Do you ever feel alone in loving literature and liking to read?

[ScribbleScribe]

I do. It sometimes feels as if I am the only person that enjoys doing it and makes a point to make time to do it. Everyone else "doesn't have the time." or doesn't read for one reason or another. They prefer to watch movies, play video games or listen to music.

Is it just me?

[YesNo]

I kind of like movies and music. Video games drive me nuts. I don't touch the stuff.

[Pompey Bum]

Only books for me, Scrib, so it isn't just you! :)

[lichtrausch]

If this forum is too quiet to do the trick, then stop by Goodreads to reassure yourself that you are far from alone.

[ScribbleScribe]

If this forum is too quiet to do the trick, then stop by Goodreads to reassure yourself that you are far from alone.

I find goodreads kinda empty too. I have 72 friends from my facebook account and very few of them ever post that they're reading books, or if they do it's from 2 years ago or something.

Not only that, but Goodreads has too much of a popular-books-are-the-best-books vibe for me.

Sorry if I'm coming off as a snob here.

Librarything was great until it became dead.


If this forum is too quiet to do the trick,

And actually this forum isn't too quiet. I don't quite know how to interact with the forum yet. I come here and I become confused.

I know a few years ago I was here and it seemed way way waaaay over my head with what i was expected to know in order to be a member here. So, I didn't interact much. Now the forum seems to have a more streamlined look to it and the niche intellectualism has toned down a bit. But, I'm still finding myself sort of wandering around a bit lost.

I'm mostly self-taught with what I know about literature with a few college courses in literature I did poorly in and a failed lit theory course under my belt (I had no idea what that textbook was saying, I swear).


Only books for me, Scrib, so it isn't just you! :)

So you too feel alone in real life because of this? I'm never without a book in-hand either on my phone, tablet, computer or actual book. And if I am, then, I feel like I'm not fully dressed. I've been like this for as long as I can remember.

[tonywalt]

And actually this forum isn't too quiet. I don't quite know how to interact with the forum yet. I come here and I become confused.

I know a few years ago I was here and it seemed way way waaaay over my head with what i was expected to know in order to be a member here. So, I didn't interact much. Now the forum seems to have a more streamlined look to it and the niche intellectualism has toned down a bit. But, I'm still finding myself sort of wandering around a bit lost.

I'm mostly self-taught with what I know about literature with a few college courses in literature I did poorly in and a failed lit theory course under my belt (I had no idea what that textbook was saying, I swear).

There are good options for you to connect: Join a mixed bookclub. There's likely more where you live than in Grand Cayman. Also, go to writing seminars, workshops, book signings etc. Simply go to where other bibliophiles go! There's lots of people like you (and me).

[kiki1982]

What I felt alone about when I joined this forum years ago was the fact that no-one seemed to think beyond the story of a book. Things went a little bit over my head as well in the beginning (partly due to a judgemental bully), but you learn stuff as you go along. It made me discover stuff at any rate, so that's a positive thing.

About two years ago, I found that the forum became more of a 'popular' type one, with less discussion of content/theoretic stuff like themes and things, and more 'I like...; what do you like?' from fleeting users. I heard that was because of an influx from Facebook, but recently it seems to have become a bit more serious again. I may be wrong though.

On other literature forums I've always come across the 'I love this book!' thing and then nothing. I hate it. Hence why I found a place here. Normally people won't scold you for stuff you don't know (I'm saying normally, because there are people who can get judgemental). So go ahead and write what you want (within the forum rules, obviously).

[Pompey Bum]

So you too feel alone in real life because of this?

I'm as alone or not alone as I choose these days. Reading doesn't interfere with that. Maybe you could try to find some bookwormish friends in real life, as Tony suggests. As far as this site goes, we're almost all friendly and just having fun here. And if you should stumble across the occasional know-it-all bully, just ignore him. Never let anyone make you feel bad because you love to read. Welcome again to the party! :)

[YesNo]

And actually this forum isn't too quiet. I don't quite know how to interact with the forum yet. I come here and I become confused.

I know a few years ago I was here and it seemed way way waaaay over my head with what i was expected to know in order to be a member here. So, I didn't interact much. Now the forum seems to have a more streamlined look to it and the niche intellectualism has toned down a bit. But, I'm still finding myself sort of wandering around a bit lost.

