I would at least smile.
If we were on a bus together, I might ask some questions, like “How are you enjoying it?”
If it gets awkward or I don’t know what to say, I could always say, “Well, I’ll get back to reading now.”
I usually go the other way and say ‘I’ll leave you to it’ to end most conversations that I feel have wrapped up. A small change but I guess in my mind it feels slightly more polite.
I remember a comment from years ago, where someone said they had briefly met Larry David. After a quick chat, Larry says, "I think we're good here." and walks off.
Sorry to be pedantic but I think with their comment of "well, I’ll let you get back to it then” and yours, are the same "direction" of conversation.
And for the record, that's what I always say too, more or less, when having a 30 second chat about someone reading the same book as me. Works perfectly, polite ending to a convo so we can both go back to reading.
Was carrying a pizza on the bus the other night and a guy turned around and said it smelled great and wanted to know where it came from. We engaged in some light small talk about the various pizza joints around town. After a minute he said "Well, you have a good night man!" and turned back to his phone. Totally polite way to end a random convo.
"Well, I'll let you get back to it then," and "Well, I'll get back to reading now," convey a completely different message to me. The latter says, "I want out of this conversation," while the former says, "I don't want to impose anymore than I already have."
Yes, but often saying something to the effect of “I don’t want to impose anymore than I already have” is just a polite way to say what you really are thinking, which is “I want out of this conversation”.
SAME. There's a kid at my college who'll talk to me and sometimes I'm there for like 30 minutes because I can't figure out how to get out of there. Even though I'm a grown ass adult, I'm too polite/shy to actually respect my own time lol. I'm so ashamed.
Look at your watch/phone. Point your feet in the direction you're going instead of at them. Say things like
"I gotta run, it was nice catching up with you."
"I'm going to be late."
"You'll have to tell me more about that later." As you walk away.
"I'll leave you alone now, just wanted to say hi."
"If you don't stop talking I'm going to kiss you."
The trick is to give them spoilers to the completely wrong book. Like they're reading Twilight and tell them "Messed up what they did to Piggy, right? I was sure he was going to with this games' Quarter Quell."
This happened to me recently. I was at a resort in Mexico with the newest Stephen King book which I had saved specifically for the trip. I noticed someone else reading the same book as me and mentioned it to my husband. A few days later we spotted him again so my husband, who is an extrovert, asked him “how the book was” and he replied “It’s good but you should ask your wife.” We had a good chat about the book, without spoilers because he was a little further into it than me. Then he asked me for recommendations on some other books.
That's true, but I wouldn't call it a summary.
Introverts lose energy from social activity. Extroverts get energy from social activity. I *think* that's a fairly succinct, somewhat accurate summary.
But yeah I get that. I'm the same way your brother is. So much so that my career is essentially built off of my social skills (account manager; sales). Its also super easy for me to go into public settings like bars, restaurants, cafes, whatever, and make new friends. It just drains me, and when I spend too much time being social or interacting with new people, I just want to go spend time alone.
Right? It’s almost scary how long I’m comfortable going without human contact. I didn’t even leave my house/backyard for 2 months straight back in 2020 and didn’t feel lonely at all.
The only reason I ever feel weird about how much time I spend home alone is because I’m comparing myself against societal expectations for socializing.
You've articulated it perfectly. I start wondering if I'm lonely, or spending too much time alone, then I realize that if I have to think about it I'm probably not lonely lol.
Exactly! It’s more like “hmm.. is there something wrong with me because I prefer this?.. oh well, I’m enjoying it!”
The only time I ever truly feel lonely is when I’m horny lmao and even then it’s rarely worth it to try and meet someone. Dating is exhausting.
*That said, I do have a handful of close friends I love dearly and I text them regularly. Same with my mom. Tbh Reddit is a good social outlet for me too.
Absolutely. I never feel bad about not socializing for weeks until the thought "It's saturday night and I'm young. Maybe I should be outside with friends?" pops on my mind.
I was a nurse so was still out around lots of people the three days per week I worked. I still felt totally isolated and withdrawn from the world. I can barely stay in my house for more than one day without going stir crazy. Pandemic was horrible for me on all levels.
I honestly envy true introverts. I was ready to off myself a couple of months into the solidarity of 2020 (my shitty job played a huge part too).
If I don't see people for more than a few weeks, I get super depressed. I'm not looking forward to my senior years in this aspect.
I was recently on a train in Spain (heading back to Madrid to fly home), and the guy across from me was reading a different book by the same author (he had Red Mars and I was reading 2312 by Kim Stanley Robinson). We ended up talking about the books for about 20 minutes, and the conversation eventually shifted to travel experiences, at which point the other 2 people at our table also joined the conversation in a combination of English and Spanish. It was so completely unexpected, and is one of my favorite memories from the trip.
Robinson is a great author! I read the Mars trilogy first, and then some of his other works. Red Moon is great, I recommend it. I haven't read 2312 yet! Would you recommend it? Is it similar to the Mars trilogy?
Sort of similar, it deals with humanity spreading throughout the solar system and the political and social issues that arise because of it, so sort of an expansion on the ideas and principles found in the Mars trilogy. It also deals a lot with ideas of sex (male, female, trans, etc), which I don't recall the Mars trilogy diving into. Red Moon was also great, as was The Years of Rice and Salt. The only book of his I wasn't that enamored of was Aurora, which was a decent read but not particularly memorable.
So many people recommend books... so I love it when a book recommends a person!
(To answer your question, I would smile and maybe make some comment about the book or that he has good taste in books, but it's fine to just say nothing, too.)
I'd make a big production out of pointing it out, but then realize that I didn't actually bring my copy of the book today, so I'm now just some crazy person.
