Can You Keep a Secret?

Hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

So, is the point where we all learn each other's dirty secrets and secretly start to side-eye each other?...I hope not because I want to remain friends through all of this. *sigh*...here we go. 

I dog-ear AND write in my books.

Sorry not sorry. There is something extremely gratifying to me about being able to look at a beloved book and be able to quickly find my favorite parts or quotes. I underline my favorite lines and I love being able to find them and re-live my experience of the book. I also write notes...you should see my copies of The Bronze Horseman, The Sea of Tranquility, and Ignite Me...epic doesn't even being to cover it...

I strongly dislike e-books.

I don't like e-books. I love my Paperwhite and Kindle Fire because it bring me amazing review books and e-book only releases but given the choice, physical copy for the ultimate win...every.single.time.

I buy very few books.

Book buying ban? What is that? I pride myself on the collection of books I own and the library I'm building. If I buy a book, it's that good. I rarely...RARELY buy a book blind unless it's a very loved author or comes highly recommended. I'm getting more used to the idea of buying books I haven't read but I want my bookshelf to represent me as a reader so only the best of the best will end up on my shelves.

I liked, maybe even loved, Fifty Shades of Grey.

Side eye me all you want but I will tell you this was my first experience with erotic romance because (facepalm) I didn't know sexy books like this existed. I can't stand Anastasia but Christian Grey is a winner for me. Sorry not fucking sorry. I'd enter that Red Room and be on my knees with one snap of fingers. It's like how you never get over your first love because it was, well, your first? That's Fifty Shades for me.

I've never read Twilight but I still really dislike it.

I'm ready for the fire and pitchforks whenever people. I'll still stand my ground. I watched the first movie. Proceeded to then Wikipedia the rest of the series because I had to know what could possibly happen in this story and I know enough to deduce this isn't a story for my taste. I like my females strong and independent and I understand we all have different personalities but every woman should have self-worth enough not to be co-dependent. Please don't leave mean comments yelling at me either. I don't judge you for liking it, it's just not me. I like Fifty Shades, remember? Who am I to judge?

I judge you if you say you don't read or don't like to read.

I get everyone has their own hobbies and interest but when people giggle at me for how much I like to read (see a discussion post about this here), I can't help but judge them to be a complete idiot. Don't like to read? What is wrong with you? What better things do you have to do? Watch TV? Give me a break. I still can't tolerate the surprise and eyebrow raises that occur when I say I almost all my free time reading. Dost thou judge me for having an intellectual hobby? Fuck right off. 

I trust very few people on book recommendations.

I read many a blogs but there are very few people that when they tell me to read a book I promptly add it to my TBR list. We have such different life experiences it is impossible to really know if somebody will love a book the way you do. With that said, I take a lot of people's opinions into consideration but trust but a handful. 

Books influence and inspire me every single day.

This isn't really a confession because I think a lot of readers are like this. But I can't even tell you how many trips have been inspired by a book I read. The number of times I've visited a place and said the phrase, "Well I read this book about it..." because (duh!) books are inspirational! I got both my sisters on board for a trip to Savannah last summer because I fell in love with Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil and HAD to go there! I solidified my pipe dream of going back to Europe after reading Arcadia Awakens. I've always wanted to go to Russia but after The Bronze Horseman it is like a feral desire inside me to get inside that mother f'ing country. I love being molded by what I read and I think I'm a more open-minded and better person because of it.

I get burned out by YA.

I LOVE YA. Love love love. I hardly read any YA before blogging and then there was this whole world of amazing I was missing out on for so long I binge read and binge read to my heart's content. But now? I probably read half and half if not more on the adult or NA side. Granted, the YA I read and love isn't immature or fluff in the least so I feel a little bad saying this but I need to read and relate to adults I'm finding more often than not. I'm NOT putting YA down at all but it gets overwhelming and I found myself reading books that didn't spark my interest because 'everyone else said it was amazing.' That lasted maybe a week and then I was all, forget this I'm reading what I want. Long story short, I'm extremely picky with the YA I pick up.

I read what I want, when I want.

I don't go request crazy on NetGalley and Edelweiss. Never do I ever want to feel like blogging is a 'job.' The conversations about review books people 'have' to read and they can't read books they want because they have too many review books gives me mental anxiety. The books I request for review are books I'm SO EXCITED to read. If I request it, it means I want it badly. I feel bad for people who say things like they can't read a book from their own TBR pile because of all the books they requested. Blogging is my hobby not my job.

I don't borrow out books...ever.

I have gotten in arguments with my friends questioning my trust in them that I won't let them borrow a book. You crazy, fool?! I  have no idea if you'll cherish and take care of this piece of literature as well as I will. I am Four in that I do not trust humans. Don't even ask. I will not let you borrow it. It's called a library. Use it. 

I hope I still have friends after this post...

What are some of YOUR dirty bookish secrets?!

Please share and make me feel less like a pirhana :)