Glens Falls (NY) Online Book Discussion Group discussion
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Where do you read and when?
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My favorite place to read is in my bed. Like you I try to carry a book with me at all times. Lunch, break time, a doctors appointment even when I get my nails done.
Yes I can read in the car. Thats where my love of reading began. Long trips from Michigan to Florida gave me hours and hours to read.
I take a book everywhere, too. Lunch is especially important to me, though. There's nothing better than breaking up a hectic work day by going out to the truck & diving into a book. It gives me a new start to the rest of the day.
I read everywhere & I do mean everywhere, in my house. I get most of my reading done in bed at night. I love to read on the beach. One place I cannot read is in the car, I do have issues with car sickness & reading doesn't mix well with that.....When my kids were young & I was going here & there with them, I always had a book in the car with me for while I was waiting.....
My favorite place to read is stretched out on the sofa in our living room, which is under the large picture window and provides lots of natural light. But I most often read in bed just before sleep and in the car while waiting to pick up my son from school, or on my lunch break at work.
Nancy, you are so lucky to be able to read while riding in a car. I'd get so much more reading done if I could do that. BTW, I love the pic the dog with your dog in your icon. Is he/she a Yorkie?Jim, I used to read on my lunch hour at work too, and also on my breaks. One time I started bringing a book of anecdotes to work (The Little, Brown Book of Anecdotes). To preserve it, I covered it with brown paper. Some folks looked askance at what I might be reading. (g)
Becky, sometimes when I see folks reading at the beach, very absorbed in what they're reading, I'm tempted to go up to them and ask what book is keeping them so riveted. But somehow, at the same time, I hate to disturb their pleasure.
Debra, I too sometimes stretch out on the sofa to read. But sometimes, when I do, I get that "nodding reflex", and I feel like sleeping. I wonder how many people experience what I call "the nodding reflex". (I nod off to sleep.)
For the last couple of decades, my main reading time has been during my daily exercise sessions on the stationary bike. Since I discovered that one can read on the bike, I've become very conscientious about physical fitness. :-)In the last few days, though, I've stumbled on a change in routine that provides another chance to read. If I'm home in the evening or have a day off, Barb and I usually spend some time playing our favorite word game, Joker Quick Cube; and for the last year or so, we've eliminated the time limit on each person's turns. That means the player whose turn it isn't usually has several minutes of waiting while the other one puzzles over the cubes. If I bring a book to the table, I can read during those intervals! That realization only adds a few minutes at a time of reading; but those eventually add up to a significant amount. Whoo-hoo! I only wish I'd thought of this months ago. :-)
I don't think that would work for us, Werner. We tend to heckle each other too much when playing games.;-)
Besides, Marg won't play word games with me. She has dyslexia & is the about the worst speller I've ever met. It give me an unfair advantage.
If I could figure out how to read while knitting (not audio books) that would be really cool. As it is, I find I'm watching more TV. I'm getting close to done on the scarf. I'm about at the end of the skein. Hopefully, it will be long enough. If not, I guess I'll crochet or knit on some sort of ends in a different color.
Sometimes I get some reading in during TV commercials.
Joy, that's not a bad idea! I don't watch enough TV to give it much of a try, unfortunately.Jim, I've always thought that textile crafts are cool, and (eons ago) sporadically tried my hand at knitting and doing some sewing; but my results were never very good (I'm not dexterous enough) and being busy with other things pretty much elbowed the idea into oblivion. The problem you'd have with reading while knitting (besides the basic one, if you're like me, of trying to concentrate on two things at once!) is that the latter takes both hands; you'd have a hard time holding the book and turning the page. (It's the same problem as with the Total Gym exercise machine that Chuck Norris advertises on TV; Barb loves hers and wants me to try it, but I keep telling her it has a basic design flaw --no way to hold the book.... :-) )
Holding the book while knitting is the big problem, Werner. Right now & for the foreseeable future, I'm sticking to very simple knitting & maybe simple crocheting. Just straight knit stitches, no adding or subtracting or anything fancy. I fiddled a bit with something fancier & found I can't keep track of the stitches. (Did I just purl one or two?)
