When you are out in public and notice someone reading do you try and peek at what the book is? I try from time to time on the train and always mean to make a report but by the time I get home I forget what books I saw.
Today though I was sitting next a woman reading and she kept making noises, little squeaks of pleasure. It wasn’t until she gasped that I decided I had to know what she was reading. So I tried to swivel my eyeballs over to her book without being obvious about it. It took some time before I could completely decipher what she was reading because of the way she was holding the book. Her book? Auntie Mame: An Irreverent Escapade. Has anyone read it? If so, is there something in it that is gasp worthy?
Another woman on the train was reading Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms. She was not emitting gasps and pleasure squeaks. Another woman was engrossed in a thriller by the look of the cover but I couldn’t read name or title.
I will have to try and be better at collecting book sightings in public, keep a running list of what Minneapolis people are reading on the train.
Now I am off to share a bowl of popcorn with my dearest and watch District 9. Have a great weekend everyone!
Yes, I’m sure, like most readers, I like to see what others are reading when I’m out and about. It can be quite a challenge to do it surreptitiously can’t it? Book covers and titles are so lovely and so creative that unless you recognise the book by its cover it can be hard to read titles/authors when they are in fancy fonts and bright colours. Very frustrating, LOL.
I have read Auntie Mame but, and this is giving my age away a bit, it was probably around 1970 when I read it (in my teens). It was funny – it was a film, some of you might know, starring the zany Rosalind Russell. I can’t recollect its being gasp worthy but that may be to do with what makes each of us gasp? I have no idea how it stands up to the test of time. It was written in 1955. How great to think that people still read it.
I spent a year (more or less) riding a bus to work in a big city about an hour from where I live. My sense was that the bus was mostly occupied with: hourly workers (secretaries, etc), students, those whose jobs only required attendance a few days a week, those traveling to the city’s airport. I fit none of those categories, but that is a subject for another day.
I am compulsive about spying on what people are reading. Of course there were people reading the latest romances and best sellers, but I was struck by how many people were reading things that would be described as “literary.” Very encouraging.
I loved the musical when I was little (it has a reference to nudity and “spawning” I found deliciously daring at age 7), but have never read Mame in book form. Now I’m curious! A while ago I saw someone smiling to herself on the bus while reading. I was looking down on her book so thought I wouldn’t be able to identify it, but started (hopefully discreetly) reading over her shoulder…and it was the Elizabeth on the omnibus scene in Mrs. Dalloway. I felt like embracing the woman as a long-lost sister.
I definitely find myself peeking at what people are reading. A few weeks ago on the train I saw a guy reading The Guermantes Way and I wanted to pull my copy of The Captive & The Fugitive out of my bag and give him a high five or something in commuting-while-reading-Proust solidarity, though obviously I resisted the temptation. Yesterday the woman next to me seemed to be enjoying her book a lot, so I glanced over to see what it was … but it was in Russian, so I have no idea.
And re: Emily’s comment, aw, that’s great.
I guess someone catching you looking at what they’re reading could be a conversation-starter, if one or both of you is brave enough and in enough of a conversational mood. My mom, who lived in New York City in the ’70s (when she was in her 20s) told me about how once she was reading on the train and noticed someone reading over her shoulder. So she called him on it, and they talked and I think they even ended up going out on a date. I guess they didn’t really click, though, because that was the end of that story.
I love spying on other people’s reading. My bus was sadly empty this morning and there was only one other reader: she was caught up in Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander.
And Auntie Mame? Very enjoyable but I can’t remember gasping at anything in it. Laughing, yes, but not gasping.
My intriguing commuting moment yesterday: in the seats behind me, as the train pulled into Waterloo station, an American woman said to a man across the aisle, “How are you finding the book? I am reading it but have spent all week struggling to read 30 pages.” The man said “I am on page 24.” Although I tried discretely to see what he was reading when I stood up I was unable. I was almost tempted to ask but that would have been too creepy.
I always try and peek at the books people are reading; if it’s something I have never heard of I make a mental note about it to check it out later, but I always forget the name of the book
But I love being able to watch people reading, observe their feelings towards the books by watching their mimics is quiet interesting… Reading reviews of a book is one thing but being able to see someone making “little squeaks of pleasure” is the best way to tell what she’s thinking about the book I guess…
I hope my little harmless habit won’t get me into any trouble
I always check out what books other people on the train are reading, and I have had some very interesting conversations about specific books with some people. In fact, I now have a group of train friends which started from the fact that I talked to one of the girls about the books she read!
I always check out what book it is – but I’m rarely on public transport as I drive to work. But I am always hopelessly curious. And I’ve heard really good things about Aunt Mamie in book form – supposed to be most amusing.
Ahh, Auntie Mame. That brings back some fond memories. I was in a stage production of the musical years ago at a local community theatre. (I played Pegeen Ryan, for those of you who know the story.) It was great fun. And I read the book at the same time and got a lot of laughs from it. Not really a gasp-inducing story, but audible laughter, yes!
I have read both Auntie Mame books and they are both highly amusing (though probably the first one more so!). I love a book that elicits a laugh or two. Unfortunately not many people read on the city buses here–once and a while I’ll spot someone and try and see what the book is. I think Minneapolis is a better reading city than Omaha!
I usually check out what other people are reading – and if I am especially in love with a book that a person is reading and the person seems approachable I will usually comment. I thin, among book lovers, it is a way of paying a stranger a compliment – as in “I like your reading taste”.
Have you ever read Seen Reading? http://www.seenreading.com/
It’s all about book voyeurism.
