November 11th, 2005 by Lori Devoti
Did you all see this? In case some of you can’t access it, it’s an article in the NY Times about a study done in Britain that found 33% of Scots and 44% of Londoners have bought a book to impress other people.
Can you say Wow!
Are books the Prada bag of tomorrow? Can we all pass up the next big shoe sale, and hit the bookstore instead? But what should we shop for?
- Here are my picks:
- Ready to settle down, but not sure you are sending the right signals? Steer away from The Southbeach Diet in favor of a good old fashioned copy of the Joy of Cooking.
- Maybe you want a cause a bit of a stir at the local sports bar. How about letting The Complete Illustrated Kama Sutra peek out of your bag?
- Want to be thought of as sweet, but smart? What could beat Pride and Prejudice?
- Trendy and fun? Any chick lit should fit the bill, but get them talking with Good in Bed. Or show your exotic side by tucking Born Confused under your arm.
- Brainy? Wheel around a nice thick copy of Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary or maybe The Complete Works Of Shakespeare.
So, what’s in your book bag–and what message are you sending?
Lori
No related posts.
These stats don’t surprise me at all. It would be interesting to see how many of those people who bought books to impress others, were men.
At the risk of offending the males of our species out there, it seems like such a man thing to do *g*.
Snort.
How does “The Book of Eels” grab you?
I would be dragging around my journal and pen. Let them all think on that!
The stats don’t surprise me at all; just think three little words: Oprah’s Book Club. I know a number of people who have faithfully bought each book she’s recommended because it seemed the “in” thing to do.
What’s in my book bag? Depends on the mood or the research I’m doing. It could range from a romance to a biography to a history to something I just happened to grab. The impression I’ve usually given coworkers seems to be, “You read a lot.’
Romance, mysteries, psychological thrillers are all likely to be in my beach bag.
I like the thought that people I’m acquainted with, but whom I might not know well, see that I actively read romance. I hope that sends the message of, “Hmm. She’s an intelligent, dynamic professional woman and SHE reads romance.” It reminds me of the poster campaign RWA did few years back of “Look Who’s Reading Romance.”
I read that article and I’m not surprised. I’ll admit, I’ve bought a couple books not because I was interested, but because I was dating a guy who liked the author . . .
For me, I have at this very moment THE FORENSIC CASEBOOK and FORENSICS FOR DUMMIES on my desk because I needed to look up how to figure out time of death at a crime scene; I have JD Robb’s ORIGIN IN DEATH on my kitchen counter because I FINALLY got back to reading it; and Kay Hooper’s HUNTING FEAR on the top of my paperback TBR pile.
Sitting next to my bed is THE WRITER’S JOURNEY because I’m preparing to teach an on-line class about the hero’s journey.
Don’t know what any of this says about me, and I don’t think I want to!
Caro, I think you make a good point about Oprah’s Book Club. This particular study was done in Britain, but it would be interesting to see the results of a U.S. one. I bet the OBC has had an effect.
Allison, LOL on buying books because of who you are dating. It’s an ongoing argument at my house when I don’t love what DH does.
I don’t honestly think I have ever bought a book because of what I thought other people would think. I will admit to passing up a few romances back in the eighties because of covers though–or only reading them at home. And in high school I got a hold of a list of classics everyone should read (don’t know who put it together). I tried to work my way through that–but I don’t think it was to impress other people.
Anyone impressed I read War and Peace, Babbitt and The Turn of the Screw?
Didn’t think so.
Lori
Alison, those two forensic books are sitting on the shelf next to me. I’m working on a crime scene scene. (That sentence would give Word fits. lol) I’m reading In Pursuit of the Proper Sinner by Elizabeth George. I don’t usually have more than one book going, not counting research stuff. So that’s my book bag.
I’m reading Red Hot Santa. I guess you could say I’m getting into the holiday spirit.
I do most of my reading at the gym. In my gym bag I have “The London Mob” for research crime in 18th century and Julie Kenner’s “Carpe Demon.” What does that say about me? Don’t know. Don’t care. I live in a very snobby town. My kids’ school is in the middle of a collection of expensive private colleges with very smart people. I am sure they look askance when I sit there with my SIM’s or other romantic looking things. Don’t really care what they think, I imagine my reading is a heck of a lot more fun than theirs.
I was laughing as I read this because I was thinking about what people think of me. I read VERY fast, so I usually have a different book (or two) every day. As of right now I’ve got three books in my bookbag. One is Tears of the Moon by Nora, a thesaurus, and a writing book (blanking on name here). I also carry a notebook and pen all the time just in case. I get weird looks on the bus when I’m sitting there writing away while the bus is bopping along, but it makes the ride go by all the faster.
I tend to have odd collections.
I’ve just finished The Last Light of the Sun by Guy Gavriel Kay (Fantasy), and on my TBR pile are right now:
)
Threads of Malice, by Tamara Siler Jones (Forensic Mystery in a Fantasy Setting)
Tainted Trail, by Wen Spencer (I’d call it Urban SciFi – if there’s such an animal)
The Great Weaver of Kashmir, by Halldor Laxness (yes, Literature with a capital L