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Original poster

What makes someone "Well Read"

26 replies

mrsschatzepage · 30/03/2015 17:02

Do you think it means they have read all the classics or they have read from a wide variety of authors or subjects?

OP posts:
unweavedrainbow · 30/03/2015 17:06

Both. It means that they have read all/most of the well known "important books" and have read widely in the "not quite so well known but still important books". I think it means someone who has read broadly and intensively for a long time.

BabyGanoush · 30/03/2015 17:32

both. Classics and widely read.

ZeroFunDame · 31/03/2015 10:36

Isn't it rather more than that?

Not just having read a number of "important" books but being able to see "the line" connecting the earliest scribbles on a cave wall to today's underground fan-fic. And understanding how every new piece of literature alters the position of everything that has gone before. (I'm misquoting.)

Why do you ask OP?

EarlGreyhamGreene · 31/03/2015 11:33

Knowing when to put a hyphen in between 'well' and 'read'.

I always need to do a bit of googling to be 100% sure...

EarlGreyhamGreene · 31/03/2015 11:36

P.S. Congrats OP, I think you're in the right!

ZeroFunDame · 31/03/2015 11:43

Oh ... Is this a TAAT?

Sorry to have intruded.

EarlGreyhamGreene · 31/03/2015 12:08

haha no, just being cheeky Wink

I'd agree with having to read widely - someone who only reads historical non-fiction would be incredibly informed and knowledgeable about a lot of things, but missing on a lot of culture gaps?

TV & film adaptations affect this this a bit - you don't need to have read Austin/Bronte to know Mr Darcy, "reader, I married him" etc

silverbangles66 · 31/03/2015 12:12

You can read voraciously but not be particularly well-read.

I think it implies they have covered most of the classics in their mother tongue plus more in translation.

Why do you ask?

Original poster
mrsschatzepage · 31/03/2015 12:18

Apologies for the omission of the hyphen Earl Grey.

Zero I am thinking of pursuing a book related career as I love books and reading. I've read most of Dickens, Austen and Hardy and a few other classics. I don't read much modern fiction ,mainly humorous novels. I also read a lot of biographies mainly of old hollywood stars, politicians and royalty. Was wondering if I needed to broaden my horizons more.

OP posts:
Flingingmelon · 31/03/2015 12:20

I think DH is well read. He basically reads everything, constantly

He's pretty clueless about where the oven is mind you.

On the upside DS thinks reading is quite frankly the most exciting thing in the world.

Original poster
mrsschatzepage · 31/03/2015 12:22

Sorry Earl Grey hadnt read your last post before I posted

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Original poster
mrsschatzepage · 31/03/2015 12:27

Flinging it's nice to hear about a child who is excited about reading. Good for him! Smile

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crimsonh · 31/03/2015 12:28

What about foreign authors?

ZeroFunDame · 31/03/2015 13:46

Everyone always needs to broaden their horizons. Becoming knowledgeable in any significant area of life is generally a matter of running to stand still.

So perhaps switch your focus from what you have read to all the unknown things you have yet to read?

glittertits · 31/03/2015 13:56

There has to be a point about retaining them too. I've read most of the classics, and frequently miss references to them. I didn't love very many of them, and as a result don't have good knowledge of the stories.

I don't feel particularly well read, but can check most things off an arbitrary list.

HappydaysArehere · 31/03/2015 14:13

I believe to be well read is to delight in the written word and the subtleties within the text. The well read reader would read a wide variety of literature and enjoy both the yarn spinners and the true writers. They will determine the difference and appreciate the talents of both.

CMOTDibbler · 31/03/2015 14:19

I'd describe someone as well read if they had read a wide variety of classics (inc Russian lit), most of the '100 books to read before you die' type lists (and be able to discuss them passionately), to be the sort who will do a complete loop of a bookshop when thinking about what to buy, and for whom the question 'what is your favorite book' is insanely hard and requires a vast amount of explanation about what context a particular book would be their favorite in.

Def the sort of person where you can't predict what they'll be reading at any particular point.

blueshoes · 31/03/2015 15:21

I am included to go with happydays' definition.

Would well-read include someone who is plugged into current political and socio-economic debate? I would admire someone who has an informed view on a wide variety of topics (and can see the opposing view) as someone who is well-read.

glittertits · 31/03/2015 16:11

Agree with CMOT. Whilst I've read most of the classics, I am not a bookshop enthusiast with something unexpected on the go at all times. The favourite book one is easy for me too - no dithering. It is the Bell Jar!

LadyGregory · 01/04/2015 11:30

I'm with Zero on this. Everyone always needs to broaden their reading horizons. I have four degrees in literature and read and write and teach literature for a living - and am an obsessive reader quite apart from fields that have anything to do with my own interests. I've read widely in the classics in any language I read well enough, and keep up with contemporary fiction, poetry, biography, history. I keep an eye on new writing and prizes. I read the TLS and the book review supplements just to see what's going on, and to earmark new books or authors that might interest me. We have a house full of books - my husband is almost as obsessive, despite now working in an unrelated field - and our three year old loves being read to, fortunately.

But, despite being well-read by many people's standards, I absolutely still have lots of blind spots, and I'm aware of them. In good book shops you'll always find me looking at newly published stuff and books in translation.

What is the book-related career, OP?

Original poster
mrsschatzepage · 01/04/2015 13:13

Working in a bookshop. There is a new bookstore opening near me later this year. If i was lucky enogh to get a job there I think it would make my job easier/more enjoyable if I could discuss and recommend books to people. I dids work in Waterstones for three months as a christmas temp and i loved it. I expect working in a bookshop would expand my knowledge anyway as i woukd be exposed to a wider variety of books than those on my bookshelf.

OP posts:
cdtaylornats · 01/04/2015 14:54

I think one thing you need to be well read is a good memory. Reading something doesn't matter if you don't take something from it.

BsshBosh · 02/04/2015 16:15

For me, being well-read means reading a wide range of classics, modern classics and contemporary novels that are creating some kind of buzz. But it also means understanding themes, structures, a book's position within "the canon"...

BsshBosh · 02/04/2015 16:16

Based on my own criteria, I'm not well-read at all, though I do read a lot.

Stokey · 02/04/2015 17:29

Being able to answer the literature question on Pointless Grin