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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not understand people who never read...

162 replies

upsylazy · 19/05/2011 16:22

Books, I mean - not Heat or Closer. I know it's none of my business and I know they're not doing anyone any harm by not reading books but, to a bookworm like me, I find it as baffling as someone saying that they don't like music. I suppose it's people like Victoria Beckham who positively boast that they've never read a book who particularly annoy me. Go easy on me, I've got a headache.

OP posts:
LetThereBeRock · 19/05/2011 19:39

I can see how that might work for many people.Trixie,but it's definitely not true in my case. I learn far more from my non fiction books than I would from picking up a novel,possibly because I don't particuarly enjoy fiction now.

DontCallMePeanut · 19/05/2011 19:40

Shock Blasphemy, LetThereBeRock... Pure blasphemy!

kerala · 19/05/2011 19:42

I could never have married anyone that didnt read. Had a long term boyfriend who didnt and think it was a large factor towards us splitting up. Thank god DH a bookworm too - imagine the horror of being on holiday with a non reader eek Shock

LetThereBeRock · 19/05/2011 19:43

I tried to give it another chance recently,but it's just not for me. I do have some old favourites that I still read reguarly,but I won't be looking for a new novel anytime soon.

WobblyWidgetOnTheScooper · 19/05/2011 19:47

I will read the thread later but just wanted to add my tuppenceworth now. I nearly started a thread like this the other day.

We've recently started having our neighbour (7) over to play, and he spends the whole time poring over any book he can see. I've lent him a few too. He's pretty good at reading (especially as English is not his parents' first language). I asked if he ever went to the library and he looked at me like this Confused and actually laughed when I asked if his parents ever read, he said no way!

That made me sad but not nearly as sad as what he just told me (I'm MNing while he's here and they are all watching dangermouse). He was fussing as he didn't want to go home. He said it was because "my house doesn't have the stuff that I want" - I thought fair enough, he's thinking we have better wii games or DVDs or something.

But he said "my house has lots of games and toys. But I don't want them, they are my dad's". I asked what he did want. He said "I just want books but I don't have any". He only ever has one from the school library. I offered to take him to the library and he was like Shock "but they won't let me"

I told him to think about what books he'd like as it's his birthday next month. He hardly knew what to say to that. I cant wait to chose him a few things.

I know there's worse things for a child to go through - but I actually want to cry :(

NerfHerder · 19/05/2011 19:52

I confess I find it difficult these days- nearly 6 years with no longer than 5 hours straight sleep is taking its toll on my concentration Sad
MN is fine, as it is small chunks, but I read mainly novels (currently 1/3 way through 2 different ones) and I really struggle to retain any knowledge about the pplot or characters.
I hope it improves soon...

Laquitar · 19/05/2011 20:01

I don't get this. Sorry.

Reading is one of many hobbies. Some people do, some don't. I love reading but i don't get the obsession about other people's bookcase and the smugness. And i don't display my books in the living room.

Would you judge someone for not liking dvds (me) ? Or paintings? Or classical music?

Laquitar · 19/05/2011 20:04

bennifer, you can say that about theatre. Or music.

ElfOnTheTopShelf · 19/05/2011 20:08

I read a lot. At least a book a week.
DD reads a lot (well, I read to her)
DH never reads. He is not a very good reader - I tend to read all the post etc. He's got a fricking amazing mind when it comes to numbers and thinking things out, but when it comes to words its a struggle, bless him.

onlion · 19/05/2011 20:11

I read at work. I dont like to read novels. I stopped when I was in my 20's. Ive tried a few but they leave me cold. Ive never had that sensation of being completely inside a book as I did when a child and teenager. Find me a decent book and I may change my mind.

bibbitybobbityhat · 19/05/2011 20:27

Just coming back to say that snobbishness and judgeyness about people not reading and not having bookshelves in their houses is a Mumsnet thing that winds me up no end!

I don't have all that many books in the house and 90% of them are upstairs. Yet I am as well read as the rest of you and earned my living from the publishing industry for many years.

The most intelligent, well read, fascinating, fun to be with man I know has no more than 20 or so books in his house at any time (apart from his dc books). Its because he uses the library every week and prefers to use the shelf space in his small house for his music collection.

There is so much snobbery around books and reading. Some people are just not bothered and there are only 24 hours in the day. They may prefer to spend the two or three hours that others spend reading doing their knitting/ exercising/playing computer games/surfing the net/cooking/gardening/ cycling/sleeping/having sex/going out to the pub/wanking/staring into space/scratching their arse ... you know...

ColonelBrandonsBiggestGroupie · 19/05/2011 20:28

What absorebed you as a teen, Onlion? Maybe we can find something of a similar ilk for you? :)

onlion · 19/05/2011 20:30

I dont think they would now as Im in my 40's My fave book as a teen was still life with woodpecker. Hated his other books though.

PumpkinBones · 19/05/2011 20:31

Interesting how many bookworms there are whose DH's never read - I will read anything and everything, and constantly have books on the go. DH, to my certain knowledge, has read one book in 17 years, and that took him about 2 years of reading at bedtime to get through.

Laquitar · 19/05/2011 20:32

I totally agree bibbi

ColonelBrandonsBiggestGroupie · 19/05/2011 20:36

Never heard of it, Onlion - call myself a reader, eh?! :)

onlion · 19/05/2011 20:37

Tom Robbins circa 1980

WobblyWidgetOnTheScooper · 19/05/2011 20:38

I haven't really noticed any of that snobbery TBH.

I still feel sad for my neighbour though. Fair enough if they don't want to read, but don't prevent your child reading FFS. :(

ColonelBrandonsBiggestGroupie · 19/05/2011 20:40

Ugh - just noticed my 'absorebed' - I think I'm tired. Blush

My dp reads a lot but much, much more slowly than I do. I can read 6 or 7 books in the time it takes him to read one - but I must admit that he then remembers them far better than I do!

bibbitybobbityhat · 19/05/2011 20:40

Oh rest assured there have been many threads on the subject.

onlion · 19/05/2011 20:41

I think I read myself to an end point when I was younger. We had a book exchange shop down the road and my sister and I practically lived there.

Cymar · 19/05/2011 20:41

I'm like onlion. The last book (apart from recipe/survival/plant books) I remember actually reading right through to the end and liking was Of Mice And Men by John Steinbeck. That was about 20 years ago in high school.

TBH, since then I've never come across a book/novel that has made me want to read past the first 9 or 10 pages.

onlion · 19/05/2011 20:43

We did the grapes of wrath at school lol

TheOriginalFAB · 19/05/2011 20:43

It is the only thing I miss since having kids - reading.

bupcakesandcunting · 19/05/2011 21:03

There is a difference between not having books through lack of space and not having books through can't be arsed to read-ness...