Beyond Reality discussion

In the comments, ask a bookish "this or that" question. It can be as broad or as specific as you like, as long as it's book or reading related. For example: "Do you prefer reading indoors or outdoors?" Or "Do you prefer to eat sweet or salty snacks while reading?" Then, go through the comments and answer as many as you like! Some questions may not be applicable to you, and that's okay. This is just a fun way to get to know our fellow Beyond Reality members, and see some of our bookish preferences, traits, dislikes, loves, etc. Answer (and ask) as many or as few "this or that" questions as you like!

Here's mine:
Buy a book or borrow from the library?

Wow, that's a lot of brain work for a Sunday morning :)

I'll toss out a couple, though I'm sure we've covered some of these in the past with our weekly questions.

1) Book or TV/Movie first?
yeah, I know, we've asked this one before but I was discussing the new Murderbot show with coworkers and the subject came up about whether they should read the novellas or just watch the TV show.

While I do watch TV, its not as common, and I almost always lean towards wanting to read the book first. But I am hoping some of them might like the show well enough to start reading the novellas. :)

Bonus points: Do you have any exceptions to this rule?
Mine: The Umbrella Academy. I enjoyed the show but I've never had any interest to go back and read the comic.

2) We recently had to have the fire alarm system tested in our office and many of my coworkers were just freaked out by the noise. I mean a lot more than I would have expected given we knew it was coming. Annoying, but expected and short lived. And this made me think

Would you rather read in an uncomfortable but quiet location, or a comfortable location that is noisy?

I go for the comfortable but noisy location myself. I'm the youngest in my family, the second youngest grandchild. Quiet was just something I never got much of and its amazing how much I can tune noises out. In fact the only noises I can't tune out are either the ones I can't identify where they are coming from or ones which signify a problem.

For example, there can be a big gathering of people with loud talking and laughter and I can tune that out with no problem. But the faint whine of a failing fan (in a piece of electronic equipment) will trigger alarm bells that I just cannot ignore.

Oh and overhearing my name being said will also trigger alarm bells even if I am successfully tuning out everything else. :)

My question: Reading in the early day or late day?

I'm retired, so I tend to read whenever I have the time and energy throughout the day, but I generally prefer the morning time, especially reading with my breakfast and lunch. It's nice and leisurely feeling, but also my brain is usually sharper and my concentration and retention are better.

Buy a book or borrow from the library?

Well, I have stage IV cancer, so I avoid collecting things and spending money on thing I don't really need/will get much use out of. I already have more books than I can manage, so now I prefer borrowing from the library as much as I can these days.

Book or TV/Movie first?

In most cases I would prefer having read the book first. I generally feel I get more out of books, usually because books allow me to use my imagination more or they cover more ground, story and character-wise. Speaking of Murderbot, I haven't seen the show yet, but am very glad I've read the books (multiple times each) already.

Bonus points: Do you have any exceptions to this rule?

The Expanse. I have tried to read the first book, after how they fudged the TV series ending, but between my personal dislike of one of the authors after being exposed to him on Twitter and my generally dislike for the duo's writing, it was pass. Similar with GRRM and Game of Thrones. I don't like his writing and couldn't get through even the first book.

Would you rather read in an uncomfortable but quiet location, or a comfortable location that is noisy?

It depends. I'm autistic and very sensitive to noise (and I have hyperacusis), so generally I'd prefer quiet. But do I have my noise-cancelling headphones/earplugs, or my bluetooth headphones to listen to the audiobook with me? If so I can manage most noisy locations. I spend a lot of time in waiting rooms at the hospital/clinics I go to for treatment, so I tend to read in those places when I can. But often other people there are talking on their phones or scrolling through media with the volume up, or there's a TV there that has the volume up more loudly that necessary. It's so annoying and all that noise can trigger my anxiety, so I come prepared.

Shel wrote: "Here's mine:
Buy a book or borrow from the library?"

I’m a buyer.
I don’t like having a time limit in which I have to finish a book, & I don’t like feeling I have to read a particular book when it’s available, whether I’m in the mood for that book or not.
I occasionally “borrow” ebooks from Amazon (usually their short story collections with audio that I listen to while I walk), but other than that, I buy what I want to read. If they are physical books, I usually buy from used bookstores, but not always. I’ve been buying more ebooks these days.

Buy a book or borrow from the library?
Buy. Like Kathi, I don't like being time constrained on when I read something and how long I am allowed to be reading it. I also like to be able to revisit a book at any time if I so wish.
Plus, I just like owning books. I can happily live without a lot of stuff (in fact I prefer it that way), but books will never be one of them.

