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How do you even figure out what they're reading? Vivien Send a noteboard - 12/09/2011 05:44:30 AM
If they're reading the book is open so the cover isn't visible. It just seems to be rude to go out of your way to find out information about a stranger. It's probably because when I'm in this situation it's on a NYC subway and just striking up conversation with a stranger in the middle of your commute is kind of weird. Well, I have made small talk if the situation calls for it but I wouldn't interrupt someone reading.

Ok there was one time I was sitting down in a subway car that's only half full (most seats were taken, but almost no one was standing) and I noticed that a man was reading a really fat paperback. I found myself thinking, wow, that's a big book, that looks like it could be a wheel of time paperback. Then I got a glimpse of the cover/binding, and it was! [I didn't say anything]



or is it just weird?

i was on holiday and saw a guy reading well worn copies of shadows rising and then fires of heaven, so obviously a fan of wheel of time that i could probably have made a passing "oh i like that book too" but i didn't because in the back of my head i was thinking that he would think, what a weirdo

now if it was the other way around i'd probably embrace it, i come on a book forum i enjoy discussing the finer details of fantasy epic, but would he be of a similar disposition? it wasn't worth the risk of him forcing a smile, humouring me with small talk and then dismissing me with a slight air of embarrassment and then enduring a week of passing each other around the pool and doing that raised eyebrow nod of acknowledgment to each other

and yet and yet

so what's your opinion? ever made an obvious attempt at conversation with a person you see reading something you've read? and this isn't like when you're both in a book shop or a similar established ground for literary discourse. this is where you've crossed the expanse of a park or made for someone where they've noticed your approach and regarded you with wary anxiety as you've out of nowhere made an uninvited beeline for their reading solitude. were you stone walled or did you make a new friend? or do you have a more subtle tactic of perhaps edging closer, leaning over and being like...don't you just hate <insert character name> too?

similarly have you ever been received such attentions, how was the experience?

oh and if you're recently back from oludeniz in turkey, stayed at the belcahan hotel and read robert jordan i'm talking about you, i was reading robin hobb

on a tangent, the farseer and liveship trilogies still might be my favourite six fantasy books of all time. i reread them after maybe 6 or 8 years and i did think that my favourable memory of them may have been tinged by nostalgia, but they really weren't they truly are a great piece of work
This message last edited by Vivien on 12/09/2011 at 05:45:31 AM
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does seeing someone reading a book you like justify striking up a conversation - 10/09/2011 08:21:28 PM 1294 Views
I keep wanting to, but I never do - 10/09/2011 11:07:07 PM 1052 Views
take the plunge! - 11/09/2011 10:07:45 AM 1234 Views
Only if you fancy them and are using it as an excuse to chat them up. *NM* - 10/09/2011 11:44:07 PM 420 Views
with ulterior motives? - 11/09/2011 10:10:46 AM 892 Views
I wouldn't interuppt someone while they are reading. - 11/09/2011 03:16:50 AM 1157 Views
that's worse surely! - 11/09/2011 10:13:15 AM 1070 Views
not to me. - 11/09/2011 05:59:19 PM 949 Views
it is pretty easy tell if they would rather just be reading - 12/09/2011 03:13:30 PM 996 Views
I guess my thing is I just hate to be interrupted and don't want to do it to someone else - 12/09/2011 04:28:30 PM 1048 Views
you get that immersed even in public area? - 12/09/2011 06:52:54 PM 898 Views
Usually. If it's not a situation where I CAN, I just won't read. - 12/09/2011 07:23:48 PM 1094 Views
Did you not like the other trilogy? - 11/09/2011 03:36:18 AM 1171 Views
erm, not as much - 11/09/2011 10:19:03 AM 985 Views
I used to be timid. Now I don't care and will happily interrupt. - 11/09/2011 07:42:35 AM 1057 Views
Yeah, exactly - 11/09/2011 07:53:48 AM 1066 Views
it's the "i will probably never see again" i can't get my head around - 11/09/2011 10:21:45 AM 966 Views
I guess that depends on how you go about it - 12/09/2011 03:16:38 PM 874 Views
That's a nice way of saying "I'm antisociably shy." - 13/09/2011 09:43:17 AM 1015 Views
no i meant the opposite - 13/09/2011 02:20:48 PM 927 Views
Answers to questions asked. - 11/09/2011 03:34:32 PM 992 Views
i asked because i wondered how many people would welcome it or view it as an intrusion - 13/09/2011 02:25:32 PM 984 Views
I love talking to perfect strangers - 15/09/2011 05:34:27 PM 1330 Views
I have just gone up to someone and said "good choice in book" - 11/09/2011 04:49:21 PM 976 Views
I can't resist that. I will always say something. Many people have done the same with me - 11/09/2011 06:10:36 PM 1086 Views
are a small town girl? - 13/09/2011 02:30:46 PM 1083 Views
How do you even figure out what they're reading? - 12/09/2011 05:44:30 AM 1039 Views
NYC is wierd *NM* - 12/09/2011 03:17:35 PM 398 Views
I can usually tell what people are reading with a glance. - 15/09/2011 01:49:06 AM 1249 Views
Thats why I am glad I don't live in NYC - 15/09/2011 05:41:47 PM 1156 Views
NYC really is a concrete 'jungle' - 15/09/2011 09:41:59 PM 1058 Views
Re: No. - 12/09/2011 02:51:40 PM 1033 Views
I stirke up conversation with strangers all the time - 12/09/2011 03:12:09 PM 983 Views
exactly! - 15/09/2011 05:46:57 PM 1113 Views
It depends on the situation - 12/09/2011 07:26:02 PM 973 Views
I think so, but it isn't always appreciated. - 15/09/2011 03:20:07 AM 1096 Views

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