Inspired by Life ... and Fiction

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Reading Quirks

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Hi friends,

I always love spending a day with you! I think all readers have reading quirks or habits. How we handle our books, when we read, where we read, and how we save our spot, of which I have numerous ways.

The traditional bookmark. My girls and I have an affinity for Llamas. It all started when a dear writing friend flew in for some hang out and write time, but her luggage was lost. We went shopping and she found the most adorable pajamas with Llamas all over them and saying “No drama Llama.” We cracked up. Ever since then, we’ve collected Llama items. This awesome bookmark was a gift from my daughter Kayla.

And, it matches a favorite coffee reading mug.

Using a bookmark isn’t very quirky or unique, but I have other ways to mark where I stopped reading for the night. Not that any goof books are easy to put down, especially Karen’s. I’m adoring it! And, in case you’re wondering, yes, I have multiple books going at the same time. I often have a couple of fiction novels and a couple of non-fiction titles.

I love sticky notes. They not only hold my page, but I can make notes on them of parts I really loved or questions I can’t wait to have answered. Hence, hard to put down!

Last but not least…

I highlight sections that really speak to me and not just in non-fiction books. That’s the beauty of Christian fiction, there are so many faith lessons in the characters’ lives. The fact I highlight books and underline things horrifies my sweet friend Joy. Actually, I think everything I do other than the bookmark horrifies her.

Reader Question:
How about you? What are some of your reading habits or quirks?

Blessings,

Dani

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Dani Pettrey

Praised by New York Times best-selling author Dee Henderson as "a name to look for in romantic suspense," Dani Pettrey has sold more than half a million copies of her novels to readers eagerly awaiting the next release. Dani combines the page-turning adrenaline of a thriller with the chemistry and happy-ever-after of a romance.
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Comments

  1. Love the llamas! And give me ALL the bookmarks. My favorite is when I get a book that comes with a MATCHING bookmark! That feels luxurious! I would never dog-ear a book and I still find it a little hard to mark in books. I do, but it feels a little naughty! I guess if I have another reading quirk it’s that I have been keeping track of the books I read with a written list since 1996. My lists used to be 50+ books long. Now I’m doing well to read 20-25 books a year. But I still love keeping that list. (And goodreads makes it easy with their Reading Challenge each year!)

    • Matching bookmarks are the best. You’re right. It does feel luxurious.
      That is so cool that you’ve been keeping track. What a wonderful way to record your love of reading. I’m with you–just with life and writing–I’m only reading about 25 books a year.
      Thanks so much for stopping by 🙂

  2. Highlighting can bleed through the pages and I’m breaking out in hives just thinking about it! And I’ve never understood the sticky note system – just seems to be all this chaos sticking out of a book. ha! Before the days of Kindle, I used to write quotes in a notebook. I love you even with your book quirks. (I’m just not lending you mine! HAHAHA!)

    • LOL! I figured this might give you hives. Love you too 🙂
      Curious–did you keep your notebooks? It’d be cool to look back through them some day.

      • Sadly, I did not. I went through a season of purging… but that just gives me a reason to re-read my favorites.

  3. Reading, reading, reading. That’s my quirk. I usually have one going on my kindle and one ( or two) in hand. I just received notification that I have reached one million books through my public library. That does not include books I purchase or the ones I reviewed from publishers. I just can’t seem to put them down.

    • Wow! That’s awesome. I can’t fathom reading one million books, but it would be AMAZING.

      I always have one on my Kindle, one audiobook and one print going. Usually two are non-fiction and one fiction. If I try to listen to two novels at one time, I find it pulls me out of the story. My brain can only handle one at a time. LOL!

  4. I love your llamas, Dani! One of my favorite bookmarks is one I bought as an inexpensive souvenir from a butterfly house we visited in Austria on a choir trip many years ago. It’s just a series a square photographs of butterflies stacked atop each other, but it’s so colorful and cheerful and carries memories of visiting a place steeped in musical history.

    My latest reading quirk is that I use it to motivate me to get some extra steps in. I do my regular exercise in the morning, but after work a few days a week, I try to get some extra steps in on the treadmill. I do it at a slower pace and read while I walk. I end up reading more AND exercising more. Win-Win!

