With a world of technology and distractions at hand, many people have difficulty understanding the value that books bring to our lives. They don’t understand the feeling of holding a new book, flipping through its pages and bringing to life a world full of imagination and possibilities.
If the word “book” automatically makes your eyes widen with anticipation and your heart skip a beat, then congratulations my friend, you’re probably one of those people who are lucky enough to be labelled as a bookworm and these 15 signs are part of who you are.
1. You carry a book around at all times
Whether you’re on your way to work, or someone is unexpectedly running late to meet you, you’re more than happy to use this time up to read. Wherever you are, you’ll always have a book to save you.
2. You get way too attached to the characters
No, it’s not just a book and they’re not just a figment of someone’s imagination! When Dumbledore died, I swear a part of me died with him! The depression phase you go into when something happens to your favourite character is real!
The best thing is, the characters you’re fond of will forever live inside your heart and can be brought to life again by just re-reading the book or discussing it with another bookworm. And let us not even go to how many characters we’ve fallen in love with.
3. You laugh and cry in public based on the story line
You get so engrossed in the book you’re reading that you forget the real world. If a character were to say something funny, you’d burst out laughing only to get stares from the people around you. No, I’m not crazy, my favourite character just made me laugh!
Let’s not mention the reactions people give when you start tearing up behind a book. Only bookworms will understand how that could even be possible.
4. You can’t wait to get home to read your new book
You feel like a little kid that’s just found a treasure! You’re filled with excitement and are ready to ditch an outing or whatever plans you had to get home, snuggle into your bed and flip through the pages of your new treasure.
5. You have so much experience because of what the characters have gone through
You find yourself relating to people’s experiences and giving out shockingly accurate advice. You’ve traveled the world, experienced a million heartbreaks and have gone through many other emotions through every book you’ve ever read.
6. The first items you pack when traveling are books
What is a vacation without a list of books to keep you company? You stock up on books only to find yourself buying even more books at the duty-free bookstore because you just can’t help it!
7. You escape the real world by reading
Opening a book transports you to your happy place. No matter what is happening in reality, you can always rely on your book to make you feel better.
8. You have a monthly budget for books
If it weren’t for you, your local bookstore would be bankrupt by now! A big chunk of your paycheck (every month) is spent on books and if you could, you’d spend it all there too!
9. Your biggest problem is where to place the new books
You’ve filled up your bookshelves, have books underneath your bed and on top of your wardrobes. There isn’t a single empty space that isn’t filled with books and yet you constantly need to get creative in organizing and making room for more.
10. You prefer books to people
It’s not that you’re anti-social, it’s just that books are more reliable, more understanding, make you happy and entertain your mind with so much knowledge and experience.
11. You’re annoying when it comes to lending out books
You’re more willing to spend money on buying someone a book than lending them your copy. The idea of parting with one of your books is heartbreaking, not to mention what you’d do to them if it comes back with so much as a scratch or a bent page!
12. Your entire world stops until you finish the book you’re reading
When you’ve found one of those addictive, gripping books, you’ll put everything on hold because you just can’t let it go! Sleep is no longer important, neither is food. The only thing that matters is how good this book is that you just can’t put it down.
13. You fall asleep reading
Some people listen to music to soothe their minds before they hit the sack, others watch TV. The only way you know how to unwind and fall asleep with a smile is by reading a few pages (or a whole book) before you go to sleep.
14. You always prefer the book version of the movie
No matter how good the movie is, the book version is always better! It’s sometimes even disappointing to see the choice of character for the ones your imagination had created. The details that go into books can never be displayed in a movie quite as well as the book. Regardless of the production, scenery or cast, you’ll always prefer the version the book made you imagine.
15. Your happy place is your favourite bookstore
Your friends know that when you’re having a bad day, you’ll need to get lost in a book or bookstore! Being surrounded by all those new books and their endless possibilities make you feel better instantly. Your heart skips a beat with every new cover you touch and does some kind of somersault with every new book you purchase. Just taking a bookworm to a bookstore is like taking a kid to a theme park or wonderland!
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