Confession: I… am a stereotypical bookworm *and the crowd gasps with horror*

OH GOODNESS

THE TRUTH IS OUT

WHOEVER WOULD HAVE GUESSED?

That little ol’ me would be a stereotypical bookworm.

You might be sat there thinking “Come on Ashleigh, what are you raving on about. Of course you’re a bookworm. You run a book blog, for goodness sake.”

But alas, that is not what I mean.

You missed the word stereotypical…

Because stereotypes are looked down upon – and rightly so!

It’s hardly fair to group a huge amount of people and say they’re all the same because they have similar interests. Boys are all tough and love football, while girls love painting their nails and watching romance films, right? Wrong!

(FYI. I hardly have nails to paint because I have an awful nail biting habit, and romance films make me cringe 99% of the time. )

But…when it comes to the bookworm stereotype, that’s where I actually DO fall into the category.

Ahhh, the beloved “bookworm”.

It’s no doubt what most of us here call ourselves. I mean, it’s a fairly simple way to describe someone who loves reading. That’s the definition of it, after all.

Funnily enough, the second definition you see there ^ is how readers got the “bookworm” label – they eat through books just like those insects would eat through the bindings of them. Honestly, I didn’t know that before. You learn something new everyday!

Anyway.

 The word bookworm literally only means a person who enjoys reading. And yet somehow, when you say the word “bookworm”, this scene (or one similar) is likely to pop into everyone’s mind…

Oh look, there’s a bookworm! Lounging in their natural habitat. Buried under three blankets with a store of snacks within, leaving just enough light in their cave to read by. What time of the day is it? Well, there’s no point asking them, they’re in their own world right now. Probably haven’t been outside for days. But wait – it moves! Oh…oh wait no…it’s just cleaning the iconic glasses all bookworms seem to have. Is it making a noise? Well that’s odd. But no, look, it’s the cat purring by it’s feet! How sweet! 

*gasp* Over there! There’s signs of it actually leaving the self-made cave! No look, it has a bag ready for next time they leave! What’s that? Oh…there’s a book in the bag too? I didn’t think there could be any more in here, it’s so full…

OK OK, I’m aware I’m making it sound like we’re some creature to be watched.

But really? I’m that stereotypical bookworm!

Let’s see…

Wear glasses  

Yes, I do wear glasses. Not all the time, just while reading.

Nerdy   

I freak out about books and things related to books. I love learning new things, especially to do with history.

Sit at home wrapped up in a blanket   

I’m usually cold, and I always read in bed, so I’m always wrapped up in my duvet and some other blankets too, depending how cold it is. And with all the pillows I have on my bed, it’s basically a cave.

Cat curled up by their feet   

Yep, I have a cat that follows me around everywhere, so more often than not he’s curled up by my feet purring away and sleeping. Which is fine by me, because he’s the perfect foot-warmer.

Never leave home without a book   

Every. Single. Time. Even if I know I won’t have time to read, I’ll take a book. It’s a comfort thing.

Don’t go outside often   

I DO love being outside, I’m a really outdoorsy person. But…even when living in a big city, there’s only so many times you can wander around the same places before running out of ideas for days out. And with it being the summer holidays for me now, I’m in my house more often than I’m outside it.

So yes. I consider myself to be a stereotypical bookworm.

But is it also possible…to NOT be, at the same time?

I am all these things listed above, and yet I’m a girl who loves makeup and dresses. A girl who spends hours either reading, singing, drawing or painting. A girl who collects signs, dreamcatchers, maps, and her own drawings to hang all over the walls, with a ridiculous amount of ornaments and interesting things cluttering up the shelves. A girl who could roam around the countryside all day long without getting bored, and loves frolicking around in woodland areas discovering all the small magics of the world while daydreaming of bigger magics.

Does that girl sound like a stereotypical bookworm?

My point is this: You can be a stereotype. You can also not be. Or you can be a mix of both, like me. We’re all different, but these similarities brought around the “bookworm” phrase, and I will proudly use it as my own.

I am a stereotypical bookworm. I also, am not. And I am proud to be 😀

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Share your thoughts!

What did you think of this post? It’s a bit different to what I’d usually write, and a bit rambly (or preachy), but I hope it was enjoyable to read!

Could you relate?

Do you consider yourself a stereotypical bookworm? 

Let me know in the comments!

Until next time…

Come and visit me!