It's Not You, It's Your Books...
- Thread starter TeTe
- Start date
I admit I liked Da Vinci, but because it was just a quick, light read. I think I also enjoyed it because I read it shortly after a trip to Paris to study art and architecture, so all of the references to places were things I had just seen, so that made it much more fun. I kind of read all over the board - although I appear to be partial to memoirs. I read fiction,but rarely book clubby stuff. If it's too popular and advertised on tv, I rarely read it. Grisham is as low-brow as I would ever get and I haven't read one of those in years. I'm a lit major, so I've read alot - I studied primarily writing of other cultures, so haven't really read the "cannon" (aka old white men), although I've purchased a bunch for someday reading. I've read a lot of asian, african, caribbean, etc. writing and love that. I also have an assortment of business books on my shelf. Like I said - all over the place. I am a bit of a snob, I will admit - although not as bad as the folks in that article. Reading material or the lack thereof could definitely make or break a relationship for me - I like inquisitive, intellectual minds. But I am flexible on defining that by virtue of chosen reading materials. Fun post!!
sparrow13
Cathlete
>HA! I read none of that stuff. I've always preferred non
>fiction, particularly military history related titles. I know
>I should bust out the classics but there are so many things I
>want to know about and non fiction satisfies the curiosity. I
>have always loved The Great Gatsby though....
Ya know, where reading books is concerned I don't think we need to "should" all over ourselves. There are so many great books in all the genres that we can't possibly read all of them, so it's necessary to pick and choose. My dad's like you, though, he says he'll pick up fiction when he finishes all the non-fiction books out there.
Sometimes I wish TPTB would just call a halt to publishing, so I could catch up on all the books I want to read!
Sparrow
Even after all this time the earth never says to the sun, "you owe me." Look what happens with a love like that.
It lights the whole sky.
- Hafiz
>fiction, particularly military history related titles. I know
>I should bust out the classics but there are so many things I
>want to know about and non fiction satisfies the curiosity. I
>have always loved The Great Gatsby though....
Ya know, where reading books is concerned I don't think we need to "should" all over ourselves. There are so many great books in all the genres that we can't possibly read all of them, so it's necessary to pick and choose. My dad's like you, though, he says he'll pick up fiction when he finishes all the non-fiction books out there.
Sometimes I wish TPTB would just call a halt to publishing, so I could catch up on all the books I want to read!
Sparrow
Even after all this time the earth never says to the sun, "you owe me." Look what happens with a love like that.
It lights the whole sky.
- Hafiz
Ahh, Beavs. I read Gatsby every couple of years. I just love it. What's so strange is that, when I first read it in 9th grade, I hated it. "Rich snob writing about rich snobs," was my extremely humble opinion. (Plus, I wasn't a fan of first person narration.) THANKfully, when I went back to college later in life, I had to read it twice, for two different classes. I couldn't believe how naive I had been. A great book, and I find something new in it everytime I read it!
Beavs
Cathlete
That's why I keep going back to it. It's funny because I was always a hippie at heart and was reading "counter culture" related books from the sixth grade on ( sooo wanted to live on a commune when I was in seventh grade! LOL!) and when I read Gatsby I came to it from another perspective and just made sense to me and every time I read it I find something new to ponder.
Stephanie0523
Cathlete
I enjoy light reads; it's my Calgon. After a day of breaking up fights over whose train derailed the other one on the Thomas track, begging my 3-year-old to eat his applesauce and cleaning up pee from around the toilet from my well-intentioned 6-year-old with bad aim, I need to escape with a book that has no deep meaning, no hidden metaphors and does not teach me the meaning of life. I am sure one day I'll get into reading to better myself or learn something... but for now, give me a good Jennifer Weiner book or Penny Vincenzi and leave me the hell alone. It's my thing.
nancy324
Cathlete
There was woman who worked in retail at the store where I used to shop for suits. She was stunningly beautiful with a warm personality and a great sense of humor. One day she confessed to me that she was older than she looked (about 45, but she looked 35) and that she had never been married. She asked me if I knew anyone and we talked for awhile about being single and dating. Then she told me she had recently met a really nice guy but when she asked him what was the last book he read he said the "Da Vinci Code" and she stopped returning his calls.
