Books
It's a question that every true book-lover dreads: what's your favorite book? Most of us have a range of answers for this one. We have the smart, academic books we trot out for professors and fellow English majors. We have the nostalgic, childhood books that let us geek out with friends. We have the sexy, cool books that we use to impress cute guys/gals at barbecues and trendy coffee shops. But deep down, each of us has at least one book that springs to mind when we hear the question "What's your favorite book?" So here's what your favorite book says about you.
After all, you can learn a lot about someone by judging their reading taste. The toughest customers might have a secret soft spot for Little Women. That girl you thought was so basic could be a massive fan of James Joyce. And yes, you should just assume that, at any given time, at least one of your elderly female relatives is reading Fifty Shades of Grey.
So, are you a hopeless romantic or a cynical realist? An outgoing party dude or a withdrawn wallflower? A Gryffindor or a Slytherin? The answer might lie in your favorite reading material:
1
'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen
You're a romantic with a good head on your shoulders. You like floral patterns and tea, but you can also remember to check your bank account balance regularly, and you might be the mom friend of your social circle. Much like Lizzie Bennet, you're an opinionated person with a sarcastic streak, but you're also susceptible to the charms of rich, socially awkward bachelors.
2
'The Catcher in the Rye' by J.D. Salinger
You don't let yourself be swayed by public opinion. Sure, more high school kids hate The Catcher in the Rye, but you've always had a soft spot for Holden and his silly hat. You can be a bit of a loner, but you don't mind doing your own thing now and then, and you can't stand all those phonies on social media.
3
'A Game of Thrones' by George R.R. Martin
You have a mind for details and a passion for sweeping epics. But you like your fantasy on the darker side. When the minutiae of daily life gets you down, you can retreat into a world of kings, siege weapons, and dragons. You've missed your stop on the train at least once because of daydreaming. Sometimes your ability to discuss the finer points of Dornish history is overwhelming for your friends, but you're a whiz at bar trivia.
4
'The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao' by Junot Díaz
It's possible that you didn't date that much in high school (but you had a pretty solid Klingon vocabulary). You gravitate towards stories about nerds and outsiders because you've felt like that at least once in your life. You get easily frustrated with people who act macho or phony just for the sake of fitting in, but you're not as pretentious about it as the Catcher in the Rye kid.
5
'The Fault in Our Stars' by John Green
You...like to cry for fun, I guess? You're a romantic who understand that "happily ever after" isn't always in the cards. You love a good tragedy. Anyone who can match your witty banter stands a good chance of stealing your heart, and you don't shy away from the tough realities of life.
6
'To Kill A Mockingbird' by Harper Lee
You may or may not have been a tomboy like Scout growing up. Either way, you became politically aware of the world around you a bit earlier than the rest of your classmates. You're thoughtful and considered when it comes to engaging in social issues, but when it comes to defending the values and people you care about, you become downright ferocious.
7
'The Great Gatsby' by F. Scott Fitzgerald
You don't just like this book because of the sweet 20's style...but it doesn't hurt. You like to dress up when the occasion calls for it, and you like the romance of the Jazz Age, but you also like an educated critique of the American Dream. You're pretty realistic when it comes to putting wealth and glamour into a wider context (but you still look cute in a flapper dress).
8
'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' by Douglas Adams
Your sense of humor is somewhere between Monty Python and the fact that we're all on a ball of rock hurtling through a senseless universe. You tend towards the wacky and absurd, you like reading out loud in funny voices, and you follow NASA on Twitter. You're a comedy fan who also perks up during science debates, and you like your philosophy mixed in with a few jokes and at least one depressive android.
9
'Romeo and Juliet' by William Shakespeare
Some people might think that you're a big ol' sap for loving Romeo and Juliet the way that you do, but you've got a little more going on under the surface. Sure, you're a sucker for poetry and rom-coms and yes, you would like to attend a masquerade ball decked out entirely in velvet. But you also follow your convictions, stand firm against prejudice, and understand iambic pentameter far better than the average joe.
10
'Infinite Jest' by David Foster Wallace
People might say that you're a tad pretentious, or comment on that fact that you wear non-prescription glasses just for fun, but you don't let the haters get to you (side note: book community, let's reach across the aisle and stop hating on the DFW bros). You're quiet around strangers, but wildly verbose around friends. You have a sharp mind and a lot of feelings, and you should totally start that blog you've been thinking about.
11
'Persepolis' by Marjane Satrapi
You can enjoy your class on comparative religions and your friend's counter-culture zine. You contain multitudes. Most importantly, you like to understand the underlying causes and historical significance of the events you see on the news. And then you like to work through your angst with alternative rock music and/or political cartoons, because you understand that more than one medium can count as "high art."
12
'Americanah' by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
If you don't run your own blog of feminist hot takes on pop culture, you at least follow a few of them. You watch TED talks and listen to NPR, but you're also down for an in-depth discussion on the deep-seated problems with neo-liberalism. You keep a sign from the women's march on your bed room wall, and you keep your collection of romance novels well hidden.
13
'American Gods' by Neil Gaiman
You wear a lot of eyeliner. At some point during middle school, you identified yourself as a pagan. You probably don't do that anymore, but you're fascinated by mythology and you have a soft spot for all manner of kitsch. You've disturbed acquaintances with your bizarre and detailed knowledge of serial killers and/or American roadside attractions, and if you're not reading fantasy, sci-fi, or horror, you're probably deep into a book about true crime.
14
'Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire' by J.K. Rowling
Or any of the Harry Potter books, really (I just feel like most people plant their "favorite" flag somewhere in the middle of the series). You're honest when it comes to picking your favorite book, unlike the rest of these posers. You strive to be a good person and to succeed in everything you try, like the true Gryffindor/Hufflepuff/Ravenclaw/Slytherin you are. You find a lot of comfort in books, and you've been known to curl up with a hot beverage and a favorite childhood novel on a rainy day. You know that magic isn't real...but that doesn't stop you from getting a little excited every time you see an owl.
