Let’s Chat: Do You Read In Silence or With Noise?

I have to read in complete and utter silence.

Like…SILENCE.

No background noise. Zero.

I am able to read on airplanes as long as everyone sitting in any proximity to me just so happens to be quiet. And by quiet I mean no talking, chewing, humming, etc. I may or may not have been known to ask those around me to lower the sound on in their earphones (this might be one of the most annoying sounds on the planet, by the way).

I can read while getting my nails done as long as the music in the salon is turned way down and is instrumental. Someone on their cell phone next to me? Forget about it! (Side note…FOR THE LOVE OF GOD STOP TALKING ON YOUR CELL PHONE AT SALONS! 2 weeks ago while receiving a lovely pedicure, I was forced to listen to the lady next to me on her cell phone ordering her dinner from a Thai restaurant. She asked the person on the other end of the line to describe each dish on the menu before making her final selection. Not exactly the peaceful salon experience I was hoping for although I did learn a great deal about Thai spices.)

I really hate when salons have televisions playing because I can’t read with them on! I know there are people out there who have the ability to read while a television is on in the background but clearly I am not one of those people. HOW???

I need 100 percent, complete silence to concentrate on anything. I wish I could read or concentrate on anything with a bit of noise…I would be able to read on so many more occasions!

I have been like this for my entire life. I’m an only child and my house was always so blissfully quiet while growing up…I loved quiet then and I continue to love it now. If you watched my Disney World video, you know that I also need silence to fall asleep! Whenever I had to study for anything, silence was the only way. When I took my ACT test in high school, I brought cough drops with me even though I wasn’t the least bit sick. I wanted to be prepared in case anyone around me was sick so I could diffuse the distractions (side note…the guy next to me had the worst cough and was super thankful for my foresight, lol) . When I saw Hamiltion last fall, I offered my water to the lady in the row front of me who couldn’t stop coughing. WHY do I always seem to be surrounded by unhealthy, annoying people?!?

Both of our local libraries have “Silent Reading Rooms” where you aren’t ALLOWED to talk AND they have fireplaces. So basically it’s my personal version of heaven. I have spent many blissful hours reading in those lovely, silent rooms. Perfection.

So tell me….how do you read? Complete silence or with background noise? If you do read with background noise, how do you tune it out so that you can concentrate??? Please teach me your tricks! I would SO love to be able to do that!

Until then, I’ll be the one glaring at you on the airplane as you loudly pop your gum…

Xo,

Jenny

It would really help me if you could follow/subscribe to my blog. Also, please “like” my Facebook page , follow me on Twitter, and follow me on Instagram!

Local friends, I run a storytime every Tuesday and Friday at Whimsy Cafe in Buffalo Grove, Illinois from 10:00-10:30! Bring your kids (6 months-5 years) for stories, songs, and lots of fun. Price is included in your child’s admission, no need to sign up. If you are a blog reader, please be sure to introduce yourself! I can’t wait to meet you and your little ones. 🙂

Let’s Chat: Do You Treat Library Books Better or Worse Than Your Own Books?

Last week, a friend of mine emailed me with an idea for a blog post…bringing library books on vacation! I immediately loved her idea and knew it would make for a great post. She was packing for an upcoming trip and was unsure if she wanted to risk damaging library books by bringing them on her vacation. She was nervous about the ocean water, sunscreen, tropical drinks, etc. getting on her borrowed library books. She asked my opinion and I didn’t hesitate when I immediately wrote her back…

Bring them!

I LOVE LIBRARY BOOKS. Like…a lot. And while I’m definitely careful and respectful of borrowed library books, I do tend to not treat them as well than if they were my own. I find myself resting my coffee mugs directly on the covers, tossing them into my car, etc.

If I spend money on a book, I treat it with much more care. I would NEVER rest my coffee on it! Coasters all the way. I would NEVER throw it into my car! It would be carefully placed on the passenger seat next to me.

Not to mention, library books DO have that nice protective coating over them sooooo….there’s that.

Having this attitude towards library books means I ALWAYS bring them on my vacations! They get shoved into my seat pocket on the airplane, thrown into my beach bag, and packed away to return home buried under the souvenirs in my suitcase. I never worry about damaging them! In fact, just the opposite…I don’t worry about them at all, lol.

