The Book Snob Tag

[@ireneg4515]

"If you take your reading seriously, you are a serious reader" You have really put into words how I feel when people look down on people witg different reading tastes!

[@saintdonoghue]

"If you take your reading seriously, you are a serious reader" - Yes!

[@DearReaders_thisisJess]

When I met my husband, he fell in love that I always had a book with me, and that in every available time I chose to read. He is not an active reader. But he always asks me what I like about the current book, and he doesn’t mind me reading in bed while he watches tv or does something else. I don’t care if he likes to read or not, I cared if he would allowed me to read in peace whenever I felt like it. We’ve been married for 4 years now and He stills asks me about my reading 🤗

[@ornleifs]

I only read Principia by Isaac Newton in public - don't understand a word of it but like Billy Crystal used to say "it's better to look good than to feel good."

[@abookolive]

LOL. I think that statement of Billy Crystal's is the exact opposite of how I feel about every aspect of life...

[@someonerandom8552]

I grew out of my book snobbery back in my early 20s. Which sounds snobbish, ironically enough, but it really was a natural growth. I don’t read YA anymore, but if someone does, I don’t think anything less of that person. I just don’t read YA personally anymore. And that’s more of a realisation than anything else. Like I’ll watch a random ad for TV, but I watch Netflix so much it doesn’t register for me like it used to. Read whatever the hell makes you happy. That’s the point of reading

[@marginaliant]

I had that same experience reading Cannibalism in public and garnering a couple of weird looks! Maybe they haven't heard about not judging a book by the cover? It's not a manual, people! Also, I'm shocked that anyone would consider you a snob. You deliver polished and informative content every week but you are so kind and approachable.

[@genresandjournals]

I am fangirling right now! Lol. Thank you so much for doing my tag, Olive. You are always so well spoken and thoughtful and this was no different. Loved your honesty and your wit! 😊

[@abookolive]

Thank you so much Tia!! And thanks for making this tag - it's such a great one.

[@okidokiboki]

I love, love, love your last answer, especially the weirdness of people making assumptions about you out of your reading choices (unless the book is about cannibals)

[@myreadinglife8816]

Such great answers! I have been with husband since I was 16.....29 years ago! 😱 He is not a reader at all but he fully supports and encourages my reading. It works for us!

[@abookolive]

Oh wow!! You two have us beat - we're at 12 years :) I know many people on Booktube have partners who aren't readers and it seems to work really well for everyone, but since my guy was already a reader when we met I'm now very spoiled and can imagine life no other way! Haha

[@danielleoliver1734]

I think romance is slowly getting more time on booktube, though people do still refer to them as trash even when they consume lots of them

[@abookolive]

I'm seeing the same thing. I'm so glad romance is gaining more of a presence, but I wish people didn't think they need to feel guilty about reading it!

[@HierarchyofReads]

Haha, I loved learning your answers to these questions. Not to justify snubbing or snobbery, but I can kind of understand the strange looks you received while reading Cannibalism. 😂

[@abookolive]

Haha, I understood it completely and wasn't actually offended! I thought it was really funny :D

[@Yesica1993]

We want an ep of sci fi recs from Tony!

[@anna-mariecollins8502]

So many good quotes in this video!!!! The cannibalism story is great. I read all genres as well including YA and the occasional romance. My soon to be husband and I also met at 17! We've both always been big readers but with very different tastes.

[@anne-marie339]

It's funny but I actually find there's some stories that I'm more like to watch the movie adaptation vs. reading the book. Some examples that jump to mind include Brooklyn, The Hunger Games, Breakfast at Tiffany's, and The Shining. I've never understood the snobbery around the romance genre. Maybe it's because I grew up with a mother than read both romance and more "literary/classic" fiction so to me it was normal to enjoy both (though I understand everyone has their general preferences - I'm not big on most YA-marketed books despite trying).

[@karenbird6727]

I completely agree with you about the snobbery against romance. I find most classic fiction has a romance or two in them.

