[Happy_Day]

So I'm like this fanatic book-lover, and I seriously like all genres.


But I'm always really embarassed and feel self-conscious when I go to certain parts of bookstores, like sex/relationships, romance, and self-help. I mean some bestsellers from those genres are extremely fun to read! And it just so happens that the romance section is right next to the cafe at my favorite bookstore, so I can never browse through those. They need to put them in dark corners, lol~


Should I feel embarassed?! I always feel like someone's laughing at me. Anyone else feel the same way?

[charzzy]

lol if you enjoy it, why care about how others feel? just go for it!! its all about personal preference.

besides even if they wanna laugh at you, you can't stop them right?
anyway just do whatever you want! dont care about the people out there, they're just losing out on those fantastic romance books when you're having fun burying yourself in them!!

most important thing is just to have fun and select something that you like!

[eliza bennet]

Exactly! Read what you want and in the end people may not really care as much as you imagine them to. Also if you have a frequent book store, it is good to let them know of your tastes so they will be able to recommend you some books you otherwise may miss.

[liquidfir]

yea i love romance novels. juz be open about it therez nth to be embarrassed about ^^

[Antz]

nope, i don't get embarrassed. xD
i go to the computer stuff sometimes, hehehhee. so nerdy.

[LukChaTastic]

you shouldn't feel embarrassed !
it's always an inner conscience thing, you think they're watching and laughing at you
but truth is, they probably are looking and don't even care.
so, enjoy reading the stuff you like, don't let what other people think bother you :]

(btw, i LOVE bookstores. i can live there )

[HeffyEnd]

You shouldn't be embarassed. They put those sections there so people who are interested in those book will buy them. And it happens that a lot women who read books regularly, are usually reading romance. So again, there's nothing to be embarassed about.

[ms.indulgence]

I don't think you should feel embarrassed, if you like those kind of books don't be afraid to go look... it's a book store, aren't you there to get the books you want?

If people laugh, I think it's kinda pathetic because why the heck would they be watching you in the first place???
I mean, they don't know why you're in the section, so they can't point the finger you know?

[svetlaella]

i always feel free in a bookstore, i can read whatever i want and no one's there to judge me. it's not their place to judge anyways.

[novemberbaby]

A bookstore is usually where I can just relax and ignore other shoppers and cashiers.

But anyway, back to your concern. Don't feel embarrassed. Read any book you want and just ignore the others. I mean, you're not in a bookstore to see if other people are looking at what you're reading. You're there to enjoy yourself and so go ahead and buy all the romance novels that you like.

[juhee]

lol the bookstore (barnes and noble) is like my escape from my stresses...
(plus there is a starbucks right next door!! PWHAHA)
anyway... you shouldn't worry about what people would say....
i mean the books are there for a reason... so that people to buy them no?

[melkimx]

i used to work at borders... i'm gonna be honest... some of the people there, employees and customers alike, do make fun of people who browse certain sections/titles. i actually bought my copy of "chicken soup for the soul" at another store because i was afraid my coworkers would make fun of me for buying a self-help book! but in retrospect, if they had made fun of me, that would just show how immature and judgmental they were. now that i'm older, i just say read what makes you feel happy and don't be ashamed of it. i think those people who proclaim that they only read snooty literary stuff are a total drag anyway.

oh lol and your post reminds me of the people who'd buy sex books and were super embarrassed about it. i'd feel so bad for them and i'd want to be like, "don't worry! honestly, it doesn't even matter!"

[heartdrops]

Lol I sometimes feel that way too but I don't visit bookstores that often.
It's like when I go to the romance section or something.. I feel like I'm the only young one there LOL.

[sirce]

I used to be embarassed and feeling self-conscious too. But I just kept thinking that other people read this too and employees must be used to all sorts of genres/customers. So I got over it.

