Do you have any reading quirks?
I do.
Mine doesn’t really have anything to do with the environment. I can read in noisy places without any issues and I have been known to read with very little lighting. No, for me the quirkiness comes from the story itself and if the author has done his or her job, then the characters speak to me and I will typically have something to say in reply.
Yep. I talk to the characters when they are really well drawn. I am usually not aware that I am doing it but my kids and sometimes The Hub (when not taken hostage by the TV) have been known to bring it to my attention.
This happened recently with Labor Day by Joyce Maynard. The story revolves around a questionable character and all throughout the book, I kept hearing him say, “Hey Ti, I’m a good guy.” His actions spoke volumes. Another blogger mentioned to me that she didn’t care for the book because of its creep factor. I get what she is saying. In a normal situation I’d feel the same way, but that character was so well written (in my opinion) that he spoke to me. And everything that out of his mouth was good.
I think there are probably a lot of readers that do this while reading a book. Am I right? But do you do it afterward too? I finished the book a couple of days ago and I am still talking to Frank. The same can be said for King’s The Stand. I’ve been talking to Trashcan Man quite a bit lately and I’m sure I’ll talk to him a bit once I’m done.
Does the ability to hear a character automatically equal success? No. Lots of things have to come together for me to love a book, but I am always amused by the idea of a character coming to life on the page.
I’m sort of like that kid from the movie The Sixth Sense, only he sees dead people and I see (and talk) to people who don’t exist in real life. Could be worse. Heck, I could even call it a “talent” if I stretch the imagination a bit.
What’s your reading quirk?
Book Chatter 
I would have to say that the characters don’t speak to me and I definitely don’t speak back. Although I will admit that I can visualize a scene so well that I have all the characters and locations planned out in my head. One of my reading quirks is that I don’t like to be interrupted sometimes when I’m reading. Nothing annoys me more when I’m in the break room at lunch and someone starts talking to me while I’m reading. They then proceed to ask 50 million questions abou the book. I try to give them the stare down and annoyed look but half the time that doesn’t work.
The stare down? I love it! It’s just plain rude. I would never think to interrupt someone who was reading unless I absolutely had to.
Reading quirks…well, what about being a completely anal person about reading a series in order. I’ve tried not to…yeah, not so much. Just doesn’t work for me. I think it’s because while I like a plot driven book, I read for the characters and I’m incredibly nosy. I don’t want to miss anything. Therefore, I can’t start at Book #5 or something. Oh, and I wouldn’t be talking to Trashcan Man – Stu or Larry – yeah. I love most a character that starts out looking bad, but really has a heart of gold. My character love is for the redeemed I guess or the upright or the ones who seek justice.
I have to read a series in order too. I don’t think I would ever think to read one out of order unless I just didn’t know the book was part of a series. That happened to me once. Oh, and what you said about the upright characters that seek justice? I agree wholeheartedly. When I have these conversations with these rather seedy characters, I don’t always have good things to say to them 🙂
Like the two of you, I’m definitely a stickler for reading series in order…the only problem is that our library, through a series (no pun intended, no, really) of library directors, has a lot of series that have the first or second or sometimes third book or the previous books of the series missing. Drives me completely up the wall (not just a little, but “completely”).
However, I don’t talk to characters and have never heard of that previously. One of my quirks, though, is I normally don’t use bookmarks. I just find my way back to where I was each time. Also it helps if I missed something earlier.
Oh, I’m envious Ti! I can’t read in noisy places. I’m so ADD that I end up reading the same page about eight times before I actually process what it says. So, having to be in a quiet place with no TV or radio or anything like that is pretty important. I absolutely hate when I go out on my porch to read and the folks across the street decide to turn their music up so everyone in then neighborhood can share.
Anywhoo….I don’t talk out loud to the characters. At least I don’t think so. My dogs wouldn’t be likely to tell me if I did. But I know I hold a lot of conversations in my head with really great characters. And the best of the best stick around with me for weeks after I’ve finished a book. It’s amazing the way they can take over my thoughts!
The only time noise bothers me is when I am reading a book that makes very little sense, like Moby Dick LOL. Having to backtrack through that puppy is enough to make you want to stick a pin in your eye.
That would make such a fun movie: “I see fictional people!” But Trashcan Man – yuck. Hated him!
Perhaps I should clarify,.. I don’t always say or think good thoughts about these characters. Like Trashcan Man. Sometimes I curse out loud to him. You get the drift.
Reading quirks huh?
