Are you a bibliophile, aka one of the many people who love books? Or maybe a bibliomaniac? A bookworm? Someone who has a tsundoku of tsundoku lying around, and yet amasses more? You are nodding your head in agreement? Then I am certainly glad to have you for company!!! And I am sure you will love to have one of these 10 jobs (or more of them, if you could!)
So when I started looking for a listing of book characters whose jobs I wish I had for a Top Ten list, I kept circling around a central theme – books!! So I decided to stay with that and list those with a twist. Some of these are jobs we can actually have while others are just ones we wish we could have… but ..
Book Characters’ Jobs I Would Love to Have
(or People Who Love Books Would Love to Have)
Biographer
Dr. Watson is Sherlock Holmes’ biographer as well as the narrator of the detective’s stories. I sure would not mind having an insight into the brilliant thought processes of the greatest detective ever. And I would be writing as well (which I do enjoy!)
Bookseller/Work in a Bookstore
Like Clay Jannon in Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookshop (a book I loved but have never reviewed yet. Though I mention the book many a time on my blog). San Francisco, a magical bookstore, and then there is more books too in other places in this book about books and bookstores. What is not to love about taking on this role?
Or Darcy Wells in The Library of Lost Things (don’t worry about the name – it is a book store that Darcy works in!) There are so many fascinating connections between Darcy and books in this really beautiful read that I know I would enjoy this.
Bookshop Owner
Who would not enjoy being the owner of a bookshop all your own?? I certainly am thrilled even at the idea of owning one. And two of the characters I mention here both coincidentally get a bookshop handed over (literally, and well literally) to them.
The first one is Property Jones in The Bookshop Girl, a book for readers 7 – 12 years, and up! The Joneses have just won the Great Montgomery Book Emporium in a contest, and it’s every book lover’s dream! Check out my review here and read the book to find out more!
Next up is Hallie in The Little Bookshop of Love Stories. A bookshop you won, secret love letters in books, and dreamy heroes – this book is simply a swoon-fest for bibliophile romantics.
Last one on my list is Monsieur Labisse, the bookshop owner from The Invention of Hugo Cabret.
The Book Thief
Well, I wouldn’t include this in a formal list of jobs but simply had to, rather needed to include it here!! While I am not sure I would be a very good book thief, from the very first time she steals a book, I loved Liesl’s passion for reading and books.
Journalist
Fictional ones like Lois Lane (Superman) and Tintin with his trusty pal Snowy; as well as Cara Landry from The Landry News. All of these are cool journalists indeed, in their own right.
And some of the books I read years ago inspired me for a while to become a reporter. One of these was Danielle Steele’s Message From Nam, and the journalist was Paxton Andrews.
Recent inspiring journalists whose shoes I would like to fill are Nellie Bly and Ida B Wells.
Librarian
So many to choose from here; I would love to be a packhorse librarian like Cussy in The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek. The times were tough but the joy Cussy got and brought to readers who lived in places with no access to books was simply priceless.
Or I would pick Eva from The Book of Lost Names. She is a semi-retired librarian when we first meet her in the book. As we travel with her to her past, we discover more layers to her, including being a skilled forger, and at creating secret codes (that is one of my favorite things about Eva).
And then there is the family that lives in the New York Public Library in The Lions of Fifth Avenue!!
Literary Detective
Thursday Next from The Eyre Affair. I am yet to read this book but oh I am so looking forward to it. Until then, I can dream of being Thursday Next!
Poet
Poets with secret identities are cool. So why not choose to be Amanda Hamilton, the poet in Where the Crawdads Sing. I read this book recently and yet to review it (coming soon here on my blog).
There are other fictional poets as well who I loved but I just cannot recall them now. If you know of any fictional poets, drop those names in the comments and maybe..
Teacher
I have always loved teaching; and it was one of those maybe-I-could-be-a jobs as a child. And the first time I read E. R. Braithwaite’s To Sir With Love found me in tears and even more inspired to be a teacher (or at least aspire to do something like the titular sir in the book).
More recently, I watched the movie Dead Poets Society, and loved Robin Williams’ Mr. Keats. I later read the book as well.
Writer
Frodo and Bilbo Baggins from the Lord of the Rings. Yes they were Hobbits, adventurers, and totally lovable people. But they were also writers! And I would love to travel middle earth (minus the journey to Mordor, of course) and write about my travels. Talk about two birds with one stone. And I would live in those beautiful homes in a most wonderful place.
