Embrace your (literary) geekness

Megan Kaesshaefer  //  Jul 11, 2014

Embrace your (literary) geekness

This Sunday is Embrace Your Geekness Day. That means you officially have an excuse to lay your reservations aside for one full day and let that freak flag fly. Seeing as our blog team geeks out pretty much all day, every day, (usually over anything Harry Potter-related or things like literary puns, vintage book covers, extremely tiny books...we know, totally normal), I thought it would be fitting to have them share what makes them geek out the most when it comes to reading. Maybe you share in one of the below impetuses for geeking out, or maybe you have one of your own? Either way, share it with us!

I geek out over a lot of things. Particularly lovely dedications really get me. I am also a sucker for literary couples (when the news boke that writers Jonathan Safran Foer and Nicole Krauss split I couldn't really handle it.) But I really, truly lose it when I happen to see someone reading the same book I am. Especailly if it's not a new book. If it's an older, pretty random kind of book, I get irrationally excited and feel compelled to say something to this person (usually it's "I'm reading THE. SAME. BOOK!") I mean, what are the odds?

Nadia geeks out over used books. "I geek out about books (obviously) but specifically, used books," she says. "Whether it’s a book store or a table at a street fair, I can’t help stopping and taking a glance (even though I have so many books to read already!) I like the idea these books had their own journeys before ending up in front of me. Something about that makes them seem more special. (Oh, and I also geek out over all things Harry Potter too…)"

Brit is a sucker for beautiful book covers. "I am such a sucker for a beautifully designed book cover. I know, I know, you’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but I can’t help it! I also geek out over Game of Thrones," she says.

Comic books are Mike's kryponite. "I was a comic book kid when I was little, so anything related to my favorite superheroes is always a boon (Green Lantern, Wonder Woman). I am also a big Shakespeare fanatic, so I always geek out whenever I see any quotes used in pop culture (TV, film, even tattoos). It’s always enjoyable."

For Morgan, it's rediscovering books from yesteryear. "I get really geeked out over finding long-lost books from my childhood!" she says. "There are so many things I read but I often forget their titles or authors, even though I can remember entire passages from them. And then when I discover that book now, as an adult, I'm transported to that moment in my childhood. I even get an actual physical reaction — butterflies in my stomach! I just really love making connections between the memories I have of books and the actual books themselves."

Alex geeks out over books about her home. "As a native Jersey Shore girl, I totally geek out when authors write about my home. I especially love when authors go into detail about New Jersey beaches, boardwalks and the summer time spent 'down the shore.'"

For Stephanie, it's art history. "I took my first art history class my freshman year of college and I’ve been obsessed with it ever since. When I read art history books and recognize artist’s names, I get super excited!"

image via kara_allyson