I’ve been very lucky that I’ve never damaged a library book. I’m quite certain that my opinion and how I tend to treat them would very much change if I ever did…

Until then? I’ll just keep my fingers crossed that the protective coating over the cover does it’s job. 🙂

Speaking of library books, here’s the one I am currently reading! I started it last night and am absolutely LOVING it so far. Have you read this one?

I have an awesome book giveaway scheduled for Wednesday…make sure you check the blog! I can’t wait to share this wonderful book with you!

So tell me…Do you treat library books better or worse then your own books?

I’m traveling next month and would love to hear your book recommendations! What should I pack to read during my trip??? I asked this question on Facebook yesterday and got some fantastic responses! (If you missed my 2019 Spring Break Book Recommendations, you can read them here).

Do you have any suggestions for future blog posts? I’d love to hear them and possibly use them! Please let me know!

It would really help me if you could follow/subscribe to my blog. Also, please “like” my Facebook page , follow me on Twitter, and follow me on Instagram!

Let’s Chat: Spoilers. Love Knowing or Better Blind?

You’re in the middle of an amazing book. You tell someone what you’re reading. Without thinking, they give away the ending.

Or…

You’re in the middle of an amazing book. You close it without bookmarking. When you open again to find your place, you open the cover a wee bit too far and mistakenly read ahead.

Or…

You’re in the middle of an amazing (uplifting) book. You tell someone what you’re reading. They tell you how tragically sad the ending is and how it will make you sob. You spend the rest of the book trying to figure out the sad twist that you never knew existed.

Or…

Someone posts something on Facebook and while innocently scrolling through your newsfeed, you now have books (AND REALITY TV) ruined for you.

THE. WORST.

All of these situations have happened to me and I’m quite certain they have also happened for a number of you. Admittingly, I am more sensitive to this than most people. I absolutely HATE knowing anything ahead of time.

When I’m reading a book and the plot is getting GOOD, it’s not uncommon for me to physically put my hand over the rest of the page so I cannot mistakenly read ahead.

When I am watching reality tv (my favorite), I mute the sound and look away when Chris Harrison announces, “Tonight on the Bachelor” or “Coming up after the break”. Scenes from next week?????? FORGET ABOUT IT. Hell no.

I saw Hamilton without listening to a single song first although everyone told me I needed to. I did zero historical research. I walked into that theater completely blind and I truly think I had a better experience because of it!

Have you ever noticed the following disclaimer that I include with every book review that I publish on my blog?

(Disclaimer: I will never post spoilers in my reviews HOWEVER the comment section is completely fair game to discuss any and all specifics including spoilers)

I have heard that there are people who when they receive a book, the very first thing that they do is to read the last page of the book. Do people like this really exist?!?

I never Google a television show for any reason unless I am 100 percent caught up in the current season. I have blocked people on Facebook when they post status updates about current television shows so nothing will be ruined for me if I’m an episode or 2 behind. I turn away from the magazines in the grocery store checkout aisle when they post photos of current reality tv stars.

I once told a friend how excited I was to watch the Bachelor finale that night and she responded with “Oh! ____won! I just read an article!” This was roughly 3 hours before the finale aired. And of course my friend was right. And of course it was the girl who I NEVER thought was going to win. It would have been such an amazing finale.

When I’m reading or watching television, I NEVER try to predict the ending. I just enjoy the present and not give too much thought into trying to figure out what will happen next (on a side note, this is also a fantastic way to go about life…but that’s a different post for a different day).

To me, nothing beats an amazing twist that I never saw coming. Nothing is better than a surprise ending. When an author has the ability to make this happen, it’s brilliant. So many specific books come to mind…but I don’t want to spoil any of them for you!

What are your thoughts on all of this? How do you feel about spoilers? Tell me a story about a time when someone ruined something for you!

It would really help me if you could follow/subscribe to my blog. Also, please “like” my Facebook page , follow me on Twitter, and follow me on Instagram!

Local friends, I run a storytime every Tuesday and Friday at Whimsy Cafe in Buffalo Grove, Illinois from 10:00-10:45! Bring your kids (6 months-5 years) for stories, songs, and lots of fun. Price is included in your child’s admission, no need to sign up. If you are a blog reader, please be sure to introduce yourself! I can’t wait to meet you and your little ones. 🙂

Let’s Chat: Is Reading a Social Hobby?

It’s absolutely freezing here.

So. Much. Snow.

