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Date A Girl Who Reads

I saved this the first time I heard it – a fun piece by Rosemarie Urquico. Enjoy!

Date a girl who reads. Date a girl who spends her money on books instead of clothes. She has problems with closet space because she has too many books. Date a girl who has a list of books she wants to read, who has had a library card since she was twelve.

Find a girl who reads. You’ll know that she does because she will always have an unread book in her bag. She’s the one lovingly looking over the shelves in the bookstore, the one who quietly cries out when she finds the book she wants. You see the weird chick sniffing the pages of an old book in a second hand book shop? That’s the reader. They can never resist smelling the pages, especially when they are yellow.

She’s the girl reading while waiting in that coffee shop down the street. If you take a peek at her mug, the non-dairy creamer is floating on top because she’s kind of engrossed already. Lost in a world of the author’s making. Sit down. She might give you a glare, as most girls who read do not like to be interrupted. Ask her if she likes the book.

Buy her another cup of coffee.

Let her know what you really think of Murakami. See if she got through the first chapter of Fellowship. Understand that if she says she understood James Joyce’s Ulysses she’s just saying that to sound intelligent. Ask her if she loves Alice or she would like to be Alice.

It’s easy to date a girl who reads. Give her books for her birthday, for Christmas and for anniversaries. Give her the gift of words, in poetry, in song. Give her Neruda, Pound, Sexton, Cummings. Let her know that you understand that words are love. Understand that she knows the difference between books and reality but by god, she’s going to try to make her life a little like her favorite book. It will never be your fault if she does.

She has to give it a shot somehow.

Lie to her. If she understands syntax, she will understand your need to lie. Behind words are other things: motivation, value, nuance, dialogue. It will not be the end of the world.

Fail her. Because a girl who reads knows that failure always leads up to the climax. Because girls who read understand that all things will come to end. That you can always write a sequel. That you can begin again and again and still be the hero. That life is meant to have a villain or two.

Why be frightened of everything that you are not? Girls who read understand that people, like characters, develop. Except in the Twilight series.

If you find a girl who reads, keep her close. When you find her up at 2 AM clutching a book to her chest and weeping, make her a cup of tea and hold her. You may lose her for a couple of hours but she will always come back to you. She’ll talk as if the characters in the book are real, because for a while, they always are.

You will propose on a hot air balloon. Or during a rock concert. Or very casually next time she’s sick. Over Skype.

You will smile so hard you will wonder why your heart hasn’t burst and bled out all over your chest yet. You will write the story of your lives, have kids with strange names and even stranger tastes. She will introduce your children to the Cat in the Hat and Aslan, maybe in the same day. You will walk the winters of your old age together and she will recite Keats under her breath while you shake the snow off your boots.

Date a girl who reads because you deserve it. You deserve a girl who can give you the most colorful life imaginable. If you can only give her monotony, and stale hours and half-baked proposals, then you’re better off alone. If you want the world and the worlds beyond it, date a girl who reads.

Or better yet, date a girl who writes.

177 thoughts on “Date A Girl Who Reads”

  1. Kev says:
    August 16, 2015 at 7:33 pm

    Reblogged this on Kev's Great Indie Authors and commented:
    A pleasant and fun read shared with us by Diana of Myths in the Mirror.

    Liked by 2 people

  2. Erik says:
    August 14, 2015 at 5:53 pm

    Makes me think of Anne (with an “e”) from Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea, which I’m not ashamed to admit I’ve read and that I binge watch the films at least once annually in their entirety (and that I had a huge crush on her for all of the above reasons).

    Now off to tell a few friends who “know” to get over here …

    Liked by 1 person

  3. Mira Prabhu says:
    August 14, 2015 at 3:09 pm

    Reblogged this on mira prabhu and commented:
    Yes, date a girl who reads…better yet, get down on your knees in the old-fashioned way and propose…chances are you won’t regret it. Read D. Wallace Peach’s post for more on this special breed.

    Liked by 2 people

  4. ~Michelle Cook says:
    August 14, 2015 at 2:36 am

    This is so good. I just read it to my daughter, who is both an avid reader and writer. She smiled and laughed the entire time I was reading it. Thanks for sharing. 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

  5. Jay says:
    August 14, 2015 at 12:59 am

    I find that I CAN resist smelling the pages!

    Liked by 2 people

  6. gina amos says:
    August 13, 2015 at 1:45 am

    I love this! Readers like writers are such interesting people, don’t you think?

    Liked by 2 people

  7. Steven Baird says:
    August 13, 2015 at 12:18 am

    I did. And then I married her. 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

  8. L. T. Garvin, Author says:
    August 12, 2015 at 3:19 pm

    This is wonderful, I love it, I love reading 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

  9. Jacqui Murray says:
    August 12, 2015 at 2:31 pm

    All true. Well said.

    Liked by 2 people

  10. Aspholessaria says:
    August 12, 2015 at 1:27 pm

    That is a wonderful piece and so true. I especially like the bit that says Because girls who read understand that all things will come to end. That you can always write a sequel. That you can begin again and again and still be the hero. That life is meant to have a villain or two.

