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This week I’ve been going through and doing the 1st round of coding of the ‘Talking About Texts: Exploring Reading and Identity’ data from the questionnaire I ran last summer. Fascinating stuff, thanks again to the 650 people who participated! I’ll share initial findings as I go!
Special thanks to @EngMediaCentre @MichaelRosenYes @NATEfeed and @Team_English1 who were all so helpful sharing the questionnaire and encouraging people to participate! The responses are so interesting they’ve even managed to hold my focus in the midst of all this chaos!
The research asked questions (anonymously) like: Have you ever read and enjoyed a book that you’d be reluctant to tell others about? Are there any circumstances in which you might lie about reading a book you hadn’t read? Do you ever feel embarrassed about books you haven’t read?
If anyone would welcome some distraction, feel free to ask any questions you like and I’ll do my best to tell you what the data says so far!
There are v high instances of the words “should have” and “ought” in relation to embarrassment about things participants haven’t read. Almost always this is in relation to “the classics” or “canonical” texts. This is common even amongst people who read more than 25 books a year
Another clear pattern in relation to lying about books we haven’t read is a distinction being made between active and passive forms of lying! Many participants wouldn’t “outright” lie, but would let people assume, not correct them, and allow people to think they’ve read something
Talking about texts data analysis: there are an *awful lot* of you secretly reading Georgette Heyer.
Some of my favourite quotes from participants so far: “I have to read fiction and poetry to feel like I’m alive” (Participant 360)
“I lied about reading quite a lot during my English degree” (Participant 132)
“I fail at reading my book club books frequently. I sometimes just read online reviews. (Don’t tell them!)” (Participant 211)
“The most surprising people like the oddest things for the strangest reasons” (Participant 233).
“I just can’t stand anything with elves in it!” (Participant 296)
“I read atheists’ books, but I hide it from people I know, because this drives them into madness” (Participant 358)
“I don’t like Harry Potter and admitting that to a Harry Potter fan is like admitting you’ve killed a close relative of theirs” (Participant 173).
“You have to read what makes your heart ping” (Participant 362).
Comments like this from English teachers are *prolific* throughout the responses. “I teach English, so there is an expectation of being well read. Always feel like I’m letting the side down if I haven’t [read a particular book].” (Participant 396)
If you’re an English teacher out there who feels like you should have read more of the classics, don’t worry. I can confirm that LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS of your colleagues secretly feel the same! #TeamEnglish
“As this is an anonymous survey, it was quite refreshing being honest about all of my reading.” (Participant 566)
“If I read books perceived as frivolous I always feel you have to say it was just for fun or something.” (Participant 570)
“The first book I ever really loved was “Legend” by David Gemmell and I was too ashamed to even put it as the answer to your first question (what’s your favourite book?)!” (Participant 572) - btw Participant 572, if you’re out there, I loved this book too #FantasySolidarity
“I try to own not having read books that people think I should have read, these days. There’s only so many hours in life, and I don’t want to spend any of them reading David Foster Wallace.” (Participant 583)
“Because it’s basically about orgies.” (Participant 598)
