Redefining “Booktrovert”

ByD'Ann Mateer
15 Comments

With all the “bookish” paraphernalia that has arisen in the past few years, one of the shirts I’ve long wanted to order is: 

From Piper and Ivy

I’ve latched onto the term. I decided it aptly described me as an introvert who reads. But the other day, I looked up the definition as others understand it. 

From Amazon

Mind you, this is not an actual dictionary word. But this definition is the one bandied about in the culture of readers: someone who prefers the company of fictional characters to real people. 

Of course, I laughed the first time I read it. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized it was not what I had been thinking when I pegged myself as a booktrovert. 

I am a classic introvert. I prefer people one-on-one or in small groups. I hate chit-chat. I prefer more substantial conversations. Lots of people—whether all at one time or smaller groups over a short time—exhaust me. I have to refuel. 

Now, introverts tend to refuel alone. But this doesn’t look the same for everyone. For some, it’s napping. For some, it’s simply quietness. For some, it involves movies or binge-watching TV. For my husband, refueling often involves watching baseball games. And reading. 

Do you see where this is going? 

I love to read. I love story. I love learning about new locations and time periods. But I don’t prefer fictional characters to real people, even if they don’t drain me like real people do! If I did prefer fictional characters, I would not be a life pleasing to God. For God has called me to love flesh-and-blood people the way He does. And this means giving preference to time in the company of others. 

Reading, however, does help me to love people better because: 

  1. Reading about characters whose experiences are different from mine helps me relate to people I might not normally understand. 
  2. Reading to refuel helps me have the energy to interact in meaningful ways the next time I am with people.  

Do I still want the Booktrovert shirt (the cute, first one)? Yes. I love the term and believe it truly applies. But I would hate for anyone to get the wrong idea and think I prefer fictional people to the real ones, the people Jesus died and rose to save from sin and fill with new life. 

Maybe I need to buy the shirt and only wear it at home, when I’m truly “booktroverting.” 

Do you consider yourself a booktrovert in either sense of the definition? I’d love to hear what you think! 

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Inspired by novelist Eugenia Price, D’Ann’s dream of writing historical fiction with an element of faith began in middle school, though her serious drive toward publication took a bit longer. D’Ann is the author of four historical novels and one novella, as well as a contemporary short stories in a compilation volume. D’Ann and her husband of 30 years can be found in Austin, TX when they aren’t touring historic sites or visiting their grown children.

15 Comments

  1. I am 100% with you. I am an introvert who loves people, but I love them in small doses and in meaningful interactions. I too value books because interacting with characters can help me understand characters’ points of view. (Have you met Pepper Basham’s Grace from the Freddie and Grace books who broadens her worldview by learning to understand how characters in books deal with their situations in life?) Books also help me refuel when I need alone time. And I too desire to honor my heavenly Father by valuing people above books (even when characters are easier to deal with). So no t-shirt for me, but I love your version of the concept!

  2. I’m 100% a booktrovert. I love to chatter one on one or up to three. But then enough is enough and I’m nose in a book or walking outside with an audiobook in my ear.. Without a book, characters live in my head and have their own conversations going on.

  3. I’ll join you in your definition, D’Ann. I’m very much an introvert who enjoys books. There’s another shirt saying that I like along this vein – “Books. Helping introverts avoid conversation since 1494.” I’m going to have to buy one of those someday. 🙂

  4. I’m an extravert (10 out of 10 on that scale). I like the word “booktrovert” and would never think it meant an introvert who loves books. It could just as easily be an extravert who loves books (even though there is that pesky “a” instead of an “o”). Anyway, I am energized by lots of people, but I still need my alone time with books. Are there some fictional characters who I enjoy more than some real people? Well, yes. To be honest, there are. LOL! Maybe I need that shirt to wear in those moments when I really don’t want to be around anybody else. Like a warning sign. Ha!

    1. Ha! I love that you didn’t immediately think of an introvert and books. Just goes to show we all see with our own filters! Yes, that’s kind of how I was thinking of it, too. Like a warning sign. 🙂

  6. 100 per cent booktovert. Loved the shirts. I enjoy people and try yo interact when I am around them. I am more of a loner since my twin sister went home to be with Jesus.

    1. I’m so sorry your twin is no longer on this earth. I imagine that is really hard. But I’m glad you work to interact with others even while you love your books!

  7. I love how you have thought through this biblically and brought our thinking back to the two greatest commandments-loving God and loving others
    Thank you for sharing!

  8. Yes, I agree. I am definitely an introvert who loves to read books. I always have one with me. While I love fictional characters–I do love to be with family members, church members, and sometimes work colleagues.
    What about the term “bibliophile”? Where does it fit in with booktrovert?

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