As an avid audiobook listener , I am a hidden “reader”. Because I listen with earbuds no one knows I am “reading,” so they feel totally free to start a conversation. Sometimes, I don’t even realize that someone has asked me a question. I want to wear a “DO NOT DISTURB, I AM LISTENING TO A BOOK!” sign. I’m sure would-be-conversationalists think I am either hard of hearing or very rude.
I love this, and wish I had more reader snooping opportunities as well! The pros and cons of working from home, I suppose! I just finished the third in Richard Osman's Thursday Murder Club series, and now I'm trying to assuage some of my classics guilt by reading Anna Karenina. I've long been a Dostoevsky fan, but never read any Tolstoy, and honestly, I'm adoring it.
I adored “Cloud Cuckoo Land”. I kept not picking it up because I confused it with “Cloud Atlas,” which I had already read.
Lately I have been engrossing myself in Elena Ferrante’s Neopolitan quartet. I’ve read the first two books now. The second book lagged for me a bit in parts but I am loving the way Ferrante brings the interior and exterior worlds of her character to life.
When I was on my honeymoon sixteen years ago in Italy, I was laying by the pool at my hotel reading Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain. A man lounging next to me asked how I was liking the book. He had read it and loved it, and he was a fan of No Reservations. He and his wife were in Italy on holiday from London. We had a brief chat and then went back to enjoying the bright, hot sun. I will never forget that conversation because it felt like it embodied the spirit of Bourdain, what with his love of travel and meeting random people and connecting with them over simple things.
If you were to spy on what I was reading right now, you'd find me halfway through The Castaways by Elin Hilderbrand, which I am desperately trying to finish before starting The Perfect Couple so that I can have read the book before the show starts next week! These are my summer books, though, and lately I've been longing for something more like Piglet by Lottie Hazell, which I loved for its depth and darkness. If you have anything to recommend, I'm all ears! And eyes! ;-)
Oh, I just love that anecdote. Embodying the spirit of Bourdain indeed! I didn't know Perfect Couple was going to be a show; the book was so breezy and quick for me! Did you read Rufi Thorpe's Margot's Got Money Problems? I haven't read Piglet, but the cover compels me every time I see it!
I just returned from 29 days on the road in four different locales. We are partners in crime. I am always obsessed with what other people are reading and I never care what's on their kindle. Good tip re: smut on the Kindle, I'm stealing that.
I'm doing a slow read of War & Peace this year--a chapter a day reading aloud with my husband--and we leave the book out on our coffee table. So it's not quite going to land me an in-person conversation out of the house, but it's certainly sparked chatter when we're hosting. I just love book people.
I will bend my body like a contortionist or slyly wander over or move seats on public transportation in order to read the title of a book a stranger is reading. Is there something wrong with me? Am I a book voyeur? Yes. If the book is one I have read, it's really hard to stop myself from striking up a conversation with the person.
I love my kindle but I agree that I miss the publicness of a physical book. I just finished Sandwich, and it is SO GOOD. I loved her last book, too. Today I'm starting Lisa See's The Island of Sea Women and the first couple of chapters at least are great.
Ah, this makes we want to stash away my Kindle and lean into all my physical copies! I so agree that books are the best conversation starters and I haven't had a book snoop chat in a while...
Also this made me laugh, because so true: "and they shouldn’t, because, in my case, it’s usually smut."
ha!! the kindle is so useful. I've been trying to pick up more physical books too, for various reasons, and it's such a pleasure to have that sensory experience.
I love the magic that happens with readers and books out in the wild! While I was visiting a bookstore bar in Asheville this summer I had a great conversation with another reader as we both pulled copies of Joan Didion. We talk Didion, Nora Ephron, and I pulled out the book I was currently reading (I'm Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself) to recommend - there's nothing better than connecting with book people, agreed, the best people!
Right now I'm reading Katherine Heiny's book of stories, Single, Carefree, Mellow and I would absolutely recommend, her writing is Ephron-esque and her book Early Morning Riser is one of my all-time favorites.
Thao, I adored Banyan Moon so much and am a big fan of your writing, this piece included! Seeing what people are reading and vice versa is indeed such a source of connection. I’m not on the receiving end much as a fellow Kindle gal but it’s happened a handful of times anyway.
I always love glimpsing what others are reading. The Kindle has changed my travel reading in that I can take so many more books! I'm currently reading "All the Colors of the Dark" on Kindle as well as "The Priory of the Orange Tree" in physical format.
I loved BOTH of those books so much; my husband is reading the Chris Whitaker now and he seems to be really engrossed too. Kudos to you (and your wrists) for reading Priory in physical format. That one's HUGE!
As an avid audiobook listener , I am a hidden “reader”. Because I listen with earbuds no one knows I am “reading,” so they feel totally free to start a conversation. Sometimes, I don’t even realize that someone has asked me a question. I want to wear a “DO NOT DISTURB, I AM LISTENING TO A BOOK!” sign. I’m sure would-be-conversationalists think I am either hard of hearing or very rude.
That sign sounds so useful!
