Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish
Today's topic? Spill your deepest, darkest bookish secrets!
1. I have never participated in Top Ten Tuesday because making "Top" lists totally stresses me out and I could never get to ten. Top Five, maybe. But confession is good for the soul and I've been dying to get these deep, dark secrets off my chest. Here goes...
2. A bad ending can completely ruin a book for me, so sometimes I peek ahead at a book's ending. Spoilers rarely bother me either, though I don't put them in my posts.
3. Very often, when I sit down to write a review, I can't remember the main character's name. I try to tell myself that this is because I review YA and a lot of YA is written in the first person, but it is equally possible that I'm just losing my mind.
4. I can usually tell if I'll like a book or not by the first chapter. Sometimes even the first page.
5. I have a ton of swaggy bookmarks, but I never use them. Instead, I use the most appalling things as bookmarks. Pens. My phone. The remote control. Once, I was standing in line reading at the post office and someone tapped me on the shoulder. I'd been using my driver's license as a bookmark, and it fell out on the floor.
6. I am a nice person but sometimes a tiny bit of snark finds its way into my Top Secret Reviewing Notebook. Once I get something off my chest, I can write a fair and balanced review. Or decide not to finish the book.
Oh, you want some examples? Okay. Maybe just a couple:
"Reading this book is like buying a ticket for a roller coaster and finding yourself on a hayride."
"This couple generates as much heat as a pair of granny panties."
7. I suffer from AASS (that's Acute Author-Induced Stammering Syndrome) I have never met an author and had one coherent thing to say. I met Gretchen McNeil and said something like "Dolls are scary." I met Gabrielle Zevin and I think I told her, "So many bloggers are named Jen." I'm afraid to tweet authors in case I say something completely weird.
See, I'll never make it to ten on a top ten list. But since I've had such a great time reading other bloggers' posts, I thought it was only fair to come clean myself..
BE SURE TO SCROLL DOWN AND READ MY NEW RELEASES POST!
Bahaha...you're hilarious. I've never done a Top Ten Tuesday post either, but I seriously considered it after reading a ton of confessions. I agree whole-heartedly with 5, 6 & 7. But I can't believe you cheat and read the ending! I hate spoilers. It's one reason I still haven't read Bloodrose. (Well, that and Wolfsbane was kinda meh for me, anyway.)
ReplyDeleteI feel that there is one thing I should confess, if nothing else, and since I'm at work and don't have time to put up a proper post, I'll just say it here: I finish every single book I start, even if I'm not enjoying it. I'm slightly obessive-compulsive and it would bother me to no end if I didn't finish a book I began. Even if I hate it and want to throw the book across the room. (See my review for In the Arms of Stone Angels.)
I really liked Bloodrose and I kind of saw that ending coming. You should read it anyway. And wow, you finish every book? I could not do that.
DeleteWow, I knew there was a reason I instantly liked you! 3, 4, 6 and 7 totally fit me too (I told Veronica Roth she looked young... And she is, which was her reply to me).
ReplyDeleteI need to go read yours..
DeleteHahahaha. I told John Corey Waley that I didn't read Anna and the French Kiss, because I'm like Voldemort and hate sharing my name.... yeah.... wish I could take that back.
ReplyDeleteI'm trying to follow that. Because the author's name is Steph? OMG your AASS is way worse than mine *snickers*
DeleteGreat list. I'm with you on character names. When I'm writing a review, I have to look up the book to find the characters names. They just don't stay in my head.
ReplyDeleteThanks. That makes me feel better!!!
DeleteYou're so awesome! I enjoyed reading this post! As for meeting authors, at least u get to say something at all. I just stand there and stare.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, I feel like you wrote the secrets of my soul here. All of these things? Me too. You are not alone, my dear, not alone...
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing!
YES! A bad ending foes put me off the book. And I like spoilers just so I know what to expect. I'm following you now :)
ReplyDeleteAw, thanks. Right back atcha!! Another girl who loves spoilers -- yay!
