Life among the aliterate (a small rant)

In terms of aliterate, I mean people who know how to read, but don't care to. A familiar quote, "I had to read in college (or high school) but I don't need to anymore."

I grew up in a household of readers and have family who are still voracious readers.

20 years ago, I moved from a major Northern U.S. metropolis to a major Southern U.S. metropolis.

In my former home everyone I knew read all the time – different stuff, but they read. Poor people, rich people – for most it had been a lifetime avocation. And they did love reading.

When I moved, my partner (who was a former publishing person like me) and me continued our reading adventure.

But NO ONE is our social circle reads here. Not books, not anything. Our friends don't even have books in their homes. They come to our house and see the books crammed in the 6 big bookcases and usually the first comment is "Did you read all of these?" – like it's some aberrant thing, like it's an impossible thing to do.

And they seem suspicious – like, what kind of person would read those books? Definite suspicions about the science books…

I get the impression that if the books were replaced with sports memorabilia, everything would appear normal to them.

I have learned not to talk about my love of reading. I know they will never understand. It's kind of lonely except for the reddit connections – and then, that's just shorthand for any real discussion about anything substantial.

At least my partner still reads – much more than me.

I agree with this very rude plea from noted director and author, John Waters:
“If you go home with somebody, and they don't have books, don't fuck 'em!” “It wasn't until I started reading and found books they wouldn't let us read in school that I discovered you could be insane and happy and have a good life without being like everybody else.”