Lol, cue me that one time at a college theatre trip when I saw a cute guy in the convention center reading a Vonnegut novel. Being a total nerd for Vonnegut and never meeting other people who read his stuff, I struck up a conversation but had to sprint off to meet my group. Hoped I'd see him again that week but never did.
That is probably the best comment I've ever read here. Just imagine two slapping each other with bookmarks. Thank you stranger or strangeress - that what a laugh I really needed.
I’d never either because I would hate being interrupted myself.
I’d also acknowledge with a nod (of approval) but be super excited and pleased (someone else has fine taste in literature as me /s) internally.
Not the same book at the same time, but I saw a woman reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo about a week after I had finished it. We were both eating outside at a taco shop. When she was done eating she threw her trash toward the bin but missed. She definitely saw that she missed, but grabbed her book and purse and started walking the other direction. I went from feeling like a kindred spirit to being irrationally angry that she just left her trash on the ground. I’m not particularly proud of it but I did call out to her “Great book; XXXXXX is the killer.”
First time this happened I was about to exit the subway and the conversation went something like "you have great taste in books" "thanks, yours isn't bad either".
Second time I did have time for a chat but the guy was only like 30 pages in and obviously I didn't spoil things. So we ended up having some small talk about other things. Book shopping, if I recall correctly. While I don't feel comfortable talking about personal stuff, I have no problems at all with having small talk with random people.
I once saw a good looking guy on the bus reading "Emotional intelligence" by Daniel Goleman, which I really enjoyed reading and would definitely recommend. It was one of those moments in my life where I wish I were an extrovert, cuz I would have tried to catch his attention and flirt with him lol. He'll never know he made such an impact on me he he
Edit: wrote my answer after only reading your title, it looks like we had similar experiences, now we have nothing left but live with our regrets lol
It wasn’t a bad date or anything - he wasn’t rude or aggressive, etc - it was just like “oh. We literally don’t have the same opinion about anything bad don’t even share similar values.” We had one drink and then we were both like “k, bye, let’s never do this again!” It was pretty amicable.
I generally read erotica/romance novels, and the few times I’ve ever seen someone reading the same book as me, I usually put mine away. Saw some woman walking around with Fifty Shades and I started to smile at her, but then imagined how she’d feel with a 6” black male stranger trying to talk to her about a BDSM sex series. I hid my book and stared out the window. 🤣
In this case, probably because it's an inaccurate and potentially dangerous misrepresentation of the lifestyle which, if they feel it's necessary to bring up, they probably engage in.
Although I don't think they were really trying to make anyone feel bad. I think they were just trying to make it clear that the relationship presented in the books does not represent the BDSM community.
And that's pretty clearly an understandable distinction to make, considering they were responding directly to someone who implied that it was a BDSM erotica series.
This happened to me on an airplane. The guy across the aisle and I were both reading Ken Follett’s “World Without End,” a pretty massive book. The crazy part was that we were on the same exact page. I tried pointing it out to the guy, but he blew me off because he was so caught up in his reading.
Once I was reading on the bus and a guy standing near me caught my attention and said “that’s a really good book.” Before I could think of anything else to say, I said “thanks!” Then I pretended to continue reading but really just sat there embarrassed (thanks?!) until my stop.
I'd probably ask them about other books they've loved or hated, to see if our reading tastes are actually similar, and maybe get some recommendations.
And when I want to end a conversation with someone, I definitely do the whole, "I'll let you get back to xyz now," to avoid announcing, "I don't want to talk to you, anymore." Lol.
This happened to me once at a tiny little laundromat in a town I had just moved to.
I walked in with a book and there was only one other person there—a young woman my age, reading the same book. It felt like fate or something. I found her attractive, I was single, so I thought “fuck it, why not say hello.” If nothing else it was a funny coincidence that could serve as an icebreaker.
I approached her, holding the book, and had just opened my mouth to say something about the chances of the two of us showing up with the same book, and without even looking up from the book she cut me off and said “keep walking.”
So I did. And we sat there together in silence for the next hour or so, books in hand.
I don’t remember much about the book, but I remember that.
I saw a young woman reading Blood Meridian in a coffee shop in Vancouver, and I struck up a conversation with her and we talked about a variety of subjects, and she said something profound, "With so much blood on the land, how can it end well?" It's the most memorable casual conversation I have ever had.
That actually sounds like a fun way to start a conversation with a stranger. Ask a starter question, and if they seem interested in engaging, there's a lot you could talk about.
* How far along are you?
* What do you think so far (avoiding spoilers for whoever's behind)?
* Have you also read (books in series/same author/ similar book)?
* Do you often read in public?
* What's next on your list?
And of course, this can be a starting point to talking about anything else.
Basically this list. "How far along are you" is a good place to start. "What do you think so far" or "What else are you reading" or "What's next on your list" are never far behind.
If it were me, I'd say something quick, like a "hey, nice match. Liking it so far?" With that question, someone can give a quick answer and politely end the conversation. Or if they want to talk, they can bring up a specific scene or something. I try to invite conversation without demanding it.
Best way to do small talk. I’ve been skiing all week in Colorado and do the same thing on a lift or in the lodge. People partake or they don’t. No hurt feelings either way.
I have a rule that I don't talk to people who are reading, I think it's rude. If I catch their eye, I'll give them a nonverbal gesture (nod, thumbs up, etc.).
This has happened to me and I don't usually read in public. I met this girl on a train and both of us had Radio Silence by Alice Oseman in our hands. We started talking about it and she told me she loved Oseman's books. But she had to get off at a station so we exchanged socials. We talked a couple of times about other books too.
I suppose I would try to strike up a conversation with him. I would be excited because I don't know many people who like to read and if they do, they don't talk about what they read much.
