Oh my gosh yes, I am guilty of such pretentiousness. To be fair though, I don’t judge day to day folk based on their personal library, or lack thereof. I like my smut too. When it came to dating though, (before I got married) I was picky. It was pretty much over after the book that changed his life was Wisdom of the Peaceful Warrior (?). But seriously, we’d do the same if it were personal style, or manners or hygiene, I think.

i don’t get why Lolita is supposed to sound the alarm. for years Lolita was my favorite book–then i read Pale Fire. now favorite seems too limiting.

Yes guys, remember, if she says Lolita’s her favorite book she’s probably too smart and won’t put up with your shit.

So true Jennifer!

Personally, I think taste in music is much more of a deal breaker. (more likely, you are enjoying music together more than discussing a book that you read seperately)

If someone has read a book and is smart enough to tell me their personal opinion on it, I’m not letting that one get away. But if ABBA is playing in their car…no way.

I’m going to have to agree with pdb. So long as they actually read books, not magazines (unless its Esquire), then they get a pass from me. I just cannot deal with men whose favourite band is Red Hot Chili Peppers or some other over-rated rock/nu-metal/pop punk band. Its such cheesy music.

I couldn’t ever be with someone who didn’t care about music at all. One time a guy told me that music ‘just wasn’t that important’ to him. I almost spit out my drink. Almost.

also - fall out boy or panic at the disco - instant deal-breakers

I agree pdb, if the person was a dude & you’re a chick cuz if they had ABBA playing in their car there’s no point in going on what date anyways if ya know what I’m saying. Taste in music or books isn’t hugely important to me, they at least have to be pretty interested in music because you can go to a concert with someone, a book reading just isn’t fun. And no cheesiness with either.

I like how the article mentions Zen and The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. One summer I worked on a boat that went from Boston to Provincetown and back daily and I thought it would be a good “summer, beachy read”. Ummmm, yeah, could not get into it. At all. I mean I got into it some 100 pages but mentally I wasn’t there at all. I very rarely quit on a book but I had to for that

True jill…I just tried to think of the suckiest music as an example and voila! ABBA appeared to me.

> If she says her favorite book is Lolita, run. Trust us.

My family & friends kinda shake their heads when i tell them i luv reading the gossip blogs, and i get they’re concerned. But how can you describe these brilliant little moments on mollygood to a non-mollygood reader? It’s is them i pooh-pooh.

I like to use this “phenomenon” to my advatage.

If I find myself being hit on I just say my favorite movie is Misery. And that I highly identify with the Kathy Bates character.

That’ll shut them up.

funny story, i really do identify with her. she just missed her best friend.

thats why I have JK rowling tied to a bed in my livingroom… i mean… over for tea.

A chick who thinks that hard about stuff like that needs a hard cock stuffed in her ass stat.

Oh, and BTW, this blog officially sucks ass now. Way to go.

“Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.” “The Myth of Sisyphus.” “The Universal Spider.” If she says THOSE are her favourite books, that’s when you should really run. For fear of your intellect being beaten to a bloody pulp. “Lolita” is for poseurs.

“The House of the Dead” is also a sure give away!

Back in my dating era, I used to avoid men who thought Zelda was just a video game.

And women, if he says the Robert Jordan “Wheel of Time” series is his favorite, grab your copy of Lolita and run screaming for the door.

I once dated a guy whose favorite books were Art of War and a collection of Charles Bukowski poets. And he was indeed a drunk overthinker.

*poems