I know the world has had enough “hot takes” to last a lifetime, but don’t worry, I think these are all pretty benign confessions. Mostly just things I’ve seen readers talk about a lot or express a lot of love for that I don’t quite feel the same way about. A post full of things that will make you all judge me! Sounds fun, right? It will be. Trust me. I know what I’m talking about, I’m a book blogger. And if you get angry, I give you permission to express that anger by throwing some books at me, as long as I get to keep them 😉
On to the confessions!
I Don’t Understand the Funko Pop Love
Ok, I started this post a while ago, and I haven’t seen much about Funko Pops lately, so I don’t know if they’re still a thing people are into. But for a while at least, every book blogger seemed to LOVE Funko Pops, and I just didn’t get it! They’re cute, I guess, but I have zero desire to own one. Except maybe the one of Sir Robot IV. I kind of want that one. Anyway, to each their own! I don’t begrudge anyone something harmless that brings them joy. But Funko Pops are just not for me.
I Also Don’t Understand the Love of Maps
They’re pretty, kinda. So I can understand why Bookstagrammers liked them. But I never have any clue how to read them. I barely even know how to read a real map. I also don’t find them useful while reading since I never “zoom out” that far in my mind. I’m always just right there with the characters, so it doesn’t matter which direction they’re walking or how far the distance is.
I Don’t Care About Chapter Length
Chapter length truly makes no difference to me. I don’t even notice how long chapters are, unless there’s something particularly unusual about them, like chapters that are only a few sentences long. It’s less noticeable when I’m listening to books, but even when I read with my eyes, I don’t care. I assume the reason people care must be because they like to stop at the end of chapters? I don’t have that problem. I actually prefer stopping in the middle of chapters because then I can stop during lull and not be left on a cliffhanger.
I Often Find Myself Making the Faces that Characters are Making
I suppose this confession isn’t like the others. It’s less of an unpopular opinion and more of an embarrassing thing I do. Though I’m usually just at home where no one can see me when I’m reading or listening to books, so it’s fine. Anyway, I don’t make the faces on purpose. It just happens. I think it helps me understand the facial expressions better or something. Or maybe it just happens when I’m really immersed and putting myself in their minds. I’ve noticed I do this when I’m drawing too.
I Don’t Mind the Lack of Communication Trope
People in real life are terrible at communicating. I’m including myself in that assessment, because even I can have a hard time talking about certain things in certain situations. I know the trope annoys a lot of readers, and occasionally it might annoy me, depending on context, but I usually find it realistic, especially when they’re worried what the other person will think or have reason to believe the other person doesn’t feel the same, etc.
I Don’t Sniff Books
I feel like I must be the only bookworm in the entire world who’s not a book-sniffer. Every time someone mentions the smell of books, everyone gets so hyped—liking, commenting on how they love the smell too, etc. But I just don’t get it! I mean, I got rid of a bunch of old books from 10+ years ago, ones that were from a used bookstore to begin with, because they had such a strong smell. Is that the old book smell everyone loves? Did these just happen to get musty or something? Is mustiness the smell people like? I literally don’t even know. Strong smells just give me headaches.
I Don’t Watch Movie Adaptations
But I’ve talked about this before. (I’m linking to an old post without rereading it, risky move on my part. Don’t judge me too harshly if it’s terrible.) They ruin the picture I have in my head, and most of the time I can never get that picture back after seeing the movie. So I’ve just started avoiding movies that are based on books I love. If I didn’t care about the book or I haven’t read it though, I may watch an adaptation. Sometimes I’ll even end up reading the book after, since at least there’s no image of my own to ruin at that point.
I’m with you on the Funko Pop thing. I have one, but only because it came in a book box. It wasn’t something I would have gone out of my way to get. It’s one of those things cluttering up my shelves now. I understand what you’re saying on the lack of communication… but it still drives me up the wall. It may be realistic but I think it’s one of those things which annoys me in real life as well. When people are having issues and refuse to speak to one another about it I want to pull my hair out. I don’t understand skating around a problem and I really hate people not being honest as well so it probably says more about me than anything else.
