We’ve all been there. When a non-Book lover makes a comment or just gives you a strange look.

In fact, I have a great story to share with you. I get the train to work – not for lack of a drivers’ license, it’s just easier all round. Winchester is a nightmare for parking and the station is ten minutes from my house. So I get the train.

When you do commute by train, you begin to recognise certain people who travel at the same time as you. Most of these people you’ll never speak to – us Brits don’t like nagging in conversation with strangers, it’s why we don’t make many friends…

Except there was this one guy who would start chatting to me. He was nice enough, it was harmless. The awkward joke of ‘I always see you on the train’ etc. and the occasionally time I had to sit next to him because there were no other seats.

Then there was the development to asking about holidays, plans for the weekend etc. and everything was fine.

One day, I get to the platform and, as standard, pull out a book – one of the best bits about commuting by train is the time to read! He approaches me and asks how I am, makes an awkward joke that he always sees me reading.

My response: I like books.

I like books? Really? That’s my answer? Honestly, it was one of those moments where I kick myself. Could I not have come up with anything better than ‘I like books’?!

Believe it or not, this isn’t the only conversation we have where he mentions my books.

Also can I take this opportunity that one of the worst things to do is to interrupt a book-lover whilst they’re reading a book. He didn’t seem to get this, and from his awkward conversation starters, my guess was he wasn’t a non-book lover trying to understand my weird book-loving ways.

The solution?

I changed trains. Yes, you heard correctly. I began avoiding him and got an early train to work.

But it got me thinking. Non-book lovers just don’t get us book-lovers, do they?

My other half can’t get his head around the fact that I want nothing more than a few uninterrupted hours of reading where I can curl up on the end of the sofa, drink my cup of tea and leave him to watch the football on his own.

So I thought for a bit a fun, I’d share this story with you and a list of all the things non-book lovers just don’t get. Let see how many of these you agree with…

There’s no such thing as enough books

Okay, hands down. There’s no such thing as enough books. And if you disagree with this statement, then you’re not really a true book-lover. Recently I’ve been coming home with books for £1. Yes you heard right.

So I’m on a strict book-buying ban, and the reason is because I currently have over 40 books waiting to be read. (This doesn’t include almost 300 that have already been read and are currently living in my mum’s attic.)

As part of O2 priorities, each week, WHSmiths is giving a book away for £1 instead of the standard RRP. Bad for authors, maybe, irresistible for this book-buying nerd who loves a bargain. So I’ve been bringing home Martina Cole, Jeffrey Deaver, Tess Gerritsen and all the other greats each week.

But the other half can’t seem to fathom why I need them. ‘Don’t you have enough books?’ is the usual one he comes out with.

No. No, I don’t. No, I won’t ever have enough books. Enough said.

The thrill of buying a new book

And this leads me on nicely to my next point. Buying a new book is always exciting. Whether it’s one you were planning on reading, or simply one that’s caught your eye. My heart always feels lighter whenever there’s a newly-bought book in my bag.

How you can fall in love with fictional characters

I may be worst than most with this. Where I spend a lot of time editing other people’s work, I become very attached to the characters that my authors create – I want the world to see them just as much as they do!

So this means that I often fall in love with characters – and fall hard. If you’ve read any of my reviews on this website then you’ll know I can become incredibly passionate about fictional characters and fall head over heels in love with them, is that so strange?

Why you cry at the death of fictional character

Admit it. We’ve all been there. You might not admit it to the wide world, but you definitely cried at some point in the Harry Potter series. There are tear stains in the fifth book where Sirius Black falls through the mirror *spoiler alert* (sorry!).

In fact, I’ve lost count of the number of books that have either brought a tear to my eye or made me full-on sob. The other half once found me this way, crying as I read a good book and he really didn’t know what to do with himself!

Books are more important than buying clothes, food or anything else…

Let’s say you’re standing between your favourite clothes shop and a book store. A book store full to the brim with every book imaginable.

Or maybe you’re supposed to be saving your pennies but you just can’t help but spot the book stall in the local market.

We’ve all been there.

The way a story can pull on your heart strings

Reading is such an emotive hobby, particular when a book is well-crafted. I often find myself experiencing a rollercoaster of emotions and don’t want to put the book down.

For us book-lovers, reading can have such as strong hold over the imagination, one that is both enjoyable and heart-breaking.

Why you dream about fictional characters

Anyone else done this? I find myself so involved in a book sometimes that I can tune out literally everything – those noisy teens on the train on their way to school, the raucous football match and ongoing commentary, everything.

And when I get so absorbed in a fictional world, I find I end up dreaming about the characters, too.

There’s an inherent joy in deciding what to read next

If you’ve reached the end of your to-read pile (bravo to you!) then you have the pleasure and joy of choosing what to read next. You may have guessed already, but I’, always way too keen in buying books, people also give them to me, that I very rarely find myself in this situation.

In fact, I even have my very own reading list to help conquer the issue.

Why you talk about fictional characters as if they’re real people

Finally, this one really baffles those who are non-book lovers. Just as I ask about the football scores, for the sake of showing an interest, my other half often asks me about the book I’m reading. But the answer he gets often makes him wish he never asked.

When you get so sucked into a story, when you can picture it all so clearly, when all you want to do is get back to reading, that’s when books come alive for me. And I often talk about them as if they’re real.

That’s all from me and my little book-loving world. How many of my scenarios can you relate to? I’d love to know!

Happy writing!