Doing it for the plot

Here's how to tell a true book lover from a poseur: The OGs don't care about the optics or the metrics. They just enjoy reading

- Christalle Fernandes

Mark your place in the novel you're in the middle of, and consider this. Most conversations around books aren't about books at all. Instead, they're about how much non-readers want to convince others that yes, yes, they are ardent readers too.

Here's the most common one: Do you prefer physical books or the Kindle? On Reddit, every month someone revives the query on a new thread. But here's the thing, dedicated readers don't care. They'll read anything, anywhere. They've downloaded public-domain classics on their phone and squinted through A Tale Of Two Cities on the tiny screen. They've stayed back late at work to sneakily use the office printer, because a website had a one-day-free download of Andy Weir's Casey & Andy. Their bookmark is an old Zomato invoice.