Page 3 | Do my reading preferences make me a book snob?

VentventVENT · 21/10/2020 20:44

@Meuniere to be fair I looked at my goodreads list yesterday and noted that I read war and peace (a lockdown challenge really) followed directly by Carol McGiffins autobiography

nitsandwormsdodger · 21/10/2020 20:49

Probably just making conversation and giving a compliment
Wouldn't over think it

toconclude · 21/10/2020 20:49

@AmandaHoldensLips

Only fiction holds the truth.

If this is a serious comment then it's wrong. Good non-fiction contains plenty of truth, much of it about the author

laudemio · 21/10/2020 20:53

I think fiction can be more wide ranging and challenging than biographies, but both are great!

Foxglovesandprimroses · 21/10/2020 20:59

The Divine Feud book recommended by a PP is brilliant. Read it after watching the mini-series on a few years ago about Bette- and Joan which was also fab - Catherine Zeta-Jones as Olivia de Havilland !

toconclude · 21/10/2020 20:59

@Billben

Today a work colleague called me a 'brainiac' because I said I prefer reading biographies to fiction.. I don't even know what this means. Can anyone shed some light on why I would be deemed a 'brainiac' because of my reading preferences?

Oh, give over with the “I don’t even know what brainiac means?
Is this some kinda stealth post?

Spot the inverted snob

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JaffaCake70 · 21/10/2020 21:01

@LEELULUMPKIN

Have you read this one OP? It's a corker!

]]

I've to this one at home. I haven't got around to reading it yet, but I did watch the tv mini series, did you? I love Joan Crawford, I'm a MASSIVE fan :-)

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JaffaCake70 · 21/10/2020 21:02

got not to

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IMNOTSHOUTING · 21/10/2020 21:04

I hated all the inverted snobbery that anyone who reads or watches anything other than Hollywood films is a pretentious snob. A woman once wandered into my office room on the way back from the bathroom, looked at all the books on the shelves. She made a massive deal out of how pretentiuos I was and I must be a massive snob. Errr I couldn't give a toss what you do or don't read and I didn't actually ask you to inspect my book collection.

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JaffaCake70 · 21/10/2020 21:07

@PurpleFlower1983

I read Swanson on Swanson because I love Sunset Boulevard - fascinating read! I’ll look into some it the others you have mentioned.

Swanson on Swanson is amazing! The affair with Joe Kennedy, the abortion! It's a real page turner. She didn't hold back with that book did she? A very honest account.

P.S. Sunset Boulevard is one of my favourite films :-)

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tenlittlecygnets · 21/10/2020 21:11

Many biographies are poorly written (by the celeb) or ghost written (celeb can't write). Can't think of many I have enjoyed. Don't think it makes you a brainiac!! What an odd thing to say.

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JaffaCake70 · 21/10/2020 21:11

@IMNOTSHOUTING

I hated all the inverted snobbery that anyone who reads or watches anything other than Hollywood films is a pretentious snob. A woman once wandered into my office room on the way back from the bathroom, looked at all the books on the shelves. She made a massive deal out of how pretentiuos I was and I must be a massive snob. Errr I couldn't give a toss what you do or don't read and I didn't actually ask you to inspect my book collection.

Agreed. I just like what I like. I don't judge anyone else on which books they choose to read. Amongst my collection I have some children's books, because I like them! So what?!! It's not harming anyone!

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JaffaCake70 · 21/10/2020 21:12

@tenlittlecygnets

Many biographies are poorly written (by the celeb) or ghost written (celeb can't write). Can't think of many I have enjoyed. Don't think it makes you a brainiac!! What an odd thing to say.

Agreed. Though some are very well written too. I do agree though, it doesn't make me clever or stupid that I read biographies, it just is what it is!

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MJMG2015 · 21/10/2020 21:15

She called you a 'brainiac' why are you asking if you're a book snob? Two entirely different things?

That aside anyone over 12 calling someone a 'brainiac' is someone that can should be ignored. Muppet.

Reading biographies doesn't make you either.