I didn't say anything, but I think she's destined to either grow old alone or wind up with some abusive cad.
I didn't say anything, but I think she's destined to either grow old alone or wind up with some abusive cad.
Liann
Cathlete
Lol, that's just PETTY. Defining someone by a book they read is ridiculous. Now, if he was the President of the Dan Brown fanclub and went to Dan Brown conventions and had a DaVinci Code tattoo on his butt, then maybe I could see a problem.
I read almost anything I can get my hands on, and just because I've read an Anne Rice book here and there, doesn't make me a vampire wanna-be goth or anything. It's escapism - getting away from reality. If all my books were just a definition of who I was as a person, I'd have no reason to read them. K, rant over.
I read almost anything I can get my hands on, and just because I've read an Anne Rice book here and there, doesn't make me a vampire wanna-be goth or anything. It's escapism - getting away from reality. If all my books were just a definition of who I was as a person, I'd have no reason to read them. K, rant over.
sparrow13
Cathlete
I have a tendency to agree with Nancy but wonder, does it work the same with movies? I once stopped calling a guy when he told me his favorite movie was "Meatballs."
Sparrow
Even after all this time the earth never says to the sun, "you owe me." Look what happens with a love like that.
It lights the whole sky.
- Hafiz
Sparrow
Even after all this time the earth never says to the sun, "you owe me." Look what happens with a love like that.
It lights the whole sky.
- Hafiz
Sparrow,
You did the right thing!}(
ETA to add:
I once dated a guy who had NO books in his apartment. None. I was a vegetarian; he hunted. We had nothing to talk about. Need I tell you what our relationship was based on? Man, it was like a drug. Nice guy, but I still can't believe we dated as long as we did.
Fast forward a few years. I started talking to a guy at a bar/restaurant one Sunday morning. I was doing a crossword puzzle and he offered to help. HE WAS AWFUL!!! Now, I'm not talking the NY Times Sunday crossword puzzle. He couldn't figure out any of the answers. As cute he was and as nice as he seemed, I just couldn't go there. I finished my omelette and said good-bye. Shallow? Maybe. But I just couldn't imagine what we'd ever find to talk about. And I didn't want that "other" kind of relationship anymore. And, after being married for 18 years to a guy who is smart and inspires me, I truly know that good and stimulating conversation is a very important part of every day life!!
BTW, DH told me that during a short period when we had broken up before we were married, he went out with a woman a few times and over dinner one night she told him the name of her favorite book (I won't mention the title, just in case!). Not only did that pretty much end it for him, he immediately thought, "I'll bet Teresa would crack up at that. Hmmm...I wonder what she's up to these days!" Worked out for me!
You did the right thing!}(
ETA to add:
I once dated a guy who had NO books in his apartment. None. I was a vegetarian; he hunted. We had nothing to talk about. Need I tell you what our relationship was based on? Man, it was like a drug. Nice guy, but I still can't believe we dated as long as we did.
Fast forward a few years. I started talking to a guy at a bar/restaurant one Sunday morning. I was doing a crossword puzzle and he offered to help. HE WAS AWFUL!!! Now, I'm not talking the NY Times Sunday crossword puzzle. He couldn't figure out any of the answers. As cute he was and as nice as he seemed, I just couldn't go there. I finished my omelette and said good-bye. Shallow? Maybe. But I just couldn't imagine what we'd ever find to talk about. And I didn't want that "other" kind of relationship anymore. And, after being married for 18 years to a guy who is smart and inspires me, I truly know that good and stimulating conversation is a very important part of every day life!!
BTW, DH told me that during a short period when we had broken up before we were married, he went out with a woman a few times and over dinner one night she told him the name of her favorite book (I won't mention the title, just in case!). Not only did that pretty much end it for him, he immediately thought, "I'll bet Teresa would crack up at that. Hmmm...I wonder what she's up to these days!" Worked out for me!
Liann
Cathlete
>I have a tendency to agree with Nancy but wonder, does it
>work the same with movies? I once stopped calling a guy when
>he told me his favorite movie was "Meatballs."
>
>Sparrow
>
>Even after all this time the earth never says to the sun, "you
>owe me." Look what happens with a love like that.
>
>It lights the whole sky.
