Here’s a question, do we ever talk about reader pet peeves around here? I don’t think we typically do, but maybe I’m wrong. I don’t know. But no matter the truth of the answer, we’re here today to talk about just this.
LIST | POP CULTURE NEWS, FUN AND A REWIND: EDITION TWO
7 OF THE ANNOYING THINGS I CALL READER PET PEEVES #TOPTENTUESDAY #BOOKLIST #BOOKTWITTER #READER #READERCOMMUNITY #READERS #READING #AMREADING Click To TweetDo you have pet peeves in the reader world? I honestly don’t know that I can say I have any per se, when it comes to reading, but I do have tropes I don’t love and there’s one sort of bookish (reader) pet peeve that has recently bugs me. So considering mine are more trope-ish and reader specific, let’s dive in, shall we?
BOOKISH READER PET PEEVES (SORT OF)
1: 1,000 PAGES
I’m a simple girl and so anytime a book demands I read anymore more than 350 pages, I bulk. Like, most of the time, from a reader perspective you can tell an effective, and often better story with fewer pages.
2: THE DECEASED EX RETURNS
I’m pretty dang sure this trope is friendlier with TV shows or film, but as a trope I do despise it, so I have to share it.
3: THE DREADED LOVE TRIANGLE
It’s super rare that I do like this trope. When I do, it’s well done in that the one caught in the middle doesn’t waffle between who she (using the girl because that’s usually the formula; two boys, one girl) really loves. I often find that in one chapter she’ll love boy 1 only in the next to be in love with boy 2. And I also say this fully aware I love a book like The Selection which heavily plays into its plot. So, obviously, I forgive it sometimes.
4: INDECISIVE, MUCH?
This ties into the love triangle theme, but it also applies to any character decision. WHY must characters be so indecisive? Make a choice, own it and move forward from there. Are some decisions SCARY as all heck? Sure. But we have to MAKE them, trust they’ll be the best for us and move forward from there.
5: MISMATCHED COVER ART
Note to publishers and designers; please stop putting out a (series) book with one design (hardcover) only to do a 180 with a completely different paperback design which book two will then match. Like, just why?
*and yes, I realize it’s because the book doesn’t do well (outside) with its target reader or in a marketing decision
6: READ WHAT YOU WANT
On Twitter or Instagram or wherever, there’s this kind of thing going on of you can’t read book x because of topic x in book x. Or you cannot read book y because its author said y. Um, read what YOU want. Or I even see the thought that if you don’t read literary fiction (just as an example) then somehow you aren’t a real reader who understands real heroes and fictional characters. *shrugs* I say read what you like.
I see LOTS of books features on Goodreads or social media that I’d never in a million reads touch let alone read, but I don’t “attack” the people who do read those books.
7: WRITE (REVIEW) HOW YOU WANT
A while back I heard, on a podcast, that one of the big no-nos in reviewing is to NOT write your own synopsis. This is something I 100% do and so I took issue with this. Aside from some courtesy, it’s-nice-to-remember-this rules in reviewing (like it’s kinder not to tag an author in a negative review), there’s really no real rules in reviewing. You should review, stylistically, how you want.
As a result of this, I did a write up on whether or not there’s a right or wrong “How to Write a Review” way. It was a good thing for me to write and I definitely enjoyed doing so.
BONUS! OVERUSE OF PROFANITY
Thanks to Jana, I remembered this pet peeve. GOODNESS. This drives me insane. I talk about this a lot in videos or other places, but needless content does NOTHING to endear a book for me. I have read one (but cannot remember which) where it’s well done and there seems a purpose to it. Most, however, do not and to me, it feels like lazy writing that is only there just because it’s allowed in the secular genre (and just for shock value).
Ok, your turn! Tell me fellow readers and friends, what kinds of reader pet peeves drive you up a wall? Or are you a super chill reader? Do you like or dislike any of these? Comment all of your thoughts! Let’s chat away.
