Today I came across my first official book snob. And wow, what an encounter it was! Usually, I can come back with some pretty snide remarks to put people in their place, but this one really set me back on my heels.
I was sitting somewhere, place unknown, enjoying the relative peace and quiet, eating my breakfast of a bagel and coffee, while re-reading The Hobbit on my Nook. N came into my quiet little reading space and asked me what I was reading.
"The Hobbit," I replied.
"But you read that one already, didn't you?" N asked with a tone in her voice I didn't quite like.
I smiled. "Yes, N, that's what good books are for...to be re-read." (I warned you I could be snide!)
"That. Is. Not. A. Good. Book. Nor is it a classic." she replied with the following look on her face:
The Odyssey by Homer,War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy, and Moby Dick by Herman Melville. Her list included about 6 books all total.
Needlessto say, I was still speechless, while brief ideas flitted through my head of how sad and forlorn Gandalf and the dwarves must feel without my company as they journey with the giant eagles....
After the encounter was over, and my brain recovered from its flummoxed state, all I could think of was, "Thank god there are billions of books out there for everyone to enjoy, not just 5 or 6."
N didn't love the Hobbit?! Blasphemy!
ReplyDeleteExactly my thoughts Dabin! How dare she defile the temple of Tolkien! :)
DeleteThat's just preposterous. I disagee! >_< Every great book, regardless classic or not, old or withered, or totally young and fresh from the press, should deserve to be read, re-read, shared, and treated properly!
ReplyDeleteEnd of short rant. o-o
~Sophia @ Bookwyrming Thoughts
Completely agree Sophia!
DeleteOK first of all - Love the Hobbit. Second, this post was hilarious! I get looked at crazy all the time for the books I'm reading and told that they aren't any good, but it doesn't phase me. I agree with Sophia too. Old follower :D Jaclyn @ JC's Book Haven
ReplyDeleteJaclyn, I completely wouldn't mind if she had just said, "Oh I tried to read that one, didn't like it. It wasn't my cuppa tea. [Insert any bland excuse she didn't read it or like it here.]" But the fact that this whole encounter even occured is beyond ridiculouus! Super snobbish! :)
DeleteYour last sentence in this post is pure awesome. :) I have ran into a few book snobs myself in the past and they are just so frustrating. Everyone is allowed to have their own opinion on a book they read, but they shouldn't be snobs about it. Everyone comes from a different background with different life experiences to bring to the book they are reading, therefore some people will like them and some won't, as I'm sure you know since you were not a fan of this book snob. Sorry you had that encounter.
ReplyDeleteLove your blog. New Follower!
Thanks so much for stopping by and following :)
DeleteWhen I come across people like this, I just say, "Okay, but it is okay that I like it, isn't it? Why does it bother you that I don't share your opinion?" I bombard them with questions to make them take a look at there controlling ways. I think that N wants to secretly take over the world.
ReplyDeletegood idea! :)
DeleteBook snobs are my pet peeve. They are perfectly welcome to be discerning in their own tastes, but when they insult other people for reading genre fiction (or whatever they disapprove of) or when they insult books they haven't read or entire categories of books...well...that just shows how narrow-minded they are.
ReplyDeleteRachel, I don't think I've ever encountered a book snob before yesterday. It was....horrifying.
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