Well I don’t talk to the characters, but sometimes they talk to me..LOL
I am very quirky about, having quiet, sticky notes and a mechanical pencil in order to begin…LOL
Oh that is so much fun! I don’t talk to my characters much, only when they do something outrageous. Then I will say “oh you did NOT just say that!” or whatever. I’m not sure if I have any quirks. I think I am a boring reader.
I can’t imagine you as a “boring reader.” You probably just don’t realize your quirks. I didn’t realize that I actually spoke out loud at times until someone pointed it out to me. I just get all wrapped up in the story I guess but it doesn’t happen all that often. The characters have to be really vile or inherently good (which determines whether I curse them or cheer them on).
I definitely talk to characters (and books) while I’m in the middle of a story, but I don’t think I do it afterward. When I’m totally wrapped up in a book, I do talk about it a lot, though.
I, too, am jealous that you can read in all situations. I am SO easily distracted so I need quite (maybe that’s a quirk?).
My thing is that if characters are well done, I tend to meld them into real life (and then dream about them) so I get confused about if I know them or not. Then I have to think about where I know them from to remind me that they are not real — just characters in a book. 🙂
I dream about them too!! I’m glad that I am not alone. I used to think it was me getting older but I did that when I was younger too.
Hmmm. Interesting question. I thought that I didn’t talk to characters, but then I remember if the story is really tense and I know something is about to happen that the character doesn’t I’ll “warn” them and sometimes get upset when they don’t listen and tragedy befalls them.
I’m like Lakeshia — I hate getting interrupted during my lunchtime reading. I’m the HR manager though, so I have to appear to be sociable most of the time.
Yeah. An HR manager that is not sociable would not be good. We have a few of those here.
Great post! I’ve just recently started talking to or about characters. It seems to happen most often with an audiobook. I noticed myself doing it with THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET’S NEST and VOYAGER most recently. Since I’m in my car or alone, I’ve never been caught by anyone else. If someone saw me talking in my car, they’d probably assume I was talking using bluetooth. 🙂
I don’t THINK I talk to characters when I’m reading – I’ve never noticed, and no one’s caught me at it, in any case. But I frequently talk to characters when I’m watching them on TV – if I’m NOT doing that, I’m probably not very into the show. My husband’s learned to adapt. 🙂
A reading quirk: I have to read in bed at night, even if I only make it through a few pages before my eyes start closing. It’s part of my sleep-preparation routine, and I don’t sleep well if I can’t do it for some reason.
I try to read a few pages in bed too. It just seems to calm me down a bit.
If characters are very vivid to me after a long time the line between reality and fiction will blur in my memory. There have been several times where I have said to my husband, “Oh yeah, so-and-so said…” and then stopped myself because I realized I was quoting from a book, and not from someone in real life. Kind of embarrassing. 🙂
I don’t think I have done that yet myself, but only because I am not that great at remembering quotes.
What a great topic! I don’t know if I have a quirk other than that if I can’t relate to the main character, or don’t think I could get along with them in real life/be sympathetic to them I have a really hard time with a book. Is that a quirk?
I think what you said about not being able to get along with a certain personality type in real life is probably pretty common among readers but I would still call it a quirk since you have a hard time with a book if that is the case. I can usually relate to a character no matter how vile he or she may be. I may not like them, but I can usually find something in them that I can relate to. It actually adds something to my reading experience.
I’m not sure the characters always speak to me but I sure do a lot of talking to them especially when they’re driving me crazy. And yes I do it out loud with many strange looks from my dog who usually gets woke up while I’m doing it. lol.
You crack me up! I am like you….I can read any where and at any time:) I love when I am reading a book and I am thinking about the characters when I go to bed. That is the best kind:)
I’ve actually gone to bed talking to characters in my head wondering how they could make certain decisions, etc. I usually only do that when I meet a character that drives me crazy.
I do talk to fictional characters, but it’s the other way around for me – I usually do it when they’re not well-drawn and about to do something really dumb. Then I’m like, “no, what ARE you thinking of? Don’t do it. Don’t do it. Arghh. You did it. I told you not to do it!”.
I don’t talk to them, but if a scene is really tense I will put the book down every few seconds over and over. If it’s a tense relationship moment, as opposed to a suspense type thing, I have been known to put the book down for days. Or weeks.
Nope–I’ve never talked to the characters in a book. But they have appeared in my dreams. When I’m reading, in my head I hear the book, as though it were an audiobook rather than me reading silently. That’s particularly true in well-written books.
I love your reading quirk … but I can’t say I share it!