Also, I kinda had too, since I love reading books that include romance, humor and paranormal stuff. And those books are only found in 2 sections: the romance and the (paranormal/)sci-fi, but I don't read sci-fi books at all!

And ofcourse there is the Internet.

[yinki]

There is a borders near my house and I go there sometimes to browse through the romance section. It sucks that it is also next to a reading lounge and a lot of people usually are there reading. Sometimes, I feel weird to be looking in the romance section because I think I should be reading other more intelluctual stuffs. However, you also learn some pretty interesting stuffs in romance novels, especially if the authors did her research before writing about the period. Who care what other people thinks, as if they are even paying attention to me to begin with. and even if they do, I probably not going to see them again. So my words for the day is to just freely browse whatever section you prefer and enjoy whatever you want to read. I am being a hypocrite here by saying this, but I was a little grossed out when this old white man stood next to me in FYE by the anime section and was browsing through the hentai collections. I just wish that he had the decency to wait a little longer until my little cousin and I left the aisle. Better yet, the store should know better and not to put the hentai collections so close to the anime section.

[Happy_Day]

Haha, thanks for the replies~ I just feel so self-conscious.. especially when I'm reading self-help books, I worry people will think there's something wrong with me. But yeah, bookstores are supposed to places to relax!

i used to work at borders... i'm gonna be honest... some of the people there, employees and customers alike, do make fun of people who browse certain sections/titles. i actually bought my copy of "chicken soup for the soul" at another store because i was afraid my coworkers would make fun of me for buying a self-help book! but in retrospect, if they had made fun of me, that would just show how immature and judgmental they were. now that i'm older, i just say read what makes you feel happy and don't be ashamed of it. i think those people who proclaim that they only read snooty literary stuff are a total drag anyway.

oh lol and your post reminds me of the people who'd buy sex books and were super embarrassed about it. i'd feel so bad for them and i'd want to be like, "don't worry! honestly, it doesn't even matter!"

Yeah, I think the employees would laugh at certain customers. I can just tell.

I didn't know people actually BOUGHT sex books! Haha, that would be so embarassing!! Once I was really curious, so I looked through one; it was a book on good sex positions. I was so traumatized, lol.
I don't look at sex books, but the relationship books are pretty cool.

[<3goesDOKIDOKI]

dont worry so much
lots of people buy romance novels
you're not the only one
and people you see there you'll never see again.

if you're really self conscious maybe you can buy them online :]

[MySugarCat]

Why should you be embarassed if you're looking at romance novels? Are they erotica or something?

It shouldn't really matter either way, for people in bookstores are generally more interested in the books they're checking out than the books other people are checking out ^^'.

[philein_sophia]

hey, if you love something, i say you have to stand by it. why do the opinion of others matter?

[Millie]

Well, I'm not a fan of those genres, but I'm into fantasy, science-fiction, young adult, and children's books. While I am aware that my tastes might be considered weird for a twenty-two [seeming sixteen] year old, I just don't care!! If people want to laugh at me for rubbing shoulders with the 'glasses-wearing geeks' or 'teeny-boppers' or being out of place among kids, they can laugh all they want. Those are the books I enjoy, and as an avid reader, I know that just because a book is entertaining and caters to a certain audience doesn't mean it's doesn't have intellectual value. The best books of genre fiction are as worthy reading material as mainstream fiction, non-fiction, poetry, philosophy, etc. [And there's as much trash in those supposedly intellectual writing as in genre writing!]


Just be proud of being a reader!! Personally, I find people who stick by their reading [or music, or movies, etc] choices--no matter how 'pop' or 'substandard' the scholarly literati [the so-called 'erudite'] think they are--really cool. It's better to be true to yourself and enjoy your leisure time. Read what you find interesting. I'm part of a book enthusiasts organization in the university, and one of our rules is to never EVER make somebody else feel inferior just because their reading choices don't match yours. [Obviously, I feel strongly about this.]

I read genre fiction--and I'm proud of it!! =P