DeleteNo need for me to do this one - I could just copy yours lol
ReplyDeleteI could hug you for reading the end first. I do that too and everyone yells at me! It doesn't ruin the book for me at ALL. Neither do spoilers. i still don't know how we get to that place. It lets me relax and enjoy the story more.
I have a kazillion bookmarks - well not really because I've lost most of them. I use those little post-it note tabs and tear them down in to smaller strips. Then pull them all out after I'm done with the book thinking I will re-use them but they don't stick anymore so yeah....huge pile of non sticky post-it tabs.
Exactly. That's why we're friends.....
DeleteI have only done 1 TTT because I suck at making lists. LOL But I think there are 2 in September I was thinking of doing.
ReplyDelete"This couple generates as much heat as a pair of granny panties." <--- I died laughing!
Right now the bookmark in the book I am reading is the pricetag from a shirt. So I am a lot like you in that way!
And I am the same way with authors. I met a few in May and basically just smiled and said Hi. lol
Loved your TTT! I hope to see more! :)
We'll see. In real life I'm a huge list maker, but I just have never been able to do Top Tens.
DeleteSome people might find granny panties sexy.
ReplyDeleteYes, I suppose that is possible, even in YA. Have you seen the movie Harold and Maude?
DeleteLOL too funny @6 and I feel ya for 3 and 4.
ReplyDeleteReading other people's is so much fun!!!
DeleteNot an ending-peeker, horrors! LOL. My aunt and my mom both peek at the ending, and I'm utterly scandalized at such behavior. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI can relate to #6, though. I don't keep a notebook, but there's a snarky book reviewer lurking deep down in my heart of hearts. I try to keep her away from my blog. Try.
I know. The peeking is horrible. But if the ending is disappointing, then I can't take it.
DeleteI think there's a little snark in all of us. I'm glad I can vent it out in my notebook and then either DNF the book if I really can't stand it or just get the snark out. Otherwise, I'd just mutter like a crazy person...
haha Number 7 is totally me! I AM SOOOO nervous whenever I meet any author or even tweet them or write them an email. I should really get over it soon. I know a big part of being a blogger is being able to email and ask authors or interviews and stuff but I'm such a scardy chicken. I hate doing it. I peak at endings! Only if I'm not sure if I want to read it or if I think it is too sad. I hate sad books. Like the I read the ending of The Catastrophic History of You and Me and I started crying in the story so I was like hell no not reading this! I do think some really mean snarky things in my mind sometimes but yeah I don't put them in reviews. I usually can tell if I will like the book too. Very often I stop reading books when my kindle hits 10% I don't need more than that. Where your problem is getting to 10 my problem would be stopping at 10. When I do the top 10 event at the end of the year I always always list 15-10 things instead of 10! LOL My confession is I have no self control.
ReplyDeleteI would never guess that you are that shy. Let's make a pact not to be scaredy-chickens any more.
DeleteI know that you want your happy ending!!!!
So, can I borrow your extra five list items next time??
I'm not shy in general of course but I think it's more a celebrity thing. Authors are a big deal so I am like so...yeah your awesome...and um...Can I have your autograph? The last time I met my favorite author I was trying to think of something awesome to say but I just stared at her while she signed my book then I moved on to the next guy and began telling him how awesome the previous author was lol so she looked over and said thanks.
DeleteOMG! This was awesome. I always feel like I say really dumb things to authors so I don't interact with them as much as I would like to. I also write crazy things in my notes. Sometimes I laugh at myself when I go back through them. I forget character names all the time too.
ReplyDeleteThis was so fun to read! I can so relate with #3! :P And I have never met an author yet, but I wonder what will happen if I do... Fangirling? Squealing? Stammering? Or will I become speechless? I think the last one.
ReplyDeleteAnd "This couple generates as much heat as a pair of granny panties." made me laugh so much! Hmm... wonder which couple you're talking about. ;)
And before, I used the menu from the plane as a bookmark. Or random scraps of paper... But now, I use my fancy bookmarks! :P
Hmmm, which couple?
