I had a very cool bookspotting moment this week. I stepped onto the MTR at North Point and saw a man reading a book called Clarinet. I stood across from him and opened up my paperback copy of The Finkler Question. I happened to glance down the train and saw a mother and daughter sitting side by side and reading two more English paperback books, though I couldn't see the titles. The four of us made quite a group. I do not think I have seen that many people reading in one place since I got here.
I saw a young man carrying a copy of Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell, a teenager reading Caesar's Legion by Stephen Dando-Collins and a young woman reading 1984 by George Orwell in Chinese. A young girl sat next to me on another train reading a highlighted and dogeared copy of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. I noticed four other Chinese books this week in various places, and I saw another Kindle in the Kubrik Cafe.
What are people reading in your town this week?
When you see someone reading a book you love, are you always tempted to say something to them about it? I thought Outliers was fascinating and of course the Narnia books are big favorites here.
ReplyDeleteI spotted two e-readers this week. Last Sunday I saw a woman using a Kindle in church. I watched her with interest, because I don't think I could navigate fast enough on mine to flip back and forth between the bible passages referred to in the sermon. She seemed to go to the table of contents each time to find the appropriate spot. She kept up with the sermon very well, as far as I could tell.
Then, at a midweek matinee movie, I noticed the (wheelchair-bound) ticket taker was reading between customers (it was a slow day at the theater). I asked her if it was a Kindle and she said it was a Nook and she loves it and can read ten books a week now.
Even though I was paying (more) attention this week I only saw one: Love the one you're with. Clearly I haven't been spending enough time in coffee shops (where I usually see the reading action). Must remedy that this week!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it amazing how books help bridge the distance between people? Whether its created by actual distance or a needed introduction...it's an instant conversation starter every time. Enjoyed the bookspotting trip! Will have to keep my eyes open the next time I'm out and about to see what fellow readers are around me. (Usually too busy reading myself! ) ^_^ Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteLove your blog. It's extremely well written and thought provoking. I've joined, signed up to receive feeds and look forward to further posts.
ReplyDeleteBTW - I found you on The Blog Farm.
Thank you for your comments everyone!
ReplyDeleteJulie Y- Yes, I do often want to talk to people about the books they're reading, but I'm usually not brave enough or I don't want to bother them :). I've had two short conversations with teenage girls on the MTR who have asked me about my Kindle. One of them said I should come be an English teacher at her school.
Kathmeista- Coffee shops are definitely the place to go for the reading action! I hope you get some nice, relaxing reading time this week.
GMR- I agree with you completely. Books have already helped me connect with a lot of people through this blog. Now I glance up from my own book a lot more to spy on other readers, too :).
Mari- Thank you so much for your kind comments. I visited your blog and I will definitely be going back. I would love to learn how to take better pictures around HK.