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

[Milena]

Yesterday was a productive day on public transportation. Managed to see the covers of 2 books:
The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business
Keep Her Safe

[Megan]

I saw someone reading Turtles All the Way Down at the airport terminal. I have that down for Mental Illness but I might change it to satisfy this prompt instead. And of course it could also be used for animal in title. Its good to have flexibility, especially later on in the year when I might need to shuffle things around.

[Jess]

Saw another person reading today One Up On Wall Street: How to Use What You Already Know to Make Money in the Market

[Stina]

I was fretting about this one because I don't leave the house much but would still like to do this one "for reals," not using a virtual shortcut. And then this evening I was sitting in a coffee shop, minding my own business while waiting for my husband to be done with his appointment in the same building, when a guy a few tables over started a very loud conversation with the barista about the book he was reading. So, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values it is!

[Johanne]

Strangers reading - today at the library:
Where'd You Go, Bernadette
The Sense of an Ending
The Rise & Fall of Great Powers
Nomernes hemmelige beskytter
Open Very Carefully: A Book with Bite

(Som of the books were translated and read in Danish, but I don´t think that matters here - I put the english titles if possible)

[Jennifer]

I thought I would be the only one having problems with this prompt. So happy to know I am not alone. I seem to currently live n a country where people don't read publicly. I miss England by now I would have seen someone reading on the bus on my way to work or something

[Diane]

The Pillars of the Earth - Thank for leaving this cover up on your pool chair
Shit My Dad (Never) Says - Thanks for being in front of me on the Starbucks line
Apollyon - A nice lady was reading this by the pool on a cruise and I actually went and asked to see what she was reading when her friend was swimming. She either loved the idea of the challenge or was being nice and thinking I was weird.

[Johanne]

So, today at the library, there was a girl (around 14 yrs) reading. Sheis not a complete stranger since she visits often, but close enough since I don´t know her name. Well she was reading through quite the selection of YA books. I took a picture to remember them, she thought I was really weird, even though I tried to explain (well I´m an adult, duh). Allt titles were in Danish, but I put the English where possible.
The Sky Is Everywhere
Slide
Sapphire Blue
Emerald Green
P.S. I Still Love You
The Death Of Us
Laguna Cove
Uncommon Criminals
Sikanias arvinger

[Stacy]

I spend several hours every Tuesday at a rather large public library. This week I'll pay attention to what people are reading, and I'll share!

[Ingrid]

For French speakers there is a kind of "French Goodreads" called Babelio that has a hashtag "monday reader" on Faceboook and Instagram (#lecteurdulundi) consisting of a picture of a random persom found reading in cafés, bus stops, trains... and a brief "what are you reading and why?"

[Thegirlintheafternoon]

I'm going with Eve Ewing's Electric Arches - the author is giving a talk in my town soon, and since I don't know her, I figure this works!

[Milena]

Y is for Yesterday on the escalator coming out of the subway this morning.

[Miriam]

In the Café today: John Katzenbach: Die Grausamen, English: By Persons Unknown

[Laura]

Sat next to a woman reading The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry in a waiting room yesterday.

[Jodi]

Laura wrote: "Sat next to a woman reading The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry in a waiting room yesterday."

Loved that one!

[Anabell]

I was at the library yesterday and funny (or sad) I didn't see any reading an actual book. They were just at the computers.... Today I was at a café on a mission to find someone reading a book and most were sitting with their computer, phone or tablet. (Just like me with an audiobook)

Its a good thing we have an entire year to find one...

[Stefanie]

I've seen someone read Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind at the airport. Score!

[Nadine in NY]

Stefanie wrote: "I've seen someone read Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind at the airport. Score!"

AWESOME!!! That's actually a book I want to read that I haven't read yet!!

[Cendaquenta]

I am a total recluse - as in, haven't yet left the house this year. So ummmm... this one's gonna be hard...

[Stephanie]

I saw two strangers reading in public this past week. The first was at a public event (well, reading while waiting in line to get in), and she was reading The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. The second person was walking down the street reading a copy of Watership Down.

[Jess]

I saw three people reading on the tube today but one of them I didn't manage to catch the title. The two I did see were Ready Player One and The Wish List

[Fannie]

Yesterday in the train:

Cloud Atlas
Invisible

[Angela]

The last time I flew, a lady on my aisle was reading The Night Circus, which has been on my TBR list for awhile. That was March of last year though. Do you think it counts?

[Megan]

At my work PDD, someone was reading "Darker" by EL Grey or whatever her name is.

[Monica]

I have been to the public library three times just for this prompt and NO ONE was reading a book I could see the title of. They were either looking at their phones or on the computer or reading the paper. I don't use public transportation so that is not an option. I also don't go out to eat very often. This prompt is very frustrating. I want to stay true to the prompt but I can't find anyone just reading a regular book.

[Nadine in NY]

Monica wrote: "I have been to the public library three times just for this prompt and NO ONE was reading a book I could see the title of. They were either looking at their phones or on the computer or reading the..."

Same. Problem.

I go to the library every week, and I never see anyone reading a book. And I don't take public transportation or go to cafes or bookstores or whatever.

Which is why I am SO SO grateful for everyone who posts what they see!! That's how I'm going to fill this category: I'm going to read a book that someone else saw someone reading in public.

[Charlsa]

Angela wrote: "The last time I flew, a lady on my aisle was reading The Night Circus, which has been on my TBR list for awhile. That was March of last year though. Do you think it counts?"

i think it counts. She was a stranger, and a plane is a public place.

[Shannon]

I saw someone reading a book when I got my car serviced last year but I didn't pay attention to what it was. Most people are playing games on their phones. Maybe they'll be someone at the doctor's office this week.

[poshpenny]

The thing is, I see people reading books in public ALL. THE. TIME. but most of them have the cover on or facing their lap. Or, close enough that I can't see it.
So many books, so few titles. *sigh*

[Jess]

poshpenny wrote: "The thing is, I see people reading books in public ALL. THE. TIME. but most of them have the cover on or facing their lap. Or, close enough that I can't see it.
So many books, so few titles. *sigh*

"

Me too! I was trying to get a sneaky peek but didn't manage with a lot of them. I did manage to spot these though:

The Name of the Wind (I have read this book and would highly recommend)
Shantaram (not heard of this before but I've just read the Goodreads blurb and I am intrigued)
The End of Eddy (An LGBT protagonist if you need to fill that prompt)

[Eujean2]

This prompt had encouraged me to read my book on the bus with the cover facing out as much as possible. Also to carry it with the cover visible. Just in case one of my fellow Popsugar challengers is around.

[Johanne]

Or just shout out to people: "hey, I'm doing a reading challenge! Can I see your book covers?!" ;)

[Fannie]

Eujean2 wrote: "This prompt had encouraged me to read my book on the bus with the cover facing out as much as possible. Also to carry it with the cover visible. Just in case one of my fellow Popsugar challengers i..."

I do the same.

For other suggestions, today I saw two people reading:

1984
L'Univers expliqué à mes petits-enfants

[poshpenny]

An interesting mix of sightings from me so far this week

Hex-Rated: A Brimstone Files Novel
Walking The Himalayas
The Way to Love
The Seventy Weeks Prophecy - Kevin J Conner

[Fannie]

This morning two people were reading something by Carlos Ruiz Zafón:

The Shadow of the Wind (that I may use myself) and The Prince of Mist

[Jess]

So today there was someone on my train reading Holy Bible: King James Version...

[Jenni]

I dropped lucky on this one! There's a comic book store across the road from the flat I'm staying in, and as I left the house last week, a guy was reading a graphic novel (The Walking Dead), so I opted for that one.

[Devon]

I've seen the following books being read on the train this week:
On Love
All the Light We Cannot See
Sing, Unburied, Sing

[Raquel (Silver Valkyrie Reads)]

I'm waiting to slot something in for this prompt until I've finished most or all of the others, just in case I happen to see someone at my library who both has a visible book title AND it's something I'd consider reading.

Since I have the same problem others do of rarely seeing strangers reading in public, I'm most likely going to fall back on a suggestion from this thread or one of the linked instagram accounts.

I feel like this prompt is really skewed toward people who live in big cities. I live in a small city (more like a large town in feel, really) and while I do occasionally visit coffee shops or my library, I really don't have large chance of seeing a stranger reading.

[Nikky]

I think it doesn’t matter where you live tbh, I live in a village and work in a tiny town and I’ve noticed people reading since this prompt came out xx

[Raquel (Silver Valkyrie Reads)]

Maybe it's not so much about the size of the town then, but my sister who works at the library just confirmed that most of the people who actually sit and read are reading the newspaper. I think there just aren't a lot of public readers in my area for some reason...

[T.]

I've seen co-workers reading the following titles:

The Deed of Paksenarrion
Where the Past Begins: A Writer's Memoir
It

Not exactly strangers to me, but certainly to you folks.

[T.]

Eujean2 wrote: "This prompt had encouraged me to read my book on the bus with the cover facing out as much as possible. Also to carry it with the cover visible. Just in case one of my fellow Popsugar challengers i..."

This is awesome! I think I need to do this more.

[Jess]

I saw someone reading Darkest Hour: How Churchill Brought England Back from the Brink obviously they were inspired by the recent film.

[Trish]

I was sad to not find anyone reading in public, especially since I'm frequently on a college campus! Every time I was on the bus everyone was on their phones (not to knock phones, but the challenge!). Finally saw someone reading outside of a classroom, but didn't show off the cover so I couldn't see. Thankfully I sat across a girl who was reading and I could see the cover!

For anyone who doesn't see strangers reading, a stranger on my bus home was reading The Plague.

[Milena]

Sightings from my last few days on the train:

End of Watch
The Glass Castle

I am so glad to see people still reading books. I only read on my Kindle when I commute. I will be reading a few paperbacks off my shelves for this challenge though. I will make sure to hold them so people can see.

[Milena]

Just a little while ago on the subway:

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

[Devon]

Since I'm a stranger to all of you, here's what I've read in public in the past few days!

Yes Please
Young Jane Young
The Last Mrs. Parrish
The Handmaid's Tale
Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail

[Johanne]

Ha, Devon, that's great! I've been reading Born to run by Bruce Springsteen, with my ears, told by the boss himself - in public. So far I can really recommend it, so you can use it for that as well (and for song lyrics, which I'm doing)

[Brandy]

I read in public all the time but on my kindle. I feel like I should make a little card to tape on my kindle cover with what I'm currently reading so people will know.