PINTEREST PIN – SAVE & SHARE
Thank you for visiting! Please, do come back soon.
Linking up with That Artsy Reader Girl October 5: Bookish Pet Peeves
30 Comments
I’m not a huge fan of indecision either. Or books that are WAY too long. :)
Mismatched cover art- yeah, same. :)
Books that go too long just intimidate me and most of the time, I do honestly believe that the story can be told effectively in a shorter page count. :)
I’m not a big fan of long books either. I have the hardest time even starting long books.
YES! I’ll 100% admit I’m always intimidated.
I’m with you on number 1. Big books scare me, says she looking at The Mirror & The Light by Hilary Mantel on her bookshelf… where it’s been for months.
I just cannot get motivated to read those big/long books! Maybe someday I will. *shrugs* Here’s hoping we both find that motivation. :)
I don’t understand the hate some genres generate. If you don’t like it, don’t read it, and let those who do enjoy it! Why do people have to make it so complicated?
Pam @ Read! Bake! Create!
https://readbakecreate.com/going-to-the-dogs-12-books-with-dogs-on-the-cover/
I 100% agree, and hope I’m able to be super consistent in this. I just saw something the other day about a certain thing in books “triggering” another group of people. It’s sad to me that the topic bothers some people (in that, it suggests we’re more insecure than maybe we should b e), but also, just don’t read the book. That’s what I do. If I discover a topic is in a book that I don’t agree with or that bothers me, I MOVE on. There’s TONS of other books I can read and will appreciate. <3
Great list, Rissi! I also think that people who judge others for what they read are really annoying! If they’re allowed to read what they want, why shouldn’t others be allowed to do the same?! So irritating! Also, never heard of someone getting mad over people writing their own synopsis in a review but that’s just silly—people really take issue over the silliest things, eh?
Hi, Dini! Always glad to chat with you, and also I need to catch up on your website! :)
Right!? I agree; READ what we want and enjoy it! I’m struggling with reading right now, and I think part of it is just this culture of bookworms right now. When I first joined bookstagram, it was such a fun place. Now it’s turned into a “don’t write this because [x topic] triggers me” or “you should read this because I’m offended by [y topic] and you should sympathize with me.” I don’t know, but it makes me sad that that’s how insecure we are. Read what you want, and enjoy it! There’s LOTS of books I’d never in a million years read, but I don’t reply to those tweets or authors and say “you shouldn’t promote or write this because it bothers me.” I move on and enjoy the large variety of books I do and will appreciate. <3
Haha, I guess I can’t knock indecisive characters too much because that is me in real life!
LOL, I can be too! So maybe that’s why I’m hard of them. ;)
Great list!! I get so annoyed when people judge others for what they read. People should read what they like because at the end of the day, reading is for enjoyment. Ugh! Also, I definitely agree with the overuse of profanity. Overusing it (every other word is a cuss word) or adding it for shock value (Rowling’s book The Casual Vacancy comes to mind) just makes it bad writing. I’m okay with having profanity in books but as long as it’s done well.
I figured I was more alone in my read-what-you-want mindset. It’s so fun to chat with several of you feeling the same way. YES! Reading is for enjoyment or at least it is for me, and so I always want to find books that I can enjoy which means make me laugh. :) I just find overuse of profanity bad taste. I don’t go on some campaign to tell anyone NOT to read a book when I discover that, but still, I don’t care for it. I think it shows a flippancy for the characters and the story, so I try to avoid that in books, but sometimes I make an exception if the story is really good. Glad I’m not alone in my thought about that, too! :)
I hate having mismatched book covers too! And I didn’t include it on my list, but super long books really irritate me too, 9 times out of 10 if a book is over 500 pages, it could probably have been trimmed, because at least 200 of that tends to be filler!
YES! Well said about trimming 200 pages. I often feel this way, too. :) And mismatched covers is just, well, it’s not acceptable for one’s bookish aesthetic. ;) Thanks for the visit, Jo!
