Did your reading habit make you attractive to your spouse?

JeremyZ · 12-10-2010, 10:38 PM

I wonder if I'm the only lucky one.

When my wife and I were courting, we talked about a lot of things. One day, I cautiously let slip that: "I don't really watch TV, maybe an hour or two per month. I like reading a lot better."

She told me later she thought that was a really good sign and it was one thing that gave her some real faith in me.

The other thing was that my nails were clean & trimmed.

I challenged her on that one: "I have a desk job, and nails get in the way of typing. What if I were a mechanic? You would have turned and ran, even though I'm a good guy." She told me: "No, my dad was a mechanic, and his hands were always clean." We went back and forth, and she told me her mom made her dad scrub like crazy until there was no more dirt or grease under his nails.

Anyone who has worked on cars knows that is no easy trick. It is a painful trick.

What's your story about reading in relation to your mate? Did they think it was cool, or did they really not care?

Edit: I have a neighbor who is kind of a friend, but he has the potty humor of a 4th grader, and he is 36. He proudly says he doesn't read. He is such a dim bulb sometimes, it amazes me. I think it was because I grew up in a reading family.

DixieGal · 12-10-2010, 10:47 PM

I don't think it was my library card that first attracted Tim .....

C.I.Bond · 12-10-2010, 10:57 PM

In a way. I read a lot of AD&D, that's how I first interacted. Now since we're both computer programmer types that also helps... geek all the way.

ebusinesstutor · 12-10-2010, 11:02 PM

My wife and I are both readers so that is part of the attraction. And I found a girl who loves Science Fiction and Fantasy so I am very lucky.

One day during a conversation, I mentioned the Three Laws of Robotics and knew I wouldn't have to explain them to her.

Then it hit me. "Wow, l I have a woman that knows the Three Laws of Robotics!" No wonder I am in love.

GraceKrispy · 12-10-2010, 11:35 PM

Not at all. He never really thought one way or another about it. He doesn't like when I read books about cheating husbands, though. He says I start to view him suspiciously. OH, and he got me an ereader so he wouldn't have to continue taking huge stacks of books back to the library for me!

emonti8384 · 12-10-2010, 11:37 PM

I dunno, the boyfriend doesn't read but he plays RPG's (WoW, Final Fantasy, Fallout), so at night we'll be in the living room, me snuggled next to him on the couch reading while he plays a game. It's cool that we both have "me" time so we're not constantly in each others face, and we can enjoy that time together. Does that make any sense, lol?

He does support my reading though, he's never commented or said anything negative; I think if he did I wouldn't stick around. I couldn't be around someone who puts reading down, making it seem stupid and a waste of time. He's interested in what I read and will ask me how my characters are doing, lol, and every major holiday I know he's getting me a GC for my reader.

Dulin's Books · 12-10-2010, 11:53 PM

yes! we both read Spider-Man and are huge fans of the character. The first time I ever saw her she was sitting eating lunch out of a Spider-Man lunch box and I knew right then that I was going to ask her out.

SlowRain · 12-11-2010, 01:18 AM

At the risk of patting myself on the back too much, my wife says one of the reasons she found me attractive was because I had a fairly broad knowledge on a number of subjects. She attributes that directly to my reading.

jhempel24 · 12-11-2010, 01:40 AM

My wife could care less what I do really. We met playing Harn at a friends house (a type of Dungeons and Dragons). Had a Renaissance wedding.

But she really has no interest in anything I do.

gmw · 12-11-2010, 02:15 AM

Not sure if reading influenced our getting together ... but it certainly means we can never ever split up: The battle over custody of our book collection would be horrendous!

elemenoP · 12-11-2010, 10:55 AM

My husband tricked me. The first time I went to his apartment, I perused his bookshelves. He had a lot of books in a lot of different genres, very literary. It wasn't until much later that I figured out he hadn't read half those books. By then it was too late, I was in love.

eP

mrscoach · 12-11-2010, 11:00 AM

I'm a reader, he isn't. Our son takes after me, our daughter after him, though she is getting better.

mscott9985 · 12-11-2010, 11:38 AM

It was definitely in the top ten of things I/he were looking for!

