The Beauty of a Story

What books are you embarrassed to admit you are reading, or that you like to read?

It is a question that popped into my head this morning as I was brushing my teeth, of all things. (I don’t usually have stellar ideas while brushing my teeth, I am just thinking about breakfast.) I started thinking about all the types of books I hesitate to share with other people. Which is funny, considering I write this blog sharing all/most of the books I read and what I think about them. But even though I have been doing this for many years, I still pause before talking about some of the books I read. And it is easier to share with all of the faceless people on the internet than it is with people in real life. I have a list of ‘for public knowledge’ books that I talk about with people I don’t know very well or I know don’t really like the type of books I read. Is this a problem? Very possibly.

But let’s ignore that, and move on to what exactly I have a problem with sharing with the world at large.

First up, very specific nonfiction books. I enjoy reading books about very specific topics because I like learning about all the things. But I worry sometimes about sharing them. I don’t want to get into an argument with people about the subject. For example, I recently read a book about sugar addiction, and I worry sometimes about sharing it with people because I don’t want them to feel judged. I am not sharing a book about sugar because I think you have an addiction, but because I thought it had interesting things to say. But will the person I am talking to understand that? You never know! Anyway, nonfiction can be fraught with worry. Or talking about it can anyway.

The other genre I get a little squirmy to share is whenever I read a so-called ‘classic’. I don’t particularly want to mention in casual conversation that I have read ‘War and Peace’ and ‘Anna Karenina’. It seems a little… pretentious maybe? I think my worry is more that people will think I am pretentious. When in fact I have actually read them because I wanted to and truly enjoyed them. I think my problem is more I don’t want people to think badly of me, or wrongly of me. So I tend to be very, very careful about how much I talk about the classics I read and enjoy.

There you go, the books I am hesitant/nervous to talk about, especially in person. What books do you feel a little embarrassed about?

Have a beautiful day.

Shaina Merrick