When I say the phrase, “books are life,” I mean it. I could not imagine a world without the works of Edgar Allen Poe, Anne Rice, and other talented writers. Although I love books and I hope they stay relevant in this world of technology, I have a few bookworm confessions I need to make.

1. I love their smell

Of course, I don’t stick my head in a book and smell it page by page. I don’t have to. When I flip through the pages sometimes an aroma will rise and my nose catches it. Usually this happens with old books and sometimes the smell tells me if I should read it. They say you can’t judge a book by its cover, but you can judge it by its smell.

2. A lot of books, so little time

If life was simple and didn’t require that thing known as “work,” I could easily get through all the unread books on my shelf. If I was a Disney Princess like Belle, I would even have the privilege of running out of books so I could reread my favorites. All fantasies aside, the reality is that I keep buying new books to add to that shelf, just so I have more books that I probably won’t get to till I’m 60…if I still have my eyesight.

3. I lose my mind when people say, "I don't read books."

This may sound judgemental, but let me explain. I do not expect everyone to be addicted to book, however, a lot can be learned from reading. There is a book out there for every interest, every person, so what's the harm in trying to find one?

4. I hate it when a bookstore shuts down

Part of the joy of loving books, is the ability to look at millions of them in a store. So, whenever a book store shuts down, the less physical books accessible and one more step toward being dependent on technology.

5. Finding out there are more books in a series...when I thought I finished them all

This means I have to find transportation, money and time to complete the series that I thought I completed. But, I can handle those three things, it’s the feeling of wanting to know what happens next. It’s the anticipation that kills me. Until I can get the next book, I have to dodge spoilers like bullets. Speaking of spoilers…

6. I despise people who spoil the ending

If someone spoiled the ending of a movie for me, I’ll be upset, but I can still watch it to see how it was directed. When it comes to spoiling a book, there is no point in reading it anymore unless it’s really well-written.

7. Wanting the book to end, but needing the story to continue

Anyone who has read an amazing book knows this feeling. Getting to the end of a book means I can make time to read another. At the same time, once I fall in love with the characters and the story line, I want it to be never-ending. On the other hand, I need to move on so I can fall in love with other books. It’s a strange, contradicting emotion.