And of course, there is Jo March. Little Women is one of my favorite reads ever, and Jo one of my favorite characters from books. I love how she never gave up her dream of writing.
Some Bookish Jobs For People Who Love Books
If you reached this post because you were looking for a list of jobs for bibliophiles, then here is one (a list, I mean) for you.
Note that this is just a few of the possible jobs and there are certainly many more. These are just the ones I found totally interesting. (skipping the ones I mentioned above already, like bookseller or librarian)
Bibliotherapist
A bibliotherapist uses the power of books to heal. Bibliotherapy is defined as a therapeutic approach using books, storytelling, or reading specific texts to help in the treatment of patients suffering from mental health illnesses or emotional disturbances.
I have always believed that books are magical, powerful, and definitely have helped me get over and get through tough times.
Based on what I read so far, there seem to be some credentials one can/needs to(? – I am still researching this) earn to become a bibliotherapist.
Book Blogger/Reviewer
Maybe this is part of my job description already; but since it does not really pay me anything (yet – what can I say? Hope springs eternal!), for now it is just a passion.
There are so many resources for this out there. For example, you could check out Jo Linsdell’s Ultimate Guide for Book Bloggers. Jo comes up with ideas that continually inspire me.
Book Conservator
From wikipedia: The conservation and restoration of books, manuscripts, documents and ephemera is an activity dedicated to the preservation and protection of items of historical and personal value made primarily from paper, parchment, and leather.
So a book conservator’s job is crucial and critical; and this means becoming one requires specialized degrees, depending on the specific type of book conservation. Googling ‘how to become a book conservator’ returns a few options you can pick and choose from if this interests you!
Dramaturg
Maybe you are the person who notices that the costumes worn in the historical play were from a wrong time period; or that they had not yet invented a particular item a character used at that time. Or you realize that character xyz hated the color purple so he or she would never wear that purple dress the theatre’s costume designer just picked out. Then maybe you can be a dramaturg.
For a dramaturg is a sort of a literary consultant for plays, films and such. Freedictionary states that a dramaturg (or dramaturge) is
A person who is employed by a theatrical or opera company to assist in researching, selecting, adapting, or interpreting scripts or libretti.
Read more about the dramaturg at theatrenerds
Literary Tour Guide
I always make it a point to include a few literary highlights or tour stops when we travel. Sometimes, it is a weird detour and at other times, right along our routes; but it is always delightful. I know I want to take the Hitchcock Tour right here in San Francisco some day. I recall seeing it years ago and not sure if they still offer it. If they don’t, I can do some research and become one!
So anyway, simply put, literary tour guides offer literary tours, literally!
A few more options
These are other bookish jobs I know I can see myself or other people who love books enjoying.
- Archivist
- Editor
- Literary Agent
- Proofreader
- Publisher
References and additional reading
- 7 Dream Jobs for Book-Lovers (Penguin)
- 28 Jobs for Book Lovers of All Shapes and Sizes (BookRiot)
- 17 Cool Jobs for Book Lovers (Wisebread.com)
Still Thinking?
Then check out one of these fun quizzes to find out your bookish job.
- What Should Your Bookish Job Be (Barnes and Noble)
- More generic quiz but still fun – What Career Should You Actually Have? (Buzzfeed) According to this quiz, I should be a professor
- Find Your Ideal Bookish Career (On author Norma Hinken’s website)
And Now, the End of This Post
Dear reader, what about you? What fictional character’s job has appealed to you (does not have to be a bookish one!)? Or do you have any career recommendations for people who love books?
And what about the featured books today? Are any of them among your favorites (or maybe not at all)? Do let me know. I would love to hear your thoughts on the books, the post, and anything else you would love to share.
I can totally see you as a professor! I think I could have great fun in several of these careers. But bibliotherapist (and/or cinematherapist) seems like the most fun possibility. I think book blogging could be a lot more fun if the book bloggers discussed the books in comments on each other’s blogs as they read.
I did want to be a teacher for the longest..For me, literary tour guide would combine my love of books and travel in one job
When I was growing up, I always wanted to be a librarian! I remember when we were getting a new library the sold bricks as a fundraiser and then lined them up for the front path. I loved that little library! Will I never became a librarian but I have written (never published) a few poems. I also thought I would like to write a book of my poems and add some of my mom’s poems in with mine. There may still be time for that!
