Readers are known far and wide to be some of the best people in the world. We are empathetic, focused, and always come through for the literary questions at bar trivia nights. Anyone would want to date a reader, right? Well, before you run to your nearest bookstore looking for “the one,” let me give you the lowdown on what to expect when you date a reader.
1. “Book Time” is extremely important
Similar to alone time, book time is vital to every reader. Most read every day, so you’ll have to be okay with giving your reader distance. You must also learn how to navigate the transition from book world to reality. If the reader pauses at a high note in the story, the transition will be easy. You two can head right off to your dinner date without issue. If one of the reader’s favorite characters is having a tough time, however, allow a few minutes before you rush your reader out the door. The toughest transitions come when the reader finishes a book. This can be a crushing moment, especially if the book was much loved, the ending was particularly incredible, or the ending was complete shit. Don’t worry, though. Time heals all wounds, and your night will eventually get back on track.
2. Moving will be absolute hell
There is no sight more daunting than a pile of boxes filled with books that need lifting. Do you know what readers have more of than anything else? Books. If you date a reader, you will be one of the lucky people who help move these bricks of doom from one apartment to the next. Just persevere. You can do this. Your reader is worth it.
3. You will be compared to literary characters
If your reader is slightly more suspicious of where you’ve been lately, she’s probably just in the middle of This Is How You Lose Her. If you have an argument, and your reader demands you explain yourself in a letter, she may have just read Mr. Darcy’s in Pride and Prejudice. It’s important to know that these comparisons are fleeting. It’s equally important to know that it could involve some very interesting role-playing at some point. So, this one has pros as well as cons!
4. All traveling will revolve around each city’s bookstores
You probably have things you want to do on your vacation, but your reader has already researched every bookstore in your destination city, and days will be planned around being able to get to all of them. There is nothing you can do about this but accept it. Your best bet is to decipher the bookstore map and try to squeeze in other historical attractions, restaurants, and activities in between. Just remember, each bookstore needs at least a two-hour time block, just to be safe.
5. Life will be broken up into chapters
Like it or not, when you met your reader, it was the beginning of a new chapter. She will inevitably make jokes like, “I wonder how many chapters you’ll last!” or “Man, this has not been the most interesting chapter of my life.” It’ll get a little tiresome, but just tell your reader you think it’s cute.
6. A brain
Your reader will most likely match or even exceed your wits, vocabulary, and ability to present a firm argument. Conversations will be deep, ideas will be drawn out, and points will be proven. It will not always be easy, but it will be more rewarding in the long run. It’s best to have an equal (or better) partner joining you on your life journey. Celebrate the brains!
7. Books will always come first
In order to pursue a passion fully, it must come first. Your reader loves you, but she loved books long before you came around, and the truth is you might someday leave. Books? They’ll be around forever, and so they always come first.
So, how are you feeling? Still excited to date a literary lass or a book-toting boy? Honestly, given the usual relationship red flags, I think a reader may be one of your best bets!
Either way, I wish you luck on your adventures, both in dating and reading. As for me, I'm late for a date with a book.
About the author
Christine J. Schmidt is a writer originally from New Jersey. After receiving her BFA in Dramatic Writing from SUNY Purchase, she worked at Seattle Repertory Theatre as their artistic literary intern. She recently left Brooklyn, where she was a bookseller and events host at WORD, to reside in Los Angeles. She has previously written for New York Theatre Review, and her plays have been read and produced at theaters in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Washington. Coffee is her favorite thing.