I love this, and wish I had more reader snooping opportunities as well! The pros and cons of working from home, I suppose! I just finished the third in Richard Osman's Thursday Murder Club series, and now I'm trying to assuage some of my classics guilt by reading Anna Karenina. I've long been a Dostoevsky fan, but never read any Tolstoy, and honestly, I'm adoring it.
You know, I don't think I've read Tolstoy either! But I agree about Dostoevsky. I might have to assuage some of my classics guilt too :)
Honestly it looks so dense but it's been much smoother and more enjoyable sailing than I expected. Quite different from Dostoevsky, actually.
I adored “Cloud Cuckoo Land”. I kept not picking it up because I confused it with “Cloud Atlas,” which I had already read.
Lately I have been engrossing myself in Elena Ferrante’s Neopolitan quartet. I’ve read the first two books now. The second book lagged for me a bit in parts but I am loving the way Ferrante brings the interior and exterior worlds of her character to life.
I felt a similar reluctance to pick up CCL! Ooh, yes, I read the first, but never finished the quartet! I'll have to add it to the list.
When I was on my honeymoon sixteen years ago in Italy, I was laying by the pool at my hotel reading Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain. A man lounging next to me asked how I was liking the book. He had read it and loved it, and he was a fan of No Reservations. He and his wife were in Italy on holiday from London. We had a brief chat and then went back to enjoying the bright, hot sun. I will never forget that conversation because it felt like it embodied the spirit of Bourdain, what with his love of travel and meeting random people and connecting with them over simple things.
If you were to spy on what I was reading right now, you'd find me halfway through The Castaways by Elin Hilderbrand, which I am desperately trying to finish before starting The Perfect Couple so that I can have read the book before the show starts next week! These are my summer books, though, and lately I've been longing for something more like Piglet by Lottie Hazell, which I loved for its depth and darkness. If you have anything to recommend, I'm all ears! And eyes! ;-)
Oh, I just love that anecdote. Embodying the spirit of Bourdain indeed! I didn't know Perfect Couple was going to be a show; the book was so breezy and quick for me! Did you read Rufi Thorpe's Margot's Got Money Problems? I haven't read Piglet, but the cover compels me every time I see it!
I have not read that but will look it up!
I just returned from 29 days on the road in four different locales. We are partners in crime. I am always obsessed with what other people are reading and I never care what's on their kindle. Good tip re: smut on the Kindle, I'm stealing that.
Hope the homecoming was a nice one! :)
I'm doing a slow read of War & Peace this year--a chapter a day reading aloud with my husband--and we leave the book out on our coffee table. So it's not quite going to land me an in-person conversation out of the house, but it's certainly sparked chatter when we're hosting. I just love book people.
That is so romantic! I think there’s also something intimate and lovely about doing a buddy read with a partner.
I will bend my body like a contortionist or slyly wander over or move seats on public transportation in order to read the title of a book a stranger is reading. Is there something wrong with me? Am I a book voyeur? Yes. If the book is one I have read, it's really hard to stop myself from striking up a conversation with the person.
There is NOTHING wrong with you! :)
I love my kindle but I agree that I miss the publicness of a physical book. I just finished Sandwich, and it is SO GOOD. I loved her last book, too. Today I'm starting Lisa See's The Island of Sea Women and the first couple of chapters at least are great.
Catherine Newman is a GIFT! Happy reading, Victoria!!
Ah, this makes we want to stash away my Kindle and lean into all my physical copies! I so agree that books are the best conversation starters and I haven't had a book snoop chat in a while...
Also this made me laugh, because so true: "and they shouldn’t, because, in my case, it’s usually smut."
ha!! the kindle is so useful. I've been trying to pick up more physical books too, for various reasons, and it's such a pleasure to have that sensory experience.
I love the magic that happens with readers and books out in the wild! While I was visiting a bookstore bar in Asheville this summer I had a great conversation with another reader as we both pulled copies of Joan Didion. We talk Didion, Nora Ephron, and I pulled out the book I was currently reading (I'm Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself) to recommend - there's nothing better than connecting with book people, agreed, the best people!
Right now I'm reading Katherine Heiny's book of stories, Single, Carefree, Mellow and I would absolutely recommend, her writing is Ephron-esque and her book Early Morning Riser is one of my all-time favorites.
Oh thank you so much for the recommendation. I love Ephron too; will have to check out Heiny's book!
Thao, I adored Banyan Moon so much and am a big fan of your writing, this piece included! Seeing what people are reading and vice versa is indeed such a source of connection. I’m not on the receiving end much as a fellow Kindle gal but it’s happened a handful of times anyway.
This means so much, Ramya, thank you!
I always love glimpsing what others are reading. The Kindle has changed my travel reading in that I can take so many more books! I'm currently reading "All the Colors of the Dark" on Kindle as well as "The Priory of the Orange Tree" in physical format.
I loved BOTH of those books so much; my husband is reading the Chris Whitaker now and he seems to be really engrossed too. Kudos to you (and your wrists) for reading Priory in physical format. That one's HUGE!
Anthony Doerr