I'm mostly self-taught with what I know about literature with a few college courses in literature I did poorly in and a failed lit theory course under my belt (I had no idea what that textbook was saying, I swear).

I didn't know you were expected to know anything to post here. I've learned a lot by posting to threads I knew nothing about when the thread started. With the internet and library, soon you know more than you may care to know about the topic of the thread.

I studied mathematics except for the mandatory literature requirements, however, I don't think I actually failed any of those courses. The main reason I joined the forum was for the poetry contest threads. The other threads were just added entertainment.

Also regarding facebook friend counts, I just checked mine. I have only 60 friends and I'm surprised I even know that many people. Actually some of them I don't know.

[ScribbleScribe]

I didn't know you were expected to know anything to post here. I've learned a lot by posting to threads I knew nothing about when the thread started.

Well nobody ever told me I was required to know anything here, but the content of what people wrote told me otherwise. You give good advice about posting to threads you knew nothing about. I may try that.


we're almost all friendly and just having fun here.

Well, I certainly see that you're having fun. :D No doubt about that.

Thank you though, sincerely, for the welcome.

[ennison]

Never feel alone as a reader. Here you are amongst readers. We don't, of course, all love each other.

[YesNo]

Well nobody ever told me I was required to know anything here, but the content of what people wrote told me otherwise. You give good advice about posting to threads you knew nothing about. I may try that.

I am sometimes intimidated by what people write. I may read 50 book a year. Most of them are not novels. When I read posts citing author after author as examples of this and that, I feel overwhelmed. Clearly, I can't keep up. I still post whatever comes to my mind.

[Marbles]

I do. It sometimes feels as if I am the only person that enjoys doing it and makes a point to make time to do it. Everyone else "doesn't have the time." or doesn't read for one reason or another. They prefer to watch movies, play video games or listen to music.

Is it just me?

Every reader passionate about quality literature feels the same way. I don't know anyone in real life who shares my passion of books. Non-reading entertainment is all good; movies, music, even video games, which I don't touch - people need these things, but for me books top the list. Someone asked me a while back why I read "heavy books" when the purpose of reading is "entertainment". By "heavy books" she meant stuff like War and Peace and In Search of Lost Time or Magic Mountain etc. Now that's a question totally misstated. I read for pleasure too, but that pleasure comes from enlightenment arrived at by making small progress in my understanding of what Kundera calls "the enigma of life."

[Hacienda]

I regret that 'reading' as an activity is more and more seen as a strictly intellectual pursuit that necessarily requires formal and structured study. No one here has made that assertion, but that does seem to be a prevailing attitude of the zeitgeist in general. I feel so many are missing out on good reading, good literature and the joys it affords because they think it either separate and inaccessible, or worse effete. There's always that guy that obtusely asks 'but can you build a bridge with books? How does reading Gogol help you make your first million?' I always feel sorry for that guy (with affection not pity).

Certainly literary theory (especially insofar as it annexes many other disciplines) is very enriching and useful, but I view it as a helpful appendage, not a necessary milestone in some ridiculous linear progression to becoming a 'good reader' (again not an assertion anyone here has made, but it is a prevailing one). One can receive a BA or a Blitt or whatever, but being a 'reader' is a disposition conferred on oneself; no academic study required.

I read the forums for several months before I joined; what convinced me to join were the "I like X!" "me too - here are my reasons xyz, what are yours?" and so on sort of threads; what one might call the 'book-club' style discussions, sharing anecdotes and suggestions. I value and enjoy reading other people's opinions on rarefied matters here, but if I was really systematically looking for those discussions, I'd probably look in a journal or a critical reader first.

Regarding the instances where people list tonnes of books, quotes, references; I regard that as friendly (unless clearly framed otherwise). I like to think that in the excitement of sharing a common passion, one cannot help but sharing other confluences, convergences and so on. Especially as some readers here have very catholic tastes I've picked up some recommendations I'd never had thought of or found using a conventional reading list either owing to obscurity or because it's such a lateral reference.

[YesNo]

I value and enjoy reading other people's opinions on rarefied matters here, but if I was really systematically looking for those discussions, I'd probably look in a journal or a critical reader first.


Those rarefied matters are the cobwebs that need to be cleaned from the attic so one can move around better. The only way to clean them is to first see them and that is what posting helps to do.

