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.)
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.