I love that! So funny. I always try to see what people read. Sometimes I even ask them. People who read are usually happy to talk about what they are reading, I’ve noticed. I also like to talk to people at the library about what they are browsing through. Again, I am not the sort of person who talks to strangers, but somehow I feel safe in the company of book-lovers. I had no idea Auntie Mame was a book! It definitely needs to be checked out, i think.
I saw someone reading a Thursday Next book on a train the other day and it made me excited (also it was the first book and she was smiling which made me remember how lovely it was). It would be great for you to report back on what you see, so curious to see peoples transport reading (Ernest Hemingway? I wonder if she had a long journey to take).
It is impossible to resist taking a peek at the book’s cover, or at the title at the top of the page. Lately, I’ve seen the following books being read on the train:
Love in the Time of Cholera, Some book from the Harvard Business Review, Some book by James Patterson, Michael Pollan’s The Omnivore’s Dilemma (which I happen to be reading right now). There are some everyday, and you’re right: It is like a dream you have that you can’t recall after waking up.
BTW, good luck with District 9. It is a thought-provoking film, but very disturbing at the same time.
Whisperinggums, funny but not gasp worthy. Hmm, maybe she had looked over at what I was reading and gasped
Zeke, the train I take is a metro train that runs between downtown Minneapolis and the Mall of America. There is a big mix of people on it. In the mornings it is filled with people who work downtown like myself. On the way home there is more variety including students, people heading to the airport, and people who have been out running errands. The reading material is quite diverse though tends to the popular an bestseller kinds.
Emily, LOL, spawning would seem quite daring to a 7-year-old
That is so awesome that you caught someone reading Mrs. Dalloway on the bus!
Heather, reading Proust on the train is a daring undertaking. I couldn’t do it, I’d be too tempted to sit and ride on the train all day! Great story about your mom. Too bad it didn’t turn into a romantic story. I think I am going to have to learn how to be braver in talking to people about their reading.
Claire, Oh, Outlander is a good one. As I suggested to Whisperinggums, perhaps the woman gasped at my reading material but I didn’t notice. I’m reading The Professor by Terry Castle it is essays and a memoir and my seatmate could have seen “homosexual” “lesbian” or “marijuana” if she had looked over
Anthony, that is an excellent thing to overhear on the train!
Lua, I don’t feel so bad now about always forgetting what I see people reading
I think anyone who is a reader who may catch you at your habit will completely understand.
Marg, how cool! I have to get over being shy about talking to people about their books.
Litlove, maybe you can start spying on what people around campus are reading, look for books that are no ones someone would be reading for class
Teresa, I think I am going to have to see if I can get a copy of the Auntie Mame movie from Netflix. It sounds like it is good entertainment and then I will know who Pegeen is!
Danielle, too bad not many people read on the buses there. Minneapolis is a book loving city, we are, you know, at the top of the list of most literate cities in the U.S. If you are ever looking to get out of Nebraska and don’t care about being warm, this is the place to go!
Tricia, I think you are right but I am always to shy to say anything. I’ll work on it! Oh, yes, I have read Seen Reading, it’s a great site. Thanks for reminding me about it!
Daphne, you are braver than I! How fun though. I must really try to get past being shy about talking to other readers.
Jodie, how fun! I think if I saw someone reading Thursday Next I’d be able to get over my shyness and say something. Thursday is something I can easily gush over
I will try to figure out a way of keeping track of books I see people reading and perhaps make a report about it ever week or two. That could be fun!
Polaris, you have spotted some excellent book reading lately. Oh District 9 was great. It was very disturbing and thought-provoking as you say. I think it is going to be sticking with me for awhile.
I love seeing what others are reading! I haven’t read Auntie Mame, but I was in the musical, which was fun, and I’ve read another book by that author (written under a pseudonym), The Loving Couple. I found it amusing, although dated.
I’m always checking out other people’s books. More than half the time here, though, they’re in French, so then it’s a puzzle to connect them to titles I know. I love the thrill of recognition, but then there are so many books I’ve never heard of. Can’t say I’ve ever been inspired to pick up a book because of a commuter’s reactions.
My name is HELEN & I am also a “book stalker”. I have an iPhone so I usually will look up the title & read reviews right then & there. Then I might either add it to my Wishlist or look at other books by that author. If the person reading seems approachable I might start a conversation particularly if it is a book I have read or want to read. WOW. Very happy to hear that I am not alone in book title voyeurism……Something to be said about camaradarie…
Have a Great Day ALL
Oh this is so fun! I don’t take public transportation now but when I did, I was usually the one reading, completely oblivious to what others were reading!
Auntie Mame is one of those books that I always forget is one of my all-time favorite books, until either I reread it, or someone mentions it again. What a fabulous romp of a novel! You should definitely add it to your list.
I also peek at books on the bus. Used to do it more when I was taking the bus every day. It’s interesting what you see there.
I found reading on the bus to be a good conversation starter (too good sometimes) as people asked me what I was reading and what I thought of it. Also worked pretty well between classes.
This post inspired my Sunday Salon post for this week!
Check it out here
Dorothy, You were in the Auntie Mame musical? That is somehow not something I would ever have imagined you doing. You must share some tidbits from your high school? College? Community theater? theatrics!
Isabella, I suppose living in a bilingual city makes book spying a bit more challenging!
Helen, LOL
You have just revealed to me what an iPhone could possibly be good for. Very cool.
Rebecca, I know what you mean about being completely oblivious. I usually am but for some reason I have begun noticing which makes things quite interesting. I will definitely add Auntie Mame to my tbr list.
Elena, I have never had someone ask me about a book I am reading on the train. I think Minnesotans must be a bit more reticent when it comes to that than Canadians
Marg, what fun! I’ve been keeping a list since this post.
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