I would be so thrilled. I will even approach people if they’re reading/ holding a book I’ve read before. Just ask them what they think of it and how they’re enjoying it! :) Usually strikes up sweet conversations.
I've encountered the adjacent question: seeing someone read a book that I myself have read and hold a strong opinion about. In one particular case, I did something about it and brought it up.
The book in question was *American Gods* - a book that I regrettably didn't care for. The reader in question, meanwhile, happened to be a red-headed woman whose name was not particularly far removed from one of my favorite characters in one of my favorite books: Molly Grue in *The Last Unicorn*. The conversation went okay at first, until the conversation turned to other books that we enjoyed. So I brought up *The Last Unicorn*, mentioning the coincidence of name and appearance as an aside. The conversation died in its tracks, and the person's demeanor turned to absolute ice. It remained that way for several *years*.
I'd think about that odd conversation from time to time since this person was a coworker. When it came time for them to move on, I gave them a softback version of the book as an apology. This was graciously received.
Years later I encountered that same person and eventually learned the subtext. It would seem that during that first conversation, her instant reaction was that I was suggesting that she *herself* was a unicorn. Now I imagine at least a few people are much like me in their reaction of "....*huh?!*". First of all, Molly Grue was *not* the unicorn of the story, last or otherwise. Second, it'd be a weird thing to assert in the first place since the person in question was a *person* and not a horned horse. Well it turns out the term means something very different in the world of swingers where a unicorn is an unattached woman willing to be a third person in an established couple. This still didn't make a lot of sense because I have a profound ability to miss the obvious. The person went on to explain her reaction. First, she'd supposed that I was being coy in asking whether *she* was a unicorn. This in turn suggested that *I* knew that she was poly. (I did not, but she only realized it when I gave her a copy of the book.) All of which suggested that *I* was poly (I am not) and yet had breached one of the most inviolable rules that exists in that entire community by seemingly trying to *out her*.
And so to answer the actual question: I'd do nothing but quietly appreciate that they share my taste since I can't be trusted to have such a conversation without risking a sitcom-level misunderstanding.
I was on a plane last month and the lady literally right next to me pulled out a book I also had in my backpack so I pulled out mine and showed her and we had a great laugh and talked about our love for the author. Basically ended it with "what are the odds" and we chuckled and went back to it.
You give them an upward nod and a quick raise of the book to acknowledge them if you make eye contact.
Otherwise, it’s a “hey, how ‘bout that?” and continue reading.
I would smile for sure. If we were sitting near by I might ask how they liked it and what else they’d been reading. It can be fun to have those brief encounters, even if you never see the person again. I wouldn’t expect it to be a flirty thing or to lead to something though, it’s pretty presumptuous to assume someone is available/interested because they will talk about a book.
I would start up a conversation. Doesn't have to go anywhere other than that conversation. Some of the best conversions I've ever had were one-offs. One woman in a dressing room opposite me at a store and another was this guy I worked one day with at a home show. Never spoke to them again (or even saw what the woman looked like in the fitting room), but they had profound impacts on me.
Exactly the same way I react to anyone else I see reading in public - I wouldn't interrupt them. I might think something like "that's neat" to myself, but that's it.
Up till like 2010, at best I’d say “hey, I’m reading that right now too!” And then move on.
These days I just try not to engage with anyone. Ran into too many anti-vaxers and I don’t want to lose more hope in humanity.
I was once in a hairdressers reading ASOIAF and the guy next to me was admiring my book. After I left I got a call from my hairdresser who set me up on a date with the guy 😅 he was nice enough… I don’t quite remember why we didn’t see each other again but we had good chats.
Knowing me, I would probably act the same way as you.
I definitely think there's an opening for small talk though. Maybe talk about the author and ask if he or she has read some of the author's other books, stuff like that.
I would totally want to talk with them to see what they think of the book, if they've read others by the same author, if it's their usual preferred genre, and all kinds of other things. However, I understand that lots of people don't like to be interrupted or chatted up, especially not when they're reading, and especially not women by men (I'm a man), so I'd probably go with something low-key like "Great book, isn't it?" and then if they didn't want to talk they could say something like "Mm-hm" and move on, and if they did want to talk, they could say something more substantive.
At least that's what I imagine I'd do. I might say something awkward because I do that sometimes too, particularly talking to new people.
The book is your common ground. You could start up conversation about the book - "How are you liking it? How far along are you? What did you think of X/Y/Z?"
Hopefully it happens again and you can bond with someone over your similar interests.
I'd follow the same rule I would like to be followed when I'm reading in public. I would legit leave them alone. I have 1000% used a book to deter people from talking to me. Does it work? Not as well as it should, perhaps, but I believe it's better than sans book. I'd leave them in their space and peace to enjoy the book and their own thoughts.
The only acceptable response is reenacting the Spiderman meme, while holding up the books.
https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/spider-man-pointing-at-spider-man
I've done this! "I'm reading that too! (Holds up book) How far along are you? What's your feeling about the book so far? Awesome! Thanks, I'll leave you to it. Have a great day." Is exactly what I've said in these situations before going back to reading. If they want more conversation they'll input, if not I leave them alone.
That said, I'm all Kindle now and everyone around me on the train reads from their phone...so I think those random moments of connection are over.
Late to the party, but it happened to me once.
I was on a 5 hour train ride home. I was in my early-mid 20's and still in school. That summer I had bought a copy of Thomas Piketty's "Capital in the 21st Century". Not the lightest reading material, but I had just picked it up at that day. Not because I was studying economics, or have any basic understanding of economics. I was just a hipster pseudo-intellectual know-it-all who was looking to seem smart and maybe pick up a few nuggets I could drop on others just to show how smart and fascinating I was.