Exactly, I don’t need more clutter. I don’t even know what to do with the few art prints I have, let alone Funko Pops! I can understand that just because something is realistic, it doesn’t mean people want to read about it.
“And if you get angry, I give you permission to express that anger by throwing some books at me, as long as I get to keep them 😉”.
Ha! Nice try 😜.
I’m not a book sniffer either! And I don’t like Funko Pops at all, with those big heads and similar features…and I don’t care for chapter lengths unless they’re REALLY long and I need to stop reading (which I can’t bring myself to do mid-chapter…). I think the only thing I don’t agree with is the lack of communication trope, though I guess it can be realistic at times…but then, I hate it in real life too haha.
Now I’m picturing you replicating characters’ faces 😂.
I tried, but it didn’t work, haha.
I really don’t get why people don’t stop mid-chapter! I think it’s better that way, no cliffhangers lol. That’s fair, sometimes people don’t want to read about frustrating real life things in their entertainment!
I don’t get Funko Pop either. They are cute. There were maybe two I liked, but I didn’t buy them. I love maps. Even since we studied about maps in school, I love looking at them. I used to not care about chapter length, but now I do. I check about how many minutes in the chapter when I read my kindle. For audiobooks, I care more about the length of each part, not chapter length. The audiobooks I get from Overdrive are in sections in parts and the parts are at least an hour long. I don’t know if I make faces while reading. I don’t sniff books either. I do watch movie adaptions like the one I am watching this Friday.
I suppose maps can just be pretty to look at. I’m glad to know there are other non book sniffers out there. It’s interesting learning what I do and don’t have in common with other people!
Funko Pops lol. I bought a couple but yeah I got over them quick. Sir Robot WOULD be a good one, though. I do like maps though, if they’re a nice one. Some of the older fantasy books have such goofy ones. I never cared about chapter length either, although lately I’ve found myself liking shorter, punchy little chapters? Maybe because I’ve had less reading time?
Sniffing books SOUNDS weird haha but I admit I do like that new book smell. Like when it arrives from Amazon or whatever and I open it up… I guess I like used books and how they smell, too, somewhat. It sounds so weird to even say it.
I really do kinda want that one, haha. So I guess I can see some of the appeal if someone really loves a character. Maybe shorter, punchy chapters are more attention-grabbing?
It doesn’t even sound weird to me, people talk about it so much lol.
I feel the same way about most of these, but I do care about chapter length. I hate long chapters because I do not like when I cannot finish the chapter before I have to go into work or whatnot. I read a book recently where the chapters were one hour or longer. That’s too long.
I can see how that’d be too long if you had to get to work!
Okay, I LOVE the confession about imitating expressions the characters make, because I CONSTANTLY catch myself doing that – generally not on purpose 😂 I also don’t really get the map hype. When I see a bookish map, I usually glance at it once and move on lol.
Haha, I’m glad it’s not just me! Same, I’m like, “Oh a map,” look at it, and then never refer back to it.
I don’t get the whole Funko Pop thing either. I only have one and I got that for my birthday one year. I find maps to be helpful when reading a book where the character goes on a long journey.
One Funko Pop seems like a good amount lol. It’s interesting to me that people use maps that way since I just never zoom out that much!
Haha about sniffing books I am the total opposite. I’ve actually found there are a few varieties in book smells and I love to smell books to see what variety they are…. There are a few books that stick in my mind mainly because of the smell. And not like, sat in mildew for three days smell. Even a just bought from the store smell can be unique.
That’s interesting! You’re like a book smell connoisseur 😁
I used to like Funko Pops but then my mom got into them and wouldn’t stop buying them. I am now thoroughly over Funko Pops lol
I also do not sniff books? I also don’t really find the smell of books that pleasing. Libraries usually smell funky to me.
I don’t agree with some, like I LOVE maps and reference them often depending on the book and while I will read a book with long chapters, I lose focus of it’s like over 10 pages. I don’t know why haha
This was a fun post!
Oh no, overdoing it is one way to ruin an enjoyment lol.
I’m glad I’m not the only one who doesn’t sniff books. I just don’t get it! What is the smell they like, cuz none of it really smells good to me?
