Since I started blogging a little over a year ago, I've made a lot of friends. Most of you are writers, readers, or publishing professionals. Almost all of you love books as much as I do.
There is nothing better than being able to discuss books with people you respect, who care about books and stories as much as you do.
Leigh T. Moore and I don't always agree on whether or not we like the books we read, but we always have the best discussions about them, and we always have a ton of fun debating books.
Steve Abernathy is one of those guys who has read so many great books that I haven't really been alive long enough to be familiar with. I love learning about modern classics from him that I probably wouldn't have discovered otherwise.
Bryan Russell is a bit like Steve, in that he's read so well and so widely that I could probably never keep up. He breaks down books on his blog in interesting ways that I have never seen before. Being a former bookstore owner, he also knows about a lot of books.
Nathan Bransford is obviously a publishing superstar, but he's also a friend of mine, as far as online friendships go, and he has some very interesting tastes in books, and reads a lot of things that I haven't. I remember well the day he brought it up that he had never read The Lord of the Rings, and then a wonderful discussion ensued in the forums, in which he shared his experience with all of us.
What do you like better, books? Or people?
39 comments:
Hmm. That's a tough choice. How about people who love books and people that are in books? :)
ugh....depends on the day. LOL
I think I like books better than people. I had to move 3 years ago, and I did not receive a warm welcome, so I have to say books.
Besides, curling up on the couch with a friend may lead to some quintesentially questionable quagmires. Curling up on same couch with a book, well, that is just Heaven.
I like good conversations with good people. However, there are times when all I want to do is be alone with a good book. It's a whole different type of conversation.
You know, I don't actually have a lot of book discussions with my in-person friends. I do with my family, though. But the place where I have the most interesting discussions about books are in the blogosphere and on Twitter. I love seeing what people have to say--there is a great diversity of opinion that leads me to ideas I never could have been exposed to otherwise.
Depends on my mood. I'm around people a lot so I appreciate time with my books, which is kinda rare these days. So at the moment I'm leaning toward books. I guess if I wasn't around people much but read all the time I would feel the oppositie.
How can you make me choose? People can be relied upon, but books will never personally insult you.
Plus, you can throw them against the wall without going to jail.
Oh...I'm kind of a misanthrope and recluse, Matt. Sometimes more so than others. So I guess it's books for me. If I don't like a book I can get rid of it, unlike people who one has to be tolerant and compassionate towards. (Which I am, I'm just not all that hopeful.)
whom? should be "whom one has to be tolerant..."
There are some books I like more than some people, and vice versa. But I'll always like a person who likes books.
I've enjoyed getting to know more about you through this series, Matt. Nice job.
It typically varies day by day. There are people I always like better than most books, and a select few books I like better than most people.
And there are some books that fulfill both the need for reading and the need for companionship-- Ender Wiggin actually feels like a close friend to me, and if you are not familiar, read Ender's Game!
I personally prefer people who like books :-) I have this strange emotional reaction when I meet someone who confesses not to read, especially if they sound proud of it. So I try to stick to my kind so we can talk books whenever :-)
Gosh, that's a tough one. And your post hit me just right--was on a flight yesterday and the guy next to me sat down with a fantasy book, and lo! The entire flight was spent talking about books. Such fun, and went by fast, too.
I've just decided how to answer this. I like people that like books. And those that like books, I like more than books. However, if a person doesn't read, I prefer my literary relationships because, honestly, at that point I have more in common with my fictional friends.
I'm going with Laura Pauling's answer.
That's a choice, right? :D
My friends who read are my very best friends! There's nothing better than having book discussions. Wait... nope. There's NOTHING better. ;)
I'm all for books who like friends!
;-)
Take care
x
I like talking about books with people who love books. I like great books. I like great people. I'm not so keen on the "not-so-great" versions of both.
I really like this post; you've got me thinking about how much I appreciate the people I choose to spend time with, and what I like about the blogs I choose to read.
It is wonderful to discuss books with those we trust and enjoy. I belong to a group that meets once a week to discuss our goals and to motivate each other to continue on our goals.
I love people. We are so crazy and funny. And even the mean people make me laugh and go, "Wow, aren't they interesting?!"
In general I would say I love books more, but when I really click with a person, which happens very rarely, it is an amazing feeling. Almost as good as a great book!
The introvert in me says books, but the sympathetic soul in me says people. Combine the two, books and people, and you get writers, readers, and editors. What's not to love about these types of people?
Can't I say both? I enjoy people, and I enjoy books!
I like people made out of books. You know, you are what you read...
Hey buddy. Thanks for linking to Steve Abernathy's blog. I just spent about an hour reading and I'm really enjoying it.
Books or people?....tough call. Depends on the book, depends on the people, depends on the day :)
Probably people more, but agree with Jess that it depends on the book/person.
Yeah, I'd have to say it depends on my mood. Sometimes I really need people. Other times, I really need anything but. :) And books are always there, always comforting. :)
Great post, Matt. Not many more things I love more than books. And thanks for the links!
Books versus people? Wow, tough choice. I guess it depends on the day. Sometimes I crave the company of others, and sometimes I can't stand to be near anybody and just want to disappear inside a big, fat novel. Today the big fat novel is looking pretty good...
Happy to be a new follower!
Can I demur by saying it depends on my mood?
;)
I love both, but it really depends on the book or the person. Because there are some of both that I definitely DON'T love. ;)
Yes.
I'm with katie-depends on the day! :-) Nice list!
ive been in teh same position, between freidns and a good book. tought call
I'd say books, 'cause no matter what time of night it is, or wherever you are, you can hang out with some of the smartest, most thoughtful people that ever were.
Like Plato. I'm digging through him now, and who would've thought he was a Grolsch man, too?
some books ARE like friends, like LOTR. I don't know why but every so often I just have to re-read this trilogy, revisit middle-earth and the shire and rivendell and beyond.
Hey! Just getting my shout out! I've been 100 percent computer access free for four days.
withdrawals!!! And super-behind. bleah.
But yes, it's true. AND since I was flying, I just finished "Like Mandarin." Discuss... :D <3
Without people we wouldn't have books right? No one to write about and no one to read it. I'd say people, but books come in a tight second.
Thanks for the links. I also love Leigh. She's a ton of fun!
Post a Comment