too short to read books you don’t enjoy and follow blogs you don’t enjoy/can’t get into. I don’t really read graphic novels, but do love Debbie Tung’s Book Love, and Noisy Girl in a Quiet World.

  16. Could not agree with you more on 4 and 10 especially. Great points!

  17. These are great bookish confessions!

    I absolutely agree with the DNF a book you aren’t enjoying. I have a revisit pile and an “oh no, absolutely not” pile to distinguish between my DNFs.

    I read a lot of graphic novels and right now thanks to my young reader and they are enjoyable in small doses. I still prefer audio and reading typical print.

  18. Such a lovely post! I listen to audiobooks a lot, but I agree that they are most perfect for re-reads. Also totally agree that vlogging is scary (will never do it) and that every genre has its gems and duds 🙂

  19. I love this post idea, and I think I completely agree with you on most of them TBH.

  20. I love the idea of this list, and I have to admit that I agree with nearly all of your confessions! Although I do enjoy a graphic novel from time to time, they aren’t my preferred form of reading. And while I am well aware that starting a scary or spooky or creepy novel before bed is a bad idea, guess who still does it every single time? Hint: It’s me.

  21. Some of these confessions are quite relatable. Not saying which ones haha!

  22. This was fun to read! I agree with just about every one of these and you definitely won’t see me vlogging either.

  23. Vlogging scares me, too! And I’ve tried but I just don’t love reading Graphic novels either. Very fun TTT post this week! 😀

  24. I am more scared of vlogging than horror novels. 🙂 Great topic!

  25. Don’t feel guilty for unfollowing–it’s like DNF-ing a book. But, do please, share new book bloggers you are liking–we all may like them, too!
    Classics–it’s fine. Our lives and attention spans have changed. I will never try Dickens again. I’ve given over enough of my life to that brand of boredom! LOL. Meanwhile, I found as an adult I like Hemingway.

    • That is a great idea for a TTT post. I’m saving it for a future freebie post. Thanks for the suggestion.

      I don’t think I’ve read much Hemingway. What titles of his do you recommend?

  26. Great post! I love the dog picture. It’s perfect. I 100% agree with #3,4 and 10. 😁 I do reread books as audiobooks, but didn’t think about it until reading your post. Thanks!

  27. Interesting list to do on this Freebie – I went safe and mention books I read over and over which is a complete repeat of everything I always talk about.

    Your statement of – I am quick to give up on books I’m not enjoying. Life is too short to read something that doesn’t resonate with me – I wish I could do this. I will read till the end and then complain about how bad it was.

  28. I enjoyed reading your confessions and I even agree with most of them. I seem to get on better with audiobooks than you do. On the other hand, I am terrible at DNF’ing. It’s extremely rare, that I don’t finish a book.

  29. I enjoyed your list of bookish confessions.

    I have problems reading graphic novels, I sometimes cannot follow the story and have to read them more than once. But I love the art so much, I keep trying them to see what works for me. So far, the more text the better.

    TracyK at Bitter Tea and Mystery

  30. I love WATCHING people vlog but doing it myself? BIG NO haha. I am way too anxious for that.

  31. 1 – I did try graphic novels but like you, I prefer more words.

    2 – Same here. I think more people are dnf-ing books or maybe they are just starting to admit it publicly.

    3 – Me either. I sort of don’t enjoy watching people read or heck, I don’t even like the ones where people read books that made them cry, it’s just silly.

    4 – I haven’t come across anyone like that but I usually ignore them.

    7 – We can’t always be reading, I think.

    9 – I don’t read horrors but I must admit, reading them before bedroom is a bad idea. I’m guessing it took several books before you realize that.

    10 – Some people like to say bad things about things they don’t understand or don’t like, sort of like a defensive way of making others think they’re not vulnerable but we shouldn’t judge. Everyone has their own opinions and we should respect them even if we don’t agree with them.

    Thanks for visiting my blog. Have a lovely day

  32. What a fun take on this week’s freebie prompt! Love the photo. I need to stop listening to audiobooks for bed, I always fall asleep and it takes me forever to find where I was last awake, lol.

    Jessica

  33. I haven’t given classics a chance honestly. While someday I might, I just cannot quite get into the idea of some. But I love several BBC adaptations that tell the story, so perhaps I’m missing out being someone who only reads certain genres. 🙂 I wish I did let a book go (that I’m not enjoying) easier. It’s a struggle sometimes. Thanks so much for visiting my website.

  34. This a great topic! I totally agree about so many of your points! I would never do Vlogging. Not for me and I don’t think I’ll ever be a on Tic Tock either. Having to do a reel on Instagram feels enough out of my comfort zone when/if I’m ever feeling adventurous, which is not often. To be honest, I love the blogs so much more! Why do non-fiction or literary readers feel the need to be judgmental? That’s what I’d like to know. Yep, I’ve found a lot of the “classics” to be a snooze-fest. Thanks for visiting my TTT!

  35. I also do not enjoy reading graphic novels. But I love to read horror just before bed (I also enjoy taking a couple edibles and putting on a horror movie or series just before falling asleep, so I’m a bit weird.) Have a wonderful week.