[@BookmarksandBookshelves]

I get the aversion to nonfiction, but I wish people would realize it can be just as magical and engrossing as fiction is. There are so many topics that I personally would find it hard to ever get bored with it as a genre. I have so many TBR's from taxidermy to rabies to natural disasters to memoirs, humor and the like. I have to say, as an adult I enjoy nonfiction the most.

[@abookolive]

I love this comment SO MUCH. This is exactly why we started doing Nonfiction November!

[@VeronicasShelf]

Such a good thumbnail for this video! and "I'm genorously giving it all to him." love it!

[@cassianladue9493]

I love when you do tags! :) your cannibalism story was hilarious. And I totally understand wanting a partner to also be a reader. My husband reads probably 3 books a year thanks to him pursuing a PhD, but it still is so easy to connect about the stories I love and he loves listening to me talk about it and understands why I love having my nose buried in a book!

[@nikkivenable3700]

I loved this and I simply adore you! You are such a fierce, smart woman and it makes me incredibly happy that you chose physical books over ebooks and audio. We can still be friends, phew. lol.

[@abookolive]

Oh my gosh, thank you so much! You just put the biggest smile on my face

[@nikkivenable3700]

abookolive you’re just....the best, Olive! I admire you so much! Keep doing exactly what you’re doing.❤️

[@redheadreading]

Loved hearing your answers to this! Especially picking memoir, that's such a fab genre for exploring new topics that you could easily read it forever and not get bored :D

[@abookolive]

Precisely! People have such interesting life stories and no two are exactly the same. Then there are the differences in perceptions of events, and differences in writing styles...so much variety just within that subgenre.

[@AlwaysDoing]

I feel lucky that I haven't gotten comment snobbery for my romance reading (...yet). Maybe since I've been displaying man chest covers since day one of my channel? Who knows. 😂 Thank you so much for the tag! 💕

[@abookolive]

I hope you never experience it! I think it throws people off because I didn't start this channel as a romance reader, but I think viewers sometimes forget that we're people and these are our real reading lives - they're going to evolve! I didn't read classics when I started either and now I break down the psychologies of literary heroines for fun, lol.

[@AlwaysDoing]

@@abookolive People do face push back for changing taste - it seems weird to me for the reasons you say. It's one thing if an SFF-branded channel stops talking about the genre without explanation, but not when our brand is, well, ourselves. And it is... interesting... that a dip into classics is more well tolerated than a stroll down the romance aisle. (My eyebrow, it is raised.)

[@seriela]

As a recent arrival to Booktube and YA, I have gladly shed my snobbish ways. Loved this video. 🤣

[@abookolive]

Booktube really does help us to be less snobby, doesn't it? It's so awesome.

[@kaortega1120]

Ohhh, Olive --- I found myself actually "nodding" with so many things you said in this video! You seem like the type of person I could meet at a bookstore cafe and talk for hours with! Love your channel - But you already knew that!

[@abookolive]

Thank you

[@kaortega1120]

@@abookolive Ohhh, I would love that !!!

[@danecobain]

Interesting answers, as always! I'm one of those readers who generally doesn't like romance in books, although there are the odd exceptions to the rule. But I don't think I'm a snob about it, I don't really care what other people read. I know Mara from BooksLikeWoah reads a lot of romance, but she also has super similar tastes to me in other genres!

[@SparklesBooks]

Haha I can just picture the looks you got whilst reading that on public transport. I had similar issues when I was reading ‘Cut’ about female genital mutilation.

[@abookolive]

I know e-readers solve that problem by hiding what you're reading...but where's the fun in that? teehee

[@whitney-897]

I read Cannibalism...it was fascinating and a darn good book! I still struggle with the whole read it before you see it deal, though.

[@traceycarpelibrum]

That was so much fun and I loved your comments about being a serious reader.

