Tag: Reading Quirks

Just for Fun: Book Related Questions

Posted April 22, 2020 by Holly in Discussions | 5 Comments

I don’t know about the rest of you, but when we first headed into quarantine I was so excited to finally read all the books!

Unfortunately, it hasn’t worked out very well. I’m struggling to focus on reading during this quarantine. I have been re-reading some old favorites, but I can’t seem to get into anything new. Even continuations of series I enjoy aren’t working for me. So, instead of reading I put together these fun book related questions. Join me?

1. What books are on your bedside table at the moment?

The Scoundrel in Her Bed by Lorraine Heath, Deal with the Devil by Kit Rocha and Dragon Unleashed by Grace Draven.

2. What type (contemporary, historical, biography, etc) of books do you like reading most at the moment?

I’ve been reading more Fantasy and Urban Fantasy than anything else lately, but I think I’m craving a good historical right now.

3. What’s the best book you’ve read so far this year?

I really enjoyed Chasing Cassandra by Lisa Kleypas and Smoke Bitten by Patricia Briggs, but I think my favorite so far has been Beauty and the Clockwork Beast by Nancy Campbell Allen.

4. Which book have you re-read the most in the past year (12-month period)?

Repeat by Kylie Scott or Fairytale Come Alive by Kristen Ashley. I don’t track every re-read, so I’m not sure which.

5. Name one book/author that everyone loves but you really can’t stand?

I’m bringing up an old one here. I do no understand the love for Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas. Everyone loves Derek and Sara, but they frustrated me so much! I just do no understand the love.

Share your answers in the comments below, on your own site, or on Facebook or Twitter. Don’t forget to tag us!

5 Comments

Tagged: Discussion Posts, Holly Says, Quarantine Fun, Reader Discussion, Reading Quirks

Retro-Post: You’re gonna get yours…

Posted December 15, 2017 by Holly in Discussions | 12 Comments

*****As part of our 10 year anniversary celebration, we’ll be re-posting old reviews and posts that make us cringe, laugh or sigh all over again.*****

Holly: This post was originally published in 2008. I still love it when annoying/bad/terrible characters get their comeuppance. There’s something very satisfying about a hated character getting their just desserts.

This post was originally posted on July 3, 2008.

It’s confession time once again here at Book Binge. That’s right, dear readers, I feel the need to confess one of my dirtier secrets (remember, confession is good for the soul):

I’m bloodthirsty.

It’s true. Nothing gets me worked up quite like a sleazy ex, or a rotten family member, or whoever. And nothing makes my day quite like when one of those sleazy people gets what’s coming to them.

Sherrilyn Kenyon is an author that excels at writing revenge-of-the-ex scenes. I remember reading Night Play for the first time several years ago and cheering out loud when Vane shows up Bride’s ex on the street. I love that. Kyrian showed up Amanda’s ex in Night Pleasures, too.

In one of the more recent In Death novels by J.D. Robb one of Roarke’s exes shows up and Eve has to put her in her place. I absolutely adored that scene. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve read it.

I’m an equal opportunity revenge lover, though. It’s not just exes I like to see put in their place. It’s parents, aunts, uncles, neighbors, bosses, whoever. In Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie the heroine’s (Min) mom is obsessive about weight and constantly berates Min for it. My favorite scene of the book is when Cal basically tells her to shut up and leave Min alone. I still snicker when I think of it.

In a Harlequin Presents novel I read recently, the h/h’s parents had a hand in keeping them separated for several years and in the end the hero refuses to have anything to do with them. In the epilogue it’s been more than a year and he still refuses to talk to them. I love that.

So, tell me. Am I alone? Am I the only one who gets a wonderful feeling of satisfaction when a not-so-great character really gets what’s coming to them? Do you have a favorite “They got theirs” scene you’d like to share with me?

Tell me I’m not the only one…

12 Comments

Tagged: Holly Says, Other Stuff, Reading Quirks, Revenge of the

Retro Post: Books I Have No Desire To Read

Posted October 18, 2017 by Rowena in Discussions | 12 Comments

*****As part of our 10 year anniversary celebration, we’ll be re-posting old reviews and posts that make us cringe, laugh or sigh all over again.

This post was originally published December 5, 2013.

