Book Buying Addicts Anonymous discussion
Favorite Place(s) to Read
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Another great topic, Heather. I used to go to school at Boston U, and my favorite reading place in Boston was in the common reading room of the Boston Public Library in Copley Square. That was the absolute best place in the world in those days to read, study, and go exploring among the stacks when one tired of one's studies. A great place for dates with studious young ladies in my classes, as well. And to cap the day, if the weather was good, we could roam up Newberry Street on our way back to Kenmore Square, perhaps stopping for a bite at the many little shops and restaurants on our route, or perhaps stopping in at my favorite Boston bookstore, the Avenue Victor Hugo, just before Newberry crossed Mass Ave.Is Widener the main library at Harvard?
Patrick - i also went to BU! i rarely went to the reading room at the BPL (hmmm, something i should perhaps get into...), but i used to go sit in the church there in copely square and read a lot in the afternoons -- at least, back before they started charging admission to get in. and i cannot tell you how much i miss avenue victor hugo!!! its closing was really sad.yes, widener is the big harvard library. (built by parents to honor their son, a harvard student who died aboard the titanic!) bu's library is smelly, weird, and ungainly by comparison.
Nice to hear from a fellow BU grad who doesn't mind admitting it. Concur on the library, kind of. But comparing it to Harvard (or anything at BU to Harvard for that matter) is quite the contrast, no matter what John Silber or the others on the board of trustees may claim - (do I date myself with the Fuhrer Silber reference? Is he still alive?)Back to the point of Heather's thread:
One of my favorite places to read is a nice folding chair in Heritage Park in Dana Point, California, overlooking the harbor. It gets a little windy at times, but I have spent several pleasant afternoons there, especially if I had the foiresight to bring some snacks. A public bench overlooking the channel on Dana Drive on the island in the harbor itself is also a superb place for reading, and even for some writing.
I read every night in my rocking chair in the living room. It's the most uncomfortable seat because the padding is so worn down, but I'm sentimentally attached to it. I rocked (and read to) both of my babies in that chair.
i read on my chaise lounge or in bed. i also love to read outside, but the weather where i used to live was always too crummy or buggy to do it. but i'm excited for the fall here in north carolina, it's supposed to be beautiful so i'm hoping to get in some good outside reading.
I read anywhere I go. I always take my book with me everywhere I go. I take every free second I have to read. I mainly like places that are quiet, like a library that way I can concentrate on and understand what I'm reading, what's happening with the characters, whats going on with the plot,etc.
I have the most comfortable couch at home - naturally this is my favorite spot. I also like reading in my car. I usually park under a tree at work and read on my break.
The bath is my favorite place to read. Bubbles... perhaps a glass of wine, and a book. There isn't much better.I also read in bed, and in my car during breaks at work. Mostly though, I just read wherever, I always have a book in my bag. Or two if I think I might finish one before I come home.
I travel quite a bit for work, so my current favorite place to read is on the airplane, followed by the airport, followed by the hotel. It's so much easier to block out the annoying travel noises when I have someting good to read, and it also helps to block out really irritating seatmates. At home, I have a big kitchen with a really comfy couch at the end to stretch out on and I can get a lot of reading done there as well.
My favorite place to read is usually curled up on my big comfy sofa in the living room...but only when my twins are sleep or not at home...otherwise forget about it...I've been known to read in the car during long road trips, while the boys and their sister are engrossed in a dvd or sleeping or enjoying each others company, I also read in the car while I'm waiting for my daughter to get out of one of many extracurricular activities...it doesn't even have to be quiet, if the book is good, I become engrossed and can barely hear what's going on around me.
Reclined. Doesn't matter where - bed, sofa, the futon on the front porch, the floor. If necessary I will sit upright but must have an ottoman for my feet. I also love reading in the airport and on the plane - mostly to keep strangers from trying to engage me in conversation but also because, for some reason, I seem to get more engrossed in my books.
I love to read in bed, preferably weekend mornings with a cup of coffee, but evenings as well (but I can't stay awake long enough to read more than a page or two). Definitely on airplane ride, I churned through most of Harry Potter 7 from LAX to Boston. When I (too) lived in Boston, always on the T!