[biblophile]

I feel isolated because of my love for books. When someone visits my home and sees my library the usual question is what do you need all those books for? I have also been accused of being a snob, that only reads to make others feel stupid, clearly anybody that would say something like that dose not need me and my books to look stupid.

[Eiseabhal]

Many of my friends read. Many don't. Some only read newspapers. No one has ever accused me of being a snob for being a reader. (They wouldn't dare) Some friends have borrowed books and some have never been returned. I reckon there's over ten grand of books in the house. That's enough to "build a (little) bridge"

[Scheherazade]

While I have been a reader all my life, I do believe that book lovers have a tendency to be a little snobbish... We want people to read but then again they rarely read the "right" books... Or they do not understand good literature... We must own the books we read... Definitely not the dreaded ereaders; hard copies - with hand bound hard covers if you please - and so much better if they are rare or first editions.

While I do carry a grudge against people who do not read, I am not an exemplar book lover... Tend to read books from different genres indiscriminately, borrow them from libraries or charity shops, write on them, break their backs, fold the pages (during holidays, dropped two different books into the pool) and once I am finished with them, I either leave them at public places or return back to charities.

Having said all that, I am quite alone in my love of books as well... While there are couple of friends around me who claim to be book lovers, they rarely seem to have the time to read because they lead very busy lives so I usually keep it to myself. Twitter and goodreads are good places to exchange ideas, I find.

[ennison]

I'm bit of an orgiastic party beast. By which I mean I like to sit and "get lost" in a book, savouring the sensuality of words and ideas for, oh, minutes on end.

[tonywalt]

I am a member of 2 book clubs. These 2 clubs led me to other artistic organisations: The National Gallery, Cayman Arts Festival and other smaller less formal groups. Yes, it's true that only a small percentage of the population read literary fiction and non-fiction, but once meet you will become fast friends with these people(most likely).

The social dynamic will add so much to the whole experience of reading, finding books, ''discovering''authors - the whole damn thing. Do it. Also, as with many readers I'm a MASSIVE film buff. Here again: New connects, new crossover reader/film/movie/dramatic play lovers and on and on. Make some good effort and you'll get unexpected results.

[New Secret]

My friends were into sports, playstation, art and laziness. I'm the only one who really read full novels with some regularity, though I'm not a bookworm. I was into all of the above. My family has quite a few readers in it, nearly all the women. I was second to my grandfather in reading books. I don't feel all alone as a reader, I consider reading books a quiet time activity and I don't discuss them with people. When I was a teen I do recall book discussions, recommendations.

[Roithamer]

To be totally honest, yes -- even so, I don't think I ought to feel that way. Why should I feel lonely? I recognize that there are plenty of people out there who do read, and communities that I could in theory join. But the truth is, as pretentious as it sounds/is, I don't want just any group... And besides, I tell myself the pleasure in reading should come from the act itself, which is generally done in solitude. I think, Scheherazade, you are right about the snobbishness, at least in my own case. It may be something like that. A person may elevate their sense of pride by imagining they are alone in engaging in an intellectual act such as reading, choosing to compare themselves to the little samples-size of the world they happen to be acquainted with -- and yet, at the same time, despite that pride, people do generally feel the desire to be understood, in good company. So what we want is perhaps to feel a little bit lonely in the world, to retain our special feeling, but with a few close people who may share in our loneliness. I don't know. Perhaps that didn't make sense. Essentially what I mean to say is that if you feel lonely as a reader, it's likely because you haven't found other readers whose tastes align very well with yours -- but I should think that there are always people out there who we would get along with very well in terms of reading tastes, even if we do not happen to ever cross paths with them in life. But in an attempt to see if I might find people who have similar interests, I think that is why I decided I might as well give this forum a try, this being my first post. I wish you luck as well in trying to discover a nice group of people with whom you may have fruitful literary conversations!

[Pompey Bum]

Welcome to the site, Roithamer. I hope you find what you are looking for. :)

[AnthonyDavid11]

Oh, you're definitely not the only one. I think you really have to enjoy reading and the whole internal journey. Many people prefer to get their stories in the form of movies and TV. Those are great sometimes, but they also make for lazy imaginations. In a book, you generally get a few details about a person and have to decide what they look like from there and most people picture the same character in many different ways. With a visual medium, that's already handed to you. So I think it takes a certain type of person to find a lot of joy in reading. But don't worry. I'm the only regular reader in my house and you are in your house. If we can have one reader per household, then we're doing great, given the number of households out there.

