Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature over at
The Broke and The Bookish, they love lists...and so do I! So, each week they will feature a new Top Ten List from a reader and we get to make our own lists!
Top Ten Bookish Pet Peeves
1. Smudge marks or finger prints on the pages.
I am so particular about my books. They are organized specially, and each have their own little homes. I don't like for them to be disturbed, and I hate when they get dirty. This is probably why I have a hard time lending books out.
2. When you open a paperback book, to find that the page has not been aligned properly, and now you are missing the last few words of each sentence on that page.
This has happened recently with two different books. I was already halfway through one of them and noticed that for about ten pages the printing machine (or maybe it was a binding machine...I don't know) didn't align the pages right, and I couldn't make out the last few words on the pages. While for the first page it was kind of funny, and I felt like I was playing a mad libs game...it started to get old, very quickly.
3. Spelling and grammatical errors.
There is just no excuse for this, and it absolutely kills me. It takes a lot for me to want to stop reading a book, but this is one of the things that it doesn't matter who you are you need to have had the book proofread. I've heard the argument before that if it is a self-published work you should cut the author some slack...but I completely disagree. If I am going to spend all that time working on a novel, I'm not going to let it get out until I know that it looks good. ((Biggest spelling error that peeves me = not using the words there, their and they're properly...did you go to elementary school? Did ya?))
4. Underdeveloped characters.
I can't stand when characters are flat - it is boring and doesn't keep me hooked. I don't mind when it is just a character that you only meet for a minute, but when it is one of the main characters it drives me nuts. Give your characters some spunk people!
5. When people don't use bookmarks.
I cannot stand when people fold the top corner of a page to hold their place. Please, use a bookmark. It doesn't even have to be a super-fancy metal bookmark with an inspirational quote...there are many alternatives: an old receipt, the outside wrapper from a stick of gum, sticky notes...you get the point, one man's trash is another man's bookmark.
6. Ugly covers.
I know this is very subjective -- but I promise I have examples. First off, I tend to get very turned off by authors who feel that their name is more important than the book title, so they make sure their name is in metallic, shiny, raised 50 point font, while the title is just a 20 point font in black. Secondly, I can't stand when book covers are changed so that they look like, or match the movie adaptation. (More to come on movies, promise). Lastly, I don't understand the point of using HUGE ANNOYING STICKERS on the front of the book. Not only do I want people to know that I was able to save 30% because I'm in the rewards program, but I also hate the fact that they are usually so hard to get off. Once you finally do get them off you are left with this horrible sticky residue, and like I mentioned before I don't like for my books to get dirty.
7. Movie adaptations of books.
I cannot think of even ONE movie that was made from a book that was better than the book. Honestly, one of my favorite books is
My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult, so I was WAYYY excited when the movie was going to be made. I thought that the actors casted for each roll were perfect, and I couldn't wait until the movie came out. We went to see the movie and it was an utter disappointment. The ending had been changed, which in turn changed everything. I couldn't believe it. I actually got home and in a very agitated state I wrote Jodi Picoult an email asking her why they would let her ruin her book like that. She wrote me back letting me know that unfortunately once you sell your rights away for the book, producers and such can change whatever they want. I was annoyed! But, furthermore, when I attended the book signing last night with Jodi Picoult someone in the audience asked about this as well. I was shocked to hear the full version of the story. Jodi said that when she sold the rights to the book, the director read the book and said it was phenomenal and he didn't want to change a single thing. He promised Jodi that if even the tiniest thing needed to be changed, he would make sure that he contacted her first. Well, ends up, he didn't contact her, completely changed the ending, and wouldn't return her phone calls when she found out.
8. Bloggers that give every book 5 stars, or claim that every book they read is "AMAZING".
It is completely okay if you don't like a book, you just have to be honest about it. I know that there has been quite a lot of controversy over the last few months with authors getting their feelings hurt when their book is reviewed negatively, but that is just silly. Not everyone is going to like the story for one reason or another, and I think as long as the blogger is honest and able to support what they have to say, then it works out. As a blogger, you shouldn't feel like every book you blog about has to be positive and great. If the book didn't catch you, or you weren't feeling the characters, let us know. Wouldn't you rather let someone know that a book wasn't all it was cracked up to be, then have them spend all that time reading a book that is awful? So many books, so little time.
9. Library books with plastic covers.
When reading books that have this awful plastic protection sleeve on them, I feel like I am reading something that belonged to my great grandmother. Everything in her house was covered in plastic, and the simple task of sitting on the couch made more noise than a stampede. Come on, when I turn the page my next door neighbor doesn't need to hear about it.
10. Books that receive way too much hype.
I'm all about reading a great book. I'm all about reading a great book that millions of other readers enjoyed. I'm all about reading books that are NY Times Bestsellers. But, I'm not all about reading a book that has been so hyped up that no matter how good it is, when I finally read it I feel let down.
Happy Reading!
Release Date: 9/5/06
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