No, sorry Sherri - honestly I just go in there to do my business and then out I go...my partner, on the other hand, he always grabs a section of the newspaper....
During Michigan's spring-summer months I absolutely love to read outdoors on my deck or at a park. On other occasions, while listening to Coltrane and Miles I choose to curl up on the sofa in my den with either some hot tea, or wine depending on my mood. As well as in the bath with bubbles...wine and scented candles that creates such a relaxed reading environment.
My favorite place to read is on the swing in my peaceful backyard (it's really big and you can't see the neighbors houses because of the trees).
I generally stick to reading in our comfy loveseat, or bed, depending on my mood. The loveseat is great for just curling up, whereas the bed is great for being able to spread out. The "good chair" in the home is almost constantly occupied by one of the three cats, and none of them are big on snuggling (the kitten more-so than the other two, but he loves the TASTE of books, so he always tries to eat them when I'm reading), so it's rare that I get that spot.And on lazy days? Definitely a bubblebath. Been doing that for about 15 years and have never dropped a book in the water or gotten it in any way wet, so I'm pretty comfortable doing that.
And, ideally, anywhere I'm reading there'll be a cup of tea on hand.
while i was in portland for about 6 months, i loved reading in a coffee shop called "the shop" on belmont. if you are in portland and haven't checked it out yet you really should. the seating is limited but if you can actually get yourself in one of those comfy couches you won't want to leave. not to mention their espresso drinks are a good way to accompany a good read. their outside area/front porch offers a nice place to enjoy a smoke while reading as well, for those of you who share that disgustingly amazing habit with me. now that i'm back in texas, i still haven't found a good place to read outside of my home. yet. i'm hopeful though.
as for my house, there's this one incredibly comfortable couch in the receiving room. and the dark oak table next to it just makes the whole experience that much more pleasant.
The D subway line is quite literally the only place I do any reading, except for the rare occasions I read on my bed, like when I'm about to finish something. I leave for work at 6:10 in the morning and arrive at 7:30, so that leaves plenty of reading time. Between getting to work and back, I get two hours or so in a day, which is all I need. That is, when I can manage to stay awake. I envy insomniacs. I'd love to be one of those people who stays awake until 2 reading every night. For example, my girlfriend.
I like to read in small quiet coffee shops and indpenedent book stores (Burlap and Bean, Chester County Book and Music Company) and in my car while waiting for my kids. I really can't read in bed because I fall asleep too quickly! I am an itinerant special education teacher so I am always looking for a quiet spot to read!
As a general rule, I do my reading in bed. Every night I read, even if it's just a page or two. On lazy weekends, I may read in bed in the morning too. Lazy afternoons, I'll move to the couch. As for outside reading, my boyfriend races kayaks in the spring and summer and I will often have hours of time to kill between the start and finish line and I will find a bench or take a lawn chair and read til he comes in. There are also many days when my boss is out of the office that I sneak in good, quiet, quality reading time.
i love waking up on lazy weekend mornings and just reaching to the floor for my book and staying in bed another hour or so with it. weekends i sometimes stay home all night and just read till like 4am. i always take a book with me wherever i go, just in case the perfect moment to read comes up, and it often does. usually at the park or beach, but i even take one with me to a bar on weekends. i first started doing that when i was still in school and was too busy to see friends otherwise so took my work with me. people used to think it was weird but not anymore. i guess by now they'd seen me do it before. also on my balcony, or in front of the tv if my husband has it on, and every night, for one hour, in my second room while allowing my chinchilla out of her cage to run around. she jumps on the book and chews on it though, so i can't do that with borrowed books.
Places I love to read: cushy rocking recliner; beach (for the few minutes before passing out in the sunlight).Places I end up reading: subway; bed.
I haven't found a good indoors spot for reading in New York City. Do any of the NYC folks have suggestions?
I read just about anywhere. I always keep atleast two books with me, and I like reading in the car. No distractions... But anywhere I have two or more minutes to spare, I'll flip out my book and read.
In answer to Sherri's question, yes - but only magazines unless I'm already reading my book and refuse to put it down.