Super long books can be nice, but usually they intimidate me too much and I just never start them :)
Definitely hate when people judge other readers’ book choices too, as well as love triangles or indecisive characters! Oh, and mismatched book covers too, ugh.
I think some long books do use that page count wisely and a REALLY good long book might not even phase me. But most of the time, they don’t really NEED that extra time. Or that’s what I feel. :) YES! Those mis-matched covers just mess with our bookspace! ;)
Yes!! Super long books end up being my nemesis, I will read books that are close to 400 pages, but I find I am struggling toward the end and just want it over. I also hate the love triangle, profanity, indecisiveness, and when people tell you not to read a book. I will always try to find a redeeming quality about a book, even if it is not for me, but it is not for me to say it’s not for someone else. Our tastes run different and that is okay.
For sure! Our tastes do have different preferences or likes. I do talk about what I don’t like in a book in my review or if I’m having a conversation with someone, but I don’t take to social media to bash the book/author and say they shouldn’t write about any topic because it “bothers” me. I have to take the responsibility to figure out if I’ll like a book or not, and I do. Of course, sometimes that research disappoints me and I still don’t care for the book, but again, I still chose to read it. It’s not the fault of the book that it’s not a me read. Or at that’s my thought. :) Thanks for visiting, Cindy!
I actually don’t mind long books, but that might be because I read a lot of fantasy and you kinda need those extra pages for world-building. I do agree on the love triangles and the mismatched covers though!
My TTT: https://www.traversingchapters.com/top-ten-most-annoying-bookish-pet-peeves-ttt/
YAY, that’s awesome! I just get way too intimidated by lengthy books. And ugh, yes! Books with those mismatched covers mess with our bookshelf organization WAY too much. ;)
I don’t mind a 1000 plus page myself but it took some getting used to. Then again, I’m all about epic fantasy lately and they tend to be long books but I see where you’re coming from. I dreaded them myself until a few years ago. Happy reading! My TTT https://readwithstefani.com/my-middle-grade-book-recommendations/
I know lots of fantasy books tend to be longer, so maybe that’s another reason why I don’t love the genre. I don’t know. ;D Either way, I’m glad you enjoy them! I feel like I’m just a reader wimp when it comes to long books. Thanks of visiting, Stefani.
The length of the books depends for me, sometimes there are exceptions. I’m mostly a chill reader, there are certain original themes and story that I would prefer of course.
I just find it way too intimidating, but I know that’s because I’m a wimp reader. :D
I totally agree with the mismatched cover art. It’s frustrating when all the books in a series I’m collecting don’t match. ;) As for not summarizing synopsis’ in our own words… I think it has more to do with someone not accidentally misrepresenting what the author intended or giving spoilers?? I tend to not summarize the synopsis in my own words simply to avoid repetition when I’ve already included the ‘official’ synopsis. But I know some reviewers don’t include the ‘official’ synopsis so I can see why they’d feel the need to summarize it. :)
Since I don’t include the official synopsis, I do write my own. I do this (one reason) because when I use the official synopsis I cannot get the SEO right. Of course I don’t want to change publisher’s official words so instead I write my own. The one example where I heard writing our own synopsis being a no-no is because reviewers-cannot-write-anything-better-than-the-publisher. I’m in no way saying I can summarize something better, but it’s what works for my reviewing method. Also, stories are all subjective so while I may not get the “heart” of what the author is writing, it’s how I interpret it and that’s ok. <3 Totally get the spoiler thing to! I'll admit my "synopsis" are often VERY short, so hopefully, I don't spoil things! ;D
YES! Those mismatched cover art is ANNOYING! Glad you visited, Dedra. Thanks!!
I would have to agree with all your pet peeves because they are mine too especially the 1000 page one.
*high five* Glad not to be alone in my pet peeves. :D