Reading in the early day or late day?
Late. I am not a morning person. My brain just doesn't function that well before noon. :)

Random wrote: "1) Book or TV/Movie first?"
Usually book first.
Bonus points: Do you have any exceptions to this rule?
The Expanse was one of my exceptions. I started the books when the group was reading them for a series discussion, and I think I started watching the show while I was reading. I finished the books before the series was completed.
2) Would you rather read in an uncomfortable but quiet location, or a comfortable location that is noisy?
I am horribly distracted by voices, so for me, it depends on the kind of noise. I can read just fine with music (even singing) & lots of other kinds of noise, but voices (TV, talk radio, conversations close by) are very hard for me to block out. I guess, if I had to choose, I’d say uncomfortable but quiet.

CJ wrote: "My question: Reading in the early day or late day?
I can read email & news things early in the day, but my usual preference for reading books is later afternoon or evening. I find I’m more relaxed and can let myself sink into the story.
The exception is when I fly—then I read to make the time go faster, regardless of time of day.

My question: Do you prefer visual reading (paper or ebook) or audio reading (audiobook)?

I’ve gotten more comfortable with audiobooks, but visual reading is still my preferred mode by far. I like to be able to look back or reread a passage, and I think I retain more details of the story than if I’m listening to it.

1) Would you rather read fantasy or science fiction?

I like both and read a lot of both but I think if I had to choose I'd go with fantasy. I like inherent creativeness to it, there are no "rules" to follow.

2) Would you rather read a stand alone novel or a series?

I mostly love series. Lots of good standalones out there but I really like getting into a longer story, and going back to favourite characters again, without having to re-read.

I would rather borrow from the library, I love the library. I visit in person a couple times a week and I spend lots of time on the app adding books to my wishlists.

I don't re-read much and I don't refer back to books I've read before, so I've found that owning books doesn't matter to me.
That said, if we're talking pattern books and cook books, that it totally different and I love to own lots of both, whether I ever use them or not.

For book or movie, I like book first. And if I happen to watch the movie first I don't usually go back and read the book.
A lot of the reason for me to watch something based on a book is often because I liked the book in the first place.
If I watched a movie or TV show without reading the book, there is a good chance I had no interest in the book/comic to start with. So with somethings like, Twilight, Shadow & Bone, Hunger Games, Shadow Hunters, 50 Shades of Grey, Lord of the Rings, Gone with the Wind, Devil wears Prada....I've watched the shows and have no interest in going back and reading the books.
But Jane Austen, Anne of Green Gables, Elizabeth Gaskell, Agatha Christie....I read the books and I love watching all the adaptations.

I would much prefer quiet over comfort. I love being in the middle of a lake with no noise around me. No other people, no other boats, no planes, no music, no kids, no cars, no furnace, no fridge, no computer. Just beautiful peace and quiet. Just the wind and the waves.
I spend a lot of time with my earbuds in, even if I'm not listening to anything, just to make things quieter. And white noise makes my life so much better, I can tune out anything.

I tend to read later in the day. I sometimes listen to a book on my morning commute but usually that is music or podcast time. By lunch I'm more into reading a book and evenings often are my best reading time.

And I don't have a preference for audio, paper, or ebook. I use all mediums. But I do a vast majority of my "reading" via audiobook. I listen during my commute, at work when I'm bored, when I'm walking or cycling, on road trips or airplanes. It just ends up being a more convenient way for me to "read".
I've started reading more paper books lately because they are often much faster to get from the library these days instead of digital.

CJ, best wishes on your journey. My husband also is in Stage 4 and treatment makes no sense in his situation, so here we go.

Reading in the early day or late day?

Both. Especially in bed.

Buy a book or borrow from the library?

Borrow from the library unless it's Michael Perry or completely unavailable. Sometimes, rarely, I buy if it's a book I'll want to reread, like The Bees. I also use paperbackswap, interlibrary loan, and openlibrary/internet archive.

Would you rather read in an uncomfortable but quiet location, or a comfortable location that is noisy?
Um. The former. Generally I do not like noise, don't even watch tv. But the latter would work if it were, say, a commuter train, something I could tune out as not concerning me.

And, I still very much prefer paper books. I totally can do audio & ebooks, but would rather not.


1) Would you rather read fantasy or science fiction?

I like both and read a lot of both but I think if I had to choose I'd go with fantasy. I like inherent creativeness to it, there are no "rules" to follow.

Funny. I prefer SF because of the rules!

2) Would you rather read a stand alone novel or a series?

Stand alone, absolutely. Make your point and let me move along. Now, sometimes I fall in love with characters, but I still don't want to have to find and read each of several books in order. (I make exceptions for Becky Chambers loosely connected stories, and Star Trek novelizations.)

** My question for you-all: Dnf, or set aside for later?

I've tried to set aside, but I wind up never picking it up again. I've got a couple sitting on my nightstand right now that have been there far too long; they're just not calling me.