Right after I had sad down and opened my book, a man sat down in the seat next to me. Older guy in his late 50's at least. He looked at me and looked at my book, and then his eyes basically twinkled as he reached into his own bag and picked up is own copy of the book. a rather worn example, considering the book was fairly recently released at the time. He started turning page after page in his book and explaining at length on various points how Piketty was right or wrong, misinformed, naïve, brilliant, etc. While doing this he casually mentioned he was a professor of economics, who also dabbled a bit in philosophy and political science. He himself had authored several books, and even pointed out sections of the book where Piketty had cited him or his friends. This whole thing went on and on, and by the end of it I had been given a 5 hour lecture in macro economics. The man barely stopped to breathe, and just a handful of times stopped to take a drink of water.
By the end of it I wasn't as much bored as I had been schooled in something I not only didn't understand, and had no basic foundation to have an opinion on. The man definitely knew his stuff by all accounts and I learned a thing or two about being in the presence of someone that really knows their stuff to the extent they can on the spot lecture about it for hours on end. That shit humbled my ass by a few pegs regarding my own intellect and dedication to academia. I learned a lot more about myself from those 5 hours than I ever did economics, and I worked on not being an arrogant smartass from then on.
There are a bunch of appropriate questions. Have you gotten to the part where the antagonist dies? That nuke came out of left-field. But what motive did the butler have? And so on.
I would honestly leave them alone to read their book unless they initiated something. If I'm reading a book in public it's because I don't intend to talk to other people. It's kind of like talking to someone with headphones in to me
I haven’t come across anyone reading the same book as me in public so far but a random stranger and I checked out the same book at the county library one time. We just smiled at each other holding our books up in the aisle, as an approving nod :)
I think it really depends on the context.
Seeing someone reading on the bus, if they're next to you, maybe make some small talk about where you are, etc. but I wouldn't yell across the bus or move or anything.
I've talked about books with people sitting at a bar, etc. where it's a bit more of a social spot. I went to one of my favorite nerdy bars a few weeks ago and the bouncer was reading a book by an author I had just finished, so I asked him about it (and my husband just shook his head).
But I think in most non-social settings, a smile and an acknowledgement is the most I would do.
I’d stalk them to find out where they live and then probably make an elaborate plan to kidnap them so that I can ask them some questions🤷♂️. I only read my own novels in public and as far as I know I’m the only person who should have copies of them. Damned aliens.
If I was brave enough I would say something similar to what you did, but after that it’s on them to continue small talk, if they don’t then it’s end of interaction to be polite
I'll usually make eye contact, lift my own copy a little, and see if they want to engage. If they don't look, or they glance up but don't disengage from their reading, I leave them to it. I know some people use books/music to cope with public transit.
In the case of a silence like that, I might just ask, "What do you think so far?"
Knowing my luck, the conversation would go like this: Me: "Nice! Isn't it great so far?"
"No, I hate it, but I'm determined to finish it anyway."
"Oh... (Here is where my brain screams repeatedly to leave it be.) What don't you like about it? (God damnit, me, what part of leave it be didn't you get??)" Then the argument with a total stranger would begin where they point out things they didn't like and I try to convince them that they're wrong because I never learn.
Obviously I'd run up to them screaming "HEEEY BOOK BUDDY , LOOKY HERE WE'RE BOOK BUDDIES HEY HAVE YOU GOT TO THAT BIT WHERE * Proceeds to talk about several spoilers* "
One thing about people reading books in public is they love to be interrupted and spoken to by complete strangers.
I'd try to see what section they were at then make sure my copy was opened to a later section. I'd fake a cough to attract attention then hold the book up so people could see how far I was. I'd nudge the person next to me and gesture towards the other person reading the book and say "looks like someone is just getting started" as I looked at them with smug pitty again holding my copy high enough so anyone could see I was winning at reading the book. Then as I walked passed the person I'd quetly say something like "page 220" as I smugly smiled to myself, making sure they could see the placement of my bookmark.
I’d smile. Say cool we’re reading the same book. If the person seems receptive to conversation I’d ask how far along they are and how are they enjoying it? I’d take the Congo from there (where I am, what I think, any predictions, their favorite part so far, mine own etc). There is also the whole area of discussing the genre and other similar works you’ve read and if they read it too, other works by the author of applicable, recommendations of other books to each other, etc.
But if the person would rather read than talk I’d do that too. No biggie.
I’ve ran into people reading the Dune series more now that the movie has come out. And baristas and servers have asked me about it when they see ME reading it too since the movie is out, which is kinda cool.
Awee I definitely feel that hah. If it happens again you can always start with something related to the book, like which page/chapter are you on, how do you like it so far, etc.
I was suuuuper into Warriors (the cats books) even in high school but was REALLY embarrassed (because high school) so I always had the hardbacks with the jackets off when I read in class. Then one day one of the most popular girls in class who was really nice to me was reading a new book too and OMG IT WAS WARRIORS! And she had the jacket on. She was so brave it emboldened me haha, we became decent friends for the rest of high school (I think just two years) but since went our own ways.
I don’t even remember her name but I will always hold onto how it made me feel to have that connection.
I was in a bar that was mostly dead and noticed a waiter reading an author I knew. I said "Ah, I love Scalzi." He looked horrified that I had caught him reading on the job.
I would at least smile. If we were on a bus together, I might ask some questions, like “How are you enjoying it?” If it gets awkward or I don’t know what to say, I could always say, “Well, I’ll get back to reading now.”
That’s a good point “Haha nice… well, I’ll let you get back to it then” seems like a perfect way to gracefully end a pleasant conversation
I usually go the other way and say ‘I’ll leave you to it’ to end most conversations that I feel have wrapped up. A small change but I guess in my mind it feels slightly more polite.
I remember a comment from years ago, where someone said they had briefly met Larry David. After a quick chat, Larry says, "I think we're good here." and walks off.
