I Am NOT a Literary Snob or Don't Judge a Book By Its Cover

I am NOT a literary snob. Well maybe I am just a little. Ok more than a little.

I don’t judge what other people read. Well…now I don’t. I used to. I once had a customer who only bought the skinny little romance novels. You know…the monthly installment kind. Since I felt we had somewhat of a relationship (she came in twice a week for goodness sake) I asked her why she wasn’t reading something with more substance (she looked like a reasonably intelligent person). She told me she was a surgeon. A brain surgeon. This was her escape from reality. Oh. Open mouth wide Ellen. Insert foot. Gag a little.

Hey. I read all sorts of things. Not big on Sci-fi or romance or thriller. I like biography, mystery, history, most all fiction and even the occasional business title. I like chick-lit. It’s like a sorbet between the heavier stuff. I read two books simultaneously as long as they’re different genres. Working in a bookstore affords us the opportunity to “borrow” books. Don’t worry, we shake out the crumbs from the binding when we’re done.

And for those of my customers who think that just because we stand behind a register we’re just brainless cashiers: we probably read more than you do, collectively we have more college degrees than you do and we choose to work here because we love books.

So, don’t throw your literary bullshit at me because sweetie? It will get you nowhere fast. And by the way-one of my very favorite authors is Christopher Moore. He’s obnoxious, decadent, funny, crazy and talented. Just like me.