[Alfred001]

I'm curious, how many people here have friends in real life in your circle who read books, any books, not just literary fiction.

If you don't have such friends, is it that your friends are not the culture vulture type at all or they ARE that type but still don't read books. By culture vulture I don't mean someone who goes to the opera, I just mean someone who's interested in anything intellectual or cultural, be it film, politics, science, good TV, whatever.

[Alfred001]

I'm bit of an orgiastic party beast. By which I mean I like to sit and "get lost" in a book, savouring the sensuality of words and ideas for, oh, minutes on end.

Just make sure you don't overdo it. :)

[Big Dante]

I get the impression that the world today is filled with the same ratio, if not, a higher one, of people who enjoy higher level conversation about stories, characters and the meaning behind them. What I think has changed is that there are several new mediums that can sate such desire. For many people watching a movie or playing a video game is a lot more accessible, and it gives people an avenue to reach such discussions with their friends. This is both a good and a bad thing in my eyes. It's good as all of these newer mediums have produced fine works of art, however, none of these contain the same level of depth literature has the potential to reach. Yes, there are some movies and games that can rival literature, but literature has the potential to go further due to the recruitment of imagination, and what it demands of the reader in uptaking the story. A lot of people are saying that their friends will have conversations about all these things, but are too busy to read. I think they have settled with the more accessible mediums and have no reason to go beyond as their needs are being met. This concerns me as such people will miss out on a lot that books have to offer, but many of my friends are like this, and I can have some interesting discussions contrasting stories across the mediums.

[Pompey Bum]

I get the impression that the world today is filled with the same ratio, if not, a higher one, of people who enjoy higher level conversation about stories, characters and the meaning behind them. What I think has changed is that there are several new mediums that can sate such desire. For many people watching a movie or playing a video game is a lot more accessible, and it gives people an avenue to reach such discussions with their friends. This is both a good and a bad thing in my eyes. It's good as all of these newer mediums have produced fine works of art, however, none of these contain the same level of depth literature has the potential to reach.

This is generous to video games and unfortunately also to most of the movies Hollywood makes these days. But okay, common interests make for happy discussions, and once you make friends you can talk about less superficial things. And to be fair, video games involve stories (stories about things you machine gun), which is better than nothing. It only becomes really negative when one form begins to strangle another (no more character development, for example, because of iconic something or other or superheroes or something). So okay, it's a good and bad thing, as you say; or at least a bad thing that can potentially lead to something better.


Yes, there are some movies and games that can rival literature, but literature has the potential to go further due to the recruitment of imagination, and what it demands of the reader in uptaking the story.

Bingo. Written fiction (as distinct from cinema and video games) requires a special intimacy between the writer and the reader, and it is at that interface the art actually occurs. The relationship is unmediated by a director's vision or a programmed cartoon (that's what a video game is, right?). This makes the reading experience unique to each reader to a greater degree than a movie or game would be. (You'd be amazed how many people want to fight me over this).


A lot of people are saying that their friends will have conversations about all these things, but are too busy to read. I think they have settled with the more accessible mediums and have no reason to go beyond as their needs are being met.

People who say they are too busy to read should add: but I'm not to busy to...play video games, watch idiot sitcoms, smoke dope, shop for the sake of shopping, etc. Of course those in new marriages, or those in any marriage with kids, or anyone with a pressing or challenging career probably doesn't have very much time to read. But I promise you they are not playing video games, either. Having time to read literature has been one of the best parts of my retirement. But it's something most 20-somethings I know could easily manage.


This concerns me as such people will miss out on a lot that books have to offer, but many of my friends are like this, and I can have some interesting discussions contrasting stories across the mediums.

Ah, they'll grow up. And they seem to be enjoying themselves for now. There are worse things than that.

[mortalterror]

Hell, I feel alone in a literature class surrounded by people who love to read because they don't like reading the same things I do.

[Danik 2016]

I understand you mortalterror. For me a forum where people love and discuss 19 C and early 20 C literature was a total surprise.
Contemporary bestseller forums are much more usual