  36. Great thoughts. I don’t read graphic novels either, however I think they take a certain skill to do so, and me I am not a visual reader, I like to build it in my own head instead.

  37. Ha, I so relate to your point two! It took me a long time to learn that, but I’ve enjoyed reading so much more (and I’ve read more) since just giving myself permission to not love every single book. Same with the audiobooks, too. I get distracted so easily that it’s very frustrating trying to listen to an audiobook unless it’s something that just immediately captivates me and holds my attention the entire time (which tends to be rare).

  38. Oooh, so many great confessions here. I completely agree with 4 and 10. And I also struggle with audiobooks. I’ve had others suggest using them for rereads. I need to give that a try! Happy reading this week, Lydia!

  39. I don’t read horror at all, much to my daughter’s dismay (she loves it, and I can’t give her any recommendations). Audiobooks are one way for me to read more books, but I understand that not all are easy to follow.

    Pam @ Read! Bake! Create!
    https://readbakecreate.com/ten-of-roses-favorite-books-of-all-time/

  40. RS @ Literary Loot

    Totally agree with #1! I think of them as “interactive art” so I don’t get frustrated by their limited text when the summary makes me excited for a particular plot. (not to imply that they aren’t books — that’s just how I view them for myself)

    But these are all fantastic and thought-provoking “confessions,” many of which read like the opening lines to a book of essays on readership (that I would also like to read).

    Confessions, confessions…well, this might be obvious from the kind of posts I tend to make, but I’ll say that my interest in a book is usually inversely proportional to the number of people who have read it. For whatever reason, if everyone is talking about a book, its appeal dims in comparison to my thirst for seeking out and promoting books currently being under-represented in reviews. Obviously there are exceptions, but it’s also true that every time Goodreads Choice rolls around I’m like “neh” to at least 90% of the candidates.

    • We seem to have a lot in common, RS!

      Maybe someday I can turn some of my confessions into full posts. That’s a very interesting idea.

      And, yeah, I tend to prefer lesser known books as well.

  41. I agree with so many of these! I’ve started putting books down far more often these days when I’m not enjoying htem. My time is getting so limited that I really want to make the most of it when I’m reading. I think fiction is so vital, I couldn’t agree more with everything you said about how important it is. And I never let myself read dark/horror things at night anymore… my mind has far too vivid an imagination to let me go to sleep safely after them, either!

  42. I definitely agree with you about some classics just being past their expiration date. I’ve saved all of the classics I loved from high school and college and sometimes think about re-reading them all to see if I still feel the same way about them.

  43. Other than #7, I agree with you on all these! I never take reading breaks. When it’s nice outside here in Arizona (which is only about three months out of the year), just take my book outside with me 🙂 We do a lot of swimming in the summer since we have a backyard pool, so I guess that’s when I have my reading breaks. Other than that, I’m pretty much always reading.

    Happy TTT (on a Thursday)!

    Susan
    http://www.blogginboutbooks.com

  44. vidya

    My exceptions are #1 (I love graphic novels), #6 (most classics still hold their appeal for me, as of today), #8 (I have way too many blogs/IG feeds on my list!)..
    I totally agree with #s 4,7,9, 10 (and also 2 and 3, kind of for I keep thinking I should get into some sort of vlogging but….)
    As for audiobooks, I am still not sure where I stand with them..I need to figure out a way to make them work for me because I have loved the few I listened to briefly.

    • I hope you find a way to work with audiobooks. They’re so handy for when you’re doing something else but have the brain space to listen to a story.

      It’s cool we have so much in common.

  45. I feel the same way about vlogging! I’ve been tempted to try it, but I know I’m not confident enough to post it, so why bother?

  46. THIS 👏🏽 LIST! You’re so not wrong, Lydia, and I agree with you on so many of these, especially 4,6,9 and 10. I wish people would stop being so judgemental about things that have absolutely zero effect on them—let people enjoy what they enjoy without trying to rain on their parade. Awesome post!

  47. I love your list. I might need to borrow this idea for a freebie spot. I would love to try vlogging, but I am so technology challenged. The reason I enjoy weekly memes like this one is because it gives me a chance to check in with bloggers whose thoughts I enjoy to read; like yours.

    Thanks for sharing and for visiting my blog on Tuesday.

  48. I think people who “hate” other genres would be surprised to find a lot of elements from their own favorite genres in them.

  49. I love your idea for this post! Most of these are so relatable too! I am particularly aware of #7. People just think bookworms sit inside and read all day, and while we do enjoy it, that’s definitely not our entire day for most of us…Breaks are still nice. We love other things too!

  50. Beautiful confessions and many I agree with honestly, although regarding to me, I do disagree with some. I agree with numbers 4,6,9 and 10. Quite a few books I loved in high school I can’t stand now ( Anne Rice, Danielle Steel, J.R.R. Tolkien are prime suspects) every genre has awesome reads and not so awesome ones. While I am not a fan of happy ending romances ( and yes i did try them but not right mindset for them,) I don’t look down if you read them or love them or collect them.

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