While growing up, I had always imagined marrying a reader, and in the event I happened to end up with a non-reader, I fully intended to convert him. That was the plan.
But as life would have it, I married an avowed non-reader, who would rather spend his time checking out sci-fi movies, listening to music or even watching paint dry. He would pick anything over reading. To be fair, he does read nonfiction, but very rarely, and in any case, that doesn’t count (for me).
However, the original plan of converting the spouse, was never put into action. Mostly because, over the years I have grown to enjoy the several perks that are associated with marrying a non-reader. Yes, surprisingly, there are quite a few. I have listed the top 5. 🙂
- The monthly book budget is all yours, not to mention the complete monopoly over the space on the book shelf.
- Your opinions about books are always right, especially since they are the only ones around.
- They will never judge what you are reading, no matter what the cover looks like (Some covers may earn you amused /puzzled glances, but no judgement 😉 ).
- You have one less thing to argue about. As they don’t read, you cannot have fights over things like – you hated their favorite book or they disliked a fictional character you loved.
- When a book is made into a movie, they cannot annoy you by pausing every 10 mins, and trying to explain the story (and the backstory), whether you want it or not. ( I may or may not do it on occasion. 😛 If HE ever makes a list, this will top it, as the most annoying thing about marrying a reader.)
But it is all good. 🙂 He accepts my love for books, and besides, they are much cheaper than shoes and handbags. 😛 😉
That’s all from my end, folks. I would love to hear from you. Is your significant other a non-reader? Do you love it? Hate it? Do you have any perks to add on to this list? Or are you on the other end of this spectrum? Are you a non-reader married to a reader? What is your favorite/least-favorite part about it?
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My hubby so much hates reading (except news papers) that I see him when googling for an information he searches the videos first.. when he gets an email longer than 2 paragraph from his boss he asks me to read it and give him a summary ?
Bilna recently posted…AHAs for Skincare – How to use AHAs for for that Flawless Good-looking Skin ?
Hahahaha..I guess he is just a visual person, which is great too. It takes all kinds to make the world an interesting place. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Tell a Thousand Lies by Rasana Atreya | Book Review
My hubby is also a non-reader and gets very jealous when I spend time with books 🙂 But he read Take 2 in one sitting.
Ruchi Singh recently posted…Book Review::’Made in India’ by Biddu
See that’s something, but then Take 2 was pretty awesome and totally unputdownable. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Tell a Thousand Lies by Rasana Atreya | Book Review
I’m glad it works for you! As for me, my husband is as big a book lover as I am, and I’m grateful for that.
Corinne Rodrigues recently posted…Get Inspiration When You Need It
That is such an ideal situation. But well, the perks make it worthwhile to have a non-reader spouse too. 🙂 However, I wish that he did read some fiction at least. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Tell a Thousand Lies by Rasana Atreya | Book Review
I married a not-reader. I agree with your humorous reasons.
Thank you, Francene. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Tell a Thousand Lies by Rasana Atreya | Book Review
Oh I’m the reader in my house, in the sense that I read lot of fiction 😉 …But he is always on the internet reading one article after the other..So he knows more about the world than I do…He does read non-fiction which I don’t…The book shelf is still mine and it will forever be so 😉
Nabanita recently posted…Looking For Writing Motivation?
I can say ditto to your comment. Non-fiction doesn’t count. Not in my way of counting, which is the only way that counts. 😛 😉 😀
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Tell a Thousand Lies by Rasana Atreya | Book Review
Nice post Shanaya 🙂 Even my spouse is a non-reader. I completely agree with points 2 and 4. My opinions on books are considered always right and yes, no fight in that spectrum 🙂
Mahathi Rammya recently posted…Dussehra celebration in Telugu household
Hehehehe…glad you can relate, and welcome to my blog. Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Tell a Thousand Lies by Rasana Atreya | Book Review
Something similar for me too, Shantala. As a matter of fact, I just did a post on my passion for reading. 🙂 My husband is not into fiction. He loves comics like Asterix, TinTin and has a formidable collection of them. He also loves non-fiction. He has 4 shelves full of his Technology books that he reads avidly. I have barely ever seen him pick up a fiction and read it completely. But, he is an avid reader otherwise. Just that his tastes are completely different from mine.
Rachna recently posted…A heady passion — reading
Yeah, it is the same here. 🙂 He does read non-fiction, but I don’t count that. 😛 As even in non-fiction, our tastes are wildly different.
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Tell a Thousand Lies by Rasana Atreya | Book Review
My guy does not read either. It can be a downer, but I love Him. He stays busy helping me keep up with housework because I am reading and writing all the time.
Mary Hill recently posted…Literacy Musing Mondays: Importance of Reading for Writers
See, now that is quite the perk. 😀
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Tell a Thousand Lies by Rasana Atreya | Book Review
My hubby is also a non-reader. What I like least about it is that I can’t share my enthusiasm about what I’m currently reading. What I like most about it is that I can splurge on books without having to share the budget. 😉
Oh yes. I can say ditto to both those things. 😀
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Tell a Thousand Lies by Rasana Atreya | Book Review
Enjoyed your post. Yes truly there are perks to marrying a non reader. My son is not an avid book reader but reading newspapers, internet articles etc he thrives on. Obviously interests differ but that what makes things interesting.
Suzy recently posted…#MondayMusings – If I Only Knew
I agree. While we can bond over our similarities, our differences make an average day, interesting. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Perks of Marrying a Non Reader
My husband is not very fond of reading but he loves to purchase books related to history.