In college, I dated a guy who hated reading and thought it was a waste of time. Whenever I read and he was around, he'd bug me until I put my book down. It made me realize that I would never be able to marry a man who didn't read.

I love that my husband reads...it gives us a lot to talk about. Also, it means that he's very supportive of my writing career.

astra · 12-11-2010, 12:21 PM

Reading per se had no effect on my relationship.
However, if you look at it from a different angle such as what is better, reading books and browsing the Internet or playing football, going to pubs with buddies, watching sport on TV cursing, shouting, drinking beer? Then yes. Reading books is looked upon as a good sign, although she doesn't read books anymore.

SCION · 12-11-2010, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeremyZ

...
The other thing was that my nails were clean & trimmed...

You're a hottie!

12-10-2010, 10:38 PM	#1
JeremyZ Addict Posts: 303 Karma: 1000702 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Chicago Device: Nook ST, Kindle 2, Samsung Galaxy Stellar phone	Did your reading habit make you attractive to your spouse? I wonder if I'm the only lucky one. When my wife and I were courting, we talked about a lot of things. One day, I cautiously let slip that: "I don't really watch TV, maybe an hour or two per month. I like reading a lot better." She told me later she thought that was a really good sign and it was one thing that gave her some real faith in me. The other thing was that my nails were clean & trimmed. I challenged her on that one: "I have a desk job, and nails get in the way of typing. What if I were a mechanic? You would have turned and ran, even though I'm a good guy." She told me: "No, my dad was a mechanic, and his hands were always clean." We went back and forth, and she told me her mom made her dad scrub like crazy until there was no more dirt or grease under his nails. Anyone who has worked on cars knows that is no easy trick. It is a painful trick. What's your story about reading in relation to your mate? Did they think it was cool, or did they really not care? Edit: I have a neighbor who is kind of a friend, but he has the potty humor of a 4th grader, and he is 36. He proudly says he doesn't read. He is such a dim bulb sometimes, it amazes me. I think it was because I grew up in a reading family.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Does your spouse/SO share your reading passion?	Logseman	Lounge	48	11-21-2010 12:50 AM
Do Ebooks Make the Reading Experience Too Narrow and Personal?	Hitech_luddite	General Discussions	27	07-21-2010 05:03 PM
Hi everyone or other creatures....of habit maybe?	Dave_in_Albany	Introduce Yourself	5	10-01-2009 10:58 PM
Did an ereader help kick start a reading habit	manchuia	Which one should I buy?	24	07-04-2008 11:12 PM
Will our "rekindled" reading habit fade as time goes by?	spirits	Workshop	17	03-13-2008 06:28 AM

12-10-2010, 10:47 PM	#2
DixieGal Hi There! Posts: 7,473 Karma: 2930523 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ft Lauderdale Device: iPad	I don't think it was my library card that first attracted Tim .....

12-10-2010, 10:57 PM	#3
C.I.Bond I need to clean this tub! Posts: 49 Karma: 28 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Seattle Device: Kindle	In a way. I read a lot of AD&D, that's how I first interacted. Now since we're both computer programmer types that also helps... geek all the way.

12-10-2010, 11:02 PM	#4
ebusinesstutor Star Gawker Posts: 526 Karma: 6944314 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Spruce Grove, AB Canada Device: Kindle Paperwhite	My wife and I are both readers so that is part of the attraction. And I found a girl who loves Science Fiction and Fantasy so I am very lucky. One day during a conversation, I mentioned the Three Laws of Robotics and knew I wouldn't have to explain them to her. Then it hit me. "Wow, l I have a woman that knows the Three Laws of Robotics!" No wonder I am in love.

12-10-2010, 11:35 PM	#5
GraceKrispy It's Dr. Penguin now! Posts: 3,909 Karma: 4705733 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: (USA) Device: iPad mini, Samsung Note 3, Sony PRS-650 (rarely used now)	Not at all. He never really thought one way or another about it. He doesn't like when I read books about cheating husbands, though. He says I start to view him suspiciously. OH, and he got me an ereader so he wouldn't have to continue taking huge stacks of books back to the library for me!