Dawn wrote: "1) Would you rather read fantasy or science fiction?
I love both, but I read more fantasy, and it seems like there are more fantasy books/authors out there these days."
2) Would you rather read a stand alone novel or a series?
I think I prefer series, but I also love a great stand-alone, so it’s almost a tie. What I like about series is the possibility of more complex, layered plots that unfold over time & distance and more opportunities to really get to know the characters (and probably a larger cast, which increases the odds of finding characters with whom I really connect).

Cheryl wrote: "** My question for you-all: Dnf, or set aside for later?"
Well, I am just anal enough almost never quit reading something I’ve started, so I rarely do either one of these. I have only DNF-ed a couple books that I can think of. If I’ve read more than a few pages, I would likely not set aside a book for later but would read it to get it done with! I have to be really frustrated with a book to not finish it.

I’m with you Cheryl, I try putting things aside but usually move them to my DNF shelf. Most between 30 and 40 percent, so really I feel like I’ve put in enough effort that a DNF feels fair.

Sitting at my desk sipping my first cup of tea this morning and trying to pretend I am not at work and having to play 20 questions in an hour with a PM on how something is supposed to work.

Do you prefer visual reading (paper or ebook) or audio reading (audiobook)?
Funny enough, I actually prefer text (in my case ebook) over audio. But, my life and schedule makes audiobooks much more practical if I actually want to get any reading done.

Would you rather read fantasy or science fiction?
Honestly it depends on my mood. I tend to enjoy both. So far, this year has been a SF year. primarily because I'm marathoning the Expeditionary Force series. Once I'm caught up, that might change.

Would you rather read a stand alone novel or a series?
Again, it depends on my mood or what has grabbed my attention. Stand alone books can be appealing because they are less of a commitment. The story is all there. I can read it, enjoy it, and be done with it.
But it can also be fun to immerse into a big series and know that I already know what the next X number of books will be.
Adding to that, a large series can be wearing after a while. Like I am looking forward to a break from my current series to read the new Scalzi book for next month's SF read. Once I have started a series, it can be difficult for me to break away from it, even if I am needing a break.

Dnf, or set aside for later?
I don't really differentiate between the two. If I do not finish a book, I usually just remove it from my shelves. I might or might not get back to it and that is fine with me.
I did create a on-hold shelf for books I paused for some reason with a plan of getting back to later. Looking at it, I see one book has been there for 5 years and another for 7. I still think I want to get back to them, but being a mood based reader means tossing intentions out the window.

Actually I was enjoying Faller and can't remember why I put it on hold in the first place.
I should probably make an effort to get back to it. Maybe I'll nominate it for a monthly SF read. :)

Shel wrote: "Here's mine:
Buy a book or borrow from the library?"

Buy. When I was 16 or 17 my Dad talked my into taking my books to the used book store to get some new ones. I then spent the next couple of years buying them all back

** My question for you-all: Dnf, or set aside for later?

Mostly DNF. I created an exclusive shelf just for them, so I can track them. There are just too many good books out there for me to waste time on something I really don't like. And I read a lot of books either on a whim or for a group read or because it looks pretty, so I have lots of opportunity to try random books, and also dislike said books.

I do have a "on a break" shelf, but it stays really small and if I leave a book on there too long they end up DNF'd

I’m going to try to answer all the questions
1 Buy a book or borrow from the library?
I always look to borrow a book from the library first. If I can’t find it there, I’ll buy it from amazon or somewhere else.
2 Book or TV/Movie first?
Almost always book first.
3 Do you have any exceptions to this rule?
The only time I can remember watching a show before reading the book is the Witcher. I watched season 1 of the Witcher on Netflix in December of 2019 and read the book the season was based on in February of 2020. The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski.
4 Would you rather read in an uncomfortable but quiet location, or a comfortable location that is noisy?
I go for the noisy location because I can tune out distractions well. I find I can concentrate better in a noisy place.
5 Reading in the early day or late day?
I like to read during my breaks at work during the day and as I am walking in the neighborhood at night. So, no preference.
6 Do you prefer visual reading (paper or eBook) or audio reading (audiobook)?
I prefer paper books though recently I’ve been reading about half of my books as an eBook. I don’t like audiobooks at all. I just lose track of the story with an audiobook.
7 Would you rather read fantasy or science fiction?
I read both equally. If I had to pick, I would pick epic fantasy.
8 Would you rather read a stand-alone novel or a series?
I like both. I read a couple of series each year. I found a list of best standalone fantasy books from tor.com that I am reading also. I read four of the ten listed. I can’t find the original article though.
Here’s another good list.
I’ve read six of the fifteen here. I’ve seen The Princess Bride movie many times, but I’ve never read it. The Princess Bride by William Goldman is on the list and I should read it.
9 DNF, or set aside for later?
I can’t DNF any book I begin. For example, I had read half of I Am a Barbarian by Edgar Rice Burroughs about forty years ago. I found the book recently and finished it. Everything else I read until I’m done.