Payal Agarwal recently posted…Abstraction #MondayMusings
Hmm.. that is interesting. Do you like history too?
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Perks of Marrying a Non Reader
LOL. I enjoyed that. I tend to do that to movies when they’re based on books. I married a non-reader too though he reads magazines and newspapers. He watched lots of sports on TV which gives me peaceful reading time.
Susan Gourley recently posted…Salem’s Daughter by Stephen Tremp
Oh yes. It is the same here. Also, I am especially compelled to explain all the inner workings of a fantasy world, because it is an altogether different universe. He is spared that in the contemporary genre. 😛 😉
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Perks of Marrying a Non Reader
Can’t believe ur spouse is a non reader. The person i knew or thought i knew used to be a avid reader, fiction or non fiction. ? Being married to an avid non-fiction reader, I can tell you that not all readers are same. I definitely love the fact that he reads and specially love the fact that he reads only non fiction. Guess thats what makes our life easier when we watch movies ?. Welcome back! Was eagerly waiting for your post!!
Nidhi recently posted…Chenna Poda/Eggless cottage cheese cake
Thank you so much, Nidhi. 🙂 Means a lot. 🙂
Yes, Puru used to read a lot of non-fiction, and he still does, just not as much. But like I said, that doesn’t count for me. 😛 And even in non-fiction, our tastes are wildly different. Also, while I would love it if he read some fiction, so that we could discuss it; for the most part, I am okay with the current arrangement, because of the above mentioned reasons. 😀
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Perks of Marrying a Non Reader
We are on the same page on this one. Yes, am married to a non-reader too. Since he is passionate about cooking, cookery books is all that he reads! Twice, he has bought books at the airports to pass time and both were the books which we already had at home. Imagine having 2 double books! *rolls eyes*
Shilpa Garg recently posted…One Night @ The Airport
Same books? Sigh. Men! 😛
On the other hand, his interest in cooking – that is awesome. I wish mine develops such an interest too. I will help in selecting the best cooking books. 😛 😀
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Perks of Marrying a Non Reader
I was nodding my head to myself while I ran through your points. 😀
My marriage was arranged, so I got to know my husband only after the event. I was amazed that there were people who didn’t read. Truly! how can one exist; live for that matter. Even today, I feel sorry when he gets bored surfing TV channels. BUT he will not read. We both love watching films, but reading – its mainly me at home. Both my kids are more like Papa though they have read a few books in their lifetime. 😉
But luckily, he’s never stopped me from reading or writing or cribbed about either activity. He was the one who introduced me to a small lending library near my new home.
Mine is also incredibly supportive – of my reading, my blog; so yay for supportive spouses. 😀
And yes, we too love to see movies, and marathon on TV shows; so that is something that we are able to share. 🙂
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Perks of Marrying a Non Reader
Haha Shanaya. Good one ! ‘Even watching paint dry’ thats epic 😀
My better-half is also a non-reader. He may read 100s of news articles in the newspaper or his phone which will amount to reading a short novel but wont touch a book to read. The only ones he must have read are the manuals of the gadgets he uses or the special aquatic fishes he loves. He says his grandmother and mother used to read him his chapters in school. How he passed college, God knows 😀
So now just imagine how my son suffers when Papa dear reads him a story or recites a story from memory 😐
Nilima recently posted…Book Review: The Second Coming by Shubha Menon
Oh yes. The amount of news articles these guys read, and those interminably long whatsapp forwards, it would total to the length of a decent sized novel. But will they ever read a novel? No. Sigh.
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Perks of Marrying a Non Reader
Me too married to a non-reader – actually he’s quite like yours – he does read a lot of non-fiction but like you – that hardly counts for me. I’d actually much rather he were a reader. The pleasure of discussing books endlessly would have been something else.
Beat About the Book recently posted…Six lessons modern-day parents can learn from Marmee
I know! I wish he read some fiction. It would be pretty awesome to discuss the books. Exactly the reason why I wanted to marry a reader. But I know that it is never going to happen, so I have made my peace with it, and am pretty content enjoying the above perks. 😀
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Perks of Marrying a Non Reader
Married to a devout reader and I must admit it is hugely satisfying. Since we have different likes, we don’t clash on anything here. Plus, shopping for books is always fun because he doesn’t mind spending on them 🙂
Shailaja recently posted…A dream for my child’s future
Yeah, that is pretty ideal. 😀
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Perks of Marrying a Non Reader
hahah.. my husband is also a dedicated non-reader. My only grouse is he thinks its money and space wasted with so many books in the house. But, I cant help it. He even got me a Kindle :). He just wants me to tell him the story after I finish reading it which I do religiously.
Mine is pretty supportive; doesn’t mind the money or space (but then there is Kindle). He does mind the endless explanations during the movie though. 😛 But can’t blame him, as that would have annoyed me too. 😛 😉
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Perks of Marrying a Non Reader
My husband is a big non reader. I have never seen that man crack open a book in the whole 19 years I have known him. Shortly after we got together I bought him a biography of his favorite race car driver and he actually looked at me dumbfounded like “What the hell do you expect me to do with this?” Seriously, I don’t think he even looked through and glanced at the pictures. It is hard for me to fathom how that man survived college to earn a degree, but he did. LOL
Kathy recently posted…Over Haiku
Hahaha..well, you tried. 😀
Shanaya Tales recently posted…Perks of Marrying a Non Reader