It’s nice that some people are getting use out of maps, even if I’m not!
Thanks 🙂
I only have a few funko; dachshund & two pokemons.. and that’s it 🤷🏽♀️ Except for my fave eeveelution, I don’t plan on buying more.
Omg yep, Maps are pretty the first time you look at them.. and then I don’t look at it again 🤣 i just- make my own map in my head as I go ahaha
As for chapter lenght.. I do like them small as I have a thing for stopping ONLY at chapter breaks. And especially if I bring it to read on my break at work or whatever, and The chapter goes on forever, that’s not good for me 😅
Having a few of characters or animals you like seems nice! Exactly, I’m like, “Oh, a map,” and then never look at it again, at least not while reading.
I guess I can understand why long chapters would be a problem if you only stop at chapter breaks!
I’m not a book sniffer either! 9 times out of 10 I can’t stand the smell of books and prefer to keep them away from my face, especially if they’re older. And I’m a fan of Funko Pops and can see why some people aren’t into them, but I think it’s hilarious when people get so angry about them and act like they’re the worst thing in the world.
Glad it’s not just me! It’s a sort of headache-inducing smell for me. Yeah, it would be weird to be angry about something that isn’t harming anyone!
The only one I disagree with is the lack of communication. It irks me to read problems arise when if they had just talked about it, the problem probably wouldn’t be there at all,
You’re not alone, that seems to be the one most people disagree with me on, haha.
I totally get the character faces thing! I find myself making faces when I’m looking for emojis to send to people, for some reason I need to remind myself what it looks like on my face so I can find the emoji match
I’m so glad I’m not the only one lol. I wonder if I do it with emojis too and don’t even notice, haha.
Haha, chapter length is important to me! I hate stopping in the middle of a chapter, unless there is an actual break in the text. I’ll totally forget what I was reading!
You’re the only person who explained an actual reason for not liking to stop mid-chapter, so thank you lol.
I kind of feel the same about all of these except maybe the chapter one. Not that I’m a stickler for ending on a chapter but I just seem to.
And the lack of communication trope. It’s not that I mind it, in general. You’re right – it does happen in real life but so any books drag it out for 80% of the book and then one simple sentence resolves everything. If it’s doen well then I don’t care.
And if you get angry, I give you permission to express that anger by throwing some books at me, as long as I get to keep them 😉
Was this your master plan? lol
Karen @For What It’s Worth
Glad I’m not alone on all these at least! I mean, yeah, the lack of communication can be done poorly sometimes, just like any trope.
My master plan didn’t work, no one threw any books at me, haha.
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I absolutely love this post! Just goes to show that we don’t all have to think the same, right? I do like Funko Pops – I don’t have many, but I love the ones I have. And even though I don’t read maps, I still kind of love them? (It makes no sense.) I don’t care about chapter length. I definitely make faces when I read! Not a fan of the lack of communication trope (though you’re right that it’s very real). I don’t sniff books. I’ve tried, just for the heck of it. Smelled like … paper? And I do like movie adaptations. Usually.
🙂
Thanks! Yep, we’re all different, and that’s ok when it’s little things like this! I can maybe understand the appeal of having a small collection of Funko Pops for characters you really love. And I can understand just liking the aesthetic of maps. But I’m glad to know I’m not alone on some of these! Lol I still don’t understand what book smell I’m supposed to like.
Haha I agree with about half of these! I love funko pops!! But I don’t really like maps or the smell of old books (they make my eyes feel all dry when I read them) I also make the faces with characters!! The only time I care about chapter length is when they are really short and then I find it annoying, but most of the time I don’t notice them!
I already have dry eyes, I couldn’t handle anything that makes them drier lol. I’m so glad I’m not the only one making faces!
Ha, I agree with most of these.
The only ones I disagree with are the movies thing (because a lot of the time I actually watch the movie before I read the book *gasps*) and kind of the lack of communication trope… occasionally it can be OK, but mostly it does my hand in! Lol.
I’m more likely to read a book after seeing the movie than the other way around, so no gasps from me lol.