What a great perspective! I too live in an area where literature is not the norm. If I have any friends that read, they only read romance. I crave connection with other people who are intrigued by thought provoking texts. Thanks for sharing! 🤍
Just because of this trope that has existed long before, I have been somewhat wary of doing all of the things you explained above, even though if I saw someone in public reading a book that I like I would be filled with joy.
Alas, the world likes to hate on everything, the point is to not give in! 🫶
Totally agree with you on this. 1000%. Also, I’d like to say the literary it girl isn’t new. We’re all just now on a medium that allows us to find each other. It’s not so much a trend so much as it is a subculture. It’s not like the books are for decoration.
Also, I wanted to be Fran Leibowitz at like 18 years old.
yes!! totally not a new thing. i’ve devoured books like candy my entire life and always leaned towards literary over genre fiction. i felt so weird reading those articles about ~thought daughters~ being performative, like who am i performing for? lol
Finally a positive take on the “thought daughter” trend! I keep reading so many harsh criticisms on here about it and it’s just saddening that this silly little trend has people hating on the girls/people that want to identify themselves with it. Like you said, like what you like, there’s nothing wrong with that. Even if Didion, Babitz, and Plath are viral now their work is deserving of it!
it truly is so uncommon to find other thought daughters out in the wild, i think thats why i often feel so alone in the world. happy to have found my people here!
Oh I love this! I’ve felt a little pretentious at times when my book friends are talking about Hoover and I’m sat with my Dostoevsky tome. Time for me to acknowledge my authentic self without embarrassment!
I’ve only read crime and punishment and The Brothers Karamazov both were wonderful! I’m a massive Russian Literature fan. You are right I should be less worried what others think
I really appreciate this perspective! Sometimes I catch myself avoiding classics in the name of… making sure I’m not just reading for the sake of putting on a certain persona I guess? But the truth is that I like both romance novels AND classics, and I need to just embrace that about me as a reader: I’m dynamic! And I like that! I’m glad you’re able to be so upfront about what you like in the face of current discourse 🥰
i love that!! and yeah i knew this might not be the Popular opinion right now but i just really wanted to share my thoughts on it and let people know it’s Okay to be cliche and that i honestly love seeing what people are reading out in public!! and if it’s a classic, hell yeah! i have never thought someone was reading just for the sake of appearances and i don’t think most people are thinking that either
I actually recently read a classic that I really really loved and just cannot even believe I hadn’t read before - age of innocence by Edith Wharton. I felt like it was just an amazing portrayal of how social norms constrain us. Honestly it’s kind of funny I came across this post right after I had written about the uniqueness of romance novels lmao, but! Your post combined with Wharton reminds me of the uniqueness of the classics: the classic literature can push us to think about society in really deep ways, and that’s so valuable, and yes, I also love those conversations!!!
i can’t choose just one favorite!! slouching towards bethlehem, play it as it lays, the white album, run river, and the year of magical thinking are all my faves!
ooh i haven’t read any edith wharton yet, might have to move her up on my tbr!! will totally read your romance book post now lol
Haha aww thanks! Yes definitely read Wharton!! Honestly I could just feel the walls of social convention closing in on the characters 😱
What a great perspective! I too live in an area where literature is not the norm. If I have any friends that read, they only read romance. I crave connection with other people who are intrigued by thought provoking texts. Thanks for sharing! 🤍
thank you!! love that others are relating to this!
Wonderfully said!
Just because of this trope that has existed long before, I have been somewhat wary of doing all of the things you explained above, even though if I saw someone in public reading a book that I like I would be filled with joy.
Alas, the world likes to hate on everything, the point is to not give in! 🫶
i love this take! it's just not that deep! i wrote something in the same vein called 'in defense of reading for the aesthetic'
ooh i’ll have to check it out!!
Totally agree with you on this. 1000%. Also, I’d like to say the literary it girl isn’t new. We’re all just now on a medium that allows us to find each other. It’s not so much a trend so much as it is a subculture. It’s not like the books are for decoration.
Also, I wanted to be Fran Leibowitz at like 18 years old.
yes!! totally not a new thing. i’ve devoured books like candy my entire life and always leaned towards literary over genre fiction. i felt so weird reading those articles about ~thought daughters~ being performative, like who am i performing for? lol
Finally a positive take on the “thought daughter” trend! I keep reading so many harsh criticisms on here about it and it’s just saddening that this silly little trend has people hating on the girls/people that want to identify themselves with it. Like you said, like what you like, there’s nothing wrong with that. Even if Didion, Babitz, and Plath are viral now their work is deserving of it!
it truly is so uncommon to find other thought daughters out in the wild, i think thats why i often feel so alone in the world. happy to have found my people here!
totally agree!!
Oh I love this! I’ve felt a little pretentious at times when my book friends are talking about Hoover and I’m sat with my Dostoevsky tome. Time for me to acknowledge my authentic self without embarrassment!
hell yeah dude, do not feel guilty about the stuff you like!!
my bf recently got really into dostoyevsky lol, so far i’ve only read white nights, but will probably read the idiot later this year!
I’ve only read crime and punishment and The Brothers Karamazov both were wonderful! I’m a massive Russian Literature fan. You are right I should be less worried what others think
I really appreciate this perspective! Sometimes I catch myself avoiding classics in the name of… making sure I’m not just reading for the sake of putting on a certain persona I guess? But the truth is that I like both romance novels AND classics, and I need to just embrace that about me as a reader: I’m dynamic! And I like that! I’m glad you’re able to be so upfront about what you like in the face of current discourse 🥰
i love that!! and yeah i knew this might not be the Popular opinion right now but i just really wanted to share my thoughts on it and let people know it’s Okay to be cliche and that i honestly love seeing what people are reading out in public!! and if it’s a classic, hell yeah! i have never thought someone was reading just for the sake of appearances and i don’t think most people are thinking that either
I actually recently read a classic that I really really loved and just cannot even believe I hadn’t read before - age of innocence by Edith Wharton. I felt like it was just an amazing portrayal of how social norms constrain us. Honestly it’s kind of funny I came across this post right after I had written about the uniqueness of romance novels lmao, but! Your post combined with Wharton reminds me of the uniqueness of the classics: the classic literature can push us to think about society in really deep ways, and that’s so valuable, and yes, I also love those conversations!!!
i loved this so much 🥹
♥️♥️
mam what's your favourite didion
i can’t choose just one favorite!! slouching towards bethlehem, play it as it lays, the white album, run river, and the year of magical thinking are all my faves!
omg understandable I just started my first (slouching towards bethlehem) last week, its so beautiful already