3. A book that was being read by a stranger in a public place

[Alice]

This means I have to go outside? Oh poo....

[Jacqueline]

Whilst sitting on a sun lounge beside a pool in Fiji recently I spied the book the woman next to me was reading and I decided that I would read it too.
What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty

[poshpenny]

I have seen two people reading books I could make out on busses recently. Apparently Stephen King is really popular here at the moment.

The Gunslinger
Different Seasons

[Nikky]

Someone came into my workplace reading the luckiest girl alive. That's what I chose to read for this one

[poshpenny]

I just saw some guy reading Thousand Cranes by Yasunari Kawabata

[Chandie]

I've been very meh on picking up A Man Called Ove even though there are raves on here about it.

I was on a plane this weekend and two people were reading A Man Called Ove. I think it's the universe telling me to just read the damn book.

[Sandra]

I saw someone reading Wizard's First Rule. I have read the first 8 books in the series... would it be cheating for me to read the 9th book for the challenge?

[Tara]

I think it's a grey area. Personally I'd just set that one aside for now (you have over a year!) and if I didn't see any others that were of interest then I'd count it

[Sandra]

Tara wrote: "I think it's a grey area. Personally I'd just set that one aside for now (you have over a year!) and if I didn't see any others that were of interest then I'd count it"

Thanks for the input! :)

[Susan]

I take public transportation and read every single day on it. (That's actually why I take the train versus driving!) I rarely see anyone reading a book but have been asked on multiple occasions what I'm reading and if I like it. Because, the one thing someone with their nose in a Nook/book wants is to be interrupted! lol!

I like the idea of using Instagram or other internet sources to track down a book. I also like the "oh you like to read? my friend just read .......fill in the blank" as a source. I don't know their friend!

[Laura]

There's a really funny Instagram account called hotdudesreading - you can't always see what books are being read, but there's still eye candy.

[Charlsa]

Ha! This isn't as easy as it used to be unless you are comfortable leaning over people to see what they are reading on their Kindle or Nook! However, I was strolling through a Barnes & Noble last week, and as I was leaving there was a young lady sitting at the tables outside reading a book. She got up to leave as I was walking to my car, and the cover of the book she had been reading looked interesting. I just stopped her and asked her what she was reading. She was reading Bel Canto by Ann Patchett. She said her mother had given it to her and that she was enjoying it. She described it as book where the author talks about women like they are goddesses and that the men were emotional but also masculine , tried to do the right thing, treat women well, etc. She was enjoying it. Two days later I asked one of my best friends about it, and she said it was a great book, so I found my book!

[Tara]

I read Wonder by Ann Patchett and really liked it

[Shelly]

Laura wrote: "There's a really funny Instagram account called hotdudesreading - you can't always seen what books are being read, but there's still eye candy."

Hilarious! I am checking this one out.

[Kenya]

Well, I've racked up a list of books for this prompt by paying attention to what people are reading at my workplace (I work at a public library). Aside from the usual "parents reading children's books to their kids," my choices seem to be thus:

The White Tiger
Fallen
The Witches
Badasses of the Old West: True Stories of Outlaws on the Edge
The Ruins of Gorlan
The Centurion's Wife

I have no idea which one to go with. I'm leaning toward "The White Tiger" but it's checked out and quite overdue, and I'm worried it won't come back...

[poshpenny]

Today's haul from public transit:

The Three-Body Problem
Sovereign Acts: Performing Race, Space, and Belonging in Panama and the Canal Zone

[Erica]

This is great... I was looking for books for the same name prompt and came across Aimée & Jaguar: A Love Story, Berlin 1943, which looked good but I didn't end up using it for that. Then I went to the Subway Book Review Instagram account and the third post is about that book. So I'll use it for this prompt! :D

(I literally live in NYC, there's no reason why I couldn't get this prompt from somewhere "in the wild" myself, but I don't want to stare at people, lol.)

[Eujean2]

It's become a game for me to figure out what people are reading on the bus. In case it helps anyone, all of the following have been spotted in the wild:
- The Secret Teachings of Plants: The Intelligence of the Heart in the Direct Perception of Nature
- By Gaslight
- Wines & Spirits Looking Behind The Label
- Creativity, Inc.: Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspiration
- Night Watch
- Madame Bovary
- Little Big Man

& the only one I have actually read:
- Season of the Witch: Enchantment, Terror and Deliverance in the City of Love
(Super interesting if you want to learn more about recent history (60s-80s) in San Francisco.)