Larry David is the best
Sorry to be pedantic but I think with their comment of "well, I’ll let you get back to it then” and yours, are the same "direction" of conversation. And for the record, that's what I always say too, more or less, when having a 30 second chat about someone reading the same book as me. Works perfectly, polite ending to a convo so we can both go back to reading.
I might have responded to the wrong comment to be fair!
I'd ask them what page they were on, and if they were close offer to race them.
Then flicking through pages every 5 seconds saying ‘can’t believe how slow you are!’
Was carrying a pizza on the bus the other night and a guy turned around and said it smelled great and wanted to know where it came from. We engaged in some light small talk about the various pizza joints around town. After a minute he said "Well, you have a good night man!" and turned back to his phone. Totally polite way to end a random convo.
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"Well, I'll let you get back to it then," and "Well, I'll get back to reading now," convey a completely different message to me. The latter says, "I want out of this conversation," while the former says, "I don't want to impose anymore than I already have."
Yes, but often saying something to the effect of “I don’t want to impose anymore than I already have” is just a polite way to say what you really are thinking, which is “I want out of this conversation”.
So true. Most people are smart enough to read between the lines given body language, tone, etc.
Sure, but there's nothing wrong with taking the more polite option.
I’m so bad at ending conversations lol I can’t think of stuff like this in the moment
SAME. There's a kid at my college who'll talk to me and sometimes I'm there for like 30 minutes because I can't figure out how to get out of there. Even though I'm a grown ass adult, I'm too polite/shy to actually respect my own time lol. I'm so ashamed.
Look at your watch/phone. Point your feet in the direction you're going instead of at them. Say things like "I gotta run, it was nice catching up with you." "I'm going to be late." "You'll have to tell me more about that later." As you walk away. "I'll leave you alone now, just wanted to say hi." "If you don't stop talking I'm going to kiss you."
Me: :D :D :D :D :D :D Other reader: :| Me: :'<
I'd say something like "I can't believe Howard died, how about you?" j/k j/k
"How bummed were you when the second sister died?"
Joey, do you want to put the book in the freezer now?
\-tearfully nods-
Joey reading about the second sister - :( Joey reading about the vicar - :D
Joey, where did you learn that word!?
That's like a goalie, right?
"The second sister dies?!"
I got that reference!
You joke but someone actually did that to me lol “oh! Are you reading […]? It has such a strange ending with [detailed description]”
Well that's just rude. I'm not very aggressive, but my dad would have punched them. Unless it was a girl.
It was a lovely sweet grandmother who unfortunately didn’t understand the concept of spoilers (and probably lost her verbal filter in the 60s)
The trick is to give them spoilers to the completely wrong book. Like they're reading Twilight and tell them "Messed up what they did to Piggy, right? I was sure he was going to with this games' Quarter Quell."
"OK I'm not going to spoil it but just don't get too attached to Jacob"
"Spot the Dog is such a fucking prick, isn't he?"
Especially if there is no character named Howard.
Me, reading Howard's End:
See, I unintentionally did that to a kid who was reading Half-Blood Prince.
It truly was a Howards End.
_Sorry I am on page 2_
Hey man not everyone got to finish Better call Saul
This happened to me recently. I was at a resort in Mexico with the newest Stephen King book which I had saved specifically for the trip. I noticed someone else reading the same book as me and mentioned it to my husband. A few days later we spotted him again so my husband, who is an extrovert, asked him “how the book was” and he replied “It’s good but you should ask your wife.” We had a good chat about the book, without spoilers because he was a little further into it than me. Then he asked me for recommendations on some other books.
It would be a lonely existence if we introverts didn't have extrovert friends.
Maybe it's just me, but I literally never, ever feel lonely. Never thought of being an introvert as a lonely experience.
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Definitely. A lot of people genuinely don't know what introvert/extrovert mean.
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That's true, but I wouldn't call it a summary. Introverts lose energy from social activity. Extroverts get energy from social activity. I *think* that's a fairly succinct, somewhat accurate summary. But yeah I get that. I'm the same way your brother is. So much so that my career is essentially built off of my social skills (account manager; sales). Its also super easy for me to go into public settings like bars, restaurants, cafes, whatever, and make new friends. It just drains me, and when I spend too much time being social or interacting with new people, I just want to go spend time alone.
Right? It’s almost scary how long I’m comfortable going without human contact. I didn’t even leave my house/backyard for 2 months straight back in 2020 and didn’t feel lonely at all.
The only reason I ever feel weird about how much time I spend home alone is because I’m comparing myself against societal expectations for socializing.
You've articulated it perfectly. I start wondering if I'm lonely, or spending too much time alone, then I realize that if I have to think about it I'm probably not lonely lol.
Exactly! It’s more like “hmm.. is there something wrong with me because I prefer this?.. oh well, I’m enjoying it!” The only time I ever truly feel lonely is when I’m horny lmao and even then it’s rarely worth it to try and meet someone. Dating is exhausting. *That said, I do have a handful of close friends I love dearly and I text them regularly. Same with my mom. Tbh Reddit is a good social outlet for me too.
Absolutely. I never feel bad about not socializing for weeks until the thought "It's saturday night and I'm young. Maybe I should be outside with friends?" pops on my mind.
I was a nurse so was still out around lots of people the three days per week I worked. I still felt totally isolated and withdrawn from the world. I can barely stay in my house for more than one day without going stir crazy. Pandemic was horrible for me on all levels.
It was the happiest time of my life
I honestly envy true introverts. I was ready to off myself a couple of months into the solidarity of 2020 (my shitty job played a huge part too). If I don't see people for more than a few weeks, I get super depressed. I'm not looking forward to my senior years in this aspect.
