I love reading. So much so that I will drown out every surrounding and be taken to another dimension if I'm reading the right book. Reading takes you to another place, another world, it fills your brain with new ideas and knowledge you never knew. When people tell me they don't read or very rarely do, it takes me by surprise. How does everyone not enjoy such a fun hobby as I do? However, like everything else, reading comes with struggles sometimes:
1. You may develop writer's block.
Sometimes if I start a good enough book, I will have to pace myself because it makes me want to stop doing anything. Getting caught up in a story can quite possibly give you a nasty case of writer's block, being that someone else's words and ideas are now in your head instead of your own.
2. It consumes EVERYTHING you do.
It's like depression, but a happy version. You can't sleep, eat, work, or anything unless your book can come with you. It's hard to concentrate, you don't want to go anywhere, and your bed under the covers cuddled up is the best way to read it. Suddenly you're forgetting any homework or lessons learned in school, you're counting the minutes until your work shift is over, and you become hermit-like.
3. You fall in love with the characters.
Do you know HOW MANY TIMES I have fallen in love with a character or with a cute couple? Too many to count. Then, once your book is over, you realize these people are fiction and that, unfortunately, no one/only a few people are even similar to the ones you read about. Then all of a sudden you're upset that your best friend didn't take you to a beautiful island for your birthday, and your boyfriend is out of luck because of that one time he didn't come over unannounced with beautiful flowers and a speech about how much he loves you. It's a struggle, ladies and gents.
4. You're too upset when it's done.
You start a new book, and just like that, it's over. Your false reality and imagination crash and burn as you look up from the paper and out into the real world, which isn't as exciting. You try to search for a sequel or something to follow up because nothing can make you come to terms with the fact that your temporary happiness is over.
5. You try to tell your friends but to no avail.
This one hits harder for those people who have the friends that have only picked up a few textbooks because they had to. You try to explain the book, get excited, or talk about reading. Your friends act like they're interested, but you know that they won't ever read it and that their excitement is only to appease you. Unfortunately, you can't make someone want to read, and that's okay.
6. When your book becomes a movie.
*Cue the audible groans.* 9999999.9% of the time, when a book gets turned into a movie, it's just not that good. Either the story is too sped up, things are left out, or they are played by actors who don't fit the part. It puts a damper on the original book and also your mood. It sucks if you were SO excited to see something just for it to ruin your expectations as well as the reputation of the book.
7. Only finding audiobook versions of the one you want to read.
Personally, I am not a fan of an audiobook. It's hard to concentrate on, sounding like radio music. I like to read the words on the page to take me to exactly where the characters are. It's hard to not accidentally tune out the book, especially if you like to read it while driving, walking, or any other activity.
8. When people make fun of you.
Since reading for fun isn't really common these days, it's easy for people to joke around or pick fun at you for liking to read. Don't get me wrong, sometimes I find it funny, but it's really not a lot of the times. I love reading, it's like a sport to a guy. That doesn't make me a nerd, a bookworm, or boring.