12-10-2010, 11:37 PM	#6
emonti8384 browneyedgurl Posts: 523 Karma: 356470 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Warren, OH Device: PRS-505/950x2, PRS-600 silver, Galaxy III purple, T2 black	I dunno, the boyfriend doesn't read but he plays RPG's (WoW, Final Fantasy, Fallout), so at night we'll be in the living room, me snuggled next to him on the couch reading while he plays a game. It's cool that we both have "me" time so we're not constantly in each others face, and we can enjoy that time together. Does that make any sense, lol? He does support my reading though, he's never commented or said anything negative; I think if he did I wouldn't stick around. I couldn't be around someone who puts reading down, making it seem stupid and a waste of time. He's interested in what I read and will ask me how my characters are doing, lol, and every major holiday I know he's getting me a GC for my reader.

12-10-2010, 11:53 PM	#7
Dulin's Books Wizard Posts: 2,806 Karma: 13500000 Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Portland, OR Device: Boox PB360 etc etc etc	yes! we both read Spider-Man and are huge fans of the character. The first time I ever saw her she was sitting eating lunch out of a Spider-Man lunch box and I knew right then that I was going to ask her out.

12-11-2010, 01:18 AM	#8
SlowRain Addict Posts: 311 Karma: 9553 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: a Canadian expat in Taiwan Device: HTC 10, Asus Phonepad	At the risk of patting myself on the back too much, my wife says one of the reasons she found me attractive was because I had a fairly broad knowledge on a number of subjects. She attributes that directly to my reading.

12-11-2010, 01:40 AM	#9
jhempel24 Wizard Posts: 2,157 Karma: 7068605 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Amazon Kindle Paperwhite, B&N Nook Colro	My wife could care less what I do really. We met playing Harn at a friends house (a type of Dungeons and Dragons). Had a Renaissance wedding. But she really has no interest in anything I do.

12-11-2010, 02:15 AM	#10
gmw cacoethes scribendi Posts: 5,818 Karma: 137770742 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Aura One & H2Ov2, Sony PRS-650	Not sure if reading influenced our getting together ... but it certainly means we can never ever split up: The battle over custody of our book collection would be horrendous!

12-11-2010, 10:55 AM	#11
elemenoP Wizard Posts: 1,717 Karma: 3790058 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: NYC Device: Kindle Paperwhite, Sony 650	My husband tricked me. The first time I went to his apartment, I perused his bookshelves. He had a lot of books in a lot of different genres, very literary. It wasn't until much later that I figured out he hadn't read half those books. By then it was too late, I was in love. eP

Advert

Advert

12-11-2010, 11:00 AM	#12
mrscoach Guru Posts: 767 Karma: 4837659 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: San Angelo Texas Device: Samsung Galaxy tab	I'm a reader, he isn't. Our son takes after me, our daughter after him, though she is getting better.

12-11-2010, 11:38 AM	#13
mscott9985 Member Retired Posts: 16 Karma: 10 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Michigan Device: ipad	It was definitely in the top ten of things I/he were looking for! In college, I dated a guy who hated reading and thought it was a waste of time. Whenever I read and he was around, he'd bug me until I put my book down. It made me realize that I would never be able to marry a man who didn't read. I love that my husband reads...it gives us a lot to talk about. Also, it means that he's very supportive of my writing career.

12-11-2010, 12:21 PM	#14
astra The Introvert Posts: 8,307 Karma: 1000077497 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: United Kingdom Device: Sony Reader PRS-650 & 505 & 500	Reading per se had no effect on my relationship. However, if you look at it from a different angle such as what is better, reading books and browsing the Internet or playing football, going to pubs with buddies, watching sport on TV cursing, shouting, drinking beer? Then yes. Reading books is looked upon as a good sign, although she doesn't read books anymore.