    So glad you are enjoying the Horsemen!

    • Karen,

      That is a wonderful reminder of visiting Austria. That sounds beautiful. I love butterflies.

      What a healthy reading habit! Great idea :))

      LOVED The Heart’s Charge, by the way.

  5. Like Deb, I love matching bookmarks ! I also read for review so I have colorful flags( small sticky notes) to put by favorite quotes. Or highlight on my kindle. It makes writing a review easier.
    I hand write my first review in a notebook and type it into goodreads, then copy and paste. I review over 150 books a year. I hope to make 175 this year. I usually have a print book and a kindle going at the same time.

  6. I love bookmarks! Ticket stubs from favorite outings are very popular in my books. Even airline boarding passes with cool destinations (London, France, Germany) pop up. Actually, I have probably 100s of them. Some people have made and given to me, others are from bookstores, some from book releases, I even have a few paint samples…LOL. Souvenirs. And if I own a book, I feel quite comfortable highlighting and adding tiny notes. But with library or borrowed books, I behave myself. If I feel the urge to make notes, I consider buying my own copy. 🙂

    • Love you use ticket stubs and boarding passes as book marks. You just might see that in my upcoming book that I’m revising right now 😀

      • Yay! My honey and I were just tonight looking through a box of old photos. Found a London Underground ticket stub. 🙂 Made me think of your post.

  7. I try to keep my print books as pretty as I can. I can’t stand it when the cover gets bent or marred. I like it to look like it hasn’t been read when I’m finished. I know weird, but that’s just me.

    • I love how different we all are. I bet your bookshelves look lovely. Mine look like an overly used library. LOL!

  8. Hi Dani,
    What is the name of the second book? Both my daughters are now attending University away from home. The title of the chapter interests me and I would love to read it fully.
    Thanks,.
    Debbie

    • Hi Debbie,
      It’s The Power of Praying for Your Adult Children by Stormie Omartain. My girls are going on 26 and 28 and I love this book and the accompanying study guide. SO good.

      • Thank you Dani,
        Mine are 21 and 19. Goes way too fast.
        I look forward to reading this one.
        Debbie

  10. Friends and I have something similar to your llama theme — only with flamingoes. It started as a joke between her and her parents and it has spread. I even got her a four place setting of flamingo dishes. Her husband’s face was priceless!

  11. I will use anything available as a bookmark. If a tissue is handy, I use that. For non-fiction books, I do use sticky tabs for future reference. And yes, I am usually in the middle of a few books at the same time!

  12. While I also use anything handy as a bookmark, I have my favorites. If a book has a paper cover, I remove it while I read so it doesn’t get torn up.

    I also have at least 2 books going, right now I have 3 and one is a boxset, which I have been letting sit after finishing the last one I read while I finish the other 2 books. These 3 are all on kindle (btw).

  13. I also use anything that is handy for a bookmark . I usually go to my car and read on my breaks at work so I can always find a receipt from a restaurant in the car to use.
    If there is a passage in a book that really speaks to me I take a picture of it with my phone. Then later as I look through pictures and see the passage I am reminded of it.
    My grandson is 4 and has a llama stuffed animal that he carries with him everywhere . We all panic if llama gets misplaced ……

  14. I also use anything that is handy for a bookmark . I usually go to my car and read on my breaks at work so I can always find a receipt from a restaurant in the car to use.
    If there is a passage in a book that really speaks to me I take a picture of it with my phone. Then later as I look through pictures and see the passage I am reminded of it.
    My grandson is 4 and has a llama stuffed animal that he carries with him everywhere . We all panic if llama gets misplaced ……

  15. I use bookmarks too and cringe when I see someone earmark a page to know where they left off. And when I’m reading nonfiction, I usually highlight too. 🙂

  16. Interesting…I never highlight or underline in my fiction books, but why not? I underline in my Bible when a passage speaks to me. Maybe because I often share them with others…but I love that you do. I also never considered the double purpose of the sticky notes. Now I need to go buy some!! 😊

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