I'm with Brenda here. I head outside whenever possible. The back deck works for me. A large part of it is to find quiet and to get away from the 'hey daddy' every 3 minutes. I have 1 wife, 3 daughters, 1 granddaughter in the house -- and all the drama that goes with a houseful of women. Even as we head into the colder month's, I'll wrap up, grab a blanket, and head outside. When I get too cold, I prefer to head back in to the fireplace -- but it's too close to the television, so for that to work, I have to have the TV set off (again, hard to do with all the people in the house).
I would say in my hammock in the backyard when the weather is nice, which in Houston isn't very often.
I also read a lot on the bus on my way in to work and home.
I also read a lot on the bus on my way in to work and home.
For those in NYC: In the fall weather try Bryant Park - or if you need quiet, go to the side in front of the library that looks out on 5th Ave. This is one of my favorite places. The ferry going over to Jersey - it's free and you get a view. The Starbucks by the Public Theater - there is sometimes live music, interesting people. The social Barnes & Nobles at about 67th & B'way (not far from Lincoln Center). In a nook in The Strand bookstore (love strand, miss the old Coliseum books!) There are tons of great places to find in NY to read.Here in DC I like, choosing all public spaces: the Sculpture Garden, the Museum of the American Indian (inside and out), Olsson's (Penn Quarter) and Tryst.
I can read anywhere. I find time to read on and off throughout the day on my oversized couch, while my littlest is playing video games or staging wars with his toys... I work weekends only, so I tend to have some extra time throughout the day to sneak in some reading ...I read in the bath (and yes... Sherri, sometimes on the toilet...), I bring a book with me when I pick my oldest up from school and read for those few mintues I am waiting for him.
I also read on the elliptical machines at my gym for the 25 minutes I am using it.
I will only read in bed once the kids are alseep and my husband is either at work, or tied to the computer. I will use that as unwind and relax time, usually squeeze in a chapter before I turn myself in for the night.
Reading at the park while the kids run around, at the dentist or dr office, in the car if someone else is driving of course, when I know I have a long trip ahead.....
I can tune everything out if the book is one I can lose myself in, which tend to be almost all of them!!! :)
I used to go this park when I was in college in PA. I had a tree at a lake that grew over the water. It was perfect for me to lay on and read. I like being outside when I read, but occasionally it depends on the book. Parks where you can lie on the grass is nice but I prefer sitting on a sandy beach or up a tree. I love reading by lakes, rivers or oceans. There is just something about the sound of water that makes a book even better. My favorite time to read is when it is rainy and stormy outside, I curl up by the window with some hot tea and lose myself inside a book.
Also I at least have one if not two or more books with me at all times. Yesterday I think I had five in my purse.
Llama, that must be one BIGG purse you carry around with you ;P
Quote by Lori: Llama, that must be one BIGG purse you carry around with you ;P Personally, I decide whether or not to buy a purse based on whether a trade paperback (not just the mass market ones) will fit in it. If a trade doesn't fit, there's no use buying that puppy. It'll just be a dust bunny hutch in the top of the closet.
TK Kenyon
Whose novel RABID is only in hardback
Not even trade paper
but is an "impressive medical thriller"--PW
I just went out and bought a purse this weekend and I would not buy one that my book would not fit in along with my stuff. A paperback had to be able to fit. That is hilarious.
Yeah, no... I totally get that you would want ONE paperback to fit (mine is capable of fitting ONE) but Llama stated that she had FIVE in her purse.... I mean, that things gotta be HUGE!
I enjoy filling up the tub with some hot water and bubbles, the big comfy couch or chair at the library, my comfy chair at home in front of the huge window, a comfy chair/couch at a coffeehouse. I read pretty much everywhere though. I always have a book with me especially at an appointment because you always wait forever to see the doctor... I've even read waiting in line at the commissary (military grocery store) because it backs up so bad sometimes..Summertime reading is best on a comfy floating chair in the pool or a comfy lounge chair on the beach...
I've been to Coliseum Books near Bryant Park during a trip to NYC in the summer of 2006. I thought it was a very cool book store and great "hang out". How sad it's gone!I do like to read in bookstores with cafes....reading makes me thirsty!
