Have You Ever...

MargoWest · Jul 31, 2009

Gotten a non-reader to read by finding them the right book?

I just got my staunchly anti-reading boyfriend to actually be excited about reading! I've been biding my time... We've been going out for about a year and a half and I finally suggested to him that he might like Artemis Fowl while we were hanging out in B&N (we go there a lot, he just usually plays DS or something while I look around). He got so into it that he actually didn't want to leave because he was reading, so of course I bought it for him and he's been really into it. Can't lie, I'm excited!

Ever happened to you?

Lisa Cox · Jul 31, 2009

My SO doesn't read at all. He's only read one book in the ten years I've known him -- and, sadly, that was Dan Brown. He couldn't put it down.

Actually, that's a lie. He also read the first four Harry Potter books, back when I was obsessed. He wanted to know what the big deal was, but it took him months to get through those four, and he's not gone back for the fifth. That was years ago. He's not read anything since.

It's sad.

I wish I could get him to read. It's not as if there aren't plenty of choices in this house.

Kurtz · Jul 31, 2009

I once read the entire second book of Paradise Lost to a class of schoolkids back when I was a classroom assistant. They asked me to read more but I think it was just because of my accent. A few had read Harry Potter but I wouldn't call any of them afficionados of 17th century puritan poetry.

MargoWest · Jul 31, 2009

Aww lisamarie

Maybe he'll find something else that really grabs him! Lol Kurtz, where are you from?

bettielee · Aug 1, 2009

I would love to infect other people with reading...

My niece does though! She's in grade school, and she really gives it to the kids that rag on her for reading. She tells them reading is the best pretending you can do, that you can become anyone in a book, or go to places you've never been. Great kid!

Mr Flibble · Aug 1, 2009

I got my Old Man reading - he's pretty badly dyslexic and no one realised while he was at school. Reading was a real pain for him, which was a shame because he loves stories.

I gave him a Terry Pratchett which he loved. He then went onto Dragonlance and after six months of slog achieved his ambition - read LOTR. Now he has a book on the go all the time and moans if he hasn't got anything to read.

Kurtz · Aug 1, 2009

MargoWest said:
Aww lisamarie Maybe he'll find something else that really grabs him! Lol Kurtz, where are you from?

I was a classroom assistant when I was at university in Norwich, I am originally from Yorkshire and I must imagine the northern accent was exotic for them. I never thought I would describe Yorkshire as exotic.

MargoWest · Aug 1, 2009

Ahh. My entire family is Scottish so I'm used to the accent, but yeah my friends swoon at anything that sounds like it comes from the left of the Atlantic.

I'm very excited - last night at his request we went to BAM and he bought the rest of the series

That's a shame, Idiots, I know other people in similar situations. Luckily schools these days are pretty good about catching that sort of thing. Bettilee, your niece sounds awesome!

Jacquelyn Hyde · Aug 3, 2009

I have my boyfriend reading occasionally. I've gotten him to read the Harry Potter books and some Dragonlance and Death Gate novels. A year or two ago, I pulled off my greatest accomplishment. I adore Lynn Flewelling's Nightrunner series. I desperately wanted to share it with someone and knew my boyfriend (assertively heterosexual man's man

) wouldn't go for it if he knew there were some homosexual elements to the book that were... more than subtle undertones.

So, I just omitted that little detail.

He couldn't put the series down. About a week later, he comes to me with the second novel, looking rather miffed. Of course, when Shadows Return released, he actually seemed pleased. He admitted to thoroughly enjoying the last one, and I suspect I could easily get him to read more.

Have You Ever...

MargoWest

the chart is not the sea

Lisa Cox

Kurtz

Fix up, look sharp.

MargoWest

the chart is not the sea

bettielee

I'm a sparkly fairy princess!

Mr Flibble

They've been very bad, Mr Flibble

Kurtz

Fix up, look sharp.

MargoWest

the chart is not the sea

Jacquelyn Hyde

Mistress of Puns