Book Blogger Hop: Most Unusual Places to Read

This prompt was submitted by Billy @ Coffee Addicted Writer:

What’s the quirkiest or most unexpected place you’ve ever read a book, and why?

I’m going to appropriate things I wrote in Book Blogger Hop: Favorite Reading Nook back in 2022 for this one (which, in turn, appropriated something I’d written even earlier). But there is some non-recycled material here, too.

I can—and do—read anywhere: in a house, with a mouse, in a (or on a) box, with a fox, in a car, in a (or under a) tree, on a train (theoretically, never been), in the dark, in the rain (assuming I have some sort of cover—can’t let the pages get wet), with a goat, but definitely not in a boat (I get seasick quicker than Toby Daye gets new clothes blood-stained.

I’ve read in hotel rooms, Airbnbs, a beach, tire shop waiting rooms, hospital waiting rooms, hospital rooms, DMV waiting rooms, restaurants, waiting for a Metal concert to start, during a High School (or lower) orchestra/band concert, during intermission or before a High School play, between bouts at FIRST Robotics competitions, at family gatherings…really anywhere where I have a couple of minutes without much to pay attention to. Thanks to eBook apps on my phone I can do it anywhere. I’ve forgotten them all. I don’t know about unusual or quirky. I’m sure there’s something there.

This question, like the one I mentioned above, made me think of a post from a few years ago, and I figured I’d copy and paste it here. It seems sort of appropriate. I’m not sure it’s the most unusual or quirkiest, but it’s as close as I can remember.

Where the Magic Happens…or something

Three years ago when I switched to a day job, my reading habits had to change—among other things. It took almost no time at all to realize that reading in the break room just wasn’t going to work—it was too loud, there were too many things going on, you couldn’t sit by yourself, really. And then there were all these nice people wanting to talk.

Actually, people, in general, being around was something to get used to, but that’s another story.

Then I realized that there were perfectly good stairs a lot closer to my workspace than the break room was. So I started hanging out there and reading—sometimes, sitting on the stairs, other times leaning against the railing—it’s at a decent height for that. Nowadays, that’s where 40-60% of my weekday reading happens while on break.

It’s not perfectly quiet, but it’s close enough. Except when the flautist practices every couple of months. There are people who pass through—and some of them talk to me, but the conversations are short—because they’re on their way to somewhere else. Sometimes it’s just a “hi,” and occasionally I workshop ideas for posts here when someone asks about what I’m reading. I’ve even been given a couple of good recommendations.

Now, the keen-eyed among you might have noticed a couple of post-its on the wall (circled below).

So, for a couple of years, people would joke about putting up a sign where I read with my name on it or something (more than one person has suggested getting me a chair). But last December, I moved to a different floor, and within a month, someone had put up the larger post-it reading “[H. C.]’s Reading Spot.” This would be in the larger circle.

A couple of weeks later, that person asked if I liked my sign. I had to confess that I had no clue what she was talking about and apologized profusely. Who pays attention to the walls along the stairs? Especially when you’re not climbing the stairs, but are focused on the book/eReader in your hand. So when I went out for my next break, I went looking for it—and she’d added another post-it (the smaller one), “<– This is the sign.”

Very helpful.

So, yeah, that’s where I read and recharge from all the interaction with people so I have enough energy to get back to work and interact with more people.

Sure, it’s not as snazzy as some of the reading nooks you see on Instagram, Bookstr, etc. It could be more comfortable, that’s for sure. But I’ve gotta say, when the book is halfway decent, I don’t notice. That’s where the magic happens.

What’s your quirkiest place?