Are you an avid or regular reader? Has it ever crossed your mind when you see someone’s reading list, “That? Such a shallow read.”
Reading was a privilege, if we go way back in time. Now that books are freely and widely published with most people in the world are literate, book shaming could be said as a history depreciating act. It’s absolutely a human’s right (even though not formally and specifically stated) to voluntarily read any type of books as one prefers. Yet, when one is an avid reader of all the popularly noted as ‘brilliant works’, it’s almost unavoidable to judge others’ reading preferences. Not reading, say, Austen or Fitzgerald does not make anyone less of a reader.
Book shaming is a newly emerging term for an act of underestimating somebody based on their reading preferences. For example, genres such as young adult, teenlit, chicklit and fan fiction stories are most likely to be a book shaming object due to their low level of difficulty and seemingly lack of research. Also, these genres are based on romantic and illogical fantasies. These genres are initially aimed for teenagers and the main purpose is to entertain rather than giving a certain historical depiction or harsh reality. If book-shamed, the readers of these genres would feel somewhat embarrassed of reading such novels instead of highly-thought-of classic literature. Especially, if the readers are no longer teenagers. For them, reading such genre would either depict how simple-minded they are or a pitiful escape from reality (even if books ARE meant to give our minds to explore a whole new world or life beyond ours). This also happens with adults who still likes reading children’s books.
We have been bombarded with mandatory readings at school or perhaps even at work. Those are books we have to finish despite our tendency or mood. So, voluntary reading should entertain and, most importantly, tickle our curiosity. Everyone will find that they have certain genre(s) to meet such criteria.
It’s a common knowledge that reading is seen as an attempt to free the mind. If the emergence of books are so, then why do we act the opposite way? None should feel embarrassed for their way of freedom.
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