I used to carry a book everywhere. However, sinc emy last eye surgery, I need a very bright light to read by. An ordinary light will not longer do.So, I sit in my recliner and turn on my big light. Place glass of water to sip on table; lift feet of recliner and dive in!
I do better remembering what I read if I read in larger segments of time--say at least 20 minutes or so. I usually read at night, after the supper dishes are done and read usually for about an hour and half (more if the book is really grabbing me!)
Joy, I used to be able to read on the bus going to work, but that is not longer and option.
And for some absolutely unknown reason, I have never enjoyed reading in bed! Never. If I can't sleep I get up and go into the living and read in my recliner.
Great thread, Joy!Fantasy and scifi is my preference but I like a wide variety of genres. Horror, detective, drama, thriller, historic fiction, mystery.
Favorite place, in bed. Sometimes on the couch.
I always bring a book with me so I read anywhere, anytime. I can read while in motion, car, subway, and even while I walk. I used to walk a dog, Toby, hold his leash in one hand and a book in the other. He was a good boy, unlike Juneau, who I have to watch every second because he picks up stuff off the street like used tissues and other nasty items. He ruined my walking and reading time.
I used to get a lot of reading done during commercials but since we started recording our programs that eliminated that bit of free reading time. I don't mind because I get my TV done earlier and it frees me up for more reading time later...nice and comfy in bed.
Like Mary JL, my favorite place to read is my recliner.Unlike Jackie, I can't read in a moving vehicle. Wish I could.
Mary JL wrote: "And for some absolutely unknown reason, I have never enjoyed reading in bed! Never. If I can't sleep I get up and go into the living and read in my recliner. "I can think of two things that inhibit bedtime reading: discomfort of some kind and poor light. My own 'discomforts' are the angle of my head/neck while reclining, and my nemesis, my low back. Since my diagnosis of beginning cataracts, I've added light to 2 places, toilet and bed. I have no headboard. I screwed a 1x2 to the studs and clamped a work lamp on it. 75 watt bulbs gives me all the light I want, wish I thought of this earlier in life, even when my eyesight was good. Reading in bed, especially a book I'm not really into, puts me right to sleep.
Earl wrote: "...Reading in bed, especially a book I'm not really into, puts me right to sleep."Earl, you've reminded us that even an uninteresting book can be a benefit to us... by letting us get some sleep. :)
Earl wrote: I can think of two things that inhibit bedtime reading: discomfort of some kind and poor light.So true! I have both but it still doesn't deter me. I get neck pain from the way I lay down and read, also from the position I sleep in. I really should copy your idea of a better lamp. The one I have takes 60 watts at it's highest setting, it's adequate but I frequently wish it could accept a higher wattage.
I'm reading these posts to help me get back into reading. Stopped reading due to lack of time (took a course at school, then started a new job). Its been 15 months now without reading. My favorite places used to be "anywhere" with a book I couldn't put down. In general, in bed at night to help me fall asleep. A Sunday afternoon with music on, sitting around a campfire at sunrise and an hour or two before sunset, at home when the wood stove is on cuddled up under a blanket with something hot to drink.
Hi Linda! I too like a cozy setting. We really have to be relaxed to truly enjoy reading.
I tend to read while sitting in my living room recliner. I like to read during the quiet times... early morning or late at night, especially during the wee hours.
I find it pleasant to play soft instrumental music while I'm reading.
I also try to keep a book with me whenever I go out. There are so many chances to read during the times we are waiting, at the doctor's office, or anywhere.
One thing I can't do is read in a moving vehicle. I tend to get nauseous if I do. Are you able to read while riding as passenger in a car or other vehicle? I wish I could.