Musing Mondays - Book talk with Strangers



Today's Musing Monday, hosted by Rebecca of Just One More Page posits:



We were all warned as children to 'never talk to strangers', but how do you feel about book-talk with random people?

When you see people reading, do you ask what it is?

Do you talk to people in the book store or the library? Why or why not?

What do you do if people talk to you? (question courtesy of Dena)


I'm an introvert so don't have the tendency to jump into conversations with strangers out in public. However, my son and my husband, whom are both extroverts do, so when I am out with either James or both or them, we get drawn into all kinds of conversations. My son has no problem engaging strangers and asking them what they are reading - anywhere, anyplace, anytime. I always assume if someone is reading in public - in a restaurant, at the movie theater, in the grocery store, on a plane, train or automobile, that they don't want to engage in conversation. When I read, I become very engrossed in the story and ignore everything around me. I hate being pulled out of the story at an inopportune moment, so tend to give public readers privacy. However, I do try to sneak glances at the book to see what they are reading out of simple curiosity. Yes, that may be me trying to peer nonchalantly over your shoulder.

However. Isn't there always a however? In the bookstore is another story. If I see someone pick up a book I've read, I may add my 2 cents worth "Oh, that's an excellent story." I rarely ask for strangers opinions in the aisles, but have had other folks ask me for mine which I don't mind at all.

Dena's question brings to mind another one for me. Are you mindful of what books you read in public, since there is that innate curiosity in all of us to peer over shoulders. Which book would you most likely take with you - a classic, a mystery, or that steamy romance that you've been dying to finish?

9 comments:

  1. You are a rather halfhearted introvert then. You may not be invited to our Introverted Blogger Group.

    Don't feel bad...like my imaginary cat, Kitty, it is imaginary..lol

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  2. In regards to your question about what you read in public I definitely try to pay attention to that. Normally on the train and at work I won't be carrying around one of my romance books. Just yesterday even though I was in the middle of a romance with a guy's bare chest on the cover, I put a different book in my work bag to read on the train :)

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  3. I like knowing what other are reading and if they like it :)

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  4. My son will talk to anyone, anywhere about anything too. He is worse than I am (not that it is a bad thing ;o0).

    The only books that I may be mindful of taking along with me are heavy ones, rather than subject matter. I don't read anything to be embarrassed about.

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  5. It depends on what people are reading.

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  6. I am very mindful of what I read in public. For example, my son is in the children's choir, and all the moms read in the back of the choir classroom during that time. No matter how hard I try, I just can't bring a romance novel there. (I have been known to go back out and sit in my van and read it, however.) For that matter, I'm very mindful of what I have laying around the house too. My hubby laughs, but if we have people coming over, I will turn my romance novels over so that you can't see any steamy covers. :)

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  7. I like your follow-up question. There are definitely books I probably would not want to read in public so as not to invite comments or criticism!

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  8. I'm an introvert, too. I'll talk, if someone talks to me and usually it would be in a bookstore setting.

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  9. I agree with you whole-heartedly!

    As for being mindful of what I read in public? I tend to be the kind of person who doesn't care what people (especially strangers I'll likely never see again) think of me. I read whatever I'm reading. Besides, I have GREAT taste! :-)

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