What's a Book Snob?

At first glance, it might seem pretty easy to define a Book Snob: someone who loves books and is snooty about it! That’s a pretty good description, but for me, being a Book Snob requires more explanation. I’m proud to be a founding member of the book club formally known as The Book Snobs - some of my favorite Snobs on the planet! We’ve been together for years and our name evolved through two personal stories that we still laugh about. I apologize in advance that both of these stories involve funny things that men said… it’s just a coincidence, I promise! :)

Story #1: Years ago I went out on a date with a man who was very nice, as I recall, but his name escapes me. He did make an impression, though! He took me to see the movie Conspiracy Theory starring Mel Gibson and Julia Roberts. In this movie, Mel’s character is obsessed with two things – conspiracy theories and buying copies of JD Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye. Repeatedly throughout the movie this book comes up in discussion and is seen on the screen. Mel’s character has copies of the book stacked in his apartment, for example. Toward the end of the movie, my date leans over and whispers in my ear, “What’s Catcher in the Rye?” Oh, my. In the words of my niece, Dani, “Take me home! Just take me home right now!” I should clarify this story by saying that I’m not a fan of Catcher – I totally don’t get it – but I absolutely cannot date a man who has never even heard of it. First date, last date.

Story #2: Not long after that (do you see a theme in my life?), I was going out with a nice young man who was not much of a reader. I know, I know – why am I dating him? (I was just trying to keep an open mind, people!). Every single person in my immediate family reads as a hobby – all of us. It has long been the case that the first question asked by my parents when my sister or I were seeing someone is, “Does he read?” They don’t mean “Can he read?” They mean, “Does he read for fun?” So it was not unusual for my mom to ask this particular young man at dinner one night, “Do you read?” Evidently, I had already asked this question or maybe we had talked about it before. I’m sure I had told him about how important books were to me and probably mentioned the same about my family. The guy said something to my mom like, “Not really” and we just went on with the evening. In the car after dinner, this guy said to me, “Y’all are just a bunch of book snobs!” Yes. Yes, we are. He’s married to someone else.

So as you can see, the title of Book Snob should be taken in jest. I’m actually not very snobby about my books. I read what I like. I’m not the least bit swayed by what literary society thinks is a “good” book. In fact, I often disagree with “them.” There have been many “classics” that I have loved – The Count of Monte Cristo, Jane Eyre, Huckleberry Finn and anything by Jane Austin, to name a few. Then there are others for which I can’t fathom the attraction (like Catcher in the Rye). My snobbery does, however, manifest itself in the fact that I think everyone should read – at least occasionally. I can’t imagine why anyone would pass up the opportunity to go on a great adventure, travel the world, become acquainted with famous and influential people or understand more fully their own belief system without having to leave their warm, comfy home.

Get snobby, People - read a book! (And then tell me all about it!)