The Sunday Salon: A Reading Experiment

Last Sunday, when I whined about how much trouble it was deciding what book to buy, Laurel-Rain Snow mentioned that when she goes to a bookstore, she usually tries to have a book in her bag, which she then reads in the attached cafe. That got me thinking about my reading preferences in bookstores. I do like to a read a little something during my visits to a brick and mortar bookstore, but I never really thought about what I read.

I usually like to treat in-store reading as a kind of sampling. Pick a random book that I've been curious about or which someone recommended to me, walk over to the cafe, and, sometimes over coffee, read a few pages of the book. This has helped me decide about quite a few books that I wasn't sure about - Some have raced to the top of my wishlist, some never get into my TBR even. Besides, it's such a serendipitous experience - something I feel lacking in my reading every once in a while, with all the lists I've made months in advance.

But reading Laurel's comment made me realize that I can also read any of the books that I have at home. I do know that many times I carry at least an ebook with me to a bookstore, but I don't think I've ever made a conscious attempt to read one.

Not a picture I took, though it may well have been.
(Picture source)

So, on Friday, dressed all summery and ready with my copy of Ann Patchett's State of Wonder, I headed to my local B&N. The first thing I noticed was that it was too quiet in there. There was barely a soul in. Oh, who am I kidding! It was a Friday evening and why would anyone hang around in a bookstore, when there are rock concerts, parties and bars to hang out at! Anyways, I conveniently had a headache, so I grabbed a cup of yummy cafe au lait, and plonked myself on a table from where I had a great vantage point of almost all other tables and most of the people. Which is the kind of seat I always look for. Isn't reading a social experience after all?

I opened up my book and thumbed over to page 68. Ann Patchett's beautiful prose was gripping. I took a moment to remember what happened up to that page, where the protagonist was, and oh, that guy in front of me is reading Jane Eyre! Man, I should ask him what he thinks of it - I don't know many guys who like Jane Eyre! Anyways, back to my book. Page 68.

(Picture source)

And so I resumed my reading. One paragraph over. I look to my right at all the books sitting on the stacks over there, wondering if any of those would look good on my bookshelf. You know, it's all about architecture and style. I am almost certain that some of those would look good at my apartment better than in a bookstore. Should I...? No, I came here to read my book and I better read it. Right.

And so I keep reading. Ann Patchett's writing is really beautiful, except you know, it's not a "beach read'. It's not a book you can take with you in public and read in the middle of distractions. It's something you should read in your home at a fireside, or in your recliner. Not in the patio. Not in front of the TV. Not with screaming kids or distracting chores. Not in the airport. And definitely not in a bookstore. Unless you have uber-concentration powers!

But still, I kept reading. Some guy chooses that moment to walk in front of me with a nice looking book whose title is covered. I just had to know what that book was. I don't find out. And moments later, he walks in front of the Relationships section. I promise I wasn't curious. I continue reading. But, it's actually getting cold in here. Wonder if that has something to do with the less number of humans around. Two hours later, I start feeling hungry and decide to head home. Just before closing my book, I saw that I was on page 98.

30 pages in two hours, of a book that's actually beautiful. What a bummer. Though it's thanks to a poor choice of book. But most likely, I forgot to at least "visit" the other books before heading to the cafe - that usually satisfies the bookish me and lets me focus on what I chose to read. Or the fact that not knowing much about the book I'm reading helps me focus on it better than when I am already some part into it - very comfortable with the author and the writing style. Oh, whatever.