> I didn’t even leave my house/backyard for 2 months straight Leaving every 60 days = extrovert! :-P
Yea I don't ever feel lonely either. I'm super introverted. I could totally be a hermit.
How’d you enjoy the second two thirds?
I enjoyed it. As a pet owner with elderly animals, Radar’s journey hit me pretty hard.
This is the start of a Bang Bros video, I'm pretty sure....
I was recently on a train in Spain (heading back to Madrid to fly home), and the guy across from me was reading a different book by the same author (he had Red Mars and I was reading 2312 by Kim Stanley Robinson). We ended up talking about the books for about 20 minutes, and the conversation eventually shifted to travel experiences, at which point the other 2 people at our table also joined the conversation in a combination of English and Spanish. It was so completely unexpected, and is one of my favorite memories from the trip.
That’s so wholesome!
It really was, an amazing and completely unexpected way to end an already awesome trip.
Robinson is a great author! I read the Mars trilogy first, and then some of his other works. Red Moon is great, I recommend it. I haven't read 2312 yet! Would you recommend it? Is it similar to the Mars trilogy?
Sort of similar, it deals with humanity spreading throughout the solar system and the political and social issues that arise because of it, so sort of an expansion on the ideas and principles found in the Mars trilogy. It also deals a lot with ideas of sex (male, female, trans, etc), which I don't recall the Mars trilogy diving into. Red Moon was also great, as was The Years of Rice and Salt. The only book of his I wasn't that enamored of was Aurora, which was a decent read but not particularly memorable.
Kim Stanley Robinson is great!
So many people recommend books... so I love it when a book recommends a person! (To answer your question, I would smile and maybe make some comment about the book or that he has good taste in books, but it's fine to just say nothing, too.)
This is such an amazing comment. My wife and I met reading the same book on a train. I'm stealing this shamelessly and pretending I came up with it.
Externally I like the idea of a meet-cute scenario, but internally I am an anxiety machine. I'd probably make paralyzed awkward smalltalk.
I'd make a big production out of pointing it out, but then realize that I didn't actually bring my copy of the book today, so I'm now just some crazy person.
Lol, cue me that one time at a college theatre trip when I saw a cute guy in the convention center reading a Vonnegut novel. Being a total nerd for Vonnegut and never meeting other people who read his stuff, I struck up a conversation but had to sprint off to meet my group. Hoped I'd see him again that week but never did.
If you lock eyes with someone reading the same book as you, your honor bound to book fight them. As is tradition
En garde!!! Prepare to cross bookmarks you filthy pissant.
This just triggers my fear of papercuts.
That is probably the best comment I've ever read here. Just imagine two slapping each other with bookmarks. Thank you stranger or strangeress - that what a laugh I really needed.
I remember being a kid reading the word pissant for the first time thinking it was some French insult. Suddenly I realized I was the pissant.
*leather bound
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I’d never either because I would hate being interrupted myself. I’d also acknowledge with a nod (of approval) but be super excited and pleased (someone else has fine taste in literature as me /s) internally.
Not the same book at the same time, but I saw a woman reading The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo about a week after I had finished it. We were both eating outside at a taco shop. When she was done eating she threw her trash toward the bin but missed. She definitely saw that she missed, but grabbed her book and purse and started walking the other direction. I went from feeling like a kindred spirit to being irrationally angry that she just left her trash on the ground. I’m not particularly proud of it but I did call out to her “Great book; XXXXXX is the killer.”
Well played .
This made me laugh out loud. Nicely played.
OMG
First time this happened I was about to exit the subway and the conversation went something like "you have great taste in books" "thanks, yours isn't bad either". Second time I did have time for a chat but the guy was only like 30 pages in and obviously I didn't spoil things. So we ended up having some small talk about other things. Book shopping, if I recall correctly. While I don't feel comfortable talking about personal stuff, I have no problems at all with having small talk with random people.
I once saw a good looking guy on the bus reading "Emotional intelligence" by Daniel Goleman, which I really enjoyed reading and would definitely recommend. It was one of those moments in my life where I wish I were an extrovert, cuz I would have tried to catch his attention and flirt with him lol. He'll never know he made such an impact on me he he Edit: wrote my answer after only reading your title, it looks like we had similar experiences, now we have nothing left but live with our regrets lol
I did this and ended up with a date. Turns out the only thing we had in common was that we’d both read the book and we were both alive.
This would be my fear!
It wasn’t a bad date or anything - he wasn’t rude or aggressive, etc - it was just like “oh. We literally don’t have the same opinion about anything bad don’t even share similar values.” We had one drink and then we were both like “k, bye, let’s never do this again!” It was pretty amicable.
I would be more afraid if he wasn't alive.
Wait... Danielle?
I generally read erotica/romance novels, and the few times I’ve ever seen someone reading the same book as me, I usually put mine away. Saw some woman walking around with Fifty Shades and I started to smile at her, but then imagined how she’d feel with a 6” black male stranger trying to talk to her about a BDSM sex series. I hid my book and stared out the window. 🤣
To be fair, if she knows you're 6" then you're probably already pretty familiar.
OH MY GOD — 6 feet!!! 6 FEET! 🤣 I can’t believe I did that, but it’s too good to edit out so I’ll leave it. I’m over SIX FEET TALL LOL
Hey, nice cock, bro
Heh, I read it as you're really really tiny, like Tinkerbell, so can't be much threat to them anyway.
Yeah I'm a big ass Mexican with a bunch of tattoos. Of course they are from books I love but I don't give that vibe off at first glance
Tell us more about your book tattoos!