[@Phillybookfairy]

LOL!!!! YOUR BEST VIDEO EVER! all of your answers MINE also!! I could totally relate. The non-readers confusion - that's my whole family (unfortunately) and I did marry a non-reader but like you, in that period, I wasnt reading as much as I do now. Like you, sci-fi is my most avoided genre except I do have that Mary Swallow book that I just havent read yet but it is now bumped up on my tbr! I think what ppl mean by "finally they found a serious reader" lol is probably because there are soooo many booktubers that exclusively read YA and fantasy, and it sometimes is a struggle to find readers with such vast reading tastes. I esp enjoy your non-fiction discussions, I dont read enough of that genre. I did mention you in a comment to author Delia Owens as a book tube recommendation to her because she likes to read non-fiction books on nature and science. Shes an amazing woman and I loved her book Where the Crawdads Sing. Anyhow, loves this video, it made me laugh. Have a great weekend. Its Sunday, that's assuming you read this today. Lol

[@Yesica1993]

Wow, I don't think I've ever been looked at on public transportation for reading something odd. I'm going to have to try harder. (This is one of the great things about ereaders. Slip on book covers also help!)

[@CuriousReader]

I so feel you about liking science but not being much into sci-fi, I probably haven't tried enough to know for sure but at this point it's just not doing anything for me whereas there's several branches of science I find fascinating. I think the sub-genre of nonfiction I read most of is probably memoir, but my favourite is still natural history although it so often overlaps with memoir.

[@jadecobain]

I love nonfiction books. Wish there was more people who did.

[@melissamybubbles6139]

Me too. I also tend to like books with an academic bent. What do you like?

[@jadecobain]

@@melissamybubbles6139 I really enjoyed all forms of nonfiction. I read crime books, science, health, biography/ memoirs, self help/lifestyle, history and about food to name a few. Right now I'm reading Moby Duck about 28,800 bath toys lost at sea.

[@melissamybubbles6139]

@@jadecobain nice. Moby Duck sounds fun. I'll add it to the list. As a kid I loved biographies. I haven't read one in a while. I'm starting to broaden my horizons, wanting to try a little of everything eventually. I tend to follow rabbit holes into niche topics in a genre until I get bored. Right now I'm on a religious history kick that is starting to morph into learning about racism.

[@april5300]

This was really fun! The last answer made me laugh.

[@melissamybubbles6139]

1. I grew up with movies I wasn't old enough to read the books for. Sometimes I still see the movie and find out after seeing it that it has an accompanying book. If I love the movie it inspires me to read. Examples include Hidden Figures and The Help. 2. Audio 3. Must be a reader 4. I guess I'd give up horror since I've never read a horror book anyway. 5. Nonfiction 6. ? I'm new to booktube. 7. I grew up in a religion where reading and thinking too much were signs of pride and of wasting time that could be better spent studying the materials assigned by the organization. Reading about certain topics like academic religious studies were signs of siding with enemies of the organization. I've experienced more than mere snobbery for reading.

[@LiteraryStoner]

Lol at the Cannibalism: A Natural History. I read that based on your recommendation, and loved it! Love your answers :)

[@abookolive]

I'm so glad you liked it! I love his humor in it.

[@Leebearify]

Naw, they were just hungry LOL

[@jenb7780]

Non-fiction is so good :)

[@abookolive]

I obviously agree with that...a lot!

[@jodifunk2206]

I totally avoid reading controversial non-fiction in public to avoid criticism or confrontation. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to manage those kinds of situations? Also, I might have to challenge myself to read a controversial book in public now - any recommendations?

[@FourPawsandaBook]

Oh my gosh, the cannibalism story!! That’s the best thing ever!!

[@abookolive]

Lol it was a really good book, too! When people were looking, I wanted to recommend it to them more than anything else 😂

[@nonfictionfeminist]

I would have said the same thing about non-fiction! It's probably the genre I would stick with, and I am LOVING memoirs this year, it's been most of my non-fiction

[@abookolive]

yes yes yes!

[@ashm4738]

I don't think I'd be too offended by people who are grateful to have a non-fiction booktuber around. I get your point, and I agree, I just know it's very difficult to find booktubers who cover non-fiction frequently enough that I might find something new I enjoy, too. I love reading pretty much anything and I have a few favourite booktubers that largely cover fiction, but I cannot say that I don't find it disappointing how little coverage there is of non-fiction. As you said, it's such a vast area of reading that you can easily miss out on new books you might love. That was a long-winded way of saying I appreciate your channel (and not just the non-fiction part).