My favorite places change with the "seasons" -- as much as we have seasons in L.A. Summers it's the beach, also with the spaniels. Or, when visiting my parents in Southern Oregon, out on their deck with the sound of the fog horn going off in the background. Used to love sitting out in the garden swing before I moved to place with no backyard. Although my building has a great rooftop garden, too many social opportunities with neighbors to really get much reading done. I sometimes read in restaurants on my lunch hour, but the downtown central Library here, just across the street from office is fantastic inside and out as well. And, there's the fantastic neighborhood bookstore, Metropolis Books as well. When in cafes I mostly love to write rather than read. One constant is my way-too-comfy sofa. I live in a loft in downtown L.A. with 12 foot windows and one of my favorite Sunday a.m. activities is to snuggle in with my coffee, my book and one or both (depending on them) of my Brittany Spaniels, jazz playing in the background. Aaah, this is making me wish for a stupendously rainy weekend!
ps: I just got this GREAT book rest from Levenger.com. It's a Thai Book Rest, so it makes reading in bed a bit easier, although, I have to concur with many, I fall asleep pretty quickly once I get snugged in there.
Concur with Bernadette that the LA Central Library has much to recommend for itself, most especially four floors of all the non-fiction you could ask for. There is a nice fancy outdoor cafe right on the grounds of the central library as well.
hate cafes near library. lol i have to at least drink 5 cups of coffee everytime i go not very healthy. sry rambling. i usually sit on my couch and read very comfortable sometimes fall asleep while reading. though not good for contacts. there is a library near my house; usually quiet with more books ready for me in case i finish one there. I can usually pass 2 to 3 hrs there. then theres a little grassy area with a nice tree. sit there soak up some sun and read. nice way to get a tan and be kept entertained for an hour or two.Sry babbling again lol; well time for me to stop. have a nice day.=)
The most enjoyable reading place I found was outside the Colorado Springs Library on a pretty day. I finished two books, then went back in to get more. Nothing like having the source right at hand!
If weather is nice I like to read on my swing on the front porch, if the weather is not nice then I like to sit on my couch with a nice warm blanket and a hot cup of tea.
My favorite place to read? My hammock in the woods near the creek. Where do I actually read? In the waiting room, in the car waiting for dance practice to end, on the elliptical machine, in a hot bubble bath, in airports, standing at the stove stirring dinner, on the sofa and every night when I get into bed. In other words, where ever I find a spare moment.
Bernadette and Patrick - you are making me long for downtown and that beautiful library. Now I am in Century City, without a library nearby, but a Borders within walking distance!Favorite time/place to read- weekend mornings with a cup of coffee. Any morning with a cup of coffee, really, but have to go to work :(
Bernadette- your home sounds lovely.
My favorite place to read is tucked into the corner of my sofa with my two cats. However, a dream came true for me last summer--July with long days--when I was in the UK on business. I was staying at The Great House in Sonning-on-Thames. I took my book, sat on the grass and read near the bridge with breaks to watch the swans and houseboats on the Thames. It was fabulous.
I just read them everywhere I go and find good comfort chair to sit or lay down on it and read long hours ..
I live in Rochester, MN. and their library has a great second-floor lounge with chairs that face out toward the busy street and the river beyond it. I like going there because you feel you're above the noise, plus when you need a break, you can look up and watch people and cars.When I lived in Wisconsin, I used to go to Food Court at West Towne Mall and read there. I like some background noise when I read. Plus, again--when you need to take a break, people watching rules. I also liked to go to Blue Mounds State Park. There was a campsite with a picnic table that overlooked the valley. I would sit there on weekdays. That site was never used during the week.
I don't have a favorite place to read -- I read anywhere, and everywhere. Some people have accused me of replacing my childhood security blanket with books. I can't go anywhere without a book -- and I admit, to a certain extent it is a security issue with me. It doesn't matter where I end up, or what is going on -- if I have wait time -- then I will always have something to read. I even buy my purses so that I will be sure there is enough room in them to carry a book, in addition to everything else.
I live in metro-Boston, and, if I can manage it, I like to head to Diesel Cafe (a comfy, large, independent coffee shop) or out to the Arboretum if the weather's nice so I can have some grass between my toes. Of course, the weather's often cold here and I'm often too lazy to go anywhere, so I mostly end up reading in bed. I'd like to start going to the reading room at Widener Library though, in hopes that it will remind me of the reading room at the British Museum in London - which is my favorite place to read of all time.