“What are your literary pet peeves?”, asks today’s question on Booking Through Thursdays (a meme about reading and books, which is hosted here every week!)
I think I have ranted enough on this blog about coffee stains (worse, stains of inexplicable origins) and dog-eared pages, and bent covers and broken spines; novels with too much dialogue, plays with too many descriptions, teen-talk and slang and such things. Here are bookish habits (that people have) that I have managed not to complain about. Some of my people-related literary pet peeves:
1. Nosy librarians – I know, that they are there to help. But when that librarian tells me that that book is not for my level (which she wouldn’t really know) it is sort of irritating. I don’t particularly enjoy it, when a librarian tells me that I shouldn’t read that book because I wouldn’t like it, or that Kafka can be confusing, or gives me her opinions on the book that I have chosen, in a slightly condescending, know-it-all kind of tone. So, while I do know, that they are there to help, I do wish they’d wait for me to ask them for help before offering free advice.
2. Book bragging – “Have you read that book, because I have.” (And I have also read and have an opinion – which I am going to voice – on every book that you are going to mention in the rest of the conversation) Don’t you hate it when people do that? Boast. You know, I hate conversations that go “I read blah, blah and blah and now I am going to read blah and your Goodreads update says that you read blah recently, and I have read blah too and I liked it.” I love books, but it’s not the only thing I love in the whole world. I get it; you love reading. Guess what? I do too. Let’s move on, it’s not a “Who reads more?” contest. I would like a nice conversation about literature, or about something mentioned in one of your favourite books, but not how many books you read per week.
(Excuse me for that rant there.)
3. People who give out spoilers: That includes reviewers, who can’t seem to write good reviews without a ‘spoiler alert’, if you know it might spoil the book for someone, why even write it? I am one of those people who doesn’t mind knowing the rest of the story, or that twist ending, but I do mind people who actually enjoy spoiling the fun for others! Knowing how things turn out doesn’t affect my reading experience, really; but it is still annoying when someone derives some sort of pleasure out of telling me what happens next in the book that I have specifically said I am reading. I mean, really, are we kids? Haven’t you guessed that people might like to keep it a suspense?
4. People who misspell the book title/author’s name – “The Fountain Head ROCKS!!” Really? I would have thought someone who loved that book so much, would have known it was The Fountainhead and not a book about a fountain head, whatever that is. Oh, and you love Stephanie Meyers, is it? Well, good for you.
So, do you have any bookish pet peeves (you know, people-related) or am I just too judgmental!?
What book have you read the most times? And – how many? What’s the first book that you ever read more than once? (I’m assuming there’s at least one.)
Tabula Rasa 