[@abookolive]

I certainly didn't mean to give the impression that I'm offended by those types of comments. It positively makes my day when people comment telling me they're happy to find a nonfiction booktuber. My issue is with the insults directed at other genres in the same breath. When I respond saying, "Hi! I read those things too!" and then that person disappears from my channel. I don't think it's necessary to put down other genres or the booktubers who read them as we celebrate finding creators we click with. We all have a place here on Booktube, that's really what I was trying to get at in this video. But thank you so much for your kind words. You have no idea how motivating it is to know there are people like you out there who appreciate what I do. I hope you'll join us for Nonfiction November! ❤

[@myfirstnovel]

I actually started reading fiction again lately, I was only reading non-fiction for 10 years (mostly food-related for work). I assume you read The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester, talk about book envy over that one. I wish I could spend my life writing (and reading) books like that. And what romance is your fave btw? :)

[@abookolive]

I have indeed read The Professor and the Madman. I really liked it! Honestly, I've not read enough romance yet to pick a favorite, but I loved The Kiss Quotient!! I need to do more exploring in that genre, snobbery be damned!

[@myfirstnovel]

I think Bill Gates recommends The Rosie Project, which has been on my iffy-but-why-not list. I’m a sheep lol. Crazy Rich Asians is a good one, although people like to pretend it’s not a romance per say (like so much historical fiction actually). I also liked TKQ, a refreshing heroine, I was fascinated by her need to say everything on her mind... Didn’t super buy into the guy and his low self-esteem however tbh.

[@Elizabeth-rg4wi]

I need to do this tag too. Although I actually answered them pretty quickly so maybe I’m a reading snob 🤷‍♀️

[@abookolive]

Please do! :)

[@elizabethreads0312]

I’m so doing this tag. Sometimes I think the movie is better than the book. Sometimes and author can go on and on when they don’t need to and the screenwriters have an eye for cutting some of that out.

[@abookolive]

Oh the movie can absolutely be better than the book. The Princess Bride is one of those (in my opinion).

[@unprocessed_life]

I will read any human's memoir.

[@TheSandee88]

I just finished a fantastic memoir called “Poor Your Soul” have you read it?

[@cheryllovestoread]

Oh no, gonna have to unsub the Olive. Don’t mess with SF!! 👩🏻‍🚀🚀 (Speaking of, have you read The Calculating Stars?? I love that book and the sequel. Mary Robinette Kowal just won a Hugo for it!)

[@abookolive]

I'd only throw it out when it comes to me! I think it's a great genre, just not my cup of tea (not yet, anyway), haha! I've not heard of The Calculating Stars! I'll have to ask Tony if he has...

[@abookolive]

Follow up: Tony's heard of it! It's on his TBR 😊

[@marlenecabada8731]

I thought I was a snob to some professors when I refused to read Lolita by Nabakov. I think it is perverted! and after all we are in America. I am entitled to my opinion, just like they have a right to teach it in colleges.

[@Hglski]

The only things I’m “snobbish” about are ebooks and explicit sex scenes. Ebooks give me a terrible headache. If I could read them I would check out more books from my library that I’m on the fence about. Explicit sex scenes make me feel uncomfortable so I try to avoid them, though I agree that romance is romance whether there is more to the story or not. I’m torn on whether or not I have to read a book before the movie. I find I generally like to if it is a book I’m really interested in because I don’t want the movie to spoil the ending of the book. If I’m not super interested in the book but the movie looks good, or has actors I enjoy I will watch it without reading the book. There have been times I have watched movies I didn’t know were books, and though I do know the ending I will still read them one day. Also, a movie can make me want to read a book I previously wasn’t very interested in.

[@searchanddiscover]

Do you and your husband keep your books separate on the bookshelves?

[@abookolive]

He has his own bookshelves, but not in the room where I film. His are all in our rec room where his gaming PC is.

