Here’s What The Books You Read Say About You

Do you ever judge people by what they’re reading? I do. Whenever I see someone read a book, I am determined to find out which book it is, and when I do, I immediately form an opinion about them – usually quite a harsh one. The thing is, I went to a bookshop yesterday and really let myself go, greedily buying four books. But then it struck me: what would people say about me when they saw which books I’d bought? Would they judge as cruelly as I usually do? Would they be able to find out who I was, just by looking at these titles? Let’s find out.

I don’t usually buy four books at the same time. Usually it’s only one or two, which shows that I’m quite good at restraining myself. Today, however, I failed.

Here’s what people might think of me: I just like reading. I like the bright colours. I love giving presents (even though she asked me if I wanted anything gift wrapped). I’m an addict and I had been going without buying any books for so long that I couldn’t take it any longer and just had to buy some now. Or nothing at all. But I simply bought these books because I felt like it.

The first book I picked up was the Dutch novel W. by Tiemen Hiemstra, which is apparently a really good novel which could have won the local book award I wrote about last week, if only the publisher had decided to enter the competition.

Here’s what people might think of me: I love reading Dutch books (I don’t specifically). I love reading debut novels (I don’t have a special preference for them). I love short titles (definitely not). I like blue covers (do people actually have a preference for specific colours?). I want to show off my unique taste in books (sometimes I do, actually). But I actually bought this one because we’re going to read it with my book club, and of course I need to be prepared.

The second book I decided to buy was A Very Easy Death by Simone de Beauvour, which is about the last day’s of her mother.

Here’s what people might think of me: Did you know that there’s a new trend on social media where men show off their love of reading feminist literature? Apparently more and more young men have lunch in the city at these popular spots, and boast about reading feminist novels. Apparently they think we women consider that attractive. More often than not, these men are just sitting there with their books in one hand, open on page one, and their phones or a cigarette in the other. Simone de Beauvoir is a hugely popular I-only-pretend-to-be-reading-her author. Let’s hope that’s not what people think of me, because I actually am a feminist and want to read some of her books and I’m ashamed I haven’t just yet. That’s why I bought this book.

Next, I bought Mona Awad’s All’s Well, which is about a theatre professor who wants to stage Shakespeare’s play All’s Well That Ends Well because she thinks it’ll help her find inner peace.

Here’s what people might think of me: She must’ve picked that book because it has a bright pink colour. She must be an idiot because she confused Shakespeare’s play with this novel. She must like chick lit because look at that cover! She must be a mess herself because this book sounds like some self help thing. She must love happy endings. The thing is, I did buy it because of the Shakespeare reference. I read a couple of books about him and his plays, and I find myself more and more obsessed. So that’s why I had to buy this book.

Finally, I bought Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid, about a world-famous, recently-retired tennis player who likes to have one more shot at stardom.

Here’s what people might think of me: Oh my god, she’s reading TJR! I love her books! She’s so good at writing strong female characters! Oh my god, her previous novels made me cry! Oh my god, my hero! Oh my god, I just saw this book on Tiktok and I really want to read it too! Oh my god, Queen Taylor has written another book and I need it! Oh my god, I can’t believe someone else loves these books too! True, I have read other books by the immensely popular author Taylor Jenkins Reid, namely this one and this one. However, I didn’t really like them, as they’re oversimplistic, unrealistic, and, to be honest, rather boring. But since I’m a huge fan of tennis, I felt like I had to buy and read this book so I can write a blog post about it when Wimbledon starts. I actually feel quite self-conscious reading those books. Because I am afraid people might think I like books such as this one. Ew.

In conclusion, I think I worry too much about what people might think of me. And I worry too much about what I think people might think of me. And I worry too much about what people think I might think of what people might think of me. Maybe it’s because I occasionally judge people so savagely. Maybe I should stop doing that and just allow others to enjoy their books, and assume people don’t really care about what I’m reading.

Do you know any of the books I’ve bought? What do you think of them? Which book would you like to buy? Do you ever worry about what people might think of the books you’re reading? Please let me know in the comments. Also, don’t forget to follow me for more bookish posts!