The shoe on the other foot

[jack]

There are many situations where it's thought a little odd to whip out a book. As a teenager when I was even more stubborn about socialisation than now, I explored many of these :)

Walking along, waiting in a queue, at your desk at work, and many other places there are at least some reasons against reading. I often do anyway, but I'm used to puzzling people (or walking head-first into Matt R. :))

On the other hand, in a waiting room (doctor, optometrist, platform, etc), I think it's seen as a little odd not to. At least, most people don't, but the vibe I get from people in a room where one person's reading and the rest are waiting, is "damn, why is there only one organised person?"[1]

Of course, I have an unfair advantage as I will already have a book started, and only have to bring it, not actually *find* one.

I guess this is what people mean by "a cheap paperback", except that we (a) buy standard paperbacks by default (b) don't equate a paperback with a cheap story, and (c) tend to live off the things.

[1] Maybe I should take along spare books to hand out to fellow sufferers? Except if they're good, they'll want to keep them, but so will I, and if not, I'll feel guilty :)

Comments

[theinquisitor.livejournal.com]

I'm fairly sure the 'a cheap paperback' expression comes from the states, where they seem to make paperbacks on the assumption that they won't form part of a permanent collection, but are instead intended as relatively disposible reading material.

Or were 20 years ago, at any rate.