[@moonbook12]

I’m agree with you not being movie

[@moonbook12]

Can you and Husband sweep TBR, idea for video

[@dylanwolf]

I am a terrible and unrepentant self-professed Book Snob!! So to answer the questions: 1. I'm sorry, am I to understand that people make films based on books? Who knew? 2. In order to read you must have a physical book or an e-reader. Audiobooks are for listening to, which is NOT reading. And physical books are way more authentic than an e-reader. 3. No 4. I suppose I'd say Romance and Fantasy books. And anything that's totally plot driven. 5. The genre that I like to call Literary Fiction. How's that for a snob's opinion! Accepting that Literary Fiction steals the best books from all other genres. 6. Literary Fiction - suffers greatly from reverse-snobbery e.g. The Lee Child thriller or Colleen Hoover romance I'm reading is equal in literary worth to a novel by Franz Kafka or Angela Carter. It really isn't. 7. I'm not sure that some people can not accept that you might read a book (say The Gulag Archipelago) for some other reason than to be entertained. This what I've read this year (I'm listening these not for acclamation or to "show off", just as an example of the books I'd snobbishly classify as "Literary Fiction" with some non-fiction mixed in too. The Ruined Map - Kobo Abe Bloodbath Nation - Paul Auster The Best of Saki - Hector Hugh Munro Tough, Tough Toys for Tough, Tough Boys - Will Self Night Boat to Tangier - Kevin Barry The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida - Shehan Karunatilaka The Iliac Crest - Cristina Rivera Garza Season of Migration to the North - Toyeb Salih A Luminous Republic - Andres Barba Sapiens - Yuval Noah Harari Spider - Patrick McGrath One Morning Like a Bird - Andrew Miller The Mermaid of the Black Conch - Monique Roffey Red Pill - Hari Kunru Submission - Michel Houellebecq The Magus - John Fowles Hungry Ghosts - Kevin Jared Hosein The Conquest of Happiness - Bertrand Russell Climbers - M. John Harrison Jimi Hendrix Live in Lviv - Andrey Kurkov No Longer Human - Osamu Dazai Fiasco - Stanislaw Lem That Awful Mess on the Via Merulana - Carlo Emilio Gadda A General Theory of Oblivion - Jose Eduardo Agualusa The Body Where I Was Born - Guadelupe Nettel Our Wives Under the Sea - Julia Armfield The Marriage Portrait - Maggie O'Farrell Hey Nostradamus! - Douglas Coupland One Moonlit Night - Caradog Pritchard Quiet Chaos - Sandro Veronesi Study For Obedience - Sarah Bernstein Time Shelter - Georgi Gospodinov In Ascension - Martin MacInnes Mefisto - John Banville If I Survive You - Jonathan Escoffery I tend to run a mile from "best sellers" or middle-of-the-road "Book Club choices" or books recommended by "The Daily Mail" and other regressive publications. Yes. That's how snobby I am, enticed in by long or short-listed novels for prestigious book awards. When I read I want to be stretched, to learn something new, to be surprised or intrigued by some insight into the human condition or a peek into some culture that I'm not familiar with. I don't want "a nice story" or "a page turner" - I want something that feels as if the author has given something of themselves away to the page. Something that feels it has purpose, craftsmanship, weight. Sure, I want to be entertained, but I want to read something that demands something of me.

[@lilliannesmith6876]

I don’t like how modest book tubers are and they refuse to be snobs! It’s boring. This video was disappointing. You should say something like “well I’m thoroughly well educated so I deserve to be more respected than people who aren’t” I like that kind of attitude

[@abookolive]

Lol sorry about that. I grew up with a special education teacher as a parent and spent a lot of time in her classroom. I was fortunate enough to learn very early on in life that I'm not better than other people because I was born smart. I don't plan to say things I don't mean on this channel solely to make it more shocking. I choose kindness and authenticity. If you're looking for drama and superiority complexes (and I don't say this facetiously), you'd probably be better off seeking it in the beauty community. I go there for the juicy gossip and leave booktube to be the (mainly) positive reprieve. I'm very lucky not just to have a space like this in my life, but I'm very happy I get the chance to create videos in the same place as those modest, wonderful people.