Filipino Fridays (3): Reading Habits and Book Formats

I'm doing a shortcut because I totally missed the 2nd one! This week's topic is pretty interesting, and I'm really eager to share my answers.

August 3 – Reading Habits and Book Formats. Where and how do you read? Can you read anywhere and everywhere, or do you need a certain place/mood/state of mind to get reading? Do you read more in the morning or at night or any minute that you can? Where and how do you usually read? Are you exclusively for print, or do you go for ebooks more than print? Have you ever tried audiobooks?

First question: Where and how do you read?

I can read just about anywhere. But I do have a special place in our house crammed with my study table and surrounded by my bookshelves. It's where I spend most of my time when I'm indoors. How do I read? I find a comfortable nook, sit there, pop my earphones, turn my music on (yes, I read with the music on) and flip through the pages of my book. I never, ever, dog ear pages. I cringe at the thought of folding a page. I cover my books! And it pains me to see creases on my book's spine, so getting a book holder is not an option. You'll know it's my book when you see a ton of post its sticking out of the pages. :)

Can you read anywhere and everywhere, or do you need a certain place/mood/state of mind to get reading?

When I go out I always make it a point to have a book or my Kindle with me, so whenever the urge to be anti-social hits, I just bring out my book (or Kindle) and start reading. In my room, in coffee shops, inside the car. You can probably find me in a corner of the office reading. I can read anywhere, everywhere. At least anywhere and everywhere that is safe. You can't be too vigilant and have your Kindle stolen.

I'm a moody reader. I read whenever the urge hits me, which usually happens several times a day. If I feel stressed out with work and I need to take a break, sometimes I just grab my book and read a few pages to calm down. You can put me in a noisy place and I can still read. I automatically block out the sounds around me when I read.

Do you read more in the morning or at night or any minute that you can?

Playing catch up with my TBR pile, I read whenever I can. Sometimes even when I'm in the middle of working, I remember I have to finish reading a book and I try reading even a few pages. I read faster during the day though, as my nights are usually spent on book blogging activities.

Where and how do you usually read?

At home! I plop down in front of my study table, and then read. Sometimes when I'm feeling lazy I read while in bed. Reading never makes me feel sleepy though. Some people tend to read until they fall asleep but I can't do that because my brain is most active when I'm reading. I have the worst reading habit. Even with poor lighting, I can read if I'm really into the book. Sometimes when the lights are already off and everyone is sleeping, I get a flashlight (I don't have a book light, sorry), strap it on my head, point it on my book and continue reading.

Are you exclusively for print, or do you go for ebooks more than print?

I read better and faster for print books. I have a Kindle, which I usually load with my e-ARCs and e-books but nothing beats the feeling of leafing through the pages of a book, tracing its spine and that newly printed smell. Given the choice, I will still go for print books. There are books that you just have to get a physical copy of no matter what.

Have you ever tried audiobooks?

Yes, but I am more of a reader than a listener. It's easier for me to imagine the world of the book I'm reading when I'm seeing the words rather than when I listen to it. Audiobooks tend to make me sleepy. It's like I'm having a long one sided conversation with someone. I find it weird, maybe because my brain's been hardwired to think that to read, you need to have the book and feel that you have it rather than play something and have someone read it to you. I have yet to find the magic in getting audiobooks.

-----

I'm done! I'd love to know more about your reading habits and book formats you prefer! Share your thoughts or posts about this topic with me!

Filipino Fridays (1)

This is my first ever con, and my first ever Filipino Fridays, so bear with me please. I'm really excited! Filipino ReaderCon is less than a month away, and in case you want to hang out with me, please attend! I'll be a part of a panel, which is also a first for me.

Introductions. As with every start of a weekly meme, we need to know a bit about you! Talk about your top 3-5 (or more!) favorite books of all time, the genres you read and would never read, the books that surprised you this year. You can also talk about how you became a reader and why you love it so much! And finally, if you were in the ReaderCon last year, talk about your experience too! If you weren’t there, but you’re planning to go this year, then what do you expect for the upcoming ReaderCon?

Hi. My name is Kai and I love to read. Yoroshiku.

I'm not sure if a lot of people know me, but I invite you to read my post if you want to know more. I always love making new friends, especially if you love reading and books!

I will be skipping over the first question, since I'm bad at making lists. I can never decide which books I love because I love a whole lot of them.

So the first question: the genres you read and would never read, the books that surprised you this year

My blog focuses on the Young Adult genre, and YA books are what I read, mostly because that time of my life is what I can relate to the most. It's the most confusing, the most thrilling and obviously, the most memorable. There's a lot of things you can read and write about that time when you're not young anymore but not really an adult.

I haven't and I don't think I'll ever try reading any self-help or non-fiction books, not in the near foreseeable future. Then again, I don't want to say I will NEVER read it. Who knows? I might fancy reading them in a few years when I get older.

The book that surprised me this year is Kiera Cass' The Selection. I admit I am one of those readers swept away by all the controversy and the drama that surrounds the book and its author. It was one of the books I wanted to get my hands on the first moment I've laid my eyes on it and read the summary, but I was discouraged and I became skeptical because of all the negative publicity. I was afraid to try reading it because of all the backlash and negative feedback. Call me shallow, but what made me afraid was knowing what people will say if I ended up liking the book. Then again, who says what book I can and cannot read? Sometimes it's just a matter of giving a book a chance and going with what your gut says. It's flawed, as with all the books out there, but it's one I thoroughly enjoyed with the world building and the concept of that future society.

Second question: talk about how you became a reader and why you love it so much!

If you read my About Me page, you'll have a general idea of how I got into reading. My childhood has been filled with books about dashing rogues and princes who will sweep me off my feet someday. But that's not to say that I haven't read my fair share of books like The Little Prince and Stephen King's Pet Sematary. Come to think of it, I was more open to reading a diverse set of books when I was younger than I am now.

What I loved about reading is how it introduces me to countless of new worlds I never for a second imagine that I'll be able to read of and experience. I get to meet heroes and heroines all in different situations and enjoy hearing their voices through the pages. It takes my mind off things when the real world seems a little bit too much for me to handle. And it also gave way to my book blogging, and now I'm sharing my love of books to everyone and meeting a lot of people who loves to read like I do.

Last question: if you were in the ReaderCon last year, talk about your experience too! If you weren’t there, but you’re planning to go this year, then what do you expect for the upcoming ReaderCon?

Like I said, this is my first ReaderCon, and I am beyond excited for this as it involves a lot of 'firsts' for me. I've always been satisfied safely tucked in my own little corner of the book blogging universe and now I get to share my thoughts with everyone on a bigger stage. I never thought I'd ever be a panelist one day. What do I expect from this year's ReaderCon? I just want to have fun meeting people who share the same love for books as me. Have you seen the program? There's a lot to learn from all the panels and activities lined up for everyone.

And with that, I invite you all Filipino book bloggers and readers alike to attend United We Read - The Second Filipino Reader Conference on August 18th from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. It will be held at the Filipinas Heritage Library, Makati City.

If you want to know more about the Con, you can visit this website: http://filipinoreadercon.wordpress.com/ and help us to spread the word about this event! I hope to see you there!