Would you ever lie to impress a date? Our recent survey into the UK’s reading habits revealed that many of us would lie about having read a book to get on a date’s good side. Here’s your bluffer’s guide to 5 of the most lied about books
Here at Mgadt, we believe that the key to online dating success is being yourself. But, we do understand that it can be tempting to tell a little white lie or two when you’re trying to impress. In our recent survey into the UK’s romantic reading habits, we discovered that there are 5 books that people are most likely to have lied about having read in order to score a date: Harry Potter, Fifty Shades of Grey, The Bible, War and Peace, and The Great Gatsby. So, to save your blushes, we’ve crafted the perfect bluffer’s guide to the most lied about books. You’re welcome.
The Harry Potter Series
The plot:
An orphan with extraordinary magical powers teams up with friends at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft & Wizardry to defeat the evil wizard that murdered his parents.
The key characters:
Harry Potter – the eponymous ‘boy who lived’, a brave and enterprising wizard who leads the charge against Voldemort
Ron Weasley – Harry’s best friend, loyal Ron comes from a long-line of wizards and is often underestimated
Hermione Granger – Harry’s other best friend, Hermione is academically gifted, brilliant and brave
Albus Dumbledore – the headmaster of Hogwarts, a great wizard and a mentor to Harry
Voldemort – ‘He who shall not be named’, a wizard who has fully embraced evil and is intent on world domination
Key conversation starter:
Which Hogwarts house would you belong to?
(Gryffindor – brave, Slytherin – sneaky, Ravenclaw – clever, Hufflepuff – loyal)
Fifty Shades of Grey
The plot:
A naïve student falls for a suave billionaire with a dark secret – and very particular tastes!
The key characters:
Anastasia Steele – a shy student who finds herself drawn into the exotic world of Christian Grey
Christian Grey – a young, handsome and rich businessman with a painful past and a passion for BDSM
Key conversation starter:
What would you have in your Red Room?
The Bible
The plot:
This religious text – divided into Old and New Testaments – is a collection of books accepted by Christians to be based on the word of God
The key characters:
Jesus Christ – a Jewish preacher and religious leader believed by Christians to be the son of God with the ability to perform miracles
Moses – a prophet who led the enslaved Israelites to freedom and received the Ten Commandments – principles central to the Christian faith
Noah – a man chosen by God to prepare an ark, big enough to house his family and certain animals, in order to guarantee the continuation of life after a great flood
Key conversation starter:
Which gospel do you turn to most often?
War and Peace
The plot:
During the Napoleonic Wars, the bright, young things of Russian society juggle familial obligations and complex romantic relationships amid the increasing threat of war.
The key characters:
Pierre Bezukhov –a socially-awkward illegitimate son with a large fortune that has made him one of Russia’s most eligible bachelors
Natasha Rostova – A lively, romantic beauty who enchants everyone she meets
Andrei Bolkonsky – The intelligent, disciplined and ambitious son of a retired military commander who prioritises his head over his heart
Key conversation starter:
Are you a passionate Pierre or a proud Andrei?
The Great Gatsby
The plot:
A young writer is drawn in to the impossibly glamorous world of elusive millionaire Jay Gatsby and his erstwhile lover Daisy Buchanan
The key characters:
Jay Gatsby – a mysterious millionaire with a hidden past who is in love with the idea of Daisy Buchanan
Daisy Buchanan – an enigmatic, beautiful married woman who has shared a past with Jay Gatsby
Nick Carraway – the novel’s narrator and an everyman drawn into the mysterious world of Gatsby
Key conversation starter:
Is there a time in your past that you’d like to relive?
