Are You a Book Pusher?

I define a book pusher as someone who, after reading an amazing book, can't help but try to convince everyone they have ever met to read said book.

I think most avid readers are book pushers, starting many sentences with "You HAVE to read {insert awesome title here}."

While, in essence, book blogging is just another form of book pushing, I actually don't consider myself a book pusher. Weird, right?

While I will promote a favorite book online until my fingers bleed, I'm kind of a real life book pushing failure. I'm so used to the people around me strongly disliking books, that when I come across someone actually wanting my suggestions I, well, suck.

For instance: my aunt-in-law (or something to that effect) always asks me if I've read anything good lately. I immediately freeze, try to think of something she might enjoy, mind completely blanking and claim that I have not. Only once have I ever managed to spit out the title of a book (The Passage) which she said she was going to get from the library immediately. Did I ever ask her if she did? Did I ask her if she liked it? No, of course not. I immediately forget the conversation until it happens again - roughly about once a month. It's really quite pathetic.

On other occasions, I meet friends of friends who know I'm a book blogger. They actively search me out for recommendations. I manage to have the forethought to ask what types of books they like. Turns out, their descriptions aren't on the same page as mine.

More examples: Woman says she likes trashy books. I spout off a few romance author names to get a feel of what she means by this. She looks at me in horror. She meant authors like Janet Evanovich. Um, ok. I try to suggest other books but now my credibility has been completely shot. How could I think she liked romance? In the end, I suggest the newest Stephanie Plum book. She didn't know it was out, but honestly, how much help was I? She would have read that one on her own eventually.

Another example: Woman asks for new release suggestions. She's in law enforcement and Blood Oath has just come out. She claims she doesn't like vampires, but liked Twilight. Is it like Twilight? I stare dumbfounded for a minute, unable to come up with any other suggestions off the top of my head. Finally, I just tell her it is like Twilight and to give it a try. Yeah, I'm sure that worked out well.

I have a tendency to be rather uncomfortable in spur-of-the-moment, right-off-the-top-of-your-head situations. It's why I stay away from public speaking. It's why I've always preferred emailing or texting to actually phone conversations. And it's why my book pushing abilities only shine while blogging. I need those extra few minutes, or even seconds, to collect my thoughts and figure out exactly what I want to say. I envy those who can immediately answer a question sounding intelligent and normal.

So, are you a book pusher in real life or just online like me? Do you have any stories about in person recommendations that'll make me look a little less sad?