Bookish This or That

​      As readers, we have loads of choices to make. We have to pick what book we want to read at any given moment, what format we want it, where we want to read it, and so many other things that coincide with our overall book experience. I thought it would be fun to share the ten most frequent questions I find myself asking at different stages of the book reading process. Please feel free to leave your answers in the comments, and also ask any "this or that" questions you have for me!

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The Books Themselves:

Physical vs. Ebook

       Whew, starting off easy. I prefer physical books to ebooks (if that isn’t evident in every picture I’ve taken, I don’t know what is). Being able to actually hold the book and flip the pages as I read is way too satisfying to give up. I like how portable an ebook is, but I only need that when I travel. Physical books for the win!

Hardback vs. Paperback

       Okay, this one is a little harder. Overall, I like hardbacks more. The only downside to buying hardbacks as opposed to paperbacks is that they are the more expensive option. But they look much more beautiful on shelves since they are a standard height, and they stay open when you read. There’s none of the “weighing down half of your paperback so you can grab something but still read” move. I know, we’ve all done it.

​​First Person vs. Third Person

       I like third-person limited the best. Sometimes in books with first-person narration the whole story can be bogged down by an awful or annoying main character. Their voice can make or break a story. In the third person, we get a little more objectivity throughout the story and can see things that are happening at the same time in multiple locations. 

​Contemporary vs. Fantasy

       I have to preface this answer by saying that I am such a mood reader. For those of you who don’t know, the books I read at any given moment are based on what I am feeling. I can’t pick up a random book and just start reading it; if I do, it is guaranteed to be a lousy experience. So, I am basing this answer 100% on my mood at the moment, and it is contemporary. Summer just makes me crave beaches and road trips and best friends and good food, so that is my answer. If you come back in six months, I’ll probably say sci/fi and fantasy. I can’t explain it, it’s just how my brain works.

​Series vs. Standalone

       Standalones for the win, only because it is a one-time commitment. Series can suck you in for years and can send you into a spiral of guilt for not reading them. Personally, I find it hard to read series as soon as the first book comes out because, on average, the author publishes one book a year. Let’s be real, my brain cannot retain a plot and its characters over the span of years. I need to gobble up all the books at once; I’m a book-binger. So with that being said, I would rank my book reading experience as (1) standalones, (2) series with all of its books published, and (3) series that are still being released. Now, I have loads of exceptions to this rule, but that is a general statement.

Books Online:

​Dark Covers vs. Light Covers

       This one is pretty easy. Light covers have a way into my heart, especially white books. I admire all those #bookstagrams out there that have committed to a theme of minimalism and light colors. I couldn't stick to such a restrictive (but beautiful) look, but I love to look at them. #aesthetic

​Bookstagram vs. Bookish Twitter

       While I love scrolling through the bookish Twitter community, bookstagram will forever be my home. I have never been very good at Twitter, which is weird because I consider myself pretty funny. I just never feel like I have anything to tweet. When it comes to social media, I am a visual person, which I think is why I love Instagram so much. 

Sock Sunday vs. Shelfie Sunday

       If you have ever seen my bookstagram, you’ll know that I LOVE #SockSunday. Standing on books in cute socks is a hobby of mine. But rather than tell you, I’ll let you take a look for yourself…

​Reading Experience:

Food While Reading vs. Drink While Reading

       I love a good cookie while I’m cuddled up with a book, but you are way more likely to find me curled up with a bottle of water. I know, it’s lame, but it’s my go-to. I’m not a big coffee or tea person, and I can’t have hot chocolate all the time (I wish). Even though it isn’t exciting, I’m sticking to drinks as my answer. :)

Rain vs. Sun

       I love reading when the weather is rainy or snowy. The combination of the ambient sounds and a cozy house are perfect for reading. I love the feeling of being stuck inside with a good book (bonus points if there are a fireplace and a big chair). While I do love reading by the pool in the sun, reading inside during the rain just can’t be beat.

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       Were there any choices I missed? Let me know along with any of your answers in the comments!

Your picky reader,
Ashton

It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.

— J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets