I interact with a few booklovers who are kind of pushy, like they insist on me reading books that they recommend. Most recently, James, by Percival Everett. I've tried to get out of these situations a few times politely but they seemed offended, as if I don't respect them or their opinion. They know i'm not busy but don't understand I'm not as disciplined and productive as they are. Like I'm not always motivated to read. Sometimes I rather watch an old sitcom.
Anyhow so on a couple of occasions I've lied and said I did read the book. To back up my claim, I looked up details summaries of said books. I feel bad but can't find a better solution to it.
I've also had the opposite experience, where I say I read a particular book but people don't believe me. The problem is I don't have a good memory so I can only remember details of a book I've read in the last few weeks. Then I forget.
For example, a friend who just read Pride and Prejudice asked me what I thought of George Wickham, but I just couldn't remember who he was. At the time we had that conversation, I had read the book a year ago (for the second time in fact) but embarrassingly couldn't remember several important characters and their stories, other than important parts of what happened between Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy (what was his first name?).
Anybody else relate or am I alone in this?
by davecopperfield
8 Comments
not at all – if i didn’t do something, then i didn’t do something and i will go on the record as not having done it. others can feel what they want about the situation; they’re allowed. don’t understand what’s so hard about telling the truth…
I never finished Ulysses. Phew, OMG, I’m so glad that lie’s over.
This girl back in elementary school who hated me for some reason insisted I hadn’t read one of the Campfire Weenies books. “What’s the third story in it, then?” she asked, smugly. Me: “Uhh…something about a girl creating a monster to take to prom?” I was correct. She shut up. Just so odd that she would accuse me of making that up for attention. Oh well.
would have failed out of the English degree if I didn’t LOL SparkNotes is a lifesaver
I would just say I have a huge pile of books i want to read first and thanks so much for the suggestion. I wouldn’t lie.
A decade or so ago, I had a conservative boomer decide to give me a pop quiz on Ayn Rand. I answered her questions, made a couple of observations about Rand’s early life, and then recommended a couple of biographies from our library’s collection.
Does lying to your professor count, if you still passed the test for the book?
Tbh I say I’ve read a book after reading. >50% of it. More than half is enough to evaluate if you like it or not, and if you don’t…why slog through? (Unless it’s required for school)