I first saw this tag/challenge/game popup over on YouTube. Today, I’ve decided to bring this one to you fine people in blog land.
PLAY ALONG! If you’d classify yourself as a book nerd, TAKE THE CHALLENGE.
Here we go, the DILEMMAS OF A BOOK NERD tag.
Dilemma #1: Book Storage – How do you store and organize your books?
My books are stored on two matching little bookshelves behind my couch. When I first bought the shelves they had plenty of empty space. Now they’re basically full to bursting. At one point, fairly recently, they were organized by genre. Since I bought a few new books that has not really worked out. I need to organize again. I need to donate more of the ones I’ve finished reading to make room.

Dilemma #2: Tracking – How do you keep track of what you have read and what books you own?
I track the books I’ve read over on Goodreads and, of course, on the YouTube channel where I do monthly book wrap ups on the last Tuesday of each month. I really don’t track what I own. I started to, adding a shelf on my Goodreads that was simply “Own”. I always forget to update it when I buy books though so it’s getting confusing.
Dilemma #3: Borrow – Do you lend your books out?
Absolutely! I lend them out, I give them away, or I bring them to my favorite little used bookstore to trade. If I’ve purchased a book I think you’ll like, I’m going to hand it to you. Most of the time I don’t even want it back. That, of course, changes if I think I’ll read the book again or if it’s autographed.
Dilemma #4: Buying – How do you buy or acquire your books?
A lot of ways.
-Library. I go to the library once or a twice a month. Sometimes I open up my Goodreads and grab the books that have been on their the longest that are actually at the library. Sometimes I just wander the “new” section and grab whatever looks good. Sometimes I get the ones I’ve been chomping at the bit to read the most.
-BN. I went to college in a really small town and I remember how badly the town protested the addition of this big name box store then. So a part of me still hates to admit it, but I do sometimes shop in my local Barnes and Noble. It’s actually quite rare, maybe only two-three times a year. I tend to shop the sales tables here.
-Used bookstores. There are two in the valley of the sun that I particularly love. If you happen to live in Arizona you should really check out R Bookmark (Youngtown) and Dog-Eared Pages (Phoenix). Used bookstores can be a great way to check out an author you’ve never heard of or something you’ve been meaning to find. I’ve also had great luck finding hard-to-find titles at my used book stores.
-Online. I buy books directly from authors or publishers online a lot of the time.
–Indie Book Box. I’m a three books a month subscriber 😉
-Kindle/Nook. I have both of these apps on my phone but I have to admit they’re rarely used. I ALWAYS forget about them. I’d say I download a book a year (maybe).
Dilemma #5: Comments – How do you respond to the “How do you read so much” comment or similar comments?
I laugh. I’m aware of how much I read now that I’m on Goodreads. It’s fine. I embrace it.
Dilemma #6: Next Book – How do you pick your next read?
Most of the time I simply go off what I’m in the mood for. I do try to change it up a little from whatever I read last by changing genre or age category.

Dilemma #7: Travel – How do you pick what book(s) you bring on vacation with you?
I usually have a paperback book in my purse and an audiobook on my phone app. When I am going away for a weekend or something I will make sure to bring at least one other paperback with me. If, for some reason, I forget a paperback or don’t want to pack physical books I’m covered by my phone. I have my Kindle app, my Nook app, my library’s app (Overdrive), and my iBooks app. I always have books.
Dilemma #8: Annotate – Do you write or highlight or mark up your books in any way?
Not usually. If the book is nonfiction that I’m reading for research purposes I will. Fiction I tend to just take a picture of a page if I really want to remember something or feel strongly about it. I don’t really have a problem with highlighting/annotating but (as I already mentioned) I often lend out or trade books. They have to be clean for this!
Dilemma #9: New or Backlist – Which do you prefer, new releases or backlist books?
All of the above. One of the ways I like to change up what I’ve been reading is to change release years. There are so many books in the world I’ve never had a chance to read, I don’t want to limit myself by release year. I’m reading a 2017 book right now which I think I actually bought new at BN but I’m listening to an audiobook from 1996.
Dilemma #10: Sequels – Do you read books as they are released for wait for an entire series to be published before reading 1 book?
I read them as I find/discover them. Sometimes this is wwwaaayyy after they’re released (I’m literally just now digging into the Mortal Instruments series) and sometimes I’m (im)patiently waiting for the new one (ahem-Holly Black) to be released. I’m also weird in that I have a ridiculously good memory for books. I can pick up a sequel to something a year after I’ve read the first book and be instantly transported back into the world. I have no problems with forgetting details. I have also (on occasion) read a series out of order (on purpose). I actually really LOVED the Mr Mercedes trilogy out of order.
That was fun! I’m not going to tag anyone specifically but if you’re a self-proclaimed book nerd, give it a try. Here are the questions!
The Dilemmas of a Book Nerd Tag.
Dilemma #1: Book Storage – How do you store and organize your books?
Dilemma #2: Tracking – How do you keep track of what you have read and what books you own?
Dilemma #3: Borrow – Do you lend your books out?
Dilemma #4: Buying – How do you buy or acquire your books?
Dilemma #5: Comments – How do you respond to the “How do you read so much” comment or similar comments?
Dilemma #6: Next Book – How do you pick your next read?
Dilemma #7: Travel – How do you pick what book(s) you bring on vacation with you?
Dilemma #8: Annotate – Do you write or highlight or mark up your books in any way?
Dilemma #9: New or Backlist – Which do you prefer, new releases or backlist books?
Dilemma #10: Sequels – Do you read books as they are released for wait for an entire series to be published before reading 1 book?
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