I’m reading a book and two magazines at the moment, and left them both at home.
So I sat on the train, staring around like the rest of the ruminants. It occurred to me that I can take it. I can stand not having something to read for a while. It’s ok. I can daydream.
But I really didn’t like other people thinking that I’m the kind of person who commutes without something to read. I wanted to fashion a sign that explained that this was a temporary situation, not my preference.
Sad, I know.
(Fortunately, there’s a book on hold for me at the library, so I’ll have something for the ride home.)
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That’s so sad it made me laugh. What you’re saying is that you’re insecure, perhaps a bit pretentious? Well all I can say is at least you rode the train, not the bus. You *know* those people can’t read; if *they* saw you with a book, they’d probably beat you up and take your lunch money.
I’m happy to not need a book all the time.
I’m definitely saying that I’m insecure.
The way that I use pretentious, I wouldn’t say that I was being pretentious, though. (I usually use it to mean someone putting on airs. In this case, I just want everyone to know the real me.)
I’m happy to not need anything I don’t need. But I do usually want a book around. I just have so much that I want to read.
But the real you *is* able to entertain yourself without reading! I think we’re using the word the same way, but seeing the situation differently. I usually want a book around, and maybe a backup or two for longer periods. Fortunately for me, I’m a slow reader (sounding out the words seems to slow me down), so I get the most out of each page.
Hmm. If I have a book 300 days out of 305 (and I wish I had one for those 5), then the real me is a guy with a book. I don’t think it’s a matter of whether I CAN entertain myself, but whether I choose to.
If you only see me one of those special 5 days, then you (if you cared, which I well understand is unlikely) might think I’m the kind of guy who usually goes without a book. Which I’m not.
I think I’m a medium reader. Not super-fast, but definitely not slow. I can read newspaper articles really quickly, if I try to not say the words to myself (a poor man’s speed-reading). But I’d never do that with a novel.
LOL. I for one wouldn’t even generalize that you’re the kind of guy who usually rides trains.
FWIW, I’m not a medium reader. I’m very skeptical about the whole talking-to-the-dead-and-getting-a-response bit.
My speed probably isn’t really too bad; I just feel inadequate compared to my amazing wife.