[Nadine in NY]

Keep them coming! I rarely see anyone reading in public, I'm hoping to find something good here, it seems less like cheating than using one of those Instagrams.

[Krissy]

I follow somebody on twitter who is always posting pictures of her kindle and what she's currently reading while she's out to eat or at the pool or at work... etc. I just went through her pics until I found a book I wanted to read.

Try searching #amreading on twitter and flip through the photos that pop up. You might find something that way.

[Anna]

The guy next to me on the bus this morning was *also* reading The Master and Margarita. That was a trip.

[Theresa]

I have stories to tell about my personal experience reading a print book in public:

1st. I was reading The Bones of Paris in hardcover enroute to my hair stylist. During the cut, I set it face up on the table next to the chair, and the woman in the next chair asked me about the book, leading to a discussion of other favorite mystery writers, and her recommendation to me of Tana French. That ended up filling 2016 prompt for book recommended by a stranger.

2nd - I was reading a print book while commuting to work, and the woman next to me leaned over and said "thank you for reading. I am a retired librarian and I love seeing people still reading, not just playing games or reading messages on their devices."

3rd - today I was reading a print copy of Sue Grafton's X while commuting. An entire conversation evolved around me about the series, the author, which was my favorite, do you have to read them in order, etc. By the time I got off the bus, at least 10 people were downloading Sue Grafton books onto their devices.

How does this relate here? Well, there are always a few people around you reading an actual print book -- in Starbucks, on the bus or subway, while waiting in places like airports and train stations, in bookstores that provide seating, in public library branches. You just need to be a little observant. Or just ask someone who appears to be reading (not playing games or texting) on a device what they are reading. And, make a point of reading a print book from time to time when you are in a public place -- it might help some other challenge participant!

Lastly, I share this You Tube video sent to me by a friend - which is a hilarious take on reading in public regardless of your politics (WARNING - if you can't handle your political beliefs with a bit of adverse humor, do not click on this link) : https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%...

[Crumb]

I saw a girl reading The Wonder by Emma Donoghue in the library today..has anyone read this? Is it good?

[Danielle]

i'm an x-ray tech and often see my patients reading books when I take them from the waiting room - this is where I will be picking this prompt book from!

[Nadine in NY]

Danielle wrote: "i'm an x-ray tech and often see my patients reading books when I take them from the waiting room - this is where I will be picking this prompt book from!"

That is awesome! Please post the books you see (this goes for everyone else who sees people reading books!!!) and I will vicariously live through you and choose one of them. Because I'm rarely in a public place where people are reading.

[Teresa]

Reyna wrote: "@booksonthesubway has a great Instagram account showcasing what people are reading on the subway.

https://www.instagram.com/subwaybookr..."

Thanks...I just found a book on there!

The Fifth Child

[Casey]

I recently saw someone reading the novella The Changeling so I think I'm going with this book for my prompt.

[Emanuel]

I saw a man reading Livro Perigoso para Rapazes, at hospital

[Megan]

Would it be wrong to count something I see a student reading at school?

[Megan]

Don’t know if Facebook counts as a “public place”, but some woman who liked a post I made had “Unlikely Friendships” lying on her chest in her profile pic 🤷‍♀️

[Nadine in NY]

Megan wrote: "Would it be wrong to count something I see a student reading at school?"

sounds fair to me! Facebook is fair game too - it's definitely public!

[Danielle]

Nadine wrote: "Danielle wrote: "i'm an x-ray tech and often see my patients reading books when I take them from the waiting room - this is where I will be picking this prompt book from!"

That is awesome! Please ..."

I will do that!

[Rachel]

I was thinking it's a bit of a stretch, but what about books you see other people reading on Goodreads? Or a vlog channel? Unless you know those people personally, they are also strangers.

[poshpenny]

Public transit sighting: George Washington's Secret Six: The Spy Ring That Saved the American Revolution

[Laura]

Spotted recently on DC metro: Hit Makers: The Science of Popularity in an Age of Distraction

[Kira]

I saw a lady read War's Unwomanly Face on the train and I think I'll go with that one!