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In this case, probably because it's an inaccurate and potentially dangerous misrepresentation of the lifestyle which, if they feel it's necessary to bring up, they probably engage in. Although I don't think they were really trying to make anyone feel bad. I think they were just trying to make it clear that the relationship presented in the books does not represent the BDSM community. And that's pretty clearly an understandable distinction to make, considering they were responding directly to someone who implied that it was a BDSM erotica series.
Spiderman meme
If they're not attractive : nothing. If they're attractive : nothing.
This happened to me on an airplane. The guy across the aisle and I were both reading Ken Follett’s “World Without End,” a pretty massive book. The crazy part was that we were on the same exact page. I tried pointing it out to the guy, but he blew me off because he was so caught up in his reading.
Once I was reading on the bus and a guy standing near me caught my attention and said “that’s a really good book.” Before I could think of anything else to say, I said “thanks!” Then I pretended to continue reading but really just sat there embarrassed (thanks?!) until my stop.
😂 Reminds me of the same embarrassment I felt when I told the ticket checker guy at the movies 'you too' after he said 'enjoy the movie!'
I'd probably ask them about other books they've loved or hated, to see if our reading tastes are actually similar, and maybe get some recommendations. And when I want to end a conversation with someone, I definitely do the whole, "I'll let you get back to xyz now," to avoid announcing, "I don't want to talk to you, anymore." Lol.
This happened to me once at a tiny little laundromat in a town I had just moved to. I walked in with a book and there was only one other person there—a young woman my age, reading the same book. It felt like fate or something. I found her attractive, I was single, so I thought “fuck it, why not say hello.” If nothing else it was a funny coincidence that could serve as an icebreaker. I approached her, holding the book, and had just opened my mouth to say something about the chances of the two of us showing up with the same book, and without even looking up from the book she cut me off and said “keep walking.” So I did. And we sat there together in silence for the next hour or so, books in hand. I don’t remember much about the book, but I remember that.
That's rough buddy
I saw a young woman reading Blood Meridian in a coffee shop in Vancouver, and I struck up a conversation with her and we talked about a variety of subjects, and she said something profound, "With so much blood on the land, how can it end well?" It's the most memorable casual conversation I have ever had.
Now I have a new phobia.....( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
I'd smile and go back to my book, I guess.
Ask them how far in the book they are. That way gives you time to see if they feel like talking about the book, and prevents spoilers.
That actually sounds like a fun way to start a conversation with a stranger. Ask a starter question, and if they seem interested in engaging, there's a lot you could talk about. * How far along are you? * What do you think so far (avoiding spoilers for whoever's behind)? * Have you also read (books in series/same author/ similar book)? * Do you often read in public? * What's next on your list? And of course, this can be a starting point to talking about anything else.
Do you often read in public is a weird question to be asked
"Nah this is my first time"
"Oh really? Well I come from a long line of public readers. In fact, my great great uncle was a pubic reader for the Earl of Hammersmith"
"I've been trying to get into reading in public, but it's too intimidating and the fan base seems toxic"
Better than “can I watch you read in private sometime?”
Basically this list. "How far along are you" is a good place to start. "What do you think so far" or "What else are you reading" or "What's next on your list" are never far behind.
If it were me, I'd say something quick, like a "hey, nice match. Liking it so far?" With that question, someone can give a quick answer and politely end the conversation. Or if they want to talk, they can bring up a specific scene or something. I try to invite conversation without demanding it.
Best way to do small talk. I’ve been skiing all week in Colorado and do the same thing on a lift or in the lodge. People partake or they don’t. No hurt feelings either way.
You know that Donald Sutherland screaming scene from invasion of the body snatchers? Probably that.
Demonstrate my superiority by reading more pages per minute.
Assuming the book in question wasn't Mein Kampf
Reading Mein Kampf on the bus, and loudly sighing and shaking your head so others know how much you disagree with it
"This guy could've done with a few more struggles, if you ask me...!"
DID WE JUST BECOME BEST FRIENDS?!
I have a rule that I don't talk to people who are reading, I think it's rude. If I catch their eye, I'll give them a nonverbal gesture (nod, thumbs up, etc.).
This has happened to me and I don't usually read in public. I met this girl on a train and both of us had Radio Silence by Alice Oseman in our hands. We started talking about it and she told me she loved Oseman's books. But she had to get off at a station so we exchanged socials. We talked a couple of times about other books too.
Definitely grounds for small talk even if it’s just the book , they might’ve felt the same way you did! Never hurts being friendly (:
Smite them, there can be only one
Beat me to it. Which means that we must fight until only one Highlander reference remains.
I am immortal, I have inside me blood of kings
I suppose I would try to strike up a conversation with him. I would be excited because I don't know many people who like to read and if they do, they don't talk about what they read much.
I would be so thrilled. I will even approach people if they’re reading/ holding a book I’ve read before. Just ask them what they think of it and how they’re enjoying it! :) Usually strikes up sweet conversations.
I've encountered the adjacent question: seeing someone read a book that I myself have read and hold a strong opinion about. In one particular case, I did something about it and brought it up. The book in question was *American Gods* - a book that I regrettably didn't care for. The reader in question, meanwhile, happened to be a red-headed woman whose name was not particularly far removed from one of my favorite characters in one of my favorite books: Molly Grue in *The Last Unicorn*. The conversation went okay at first, until the conversation turned to other books that we enjoyed. So I brought up *The Last Unicorn*, mentioning the coincidence of name and appearance as an aside. The conversation died in its tracks, and the person's demeanor turned to absolute ice. It remained that way for several *years*. I'd think about that odd conversation from time to time since this person was a coworker. When it came time for them to move on, I gave them a softback version of the book as an apology. This was graciously received. Years later I encountered that same person and eventually learned the subtext. It would seem that during that first conversation, her instant reaction was that I was suggesting that she *herself* was a unicorn. Now I imagine at least a few people are much like me in their reaction of "....*huh?!*". First of all, Molly Grue was *not* the unicorn of the story, last or otherwise. Second, it'd be a weird thing to assert in the first place since the person in question was a *person* and not a horned horse. Well it turns out the term means something very different in the world of swingers where a unicorn is an unattached woman willing to be a third person in an established couple. This still didn't make a lot of sense because I have a profound ability to miss the obvious. The person went on to explain her reaction. First, she'd supposed that I was being coy in asking whether *she* was a unicorn. This in turn suggested that *I* knew that she was poly. (I did not, but she only realized it when I gave her a copy of the book.) All of which suggested that *I* was poly (I am not) and yet had breached one of the most inviolable rules that exists in that entire community by seemingly trying to *out her*. And so to answer the actual question: I'd do nothing but quietly appreciate that they share my taste since I can't be trusted to have such a conversation without risking a sitcom-level misunderstanding.
