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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

IABU to read the same copy of a book at the same time as my DH??

60 replies

MysteriousSheep · 02/11/2017 23:02

As per title,
I am reading a book (2nd in a trilogy) that my DH started reading first. He reads it in bed at night and I read it at other times. He thinks this is outrageous and totally socially unacceptable! I don't see the problem.
IABU?!

OP posts:
Coloursthatweremyjoy · 02/11/2017 23:06

Are you losing his place? That would wind me up, ditto having to keep someone else's place. Not outrageous in itself though.

MysteriousSheep · 02/11/2017 23:08

No I'm not losing his place. We both just fold the corner (some might say that is U I suppose!).

OP posts:
EndoplasmicReticulum · 02/11/2017 23:09

I am like your DH and I wouldn't like this. What if you moved the book and it wasn't where he thought it would be when he wanted to read it? What if you lost his place? What if you got ahead of him and then revealed a spoiler?

I am a bit weird about my books though.

Imfinehowareyou · 02/11/2017 23:09

This is me and my DH! I like to devour books in a few sittings whereas he reads maybe a page or two at night. I often read his books when he isn't around and he also gets really mad if he finds out. I understand, obviously, but if I waited for him I could wait months and months. I think he should commit fully to a book or let it go to me if he is only going to dip in sporadically. YANBU Grin

EndoplasmicReticulum · 02/11/2017 23:09

Oh just read your update. YABVVU for folding corners.

rachelandmike77 · 02/11/2017 23:12

YABU, can’t you wait until he’s done or get the digital version? It’s not like you can read it together like watching a tv show. He probably thinks FFS whenever it’s not where he left it or sees your folded pages (as I would feel).

hotwater · 02/11/2017 23:17

Weirdly I imagined two separate copies of the same book until I read the replies. Clearly I simply cannot fathom a world in which two people are reading one book. The idea makes my skin creep a bit. Yabu, get your own copy.

MysteriousSheep · 02/11/2017 23:18

Ha! I know many people can't stand corners getting folded, but we both do it so not an issue in this household.
I'm like you imfine, and devour books. This has never been an issue for us before as I normally buy and read first the books that we'd both enjoy. Also, there's only a couple of genres where our tastes collide.
Honestly his outrage was so surprising to me this evening, I really hadn't thought I was doing anything wrong! He is so convinced that everyone would agree that I'm totally U and told me to ask mumsnet (whilst he reads!).

OP posts:
Xmasbaby11 · 02/11/2017 23:18

That would annoy me so much. It's not your book. Wait or buy your own.

MysteriousSheep · 02/11/2017 23:19

Oh! Seems IABU!

OP posts:
KungFuEric · 02/11/2017 23:19

You can't fold corners on a book he's reading!

MysteriousSheep · 02/11/2017 23:21

Well thanks mumsnet for your input! I will modify my behaviour I suppose.
Can't believe my first ever thread has been about this! Have been a very long time lurker.

OP posts:
BenLui · 02/11/2017 23:22

I’m afraid I would find that really annoying.

Is there any really you can’t wait until he’s finished? Or go to the library for another copy?

BenLui · 02/11/2017 23:22

Sheep there are much sillier threads than this. Grin

Most of them in fact...

BackforGood · 02/11/2017 23:23

Yes, that is seriously weird. It would be incredibly annoying. Either get your own copy or wait until he's finished.

Seren85 · 02/11/2017 23:24

I wouldn't like it really. I want my book available whenever I am ready to read it even if it is rarely at a different time than I usually would. It has never really occurred to me before though.

afrikat · 02/11/2017 23:27

I would hate this but I can't really explain why!

myrtleWilson · 02/11/2017 23:28

years ago my DH and I both read the same copy of Mark. Z Danielewski "House of Leaves" - we had to order it and its quite a book (size, wise plus stylistically as well as literary) We used to read up to the same point as each other so we could chat about it.. that was a good summer!

helpfulperson · 02/11/2017 23:28

Now this is one of those odd ones where logically YANBU. It's not like you are going to be fighting over whose turn it is to read the book and presumably are considerate enough not to leave where the other can't find it or anything else like that. But reading your post my gut is scream YABU, I just can't rationalise why!

clairethewitch70 · 02/11/2017 23:28

Nobody dare touch my books. They know I can't stand any sign that my book has been read such as folded corners, creased spines or bashed corners. I no longer loan DM books as she creases the spines. Seriously drives me nuts.

Stompythedinosaur · 02/11/2017 23:29

I would hate this. If I'm reading a book I consider it to be mine for the duration. I would hate someine else to mess around with it.

TheSnowFairy · 02/11/2017 23:30

Agree with everyone else - I would be highly irritated and hiding the book from you when I wasn't reading it Hmm📖

And folding pages... pfffft. Don't you have bookmarks?!

WhiteVixen · 02/11/2017 23:31

I’m with you OP, it wouldn’t really bother me. My husband isn’t a reader so it wouldn’t happen in this house. I like to read but I also like to knit and crochet too, so it can take me a long time to get through a book nowadays as I just don’t have enough hands/heads to do everything I want to in my down time. I wouldn’t have an issue with sharing a book though if we both wanted to read it.

RhiWrites · 02/11/2017 23:32

I think it’s sweet. As long as he gets first dibs on the book, what’s the problem?

MysteriousSheep · 02/11/2017 23:37

You know, I just really wanted to read it!! I waited a while before starting the first one as I know he takes longer, but when I finished it I was just so keen to start the next (the one he is also reading). Pp is right, I would be considerate and not leave it it odd places or read it when he wants it, but seems that is NOT THE POINT.
I'm going to have to go to town tomorrow straight after school run to buy my own copy, then I can read it quickly and get to the third one before him Grin

OP posts: