Lost in a Book Tag

This is a fun little tag that my friend Naomi did. I'm going to do it! Feel free to do it yourself, but I won't tag anyone.

Do you have a certain place at home for reading?

I have a really nice  chair from IKEA upstairs in the space I made my library. Sometimes I'll go up there if I have a big chunk of time to read. Otherwise, I sit on the leather couch downstairs. It reclines.

Where do you like to read?

I usually always bring a book with me, so it's not a matter of where, but when. If I have time in the car or on the bus, I will pull out my book or Kindle and read then. Otherwise, I read at home and at work.

Bookmark or random piece of paper?

I have a few bookmarks, all currently marking pages in something I'm not reading, so I usually use a piece of paper, a business card, or a post it.

Can you just stop reading or do you have to stop at a chapter?

I can stop reading, especially if the chapters are long, but if they are short and I know I'm getting close to the end of a chapter, I'll usually stop there. On my Kindle, I just stop whenever.

Do you eat or drink whilst reading?

Sometimes. I make myself a cup of tea if I am feeling particularly cozy, but I usually always have a glass of water nearby. Eating I only do when I'm watching TV, though. I don't want to ruin my book.

E-reader or real book?

I adore hardback books, and I love adding to my collection, but when I lived in Japan, I bought a Kindle and it's helped me so much. It's light and easy to carry around, and I can instantly download books (in English) which was a big help when I lived so far away from a good bookstore. Now that I'm in Korea and I'm settled, I've been asking for more hard copy books, but I still buy Kindle books when I find ones cheap or free. If I love the cover of a book, though, I'll try to find a way to get a real one in my hands.

Music or TV while reading?

No, I am too sensitive for noise when I read. In public, it's a little hard to concentrate, but if I'm really engrossed, I can read anywhere.

One book at a time or several at once?

A few years ago I wasn't finishing many books, so I started doing reading challenges and told myself not to read more than one book at a time. Now, though, I usually have about two or three I go between.

Reading at home or everywhere?

Reading at home gives me the most comfort. I can fully relax when I'm home, but I can read anywhere if I have to.

Reading aloud or silently in your head?

Silently.

Fiction or non-fiction?

Both! I usually read them back to back, a fiction book and then a non-fiction. I've found that once I finish a story, I usually don't want another right away, so I'll move on to something with lots of facts. Then, I'll go back to fiction.

Do you read ahead or skip pages?

I never skip ahead. I hate being spoiled for things. I don't even want to know what happens a few chapters ahead, which is why the Kindle is so nice. It only shows me a few paragraphs at a time, so my eyes can't wander.

Break the spine or keep a book like new?

I keep my books in the best condition I can. Broken spines are sometimes unavoidable, especially with big books, but most of mine look like I just got them.

Do you write in your books?

No way. Another think I love about the Kindle is that I can highlight phrases and lines that I like. I kind of miss being able to do that when I'm reading a physical book, but I wouldn't dare mark in my pages. I don't dog ear, either.

Your favorite book?

I have so many... the Harry Potter series, anything by Rainbow Rowell, The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness. Look on my Goodreads page if you'd like to know what I'm reading or what I've loved in the past. And check out my Book Reviews page.

Which Author Inspires you?

Currently, I'm reading Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert. She's inspiring me so much to go after my creative dreams, and I love the way she writes about ideas and magic and bravery.