Tag, you’re it! A Reading Habits Tag

When I found this Reading Habits Tag on Melissa Barker-Simpson’s blog a while ago, I knew I would have to post my own answers to these questions. I always love learning about other people’ reading habits. So thank you Melissa for sharing the reading love! Anyone who’d like to share their answers are welcome to do so!

Question #1: Do you have a certain place at home for reading?

No, I don’t. I can read anywhere, whether at the kitchen table, on the couch in the living room or in bed before sleep. The same way, I can read in the car, train, subway or plane. As long as I can pick my book and read it, I am happy to do this anywhere. The only reading restriction I have is when i read something on my laptop. In that case, I prefer doing this at my desk.

Question #2: Bookmark or a random piece of paper?

I prefer bookmarks. I’d love to have more bookmarks the day I can. I also use a lot of postcards as bookmarks. I only rely on the random piece of paper if I just bought a new book and am starting it even before being home. Or I put random pieces of paper when I mark pages in work books for a paper I am currently working on.

Question #3: Can you stop reading anytime you want or do you have to stop at a certain page, chapter, part, etc.?

I prefer stopping reading at the end of a chapter. I always do this whenever I can. If I really have to stop at once, I can stop right where I am but I highly dislike it.

Question #4: Do you eat or drink while reading?

I don’t eat while reading. I used to do this younger, but I prefer eating without doing anything else. I drink while reading though, whether water or tea, which are my two favorite beverages.

Question #5: Can you read while listening to music/watching TV?

I can read while listening to music but I prefer not to. I can’t read while watching TV. Since a surgery end of 2011, I can’t watch much TV while doing nothing else, so I often multitask by working on the laptop or doing tapestry while watching TV. Yet, reading a book isn’t an option for multitasking while watching TV.

Question #6: One book at a time, or several at once?

I prefer reading one book at a time, but I can read two at once, if one is fiction and the other is nonfiction (either personal development book or one for my research). When I read a novel in paperback/hardcover and a nonfiction one on Kindle, it also helps me read both at the same time, because it doesn’t feel the same.

Question #7: Reading at home or everywhere?

Everywhere. I always have a book with me wherever I go. It’s a necessity. It’s as important as leaving home with my wallet. And when I leave for a trip, I always have several books in my bag, making sure that I have enough spare books to read. The only times I just pack enough for the travel time is when I go see friends whose book shelves I can borrow from during my stay.

Question #8: Reading out loud or silently in your head?

Always silently in my head.

Question #9: Do you read ahead or skip pages?

I very rarely do that. I only do this with certain nonfiction books for my research, when I realize that a certain section isn’t useful for my work. For fiction, I avoid reading ahead as it can ruin the experience.

Question #10: Breaking the spine or keeping it new?

Neither. I never break the spine, but I also know that books have a life of their own, especially after multiple readings. So I do my best to keep them in optimal conditions, but some of my books show their age and my love for them!

Question #11: Do you write in books?

Yes, but only in my work books. It makes it easier for me to find things back. I didn’t do this earlier when I was studying for my first Master’s degree and it can delay my search through books I used back then. So my work books as mostly scribbled on and I always have a recap per chapter and pages of exact topics in the opening pages of the books.

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