Feature Author A reading mind is an open mind 27-09-2012 Do pet peeves hold readers back from the pleasures of new reading experiences? Literary blogger Greg Zimmerman says that, yes, more often than not they do. While we all have pet peeves, he says in a post called 'Literary Pet Peeves Are Counterproductive', on the Huff Post blog, in the end they do us a disservice. They limit our reading life. What then, I wondered, is the difference between being a discerning reader and, evil of all evils, a reader with literary pet peeves? The answer I think is simple. A discerning reader is someone who discusses a book's faults and merits after they've read it. Having opinions and being able to articulate why you think something works or doesn't work in a book is important. Not only will sharing your thoughts make for a good time at the pub or at the reading group meeting, it will also take you deeper into the world of the book. When we discuss what we've read, and our ideas, we become better readers. I think this has a lot to do with the fact that we hold a more responsive point of view that remains open well into the next book, and the next. We open ourselves up and embrace the way our reading lives can evolve. This is not to say I don't fall into the trap of literary pet peeves myself. I get annoyed when I pick up a book