One term I really hate is ‘guilty pleasure’, especially when it comes to reading. I don’t believe there is such a thing as a ‘guilty pleasure’ when it comes to reading because reading should be a pleasure, something you enjoy doing, and you don’t need to feel guilty about it.
This term is often applied to reading romance, especially the ‘bodice ripper’ books usually published by Mills & Boon, or for adults reading kids books when they don’t have kids.
I’m here to say to you, if these are the sorts of books you enjoy, read them with pride and don’t feel guilty about them.
Somewhere along the way, certain books were considered more acceptable to readers. Often these are ones that are considered of literary merit, and those that are more popular or for women are looked down on.
If I’m honest, I find many of those books that are considered acceptable or a book you must read before you die hard going and they aren’t to my taste at all. Does that make me any less of a bookworm? The simple answer is no.
I read all sorts of books from picture books to novels, from crime stories to romance, fiction and non-fiction. I read what I am in the mood for and what I enjoy, and there is absolutely no guilt in what I read… unless I’m reading and I should be doing something else, like my day job… Or it’s a book I’ve bought as a gift that I sneakily read before wrapping it up!
There are often questions in book groups asking for your guilty pleasure read and I can’t give an answer as I don’t feel guilty reading any of the books I read. I enjoy books of different styles and genre.
I’m here to say, read what you love. Read it with pride, and ditch the guilt. All reading should be a guilt-free pleasure.
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