I do consider myself a bit of an elitist when it comes to my greatest passion of all: Reading. Don't get me wrong, I love seeing a reading public and I do want to encourage more people to read books, not just magazines and newspapers. But I do somewhat judge people by the books they read. I know it's wrong but I just can't help myself. I realize that a person's book selection is personal, which leads me to believe books that one chooses to read can provide a glimpse into one's personal background and worldview. I know it's a sweeping judgment to make and I do consider this as my personal flaw I'm furiously trying to remedy.
I love watching people who read books in public - at the coffee shop, on the train or waiting for the bus, for example. So today when I was at the Starbucks in KLCC I noticed that there were a couple of young women reading novels sitting near me; I didn't see anybody else doing any reading. One of them was leafing through Meg Cabot and the other was deeply engrossed in Sophie Kinsella. The first thought that came to my mind was "Great, they're reading books BUT chick-lits? Give me a break!" Okay, I've never read any of those aforementioned books and I don't think I will anytime in the foreseeable future. Later when I got on the train to go to KL Sentral I saw one guy reading John Grisham. I mean, John Fuckin' Grisham! Oh, for Pete's sake, just kill me already!
So I was understandably a bit delighted when I saw a middle-aged looking guy standing next to me by the commuter rail was nose-deep into Emile Durkheim's "The Elementary Forms of Religious Life." Emile Durkheim was a famous French sociologist who wrote treatises on the divisions of society, the law, suicide, and religion. Okay, I know it's not your common, everyday literature but it's rare to see somebody is reading it out in the open. On the same note, I would still feel the same warm and fuzzy feeling if I ever see somebody on the train here in KL reading Doestoyevsky or Faulkner or Shakespeare or Marquez or Pramoedya. Okay, I get it, I'm a snob. There, I said it!
Disclosure: Growing up I was a big fan of sci-fi and fantasy novels especially ones by Isaac Asimov and Robert Heinlein. I also went through the "mystic" phase when I really got into Anne Rice's stuffs, especially the ones about the witches. By the way, these are the kinds of books one usually finds in many used-book stores around KL. So it's not like I have much choice when it comes to my reading selection growing up - unless, of course, if I'm into Danielle Steelle and all those Mills and Boone romantic crap that my aunt loves so much.
5 comments:
hahaha i do the same thing as you do. judge people by the books they read. i get thrilled when i see people reading Milan Kundera, Hemingway or Kerouac. On the other hand i get turned off when i see people reading Grisham, Dean koontz or Dan Brown and the likes.
I dont mean to be condescending or judgemental. But i cant help it. Its just a reflection of my likes and dislikes.
Yeah, true that! I guess I have to accept the fact, as hard as it is, that different people find pleasure in reading different genres. That's just the way it is. I only wish some people would challenge themselves once in a while and try to read some of the literary masterpieces, instead of all these pop-lit/movie tie-in stuffs. There's a good reason why great literature lasts forever and all the Grishams, Browns, Koontzs fade with time.
But, yeah, I do believe that a person's reading choice generally shows how sophisticated and intellectually-curious he/she is. So, yes, I'm a snob hahaha...
I'm a book snob too, but not as much as me being a pool snob. Yes, I hardly ever swim in a pool that is not 50m in length. But we're talking about books, except my book snob loves the people your book snob hates. more or less.
I judge people by what they read, but my judgment usually follows this basic rule: if a person is reading kundera or kerouac or murakami or fitzgerald or sartre, etc etc I'd check out their wholesome being. Because you don't know with kids these days, they read all these books to be considered In and Hip and intellectual. Usually if they are carrying a DSLR or wearing nerd glasses, then they fall into the 'pretend' category. Yes my book snob judge is harsher than yours.
I judge people who read kinsella and all these nails on blackboard chick lits too - except that when I do read them, it's okay, because it's just for diversity. But if I do read it I have the decency and brains to do it while at home and keep it forever inside the house... hahaha
So to summarize - I don't really like people who read literature like you and also girls who read chick lits. What a way to stereotype yourselves! :)
but what do you expect from someone who enjoys reading YA - (and by Young adult books I DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT - mean Gossip girls, TWILIGHT, vampire love shit.)
p.s: have you read the Einstein's Dream you gave me? I don't know if you'd like it.
Bro, talk about story books ni, teringat aku yg aku still have your 'Among The Thugs' la.
ps:mesti ko blur je dpt msg ni kn.tetibe je aku bg comment plk kt blog ko.haha
Wancho.
@ Rocket: You've told me many times of your aversion to all the Kundera, Harukami, et al crowd. Yeah, I hate posers too but I guess that's part and parcel of their identity, just like the nerdy glasses and the DSLR camera. I just hope they can keep it up and that it's not a passing fancy. But phew...thank goodness I don't dress the part, which means less of a reason for you to hate me hahaha... Btw, I do know how to differentiate between your beloved YA novels and the other teenage, vampire love shit stuff. I'm well aware of your undying love for Wally Lamb's "She's Come Undone"!
@ Wancho: ni buku yg psl football hooligans tu ker? lupa lak ko ada pinjam buku tu..xper la.. simpan dulu la buku tu..bebila aku jumpa ko kat KL nanti ko kasi la..btw, aku baru ajer lepak dgn rifa kat hard rock mlm td.
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