Brazen Bibliophage

Bosslady posted a link to the trailer for IT. I commented that maybe I should read the book. Her response was, “What?! You haven’t?!” Reading The Stand at 13 and prattling about many other King novels must mean I’ve read all of them, right? This isn’t the first time she’s been surprised by the fact that I haven’t read a particular book. The Picture of Dorian Gray was another.  Being an English major is usually a sign that you’ve read many classics, why not any given one in particular?

She’s not the only one to express such shock. Around the time the first Harry Potter movie came out, astonishment was the primary reaction from people who discovered I had yet to crack any of the books. Most who know me well are probably less surprised by this lapse. I’m not known for reading a lot of mainstream, currently popular books. Especially those about boy wizards or anything originally for a middle-grade audience. At least not at the height of popularity.

My response to this astonishment is rather blase. I mean, just because I love to read and I love books and I once read 119 books in a year doesn’t mean I’ve read every book someone else has. Chances are high that I haven’t read others’ much-loved books. Mainly because I’m an oddly eclectic reader.

None of this prevents me from expressing bewilderment when I learn someone hasn’t read, say, The Handmaid’s Tale. It’s a classic! And a very moving and, right now,  extremely relevant dystopian novel. Or The Goldfinch. Obviously, I didn’t read it when it first came out, but it’s been in paperback for a while and it’s a best-seller. Surely you’ve read it!

Classics and best-sellers represent the breadth of my incredulity. I’m not surprised to learn someone hasn’t read (nay, heard of) Connie Willis. Same with experiencing the hilarity of Christopher Moore. Prevailing responses to me asking if someone has read a book or author are blank stares. They probably haven’t heard of this wonderful piece of writing I’m about to exult. I’m prepared for this.

Let’s revel in our gaps and find new reads! Share the books you’re surprised others haven’t read or the books others are surprised you haven’t read in the comments.