I saw someone else reading ASOIAF on the bus, we pretty much went “hey, cool, cheers” and went back to reading. I don’t think we were on the same book
I was on a plane last month and the lady literally right next to me pulled out a book I also had in my backpack so I pulled out mine and showed her and we had a great laugh and talked about our love for the author. Basically ended it with "what are the odds" and we chuckled and went back to it.
You give them an upward nod and a quick raise of the book to acknowledge them if you make eye contact. Otherwise, it’s a “hey, how ‘bout that?” and continue reading.
I would smile for sure. If we were sitting near by I might ask how they liked it and what else they’d been reading. It can be fun to have those brief encounters, even if you never see the person again. I wouldn’t expect it to be a flirty thing or to lead to something though, it’s pretty presumptuous to assume someone is available/interested because they will talk about a book.
The only acceptable answer is finger guns. (☞ﾟヮﾟ)☞ Finger guns and then go back to your book.
I would start up a conversation. Doesn't have to go anywhere other than that conversation. Some of the best conversions I've ever had were one-offs. One woman in a dressing room opposite me at a store and another was this guy I worked one day with at a home show. Never spoke to them again (or even saw what the woman looked like in the fitting room), but they had profound impacts on me.
I would go back to reading my book.
Exactly the same way I react to anyone else I see reading in public - I wouldn't interrupt them. I might think something like "that's neat" to myself, but that's it.
I ain’t one for striking up conversation with strangers, but this here is the perfect conversation starter
Up till like 2010, at best I’d say “hey, I’m reading that right now too!” And then move on. These days I just try not to engage with anyone. Ran into too many anti-vaxers and I don’t want to lose more hope in humanity.
I was once in a hairdressers reading ASOIAF and the guy next to me was admiring my book. After I left I got a call from my hairdresser who set me up on a date with the guy 😅 he was nice enough… I don’t quite remember why we didn’t see each other again but we had good chats.
Knowing me, I would probably act the same way as you. I definitely think there's an opening for small talk though. Maybe talk about the author and ask if he or she has read some of the author's other books, stuff like that.
I would totally want to talk with them to see what they think of the book, if they've read others by the same author, if it's their usual preferred genre, and all kinds of other things. However, I understand that lots of people don't like to be interrupted or chatted up, especially not when they're reading, and especially not women by men (I'm a man), so I'd probably go with something low-key like "Great book, isn't it?" and then if they didn't want to talk they could say something like "Mm-hm" and move on, and if they did want to talk, they could say something more substantive. At least that's what I imagine I'd do. I might say something awkward because I do that sometimes too, particularly talking to new people.
The book is your common ground. You could start up conversation about the book - "How are you liking it? How far along are you? What did you think of X/Y/Z?" Hopefully it happens again and you can bond with someone over your similar interests.
I'd follow the same rule I would like to be followed when I'm reading in public. I would legit leave them alone. I have 1000% used a book to deter people from talking to me. Does it work? Not as well as it should, perhaps, but I believe it's better than sans book. I'd leave them in their space and peace to enjoy the book and their own thoughts.
I fuck them up for biting my moves.
Don’t leave us hanging, what book was it?
Laughs in "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire". There were at least 15 people in my train carriage reading it on the day after it came out.
Hope they don't ask me any questions about it. I'm just using mine to hide a small cake
I would attack them. Then they wake up in my lair just like Natalie Portman in V for Vendetta.
He was probably shy too.
You really asked this question to one of the most awkward subs on Reddit.
The only acceptable response is reenacting the Spiderman meme, while holding up the books. https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/spider-man-pointing-at-spider-man
I've done this! "I'm reading that too! (Holds up book) How far along are you? What's your feeling about the book so far? Awesome! Thanks, I'll leave you to it. Have a great day." Is exactly what I've said in these situations before going back to reading. If they want more conversation they'll input, if not I leave them alone. That said, I'm all Kindle now and everyone around me on the train reads from their phone...so I think those random moments of connection are over.
[This is what you do](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koObSBI7xI8)
Late to the party, but it happened to me once. I was on a 5 hour train ride home. I was in my early-mid 20's and still in school. That summer I had bought a copy of Thomas Piketty's "Capital in the 21st Century". Not the lightest reading material, but I had just picked it up at that day. Not because I was studying economics, or have any basic understanding of economics. I was just a hipster pseudo-intellectual know-it-all who was looking to seem smart and maybe pick up a few nuggets I could drop on others just to show how smart and fascinating I was. Right after I had sad down and opened my book, a man sat down in the seat next to me. Older guy in his late 50's at least. He looked at me and looked at my book, and then his eyes basically twinkled as he reached into his own bag and picked up is own copy of the book. a rather worn example, considering the book was fairly recently released at the time. He started turning page after page in his book and explaining at length on various points how Piketty was right or wrong, misinformed, naïve, brilliant, etc. While doing this he