I saw the post over at The Book Vixen where they listed the books that they had no desire to read and realized that I have a whole lot of books that I don’t care to read either. Popular books that a lot of people seem to love that I just have no desire to read.

Here’s my list:

Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell. Holly is probably going to kill me for daring to list this book but it’s true. I have no desire to read this book. I can’t even be arsed to be ashamed…I just don’t wanna.
Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. I know a lot of people from work that read and loved this book. But me? Meh. Not going to touch it.
The Wedding by Nicholas Sparks. I know that this book features the children of Noah and Allie from The Notebook, but meh…I can’t drum up any kind of excitement to want to read it…so I know I never will.
All of the Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling. My friend Izzy tried to get me to read these books a long time ago and just as then, I still have no desire to read them. Don’t tell Izzy but even when I told her I was going to read them, I knew I wasn’t going to…they were just meh to me. I only watched the first movie too. Oh well.
Styxx by Sherrilyn Kenyon. Back when I was really into this series, I wanted Styxx’s story but now that it’s out? Not interested. Not even a little interested either.
Fifty Shades of Grey by EL James. Never wanted to read it and I don’t care how many people loved it, I’m never going to read these.

What are you some books that you have no desire to read?

12 Comments

Tagged: 10 Years of Book Binge, Book Binge Turns Ten, Book Confessions, Reading Quirks, Retro-Post, Wena Says

Retro Post: Are You A Glommer?

Posted July 15, 2017 by Holly in Discussions, Reviews | 14 Comments

Holly: It’s been 9 years since I originally posted this. I still glom authors, but now I do it digitally. I’ve culled my print collection down to just old favorites. What about you?

This post was originally published May 22, 2008

Work has been kicking my butt lately, so I haven’t had time to write up reviews or post witty, thoughtful topics, so instead I’m recycling an old one.

From dictionary.com:

glom·ming, noun Slang.
–verb (used with object)
1. to steal.
2. to catch or grab.
3. to look at.
–noun
4. a look or glimpse.
—Verb phrase
5. glom onto, to take hold or possession of

I admit I’m a glommer. When I find an author I enjoy, I immediately start working on collecting his/her backlist. I believe the first romance author I glommed was Judith McNaught, followed by Lisa Kleypas. From there it blew up into a crazy, scary, awful thing that has now overwhelmed my life. I’m currently in the process of glomming Karen Templeton.

I even glom authors I don’t read anymore. Like Jude Deveraux. I stopped reading her years ago, but I’m still compelled to buy each and every one of her new releases. And you know, I have her ENTIRE BACKLIST. Do you have any idea how many times I’ve told myself to sell the lot of them on eBay and be done with it? Too many to count. Do you know how many times I’ve actually done it? None. And still, I keep buying her books as they’re released, because I’m OCD and have to have them all on my shelf.

Probably I need help..but let’s move on to you…

Do you glom? What authors? Do you remember your first? Are you OCD like me and collect books long after you’ve stopped reading an author? Or do you not keep any?

14 Comments

Tagged: 10 Years of Book Binge, Glom, Holly Says, Other Stuff, Reading Quirks, Retro-Post, Reviews

Retro Post: The Chin Affliction

Posted May 15, 2017 by Holly in Discussions | 10 Comments

This month I had to share with you Holly’s Chin Affliction. If anything, I think the Chin Affliction is even more prevalent today.

This was originally posted on November 17, 2009.

Have you noticed how active chins are?

“She thrust her chin out”

“Her chin came up”

“She lifted her chin”

You notice all the quotes I used above reference females. The Chin Affliction is most often used to showcase a stubborn and/or independent (though IMO many times these traits are interchangeable) heroine. The hero insults her and her chin comes up to show she isn’t intimidated. She faces an unfamiliar situation and her chin comes up to show she’s unafraid. She becomes angry and her chin thrusts out in challenge.

This is something that’s bothering me more and more lately. I like to call it The Chin Affliction. It bothers me because I feel like the moving chin is often an easy way for authors to show emotion. Her chin coming up symbolizes something, which takes some pressure off the author. Plus, I don’t think I’ve ever raised my chin in my life – not when I was angry or scared or being stubborn. It strikes me as a somewhat childish gesture, and frankly it annoys me.

Have you ever even noticed The Chin Affliction? Does it bother you? Is there something else that keeps cropping up that annoys you?