Could you date someone who doesn't read?

[Lnanderson86]

Currently I am dating someone who doesn't read...not even the newspaper or a magazine. He literally reads nothing unless you count the blue prints he has to read for his job. It's irritating, but I've chosen to live with it. When we moved in together I brought my extensive collection of books that take up the entire guest bedroom in our house and he said I was insane.

It's annoying because I can't talk to him about books or what I'm reading. He won't even read my own writing. It's disappointing because I love sharing things with him, and the thing that I'm most passionate about (reading) he could care less about. In a way, it almost hurts. I choose to overlook this huge aspect in our relationship though because I do love him, but at times I get extremely frustrated.

Great thread topic!

[Inspiro Assistant]

That's why we are very blessed to stumble upon this forum. We can share our thoughts about the book we read and we can share our writing. Here, you won't get ignored.

Currently I am dating someone who doesn't read...not even the newspaper or a magazine. He literally reads nothing unless you count the blue prints he has to read for his job. It's irritating, but I've chosen to live with it. When we moved in together I brought my extensive collection of books that take up the entire guest bedroom in our house and he said I was insane.

It's annoying because I can't talk to him about books or what I'm reading. He won't even read my own writing. It's disappointing because I love sharing things with him, and the thing that I'm most passionate about (reading) he could care less about. In a way, it almost hurts. I choose to overlook this huge aspect in our relationship though because I do love him, but at times I get extremely frustrated.

Great thread topic!

[Bighuey]

My lady friend dosent read at all, she can read some in Spanish but nothing in English. She said its because she had a limited education but its not important to me. We talk about other things.

[Ant]

Silly question really, its like asking if you could date someone who doesnt like fishing or football. Surely you would not want someone who was just a mirror image of yourself, half the excitement with a new date is finding about THEIR interests. O.k, if they were to read the odd book, yes that would be a great bonus. Each to his/her own.

[Fran]

@Ant
Agree with you 100%
Some of my friends however feel they have to 'share' absolutely every moment of their OH life & it's not love if they don't. Personally I would find that totally suffocating ... as the philosopher Kahil Gibran said:

"Let there be spaces in your togetherness, And let the winds of the heavens dance between you. Love one another but make not a bond of love: Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls. Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup. Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf. Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone, Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music. Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping. For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts. And stand together, yet not too near together: For the pillars of the temple stand apart, And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow."

[Ant]

Beautifully put Fran. You dont have to be an avid reader to appreciate those words.

[Davinci]

he has to respect my own need for reading. I say that but all my boyfriends were readers....

[Bighuey]

@Ant
Agree with you 100%
Some of my friends however feel they have to 'share' absolutely every moment of their OH life & it's not love if they don't. Personally I would find that totally suffocating ... as the philosopher Kahil Gibran said:

"Let there be spaces in your togetherness, And let the winds of the heavens dance between you. Love one another but make not a bond of love: Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls. Fill each other's cup but drink not from one cup. Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf. Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone, Even as the strings of a lute are alone though they quiver with the same music. Give your hearts, but not into each other's keeping. For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts. And stand together, yet not too near together: For the pillars of the temple stand apart, And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other's shadow."

Those are good words. They hit the nail right on the head.

[Dragonflytears]

My ex husband didn't read. But that was ok because when he was glued to the hockey game on TV, I read. It was my quiet time.

[Bighuey]

Ive been alone for 3 years, so right now I wouldnt care if my spouse if I ever found one, could even read her own name.

[KimberlyAnn]

I could date someone who doesn't read. A lot of people have different hobbies.... However, he would have to be patient and tolerate me after I read a really good book because I'm going to want to summarize the entire thing for him:P

[TiaWhite]

I think it woul dbe pretty difficult to date someone who doesnt or never enojoyed reading.
I ahvent dated anyone hwo avidly does it like I do, but doe sit enough to listen to my ideas of books and has joy in reading to some degree.
If it's such an important thing for you, it is hard ot imagine bonding someone who is so differnt, but..opposites attract.

[troxelkr]

Personally, I would never opt out of dating someone just because they did not enjoy reading leisurely. I am currently engaged to a man that barely ever reads, maybe a newspaper article a month. It does not bother me at all that he does not read. There are many hobbies and things that he loves that I have no interest in (ex. sports and video games). I love reading and it's one of the things that makes me very happy, but that doesn't mean that my fiance needs to love it. I have other people that I discuss books and reading with and am content with him not being one of them. However, even though my fiance doesn't read, he often asked me how my book is, what's going on, or if it's good. He understands that I love to read and usually just plays a game while I am reading.

[Snoots]

Yes I could date a woman who didn't read much. What would matter to me most is that she had an imagination and perspective that was inclusive enough to smile.

[littlemomma32]

yes i am married to a man who does not read