Reading With Pride?

[mbarker]

During our recent trip to a conference in the US, I noticed at least two people reading books. One was perusing Mike Resnick's Purgatory, while the other was devouring something by Nora Roberts. And oddly, when they noticed that I was looking at them, both seemed intent on hiding their books.

I ignored that, and asked what they were reading. And assured the one who was reading romance that people had suggested that I read Nora Roberts, and asked her opinion. I also checked to make sure that the fellow reading Mike Resnick's work knew about Jim Baen's Universe, and showed him that I was reading Off Armageddon Reef by David Weber. We talked a little about science fiction books.

But that initial tendency to hide their books is what concerned me. I'm not sure whether it's the genre or simply the fact that they were reading, but both of them started out acting a little bit ashamed of being caught with a book. I've seen the reaction before, and found that simply asking what are you reading tends to defuse it, but I'm not sure that I understand why they start to hide what they are doing?

I read science fiction. Publicly and with pride. Maybe I should get pins or ribbons - or bookmarks! - made and hand them out, rewarding these people for reading in public. After all, other people talk, watch TV, listen to music (and sometimes croon along), knit, or engage in other hobbies in public.

Why shouldn't people read in public?

Comments

[drammar.livejournal.com]

I think part of this stems from the fact that for some (most? many?) avid readers there was early indoctrination: "Put that book down and pay attention to the conversation" type of instructions.

I read all the time. In lines in the grocery store, on the subway, in the car with my husband. Reading is like breathing to me. And I don't care if people think I'm being rude. But maybe for some, they still think it's rude to read in public because it takes attention away from others.

[mbarker.livejournal.com]

That could be it. It certainly seems to reflect some sort of training to put that book away. Seems odd, since this was sitting in airport lounges or in airplanes, where there certainly isn't much else to do, but . . .

Thanks! Maybe I will make up a "Read with Pride" button and start wearing it while traveling. Bet I'll get some interesting reactions, at least.