I was on the couch reading and finished up a book. I took out my bookmark and set it down on the coffee table. My mom said “What number was that?” and I said, 175.
My BIL was also there and said “What is 175?”
I said as in 175th book I have finished this year.
He scoffed really loudly and said “Uh, no, you counted wrong.”
I said no, I’ve read 175.
He said no, that’s four books a week. There is no way I can read four books a week and I must be lying. That I was making up a number for glout (?). I shrugged because I really don’t care what he thinks.
He started saying “prove it” and demanding that I show him my list of books. I handed him my phone with my Goodreads.
He started saying “You aren’t actually reading 175 REAL books. Talk to me when you’re actually reading books with substance and not just brain candy trashy smut beach reads.”
I think he said that because one of the books I read was literally called Beach Read, lol. Mind you it was one of 5 total romances I read because I don’t really enjoy them. I read a little bit of everything last year. I don’t really like fantasy or dystopias or science fiction but I read a few of those too. I just like to read.
Anyway I was annoyed (and I could see my mom rolling her eyes too) and I said “Ok well, I wasn’t actually talking to you in the first place. My mom spoke to me directly. Nobody asked you.”
He looked at me for like 15 seconds with this pissed off look and then left. Probably an hour later my sister came stomping by with my niece and asked me what my problem was and why I was being so rude to BIL. I said he gets what he gives. She said that if I’m having a conversation in a public place in the house then anyone has the right to join in and if I don’t like it, talk in private. AITA?
NAL
Your sister is right, he has the right to join a conversation. Too bad, he contributed as an asshole and then couldn’t take pushback and went running to his wife like a good asshole.
(On Reddit, NAL = not a lawyer.)
You’re fine, bil and sister really need to calm down. Reading is reading and just cause he got his little feelings hurt doesn’t mean you’re wrong.
Also even if you just read romance smut, it’s still more reading than he probably does ever.
NTA
Edit: spelling error.
NTA, he’s just mad that he can’t read more than a cereal box.
👆🏻👆🏻👆🏻
He may have the right to join into the pleasant conversation, but he doesn’t have the right to be a judgmental, unpleasant person about it and be rude.
NTA.
>That I was making up a number for glout (?).
Clout, probably.
>She said that if I’m having a conversation in a public place in the house then anyone has the right to join in
“He has the right to express his opinion, just as I have the right to dismiss it.”
> Clout, probably
Kinda surprised someone who reads so much didn’t make that connection….
That’s what I thought! How do you read 175 books and not know the word “clout”?
i can’t think of the last time i’ve seen the word “clout” in a book. i pretty much only see it used on social media, which if OP is reading often, she probably isn’t spending that much time on
Or to put another way. He called you a liar then when you proved him wrong he attempted to belittle your achievement. It might have been a bit rude but he had it coming NTA
NTA.
Remember, “Fuck off” is a complete sentence — and one he deserved to hear.
NTA. He ran to “mommy” for protection from the big bad book reader. What a tool
NTA.
You could immediately tell by his attitude he didn’t read one book.
Also as a romance reader, fuck him. It requires the same level of commitment.
Jane eyre, that is romance and just as long and detailed as anything he might suggest was serious read
Ignore him. And your sister.