DeleteMaybe I DNF'd the book over that dud couple.
Or in my review it got translated to: Fred and Betty didn't have much chemistry as far as I could tell.
The notebook is where I amuse myself.
To do list -- get fancy bookmarks. Who am I kidding? I wouldn't use them.
I don't see anything wrong with only doing 7 (or whatever number)-it depends on the topic, some inspire more than others.
ReplyDeleteI also frequently have trouble remembering the MC's name as well unless it's a series (but not always even then).
Ack -- it's so embarrassing. I'm just glad that other people have that problem.
DeleteI love this, Jen! :)
ReplyDeleteI don't think I'd have anything intelligent to say to an author, either ... I'd be too busy fangirling!
And I have a hard time remembering character's names, too ... I always have to go back to the synopsis when writing reviews.
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks to all of you who made me feel less senile. I swear, it happens to me all the time. Open new post. Get ready to write. Can remember all the details of the book but can't remember main character's name to save my life.
DeleteI started writing the protagonist's name with a big circle around it in my notebook. Writing down stuff helps me remember.
Lol, I love your confessions! Of course you know me and my Spoiler-Phobia, so I would NEVER peek at the end of a book, but my book club is split in half over this--half of us actually ALWAYS look at the ending, and the other half (including me) don't. So I don't think you're alone in this. But luckily I'm also not alone with my Spoiler-Phobia! And I truly appreciate that you don't include spoilers in your reviews. I always know it's safe to read yours! ;)
ReplyDeleteI forget characters' names, too. But that's why I take TONS of notes. ;)
I don't always know if I'm going to dislike a book right away, but I sometimes know right away, often within the first few pages, if I'm going to LOVE it.
I write some snarky things down in my notebook, too, and then sometimes that makes its way to my review, but I edit so much that I make sure my reviews are always kind so the snark often gets cut.
I think I have AASS, too. Or maybe ACSS (Acute Celebrity-Induced Stammering Syndrome). It's not limited to authors. ;)
Great list, Jen!
I just liked the AASS acronym better, cause I feel like one when it happens.
DeleteI have a Top Secret Reviewing Notebook too! I don't review books I strongly disliked on my blog so I need an outlet :)
ReplyDeleteExactly! The notebook just has knee-jerk reactions when I'm reading. Then I let my feelings stew around a bit.
DeleteSooo many Jens!! lol.
ReplyDeleteI've never met an author but would probably do the same thing :)
Well, there are. So my comment was true but weird.
DeleteA bad ending can totally ruin a book for me, too. 2 examples off the top of my head: The Forsaken by Lisa M. Stasse, and Taken by Storm by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. That was one of my favorite series ever, all the way through, until the last few chapters of the final book. I cried, and screamed and railed and threw a few things, and prayed and begged and cried some more that it was not over. Not really. Another book is on its way. It just has to be.
ReplyDeleteAnd I sneak a peak ahead on almost every book I read, no matter how hard I try to stop myself.
Yay -- peekers unite. Yeah, that sounds a little creepy...
DeleteI loved this.
ReplyDeleteI could never read the end to see what happens. Shame on you!!
I forget character names. Senility is running rampant worldwide apparently.
I know after the first page if a book is for me.
Ha! Your list kills me! I can strongly relate to numbers 7, 4, and 6. Not that I have met many authors but I feel Acute Stammering Syndrome (ASS) happens to me at all the worse moments and with unbelievable frequency.
ReplyDeleteAlso, my A.S.S. can been seen along with Snark (in the nicest way possible) in reference to my comments about Between You & Me. Damage control at its finest.
A.S.S. plus snark can be a dangerous combination!!!!
DeleteI can see how making "top" lists can be stressful but I like lists so much I just do what I can.
ReplyDeleteI still can't believe you look at spoilers!! You obviously didn't heed my warning!
I forget character names all the time.
I was never a bookmark person till Kate got me one several months ago (I was a corner folder)
I suffer from AASS too. The words I want to say just don't come out right. And I gush. A lot.