Do you tell the truth about what you read?

[Cecily]

Apparently "Almost four out of 10 people would lie about their reading habits to impress a friend or would-be lover" and it's even higher for men (see http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/... ).

Whilst I don't think I've pretended to read a book that I haven't, I have sometimes chosen books because I think I ought to, rather than a genuine desire for the book itself, but I don't think that counts.

Conversely, I suppose there may be people who've pretended not to have read a book that they really have - I do admit to that one...

[Jenny, honorary mod - inactive]

I'm the same. I've never pretended to have read a book I haven't (I think I'd get caught out), but I have read books because I felt I ought to have done.

The link isn't working for me :(

[Cecily]

The link should work now.

[Kipahni]

haha that is too funny. I always tell the truth with my book reading.

[Terri]

haha! I'm the same ... not pretended to read something I haven't, but have read books I feel I 'should' read. Don't think I've pretended not to have read a book either!

[Beth]

I wouldn't lie about reading something I haven't but like some of you have mentioned I have read books just becuase I thought I "should."

[Miranda]

I've read book I thought I "had" to read as well...and ones I'd never admit to reading lol

[Beth]

Lol, Miranda! I've read some books that I'm embarrassed to admit to as well!!!!!

[Cecily]

I've had some great pleasure from reading books I didn't think I'd like, but that one "ought" to read, such as Don Quixote (yes, it's long, but it's a hoot) and Crime and Punishment (but you need to keep a list of who's who as they're often known by 2 or even 3 different names).

[Nascha]

I haven't lied about any books that I've read. I don't see the point really. And I'm a bit of a rebel in that I read books from a range of genres and I don't really care who knows it. LOL. But more recently I have been trying to read the books that are considered classics and which are raved about by the critics. Overall I try to be open about the books that I've read.

[Heather]

I don't lie about the books I read, though I have been embarassed by a couple of them. Um...for example, my most recent embarassment was reading Bonk by Mary Roach, but I think that was just because of the explicit sexual nature of the book (is a science book). I suppose it's because when I am reading a book, it goes every single place with me, including work. Like Naj, I read a huge range of genres, and most of the time I am reading something not so bad, but every once in a while (shrug)

Life is too short not to spend it reading.

[Ellie]

I agree.... I am often a bit embarrssed about what Im reading, good example, I was reading a Jilly Cooper one and you get some funny looks on public transport, but never mind!

I couldnt lie about it anyway... I have too many that I have read to pretend Ive read thing I havent! I dont pretend not to have read things either, but I can see why people might especially in front of people they don't know very well!

[Cecily]

I suspect that the people the article was referring to were occasional readers who wanted to inflate their apparant learnedness, rather than the sort of bibliophiles likely to be on Goodreads.

Still, I'm glad I'm not the only one here who has occasionally read something one wouldn't want to shout from the rooftops (which is not the same as actually pretending not to have read it).

[Chrissie]

Absolutely always, but if it is bad I try and analyze why others might disagree with me and say that too. I am a terrible, terrible lier so I just do not do that. And why do we have to think the same?

[Sam]

I don't think I could lie about what I have and haven't read, I think it would be sacrilage of a sort lol. Personally I don't see much point lying about such things, at the end of the day I read for enjoyment and nothing else. However I have read some books because they've had good reviews or because they're classics but even then I've been quite picky about it, although it is a good way to vary what you read.

I kind of pity people who feel they have to lie about what they read, more so those that do it to impress people, what do they do if someone asks them a question on it?

[Cecily]

Chrissie wrote: " I try and analyze why others might disagree with me..."

Which is what sites and groups like this are all about.

When a book has lots of reviews, I tend to pay most attention to those at the extremes (1* and 5*) or to those that are the opposite end of the spectrum to my own opinion. Sometimes it entrenches my views, but at other times it makes me see a book in a new light.

[Diane]

Yes, I tell the truth about what I have read. I am glad to have found Goodreads because it makes categorizing my reading to easy. I knew I'd read a lot of books over my lifetime, but never kept a record in a journal or such. Now I can, and as I recollect more and more books that I have indeed read, I keep adding them to my list, although I know there are hundreds I've read that I have forgotten about. Mainly I like to keep track for myself, to give myself a mental pat on the back and boost myself up when I begin to feel ... oh I don't know, like I'm not very bright or talented, or creative. Ok, so my painting skills aren't as good as I'd like, but I have learned a lot about life through reading. It's a balance. Don't know if I've made myself clear, but it works for me.

[Afsana]

I read books that I want , never apart from at schools just because I feel I should.

I wouldn't pretend to have read something I haven't as it would be easy eenough to get caught out and am bad liar and forget things about books that I have read without trying to track books I haven;t

What I have done is not mention that I have on occasion read a M & B book (mills and boon) "shame"

[Cecily]

Afsana wrote: "I read books that I want , never apart from at schools just because I feel I should...."

Don't the two ever overlap?

There are a few books I've read primarily because I felt they were ones I ought to try, and in most cases, I've enjoyed them more than I expected. However, they're only a small percentage of my reading.

[Afsana]

Cecily wrote: "Afsana wrote: "I read books that I want , never apart from at schools just because I feel I should...."

Don't the two ever overlap?

There are a few books I've read primarily because I felt they w..."

Don't what overlap?

[Cecily]

Do the books you want to read ever overlap with those you feel you should read?

[Afsana]

Cecily wrote: "Do the books you want to read ever overlap with those you feel you should read?"

Not as such as I have never been one o follow others and do whats "in"

But I do enjoy Jane austin so some may say that some classics should be read but I have read them because they seemed interesting.

I have read books due to reccomendations-books may not have picked up otherwise but not because I felt I should but thought it may be worth a chance

[Stuart]

I am always honest. I wish I had a pound coin for the number of times people have said to me words to the effect, why do you bother with science fiction or fantasy?!

[Dorottya]

Until yesterday, I thought I would be completely unashamed of what I read, but then, I lost a book at the dentist 4-5 days ago, and it was so hard to tell the receptionist that the book I lost was a teen book - and I am 25.
Also, when some random, maybe intellectual people ask about my fave books, I would actually choose to talk about my more serious favorite ones, as opposed to Wicked Lovely or Fathom, for example :).