The other day I was deep in conversation with someone and we got to talking about books. What our favorites are, etc. Before this person could even answer (they were pausing to think), I jumped in. This person was in law school, so my immediate assumption (which I spoke aloud), was Tom Clancy. Indeed they'd read every one of Clancy's books.
But I've been thinking about it, and was this really fair of me to assume? I mean, I really could have been way off base.
So it got me thinking. What might people assume I read before I say anything about my reading tastes?
They probably think I read a lot (if not exclusively) of science fiction, being a Trekker and into Star Wars, wanting to see the upcoming Cowboys and Aliens, etcetera.
I'm not sure what else they'd assume about me. But they'd be surprised to see the broader range of books I read and have read. (Chaucer, Shakespeare, Sherman Alexie, Dickens, Austen, Bronte, and the list could go on and on.) In fact, I've only ever read one Star Trek book, never even cracked the cover on a Star Wars book, and the most science fiction I've read beyond that is a collection of Philip K. Dick short stories in grad school.
What do people assume about your reading habits before you tell them anything about what you're reading? Is it fair that we make these sorts of assumptions?
I have no idea what people's judgments of my reading are. Sometimes I think we worry too much about fairness. Does it matter if someone assumes that I like Clancy over Austen? To me, that's just not important. If they want to know, I figure they'll ask. Lots of people don't know my likes and dislikes and may assume things based on other things. We do it to make sense of the world around us and I don't think it's a bad thing. Now if people start being mean based on those judgments that's where the trouble begins.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure people would assume I read speculative fiction, and they'd be right! But I also love the classics (majored in English Literature) and I read an unholy amount of picture books to my little ones. =)
ReplyDeleteI don't know what people assume of me. But I think as soon as they hear I'm a YA writer, then I probably read YA (which I devour).
ReplyDeleteI have never thought about it.
ReplyDelete*going to ask friends what they'd assume I read*
I'm not sure what people assume about me... I hope it's fantasy/scifi, because that would be pretty accurate. I usually run down the list when people start talking to me about books before they can even ask. Hmm... guess I should find that out.
ReplyDelete~Tara
people usually assume I read paranormal and historical and they're right! maybe I should be more mysterious.
ReplyDeleteps. I nominated you for a blog award on my blog. stop by and claim it. :)
Most people probably assume SF for me too - and they wouldn't be wrong, just incomplete.
ReplyDeleteHopped over from the Ninja linky! I'm drafting my latest WiP now too - good luck with your writing! :)
Hopping over from Ninja linky as well!
ReplyDeleteI've never thought about this question, but now I'm very intrigued. I do wonder what people think when they find out I write YA. People have weird ideas as to what that means.