[Ruth]

I've seen enough kids with YA novels in the waiting room when I take my son to various appointments. I'll count that even if I just see a parent holding the book and don't actually see the child reading.

I've definitely noticed kids with YA books in waiting rooms. I haven't noticed any adult books in waiting rooms in a very long time- maybe because most adults would be reading an ebook on their phone instead?

[Jess]

I always read on public transport even if its just a few pages on a very short journey (the bus journey from my flat to the supermarket is about 5 minutes). I can't stand the awkwardness of not having something to look at,

I have had people ask me about what I'm reading a few times but it mostly is men trying to hit on me because they never really want to talk about the book.

My most awkward moment reading in public was when I finished Notre Dame de Paris on a long train journey and had the biggest emotional reaction I have ever had to a book. I don't know if I was just emotional or pre-menstrual or something that day but I ended up weeping uncontrollably and a woman opposite gave me some tissues and asked if everything was okay. I had to reassure her that it was just a really sad book.

Anyways, for this prompt I am going to read The Sellout. It has quite a distinctive cover and I've actually seen a few people reading it on my commute.

[Nadine in NY]

Ruthla8 wrote: "I've seen enough kids with YA novels in the waiting room when I take my son to various appointments. I'll count that even if I just see a parent holding the book and don't actually see the child re..."

I'm down with reading YA - tell us when you see a book being read!! Because I still don't know what I'm reading for this one ...

[Emily]

This was years ago now so I hope it still counts for the prompt (it didn't say on the post that you had to see them reading it in public this year did it?), but I remember being at a university open day in the queue for the information session about studying English literature, and seeing a really beautiful well-dressed girl reading an expensive-looking edition of Down and Out in Paris and London. I remember thinking she was so much more effortlessly literary than me and feeling bad that I hadn't read it. I intend to buy a nice-looking new copy of it this year (I normally read second hand books) and BE that well-dressed girl in a public place.

[SadieReadsAgain]

I'm leaving off on this one until I go back to work from maternity leave. Then I'll nosy at people on the train on my commute!

[Jess]

I'll update here as I see people to give people who don't commute the opportunity to use the books of the people I see.

Today I saw someone reading I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban

[Johanne]

I work in a large library. Lot's of strangers reading... Do you want me to post some?

[Miriam]

Yes, please!

[Johanne]

bedtime in my timezone, but I'll keep you posted

[Karen]

I gave up on trying to find a stranger reading in a public place after 3 unsuccessful attempts at spying on unsuspecting patrons in my local library. NO adults reading in my local library - 2 different libraries, at that! The closest I got was a likely 5th or 6th grader reading something with the words White and Magic on the cover, but I couldn't justify creeping on a pre-teen girl alone in the library to get the full title. I did spy some adorable toddlers reading (rather, nibbling on) board books in the youth section, though! I almost chose a Mo Willems book from stack of Pigeon books a small girl had under her arm, but I've read them all and I wanted something new.

I decided, instead, to choose something listed on the Subway Book Review instagram account. https://www.instagram.com/subwaybookr...

I believe this may have already been posted (I either saw it here or on Facebook), but thought it might help others who are stuck on this prompt. I chose Citizen: An American Lyric after coming across this post:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BWndn0mA2...

There are TONS of interesting books being read by strangers on this instagram account.

[Johanne]

Today at the library:
The Graveyard of the Hesperides It´s a #4 in a series, but Ithink it conuts if you want to read #1 in the series.
Also Slagterkoner og bagerenker this one is in Danish and not translated, but there might be other Danes in this challenge.

[Lin]

HAHA How difficult could it be, right?
I don't use public transport. Always travel by car. Read outside in the garden. If I see somebody reading it's on an e-reader. But I am not going to give up :D! I will keep my eyes open. Exciting which book its gonna be !!

[Milena]

Saw a woman reading this on the train yesterday. I had to stare at her many times to finally get the title. I am sure she was annoyed.

Distant Star

[Shelley]

Emily wrote: "This was years ago now so I hope it still counts for the prompt (it didn't say on the post that you had to see them reading it in public this year did it?), but I remember being at a university ope..."

This is amazing. I'll be looking for someone with a bit of a story to go with it.