Sparklesocks · 21/10/2020 21:18

Read what you like. The only thing that makes someone is a snob is looking down on someone who does things differently to them.
Biographies are hardly inaccessible and obscure!

PumpkinetChocolat · 21/10/2020 21:19

Book snobs are idiots who judge what others are reading.

Readers have preferences, As long as you mind your own book and don't bother others about their own preference, why wouldn't you be allowed to chose what YOU read.

Purpleice · 21/10/2020 21:24

It’s just a silly comment. Don’t worry. I remember reading Proust and feeling a bit shy because I didn’t want to be thought too big for my boots. I got over it.

Mumguilt19 · 21/10/2020 21:32

I wouldn’t pay it any attention. I’ve had similar over the years including from family members because I love to read. It just so happens that I mostly read historical non-fiction (early modern period) but that’s my main interest and what I studied at uni and for some reason this makes me
‘smart’, which it really doesn’t.

It’s hilarious because if they came to my house, they would see my star wars fiction and the Sweet Valley series I collected as a child along with a load of other fiction I like to read for a bit of escapism.

I just ignore the comments and crack on with what I want to do, it used to bother me when I was younger but these days absolutely not. I really hate the idea of book snobbery, don’t understand why people judge you on what you read 🤷🏻‍♀️

CandlesBlanketsandTea · 21/10/2020 21:38

I usually prefer non-fiction but recently read some fantasy and I loved it and read 8 in a series. All I know is that my book club won't get on board with either. I'm missing the point of this thread but I felt I needed to get that out there.

Graphista · 21/10/2020 21:39

Great! Thanks for the recommendations op

Mine are a mix!

George Michael - Bare

Maya Angelou - I know why the caged bird sings - tough read this one so check the outline first if it might trigger you

Steven king - on writing - a bit niche this one and originally read for an assignment at uni but surprisingly enjoyable

Teri Hatcher - burnt toast - very relatable for single mums, you won’t view Jon tenney in quite the same way again

Michael j. Fox - lucky man, a funny thing happened on the way to the future

Michael McIntyre - very tame compared to most but enjoyable enough

Marilyn Monroe - in her own words, I’m a HUGE fan so I’ve read loads on her and it can get confused but I think this was good

Marian Keyes - Under the duvet - not really an autobiography as such but factual collection of her shorter pieces and articles. I hope she does a “proper” autobiography one day as I’m sure it’ll be great

Graham norton - the life and loves of a he devil - yes he’s quite marmite and I’ve gone off him at times but I liked this.

On my reading list

Brave - Rose McGowan

Becoming - Michelle Obama

Who i am - Pete townshend

Life itself - roger ebert

Scrappy little nobody - Anna Kendrick

Talking as fast as I can - Lauren graham

The princess diarist - Carrie Fisher

How to be champion - Sarah millican

Best foot forward - Adam hills

As a life long reader I'm saddened that I now struggle due to concentration and eyesight issues (due to ill health) but biographies are easy to pick up and put down.

I can also relate to a lifetime of other people assuming I'll think less of them for what they read/watch/have as hobbies simply because I have read/watched things they think of as "posh" (and usually aren't really!)

The first such time this happened I was picked on as being a "snob" and "above myself" and "posh" because I was reading...

Little women!! I mean wtf! That's a really gentle, easy read about a (relatively admittedly) not posh family.

People are weird

LindaEllen · 21/10/2020 21:40

I think it's a bit stupid to pick fault or make snide comments about people's reading habits at all - unless they're the type who name drop sophisticated book titles into the conversations .. and we surely all know someone like that!

Ignore the comment, and just carry on enjoying reading :).

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JaffaCake70 · 21/10/2020 21:42

@MJMG2015

She called you a 'brainiac' why are you asking if you're a book snob? Two entirely different things?

That aside anyone over 12 calling someone a 'brainiac' is someone that can should be ignored. Muppet.

Reading biographies doesn't make you either.

It was just a turn of phrase, I didn't think too much about my title tbh!

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JaffaCake70 · 21/10/2020 21:49

@Graphista