The roads are ridiculous, I can’t feel my fingers, and I’m currently eating steaming hot banana oatmeal to warm up my insides. I’m writing this sitting next to my dining room window where the current falling snow is making me feel like I’m blogging from the inside of a snow globe.

And…I’m loving every second (minus the driving).

Winter is favorite season and I’m obsessed with snow! There is nothing more gorgeous to me than freshly fallen snow. This is mine and my daughter’s favorite snow covered tree. So, so beautiful.

Stay safe and stay warm, local friends!

Today’s blog topic is one that I have been pondering for quite some time, especially the older that I’ve been getting.

Reading is an interesting hobby.

I think it’s the most antisocial and yet completely social hobby all at the same time.

I need silence when I read. As in no talking, no television, no distractions.

I am an only child and have always loved having alone time. I prefer quiet to chaos, silence to loudness, and peace to noise. I have always been like this! Reading is the perfect, quiet hobby for me. Always has been and always will be.

Throughout the day, I find myself thinking about whatever book I’m currently reading. While I’m driving, while I’m washing dishes, etc. I could be at the most amazing and exciting party and yet somewhere in the back of my mind…be dreaming of the next time when I will be able to peacefully snuggle up with a book. Antisocial hobby?

And yet, I have had AMAZING and in depth discussions with people about books. People who I don’t even know well! Books have such a magical way of instantly providing complex topics for discussions. Reminds me of a picture I posted on Instagram last month. LOVE IT!

How can something be called antisocial when the very focus of it is to meet characters, travel to far away places, learn cultural differences, and to broaden the horizon of topics which previously had not be known?

I started this book blog as a creative outlet for this stay at home mom to be able to share her passion with others. I can’t believe all that it has provided for me in such a short amount of time! I have met so many new friends, both physically as well as virtually. I have created a space in which I’ve watched others interact with each other though books. I have had numerous people tell me that they appreciate the community I have created here. All because of books. Amazing.

This all brings me back to my original question: Is reading a social hobby?

I’m not entirely sure…I just know that either way, it’s the perfect hobby for me. 🙂

What do you think? Is reading a social hobby? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMY! I love you and I love our friendship so, so much! Can’t wait to celebrate this weekend!

(To learn more about us and our special friendship read this post)

Stay safe and warm, everyone!

XO,

Jenny

It would really help me if you could follow/subscribe to my blog. Also, please “like” my Facebook page , follow me on Twitter, and follow me on Instagram!

Let’s Chat: I’m A Monster. Anyone Else?

Congratulations Karen and Amanda! You are each a winner of the ***GIVEAWAY (2 Winners!)*** Chuckerman Makes A Movie {Francie Arenson Dickman}. Email me your mailing address (bookcoffeehappy@gmail.com) and you will each receive your autographed book asap! Enjoy!

There are 2 types of readers. Those who use a bookmark to hold their place within a book and those who…brace yourselves…bend back (“dog ear”) the corner of page. It is typically regarded that people who chose this former method are monsters who have no respect for the book or the words held within.

I bend back the pages. Every single time. **hides beneath chair**

Hear me out! I haven’t always been like this!

In fact, I used to own a GORGEOUS red leather bookmark. I bought it at the Coach Store and it was very fancy, very beautiful, and very expensive. I used it for years and it did a perfect job of holding my place each time I put my book down.

I sold it at my garage sale last summer. $3.00.

I have 2 children now. And a husband. And my quiet, quality reading time just isn’t what it used to be. I used to be able to start a book in the morning, read allllll day long, and finish the book before bedtime. These days, my time to enjoy a book is short but oh, so precious. I sneak in a few pages whenever I can…naptime, before a doctor appointment, getting my car washed, etc. There is no time for searching for a bookmark. When someone around here needs me, the page gets folded and I’m good to go. Fast. Easy. Proof of this: the picture that I posted on Instagram yesterday, lol (follow me @bookcoffeehappy).

Here’s a strange confession: I kind of like when I check a book out of the library and can see where the person before me left off. Is that weird??? Sometimes I think “HOW did they put this book down NOW?” Other times I think “Ooooh good call. Perfect spot to leave off.”

The older I get the more into the minimalism lifestyle I become (another post for another day). I don’t NEED a bookmark. Just one more possession I don’t need to keep track of.

I think my monster ways have rubbed off on someone else in my house. I’ve watched her do this twice over past week when it was time for her to stop doing what she was doing and didn’t want to lose her place.

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