Are you a nosey book person?

Tip the Bottle · Post by **Tip the Bottle** » 02 Dec 2010, 16:09

Weird topic title but I didn't know how else to put it. Reading the other post "Can you judge people on the books they read?" got me to thinking about something I often do. If someone I don't know is near me and is reading a book I almost always covertly try to see what book they are reading with no intentions of ever violating their space and commenting, I mean why be social right. Anyone else have this nosy habit

StephenKingman · Post by **StephenKingman** » 02 Dec 2010, 16:19

Hmm, if i am sitting in airport lounge, train station etc and i cant help notice that the person opposite me is reading, then just out of plain human curiosity i will steal a glance, as long as i dont have to be obviously nosey and crane my head, attracting attention. If its a book which doesnt appeal to me then i quickly lose interest and go back to the local talent in the area but if its a book i have read and loved/hated, then i do (wow this sounds sad) try to gauge the reaction of the person, are they wide-eyed or bored or whatever and im thinking "I wonder was that the part where....etc". I do notice the Larsson books seem to pop up at every single airport waiting area i have visited the last 2 years.

Yeah, very deep.

Mairin · Post by **Mairin** » 02 Dec 2010, 16:37

I'm definitely guilty of that, but I tend to ask questions and make comments to those people. I find its a great conversation starter.

GotThatSwing · Post by **GotThatSwing** » 02 Dec 2010, 17:00

I usually try to check what this book is but not doing it too obviously and I never do any comments about it.

i do (wow this sounds sad) try to gauge the reaction of the person, are they wide-eyed or bored

I'm not sure if it always works. You look at me reading a book in the train in the morning, and no matter how exciting it is, my eyes always look dull at early hours

laci_baby · Post by **laci_baby** » 02 Dec 2010, 17:49

I wont stalk someone to find out what they're reading (i'm not that much of a creeper) but if i'm sitting beside someone that's reading i'll either ask or look over their shoulder to see if it looks familiar. I havent found anyone thats actually minded my snooping, if so they hid it very well. That being said... It's never minded me if people ask about my books. I have fun telling them what i'm reading and what it's about. Especially when those turn to long conversations which ends up as friendship. I met my best friend this way and we are going on 2 years as best book buddies.

We both sort of feel like we made a book club out of eachother.

Fran · Post by **Fran** » 03 Dec 2010, 05:59

Guilty as charged ... I go to great lengths to see the title of any book I see anyone reading whether in a restaurant, train, at the airport .... anywhere really or if I see a book peeking out of a bag. (I'm odd!)

Sometimes it results in interesting interactions with strangers but seldom in the morning ... I'm not exactly a morning person myself so I generally leave people to themselves in the morning.

StephenKingman · Post by **StephenKingman** » 03 Dec 2010, 10:26

Over in New York ,i saw a huge amount of people reading Kindles on the subway at all times of the day and night, particularly young women. They were very engrossed in them as they rode the 15 or 20 minute journey to work but its a bit harder to find out what they were reading.

Fran · Post by **Fran** » 03 Dec 2010, 11:05

StephenKingman wrote:Over in New York ,i saw a huge amount of people reading Kindles on the subway at all times of the day and night, particularly young women. They were very engrossed in them as they rode the 15 or 20 minute journey to work but its a bit harder to find out what they were reading.

Now isn't that another downside of the ebook?

StephenKingman · Post by **StephenKingman** » 03 Dec 2010, 11:13

[quote="Fran"][quote="StephenKingman"]Over in New York ,i saw a huge amount of people reading Kindles on the subway at all times of the day and night, particularly young women. They were very engrossed in them as they rode the 15 or 20 minute journey to work but its a bit harder to find out what they were reading.

[/quote]

Now isn't that another downside of the ebook?[/quote]

Yep, i cant very well walk over and say "You are kind of annoying me because i cant see the cover of your book"! And also, i got the vibe that you dont start many conversations with strangers on subways its viewed as a bit suspicious. But yes, was very surprised by the amount of Kindles floating around America, i dont see many at all around places like London and France etc and havent seen anyone in Ireland yet using one!

Fran · Post by **Fran** » 03 Dec 2010, 14:09

StephenKingman wrote:
Fran wrote:
StephenKingman wrote:Over in New York ,i saw a huge amount of people reading Kindles on the subway at all times of the day and night, particularly young women. They were very engrossed in them as they rode the 15 or 20 minute journey to work but its a bit harder to find out what they were reading.
Now isn't that another downside of the ebook?
Yep, i cant very well walk over and say "You are kind of annoying me because i cant see the cover of your book"! And also, i got the vibe that you dont start many conversations with strangers on subways its viewed as a bit suspicious. But yes, was very surprised by the amount of Kindles floating around America, i dont see many at all around places like London and France etc and havent seen anyone in Ireland yet using one!

Well I've seen a few of them around Ireland ... both on the train to work & in the restaurant at work. They are catching on all right.