Are You A Bookworm?

Posted byFractured Faith BlogPosted inA Fractured FaithTags:, , , , , , , , , , , ,

Fionnuala had enough the other week and bought a new bookcase to house my ever increasing book collection. This now sits proudly at the top of our stairs and means I no longer have an excuse for secreting books around the home to be tripped over and stood upon. Yes, I’m going to have to admit it – my name is Stephen and I’m a book addict. There are too many of them, tempting and enticing me into impulse purchases.

The situation is no better on my Kindle Fire. I must have a dozen unread titles on it, yet I still found myself browsing through it last night, planning what additions I could procure this coming pay day. My TBR (to be read) list snakes endlessly over the horizon with no sign of decreasing any time soon. There just aren’t enough hours in the day unless I pack in the day job and lock myself away for the next 20 years or so.

The Kindle Unlimited feature does little to curb my habit. This allows me to ‘borrow’ up to 10 books at a time, free of charge, from over a million titles on offer. Every direction I turn I see books, books and more books. It doesn’t help that my daily commute to and from work involves walking past probably the best second hand bookshop in Belfast. It’s like giving our Rebecca a £10 note and telling her to stand outside a sweet shop.

I read a lot. On the train in the morning, whenever I’m waiting for an appointment, when I go to bed at night. It matters not a jot. I’m nowhere near scaling the Everest of words and pages staring down upon little old me. Then there’s the blog posts, websites and social media platforms which continually clog up my timelines. Then there’s the small matter of the day job where I spend much of my day digesting reports and e-mails.

I love reading. But sometimes I feel as if I need to sacrifice it in order to fit in the many other priorities in my life. My family, faith and fitness. Not to mention I’m supposed to be writing Book 2. It’s at times like that I remember the advice Stephen King gave when asked what his top tips were for fellow writers. ‘You have to read widely….If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools to write.’

So I’ll read, read and read some more. Stop grumbling Stephen. The glass is half full, in fact it’s brimming over. I’m grateful to live in a society where I was taught to read and write, where I have access to books and censors don’t dictate to me when, and what, I can read. I’m fortunate to have my eyesight and access to numerous bookstores and libraries. Then there’s unlimited access to the internet.

To be called a bookworm used to be a derogatory term when I was growing up. I was a bespectacled geek and used to hide my love of Tolkien, King and other literary greats. I’m still a bespectacled geek, the contact lenses didn’t work out I’m afraid, but I’m proud to be called a bookworm now. For we are many. Reading, learning, growing and sharing. There are a lot worse habits to have.

Are you a bookworm?

How long is your TBR list?

Published by Fractured Faith Blog

We are Stephen and Fionnuala and this is our story. We live in Northern Ireland, have been married for 17 years and have three kids - Adam, Hannah and Rebecca. We hope that our story will inspire and encourage others. We have walked a rocky road yet here we are today, together and stronger than ever. We are far from perfect and our faith has been battered and bruised. But an untested faith is a pointless faith. Just as a fractured faith is better than none at all. We hope you enjoy the blog.

81 thoughts on “Are You A Bookworm?”

  3. Only a dozen unread books on your Kindle? I have hundreds! With all the free books, and books I download from our local library, Kindle Unlimited is not necessary for me. I seldom go anywhere without mine. A three hour wait for a ride at Disney World? The Kindle makes the time go by faster. Not fast enough, but faster. Meeting a friend who runs late? Out comes the Kindle. Waiting for someone I drove to see the doctor? It’s there!

    I’m proud to be a bookworm and while I did cry once when I was in school because someone called me smart (because I loved both reading and school), I got over that quickly. What would a world be without books….or blogs? I don’t want to know.

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    1. Like you said, lines are not an issue if you’ve got a book. I find myself excited that I’ll get the chance for some unexpected reading time 🙂 I read both traditional and on my kindle. And my kindle is always with me!

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  5. I had to make a deal with myself that I can’t buy any more books until I finish all of the books I currently own. I’ve only slipped a couple times. The pile is shrinking fast!

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  6. Current TBR = 15. But I’m heading to a writing conference this weekend, so expect that total to double. And 30 is my cutoff… I just read the pile down before I can justify buying more. BYW, the total doesn’t include all the classics on my iPad or my husband’s treasure trove.

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  9. It would be interesting to know how many books I have read up to now. When I was small there was only the books bought and the library. I was given books for every birthday and Christmas. Books have been my friends and my crutch through many trials in life. They have allowed me to drift off to sleep peacefully when anxious and kept me company when lonely. I am glad that I was born before TV and electronics so that books became my mainstay. There are so many that I read over and over like a cuddly blanket. Thank God for books!

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  16. My parents discovered that the most effective punishment for me was to ground me from reading anything except school related for two weeks. It was pure torture and I straightened up very quickly.

    I generally read paper books, but lately I’ve been using my Kindle app more. I think I’m currently working on 13 according to my Goodreads account, but I’m really only studiously reading five of those. The others are in that category to remind me to get around to finishing them.

    My migraines prevent me from reading as much as I like. Paper books are easier to handle, but I often lack the physical stamina. I also read much less fiction than I used to.

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  18. Definitely a book worm. When we downsized last year moving to smaller home I gave away ten boxes of books to a local school. Down to just three tall bookcases I find myself buying more – with no place to put them. I have a basket by my chair in my library with books I am either reading or going to read next (your book is in there and I am on chapter 6). There are seven books in the basket – three I am currently reading and the other four are next. I could read all day long but I have to stop to spend time with my husband who is not a book worm. It’s hard sometimes to put a book down.

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  19. I read almost everything in ebook format because of my vision issues. Large print books are stupidly expensive.

    I don’t even want to think about how long my TBR pile is…

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  20. My constant acquisition of books is a great source of stress and anxiety to my wife. I have way more books than I could ever read. And my Kindle has close to 900 books on it.

    I might be a bookworm.

    Haha! I just remembered that my PS4 handle is “bookworm6724!”

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  24. YES!!! I am a bookworm! I have around one thousand books right now. I have three stacks in my living room TBR … one stack to be reviewed, one stack to be read & then decide to keep the book or denote or trade for another book at my local used book store. I am a book junkie. That’s really a better term.

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  29. Bookworm and proud of it. In 4th grade I was invited to the popular girl’s birthday party/sleepover. I brought “Huckleberry Finn” to read, one of the other guests couldn’t understand why I brought it. 🤷‍♀️
    As to my TBR list… easily between 25-50 books are on it. I have books in boxes, piles, crannies and nooks… 🤫

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          1. It has a promising start, I’ll let you know once finished, I never got into Tolkien myself, unfortunately watched the movies before starting on the book, and that usually kills it for me.

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  35. Yes I too am a book worm and I am constantly tripping over piles of books. I buy them on Amazon, Christian Book Stire, thrift stores they seem to call to me honesty! I just got a new bookshelf and already I need another one “I love to read” it’s
    Nice o know I am not alone. Books wether loves,stories bible stories, urban stories , devotional words are power and knowledge is power ! More power to you #Fractured Faith

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