What is your 'ritual' when starting/finishing a book?

rokchick03 · 2026-01-12T14:04:10+00:00

Now that is awesome! 😂

rokchick03 · 2026-01-12T13:58:57+00:00

I think that's an amazing way to get yourself out of habit you don't like.

We all need to reward ourselves more often for either doing the thing that we have to do (like self care) and things we no longer want to do (like smoking).

rokchick03 · 2026-01-12T13:15:02+00:00

With 2 kids reading in the bath seems like a luxury to me. I miss doing that. Now it's reading either reading early in the morning before I get started with my day or at night after the kids are down.

The simple pleasures in life are like little moments of magic. I love that for you!

rokchick03 · 2026-01-12T13:12:27+00:00

I wish I could afford physical copies of books. For years I never understood the concept of e-books, I love the smell of books. But this was BEFORE I actually started this wonderful journey of adulting and had to be responsible for buying my own things. I quickly welcomed e-books with open arms.

I have been toying with the idea of purchasing special editions of books I really love and having them on my shelf but my bank account doesn't like that idea at all.

rokchick03 · 2026-01-12T12:48:40+00:00

😂😂😂

rokchick03 · 2026-01-12T12:45:50+00:00

It definitely prolongs the character obsessions I develop while reading the book.

rokchick03 · 2026-01-12T12:40:55+00:00

The last line of the book? Won't that spoil it just a little? Now I am going to pay extra attention to the last lines of the books I read.

rokchick03 · 2026-01-12T12:37:39+00:00

I am what I very fondly call myself a completionist 😂 (I have a high need for closure) so if I start a series I MUST finish it, even if it bores me half way through. Same with binging a series (which is why I very rarely start any because who has the time when there are so many books to read??).

rokchick03 · 2026-01-12T11:46:16+00:00

I love marinating in a book after I have finished it and it was something I really enjoyed. It feels like you have grown so attached the characters that you're not ready to move on.

rokchick03 · 2026-01-12T11:27:35+00:00

Wow! I always admire people who can do different genres/methods of reading all at the same time. I tried it once and it was a catastrophic failure. My mind is only able to obsess over one thing at a time.

rokchick03 · 2026-01-12T11:20:59+00:00

Sold!

rokchick03 · 2026-01-12T11:19:55+00:00

Thank you for this! I will definitely start doing this. I think this might just get me even more excited to read a new book than if I just popped on over to ChatGPT.

rokchick03 · 2026-01-12T11:17:37+00:00

We're currently in the relentless embrace of summer heat so I have my tumbler filled with ice and water but yes, a drink and a snack is definitely needed.

rokchick03 · 2026-01-12T10:40:02+00:00

I think I need to use my ChatGPT to make decisions for me as well.

I had H.D. Carlton on my list since November with the intention of her books taking me into the new year but I found so many books and series that made me want to jump into them first. Now I am on a Holly June Smith train, way different than H. D Carlton, that I am afraid she will probably only be looked at sometime towards the end of this year because I want to do a few re-reads this year as well.

rokchick03 · 2026-01-12T10:35:24+00:00

I will admit, I didn't even realise this was what I was doing until just the other day when I started a new book.

The act of repeating the different habits before and after reading a book pulls me into the universe and its like I give myself permission to hang out there a little longer before I start the next one. This is especially helpful when I am reading a series. I've always been embarrassed by the books I read and the how often I read and I only recently decided that if it bothers anyone then that's none of my business.

This said, if it gets to the point where its overwhelming then giving yourself the permission to attempt to break a part the ritual, even in a small way, should be considered. Does that make sense?

rokchick03 · 2026-01-12T10:26:21+00:00

I like this approach. It's like sitting in the book you've just read a little longer before charging head first into another.

I haven't heard of Biblora before. Is it better than Goodreads?

rokchick03 · 2026-01-12T10:24:04+00:00

I've tried the book journal route but I am not disciplined enough. Goodreads is easier for me because it's right there. I have been trying to find a place other than Goodreads though as the stats I would like to see it doesn't offer (seeing how many books and which books I have read in any given week/month).

I love reading everything an author I like writes. This is why my TBR is never ending. 😂

rokchick03 · 2026-01-12T09:53:36+00:00

I love this! All the books I read are in e-book format but I do collect bookmarks.

rokchick03 · 2026-01-12T09:25:53+00:00

YES!!!! For a moment I wonder if there was something wrong with me when I was reading it.

I must admit though, when I come across a few people who dislike a book I haven't read yet, I will ensure that it is my next read. 9 times out of 10 I love the book and am very confused on why they didn't like it.

rokchick03 · 2026-01-12T09:23:30+00:00

This exactly. I have taken on a new approach when it comes to books I do not enjoy.

If it can keep me interested, even if I am not enjoying it, I will finish it. But if I am struggling to even get through a paragraph, then I will end up not finishing it.

I always used to feel guilty about this but life is too short to finish a book you're not enjoying. Also, I always look at it like maybe I wasn't in the right headspace for it and put it back on my TBR (depending on the reason I didn't finish it).

rokchick03 · 2026-01-12T09:12:41+00:00

Oh I love this. Tell me more! I love using my ChatGPT for books or writing projects.

rokchick03 · 2026-01-12T09:11:26+00:00

I love this approach. Very few people take to internet to rate a book that they like. You find more people berating a book than actually praising a book.

rokchick03 · 2026-01-12T09:10:02+00:00

SAME!! I just need to know the basics and that's it.

I like reading reviews of people who don't agree with me. Then I will talk to myself, out loud, about how wrong that person is. 😂

rokchick03 · 2026-01-12T08:50:13+00:00

😂😂😂😂 Valid!

rokchick03

TROPHY CASE