>
>- Hafiz
Lol, smart move Sparrow! It's one thing admitting to watching it, but admitting it's you're favorite movie.... :+
>work the same with movies? I once stopped calling a guy when
>he told me his favorite movie was "Meatballs."
>
>Sparrow
>
>Even after all this time the earth never says to the sun, "you
>owe me." Look what happens with a love like that.
>
>It lights the whole sky.
>
>- Hafiz
Lol, smart move Sparrow! It's one thing admitting to watching it, but admitting it's you're favorite movie.... :+
nancy324
Cathlete
I agree, Sparrow and tpf. "Favorite" is very different from "last".
Some things are very telling. On my first date with DH, we were in a book store and we saw a book by Howard Stern (the male chauvinist pig radio personality). I asked my DH, with my best poker face, what he thought of HS on a scale from 1 to 10, with 10 being the best. He said "zero". Any other answer and there would have been no second date.
Some things are very telling. On my first date with DH, we were in a book store and we saw a book by Howard Stern (the male chauvinist pig radio personality). I asked my DH, with my best poker face, what he thought of HS on a scale from 1 to 10, with 10 being the best. He said "zero". Any other answer and there would have been no second date.
>Sparrow,
>
>You did the right thing!}(
>
>ETA to add:
>
>I once dated a guy who had NO books in his apartment. None. I
>was a vegetarian; he hunted. We had nothing to talk about.
>Need I tell you what our relationship was based on? Man, it
>was like a drug. Nice guy, but I still can't believe we dated
>as long as we did.
>
>Fast forward a few years. I started talking to a guy at a
>bar/restaurant one Sunday morning. I was doing a crossword
>puzzle and he offered to help. HE WAS AWFUL!!! Now, I'm not
>talking the NY Times Sunday crossword puzzle. He couldn't
>figure out any of the answers. As cute he was and as nice as
>he seemed, I just couldn't go there. I finished my omelette
>and said good-bye. Shallow? Maybe. But I just couldn't
>imagine what we'd ever find to talk about. And I didn't want
>that "other" kind of relationship anymore. And, after being
>married for 18 years to a guy who is smart and inspires me, I
>truly know that good and stimulating conversation is a very
>important part of every day life!!
>
>BTW, DH told me that during a short period when we had broken
>up before we were married, he went out with a woman a few
>times and over dinner one night she told him the name of her
>favorite book (I won't mention the title, just in case!). Not
>only did that pretty much end it for him, he immediately
>thought, "I'll bet Teresa would crack up at that. Hmmm...I
>wonder what she's up to these days!" Worked out for me!
So now I want to know which book she said! }(
>
>You did the right thing!}(
>
>ETA to add:
>
>I once dated a guy who had NO books in his apartment. None. I
>was a vegetarian; he hunted. We had nothing to talk about.
>Need I tell you what our relationship was based on? Man, it
>was like a drug. Nice guy, but I still can't believe we dated
>as long as we did.
>
>Fast forward a few years. I started talking to a guy at a
>bar/restaurant one Sunday morning. I was doing a crossword
>puzzle and he offered to help. HE WAS AWFUL!!! Now, I'm not
>talking the NY Times Sunday crossword puzzle. He couldn't
>figure out any of the answers. As cute he was and as nice as
>he seemed, I just couldn't go there. I finished my omelette
>and said good-bye. Shallow? Maybe. But I just couldn't
>imagine what we'd ever find to talk about. And I didn't want
>that "other" kind of relationship anymore. And, after being
>married for 18 years to a guy who is smart and inspires me, I
>truly know that good and stimulating conversation is a very
>important part of every day life!!
>
>BTW, DH told me that during a short period when we had broken
>up before we were married, he went out with a woman a few
>times and over dinner one night she told him the name of her
>favorite book (I won't mention the title, just in case!). Not
>only did that pretty much end it for him, he immediately
>thought, "I'll bet Teresa would crack up at that. Hmmm...I
>wonder what she's up to these days!" Worked out for me!
So now I want to know which book she said! }(
I'll second the Angels and Demons comments. I thought it was good. And I'll even admit to reading Howard Stern's books. I don't listen to his radio show (can't stand it, actually), but I thought his books (yes, bookS) were really entertaining. *sneaks out of thread before someone throws a tomato at her*
Carolyn
Carolyn