You should write that book of your poems as they are all so heartfelt and beautiful
I am a book lover and I have to say I have held a few of these jobs in my lifetime.
That is so cool Brenda..
Poet was on my list, too!
I would have loved to become a journalist if the market for that job hadn’t collapsed.
I’d never heard of being a bibliotherapist before. That job sounds amazing.
And I think that book bloggers and reviewers should be able to make a living doing that work. Getting the word out about new (and older) books is such an important part of the publishing process. If only there were a way for us to be fairly compensated for our work! 🙂
My post: https://lydiaschoch.com/top-ten-tuesday-characters-whose-job-i-wish-i-had/
I know, right?
Such a fun post! I had wanted to be a journalist when I was in high school, but got a degree in Marketing instead. I volunteered in high school at our local library. They hired me after high school and worked there for a couple of years. Best job ever! I had he Dewey decimal system memorized. 🙂
That is cool about memorizing the Dewey system 🙂
I have a lot of fun reading this post and I am going to share this with my friends who is a book lover and wanted to get a job which is related to his hobby. Thank you!
thanks so much Gervin.. glad you enjoyed this post
All growing up I always wanted to be a librarian! I’ve always loved reading and books! My dad is a doctor of philosophy and has written SEVERAL books. I am about a fourth of the way through writing one! But my passion has been blogging recently!
That is so cool about your dad.. And I would love to read the book once you write yours. I hope I can work towards that dream as well
These are great lists of jobs. I have never there were so many options.
thanks Sonia
All amazing options for those who love books. I’m a teacher and have so many books. Good thing my students can enjoy them too!
agree.. I am glad for these options as well for all the young ones who love books
As a child growing up, I had a love for journalism but never really pursue it. As someone who loves reading, I can definitely see myself in many of these roles but will stick to writing for now. 😉
And I love reading your posts..
Fun and thought-provoking post! I worked in a bookstore – best and worst decision of my life! I was great at this but, frankly, just traded in my paycheck each month for books. Working in the library aggravated me…too people-y and they wanted you to do stuff for them (and not be reading…)
Ha ha.. I imagine I would end up doing that too.. for both the book shop and the library.. so better to be a book shop owner then 🙂
I’m lazy, I want the books but not the jobs 😉
🙂 well, that is true for me too – the lazy part..
Wow there is so much options. My husband loves books, he’s an author too, and somehow I got the habit of reading books.
That is great to know.. what books has he written? Would love to check those out too..
I think the best job for a book lover is to be a retired billionaire. You can do what you want and still purchase all the books you can read.
LOL! Now how to get to be a retired billionaire? Any ideas?
I could own my own book shop, though I would want it to look amazing like those on movies with hidden sections and looks like magic. Great post.
🙂 And I would spend all the time reading in that book shop
The Book Thief is one of my favourite books. A fantastic read. I think it would be interesting having my own books shop. Although I can´t complain about my current job as a teacher as I never get bored.
Thank you! My way of teaching is now through teaching my kids.. (now teens)
If I could get paid for reading, then that would be a dream.
oh yes, me too Nadene, me too!!
Glad to see a shoutout for my career here! Contrary to popular belief we don’t read books all day, but I signed on for a project this year that allows me to read books on the clock about 15 hours a week! Now, during the pandemic times I would have to do some off the clock, and I still am, both for work and fun…
Of course! I truly think I would love being a librarian too…
What a great list of jobs! These would all be nice for those who enjoy books.
definitely dream jobs for bibliophiles
This is a really great list of jobs. I have a few friends that love books and will definitely pass this along to them.
thanks much Ashley..
Great post, never worked in any of them but love books
all dream jobs for me too!
Oh what a dream to work with books all day!
right? !!
What a comprehensive list!
🙂 thanks Deb (Still playing catch up on commenting!!)
I am with DJ, just give me the books.
You are such a wonderful reader of books that you should do that always..
I would love to own a bookshop.
🙂
This is such a fun post. I love the sound of Bibliotherapist and I feel like I really need one.
I get what you are saying Gee.. (and responding to comments in a better late than never so I can catch up and ensure I complete the comment for comment challenge:-))