Books

What Your Reading Style Says About Your Personality

by Charlotte Ahlin
mybookbath/Instagram

If you've ever encountered a fellow reader in a classroom or a book club or living in the walls of an independent bookshop, then you probably know that there are many different types of readers. And I don't just mean that different readers favor different book genres—people can enjoy the same book in very different ways. You might be a highly organized, one chapter per night kind of reader, or you might be the kind of person who picks up a novel and doesn't put it down until you've reached the last page, dehydrated and sobbing. The good news is that there's no one right way to be a book-lover, so here's what your reading style says about you.

Of course, most of us dabble in multiple reading styles. When I'm reading a biography, for example, I'll read a chapter or two during my commute and spend a lot of time thinking quietly about the impact of one individual on the grand course of history. But if I'm reading a George R.R. Martin book, I'll hole up in my room until I'm finished, and then spend a lot of time explaining the differences between the books and the TV show to everyone I know until they stop taking my calls.

So check out your favorite reading styles, and what they say about you:

1

The Cozy Reader

You don't even think about cracking open that book until you've got your slippers, sweatpants, blankets, and warm drink of choice firmly in place. You like your reading time to be quiet and solitary (unless you have a best friend or significant other willing to cuddle in silence). You're religious about taking off your pants and/or bra as soon as you get home, your bed is the most comfortable place in the world, you prefer cats to dogs, and you check "interested" instead of "going" on all Facebook invites, just in case you'd rather stay home.

2

The Commuter

You have to take the subway/bus/ferry everyday anyway. Why not put that time to good use? You're a pro at blocking out all sights and smells while you read, and you can balance a book, a bagel, and a cup of coffee while holding onto a pole, wedged between two business bros. You're not afraid to be judged for the books you read in public, and you're excellent at making the most of your time.

3

The Speed Reader

You devour books whole. You were always getting in trouble as a kid for reading at the table, or under your desk during class, but all that youthful reading gave you the ability to rip through paragraphs in record time. You feel like you've wasted a week if you weren't able to make it through a single book, and no matter how fast you read it always seems like your TBR list is getting longer. At least once you've started a "new" book, only to realize that you've read it before (it's hard to keep track!).

4

The Book Clubber

When you finish a book, you want to talk about it. You need to talk about it, preferably over wine with people you like. It doesn't matter if you loved or hated the book, you have opinions to share! If you read a book outside of book club, you might even venture online just to discuss it with someone. You also enjoy bite-sized finger foods, starting debates, and throwing themed birthday parties for your friends and pets.

5

The Digital Reader

You're all about Kindles and E-readers of every kind. You like having all your books in one place, especially when you travel. You never type when you can speak into your phone, you own real headphones, not earbuds, and you have a strong opinion about the proper pronunciation of "gif."

6

The Series Junkie

Sure, you'll read the occasional stand alone book, but deep down you're a die-hard series junkie. Nothing gets your heart racing like seeing "Book One" on the cover of that new novel you just purchased. You're enthusiastic and deeply protective of the books and people that you love. You may or may not own several mugs/key chains/candles based on your favorite series, you've read at least one piece of fanfiction, and you always display your books in order on the shelf.

7

The Re-Reader

Your favorite books are held together with tape and sheer willpower. You could probably recite Harry Potter from memory. You know that re-reading isn't for everyone, but you secretly believe that you haven't really read a book until you've read it at least twice. You're big on posting Throwback Thursday pics, and you're not afraid to get a little nostalgic about everything from The Baby-sitters' Club to Furbies.

8

The Slow & Steady Reader

Reading isn't all about speed. You don't race to the last page, but you still enjoy a good book. You might leisurely work your way through an 800 page novel over the course of the year, and that's still quite an accomplishment. You choose your words carefully, but when you speak, people listen (your friends won't let you pick the restaurant anymore, though, because no one has that kind of time).

9

The Scribbler

Some people call it desecrating a book, but you call it taking notes! When you read, you simply have to underline and highlight and comment on every sentence that strikes you. You're all about writing in the margins (what else are the margins there for?) and collecting quotes. You've caught multiple typos before. You jiggle your foot a lot when you try to sit still, you were always the first to raise your hand in English class, and you have extensive thoughts about why that pivotal scene got cut out of the HBO adaptation of your favorite book.

10

The Audio Addict

You have no time for those people who don't think that audiobooks "count" as "real books." If you're walking or cleaning or driving, you better believe that you're listening to an audiobook. You can read so many more books this way! You have a very active imagination, and you sometimes find yourself daydreaming in your favorite book narrator's voice.

11

The Book Juggler

Why read one book at once when you could read five? You're constantly starting new books, and you're pretty adept at holding multiple plots in your brain at once. You're a habitual multi-tasker, you bounce between multiple social groups, and your plans are sometimes just a tad more ambitious than you have the time for.

12

The Night Owl

You don't necessarily plan to stay up all night reading...but here you are at four in the morning, still flipping pages. You'll go days without picking up a single book, and then read two in one night. You'll try to stick to one chapter before bed, and wind up reading ten. Something about nighttime just makes it easier to get sucked in! You have a similar problem with binge watching TV shows and eating all the Girl Scout cookies in one sitting, but you're also a lot of fun when it comes to spontaneous road trips and late night heart to hearts.