    Why be frightened of everything that you are not? Girls who read understand that people, like characters, develop.

    Liked by 2 people

    • D. Wallace Peach says:
      August 12, 2015 at 2:12 pm

      Yeah. I really like that part too. It’s the point where, for me, the piece digs a bit deeper. Books teach us a lot about life. Thanks so much for the comments 🙂 Happy reading.

      Like

  11. lisaemme says:
    August 12, 2015 at 12:49 pm

    Reblogged this on lisa emme and commented:
    Couldn’t have said it better….btw, I’m single 😛

    Liked by 2 people

  12. anroworld says:
    August 12, 2015 at 6:45 am

    It’s an amazing piece and so touching as the same time…

    Liked by 2 people

  13. Suzanne Joshi says:
    August 12, 2015 at 5:12 am

    My husband wasn’t much of a reader, but I am, and I made sure my children were. I didn’t have to encourage my son. He’s now trying to make a reader out of his stepdaughter. My daughter started about fifth grade and became a reader. Before that, I bought her Garfield cartoon books to at least get her to read something. Great piece, Diana. 🙂

    Liked by 3 people

    • D. Wallace Peach says:
      August 12, 2015 at 1:24 pm

      Hi Suzanne. I think kids have a natural interest in books and reading to them when they’re little is great. How wonderful that you made sure your kids are readers. What a gift. It seems your husband found a girl who reads! 🙂

      Like

  14. amommasview says:
    August 12, 2015 at 1:18 am

    How very awesome! I hope when my son starts dating there will still be plenty of girls out there who read books and maybe even write. And by write I mean properly write and not just text 😉

    Liked by 4 people

  15. familyrulesbyplainjane says:
    August 12, 2015 at 1:00 am

    This is a wonderful piece, and I especially love the drawing at the end. I also think of a Garrison Keillor skit I heard once in which he says men should major in English so that women will want to date them–because they will be better at wooing (poems, emoting, flowery language, communication and all that good stuff!) 🙂

    Liked by 3 people

  16. Amy Reese says:
    August 12, 2015 at 12:20 am

    Great post! I love that I love to read. I love getting lost in a book. Those who are not with a reader, or better yet a writer, are really missing out!

    Liked by 4 people

  17. tric says:
    August 12, 2015 at 12:04 am

    Sigh I love this but I can but dream my husband would think it. The reality is he only reads the GAA (Irish sports) section of a paper. But he has put up with me for 25 married years so maybe I’ll go for ‘opposites attract’.

    Liked by 4 people

  18. purpleslobinrecovery says:
    August 11, 2015 at 11:06 pm

    I absolutely love this . It’s so true. Everyone develops exvept Twilight, bwahaha.
    The pix are exactly the right choices.
    I wish I’d married a man who reads… Sigh
    Melinda

    Liked by 4 people

  19. Elyse says:
    August 11, 2015 at 10:25 pm

    This is a wonderful piece! As a reader, I cherish my husband for choosing me — and for giving me some of the most wonderful books I’ve read — he has a gift for choosing the ones I will love (he reads too, but rarely the books he gives me).

    This line cracked me up: “Girls who read understand that people, like characters, develop. Except in the Twilight series.” Same with Goosebumps!

    Liked by 5 people

    • D. Wallace Peach says:
      August 11, 2015 at 10:43 pm

      Thanks for the comment, Elyse. Your husband must be a sweet guy. Choosing a book takes time, careful thought, and an eagerness to understand someone on the inside. I need to order my husband to buy we a book! Ha ha. Yes, the Twilight line is a little snarky, but there it is. Those books made millions, so I don’t feel too bad. Thanks for visiting 😀

      Liked by 2 people

  20. reocochran says:
    August 11, 2015 at 8:58 pm

    I like the way you pull us in. We believe this is an interesting and informative article. Then, the dark humor and twists are added subtly and you shared a fun, humorous list that readers may ( or may not) make good matches. We discern more easily the negative qualities of characters that used to be known as “cads.”

    Liked by 3 people

    • D. Wallace Peach says:
      August 11, 2015 at 9:04 pm

      Oh, I wish I could brag that I wrote this, but it was written by the talented Rosemarie Urquico. I read it quite some time ago and saved it. It’s quite layered when you get into it, I wholeheartedly agree. Thanks so much for your comment!

      Liked by 1 person

  21. reocochran says:
    August 11, 2015 at 8:48 pm

    I loved all the fun and interesting reasons to become involved with a book reader. I also saw the darker references and tongue in cheek one, too. I think readers make great matches, I like looking beneath the surface! Smiles, Robin

    Liked by 4 people

  22. Purpleanais says:
    August 11, 2015 at 8:12 pm

    What if the girl reads, a lot, but loves clothes too and her closets are full to bursting with books *and* dresses? A girl can read, write and still embrace fashion, those are not mutually exclusive things 🙂

    Liked by 4 people

  23. Ann Marquette says:
    August 11, 2015 at 7:47 pm

    Great blog. Love it 🙂

    Liked by 4 people

  24. Naturally Toi says:
    August 11, 2015 at 7:07 pm

    Simply love! I must share this post with my single friend!

    Liked by 3 people

  25. Nurse Kelly says:
    August 11, 2015 at 6:11 pm

    Beautiful Diana! re-blogged on nursekellyknows,com

    Liked by 3 people

  26. Nurse Kelly says:
    August 11, 2015 at 6:07 pm

    Reblogged this on Nurse Kelly and commented:
    A beautiful piece shared by a wonderful writer and friend

    Liked by 2 people

  27. sonshinegreene says:
    August 11, 2015 at 6:07 pm

    Reblogged this on Riley Amos Westbook and commented:
    Should be a person, not necessarily just a girl.

    Liked by 4 people

  28. Carrie Rubin says:
    August 11, 2015 at 4:37 pm

    “Except in the Twilight series.”—Haha, ouch.

    Great piece. And I think the same can be said about guys. Date a guy who reads. There’ll be far more to talk about than how many pull-ups he can do or how much he benches. 🙂

    Liked by 5 people

  29. barnraised says:
    August 11, 2015 at 4:23 pm

    Love this!

    Liked by 4 people

  30. orangepondconnects says:
    August 11, 2015 at 4:00 pm

    I always say that I prefer a new book over jewelry lol Great post 🙂

    Liked by 4 people

  31. balroop2013 says:
    August 11, 2015 at 3:53 pm

    Hi D. I wish there were a button for super like under the post so that we can convey how much such a post touches the heart. beautifully worded, this post speaks volumes about book lovers and their heart overflowing with giving only the positive vibes, only the delight, only the forgiveness! How wise do we become if we love reading…like that girl you have created! I love her!

    Liked by 4 people

  32. OyiaBrown says:
    August 11, 2015 at 3:51 pm

    Reblogged this on Oyia Brown.

    Liked by 3 people

  33. philipparees says:
    August 11, 2015 at 3:30 pm

    Have reblogged on https://philipparees.wordpress.com/

    Liked by 2 people

  34. philipparees says:
    August 11, 2015 at 3:29 pm

    Reblogged this on philipparees and commented:
    A diverting post for both genders?

    Liked by 1 person

  35. lbeth1950 says:
    August 11, 2015 at 3:23 pm

    My husband gave me Shakespeare before we married.

    Liked by 3 people

  36. vanbytheriver says:
    August 11, 2015 at 3:15 pm

    Reblogged this on vanbytheriver and commented:
    Such a brilliant piece shared by a great friend and writer/reader. 💕

    Liked by 2 people

  37. vanbytheriver says:
    August 11, 2015 at 3:14 pm

    Love this, it is brilliant ! ” Because a girl who reads knows that failure always leads up to the climax. Because girls who read understand that all things will come to end. That you can always write a sequel.”

    Thanks for sharing. Will reblog. 💕

    Liked by 3 people

  38. philipparees says:
    August 11, 2015 at 3:09 pm

    Sent this to my unmarried daughter who might just find time to click on something that is not her actual book! I should have had sons not daughters! I could have done more good.

    Liked by 3 people

  39. Marje @ Kyrosmagica says:
    August 11, 2015 at 3:05 pm

    Excellent advice! Made me smile a lot. 🙂

    Liked by 3 people

  40. Gud-Sol says:
    August 11, 2015 at 3:03 pm

    cool n nice

    Liked by 3 people

  41. violetonlineisonline says:
    August 11, 2015 at 2:54 pm

    I’m the girl!!!

    Liked by 3 people

  42. briancrawford4 says:
    August 11, 2015 at 2:50 pm

    Wonderful read.

    Liked by 3 people

  43. Candice says:
    August 11, 2015 at 2:41 pm

    Reblogged this on I came for the soup… and commented:
    I had the pleasure of reading this this morning, and it put a smile on my face and in my heart. Read ya’ll, and date a girl who reads!

    Liked by 4 people

  44. Candice says:
    August 11, 2015 at 2:39 pm

    This was/is a delight to read!

    Liked by 3 people

  45. Celia Reaves says:
    August 11, 2015 at 2:35 pm

    Glorious! I WANT to be that girl.

    Liked by 4 people

  46. Nicholas C. Rossis says:
    August 11, 2015 at 2:34 pm

    I did, for 10 years. Then, I married her 🙂

    Liked by 4 people

  47. Date A Girl Who Reads | Annette Rochelle Aben says:
    August 11, 2015 at 2:30 pm

    […] Date A Girl Who Reads. […]

    Liked by 1 person

  48. Annette Rochelle Aben says:
    August 11, 2015 at 2:27 pm

    love, love LOVE!

    Liked by 4 people

  49. Date A Girl Who Reads | Svegliati Cara says:
    August 11, 2015 at 2:06 pm

    […] Date A Girl Who Reads. […]

    Liked by 1 person

  50. Svegliati Cara says:
    August 11, 2015 at 2:04 pm

    OMG this is so me! I hope you do not mind I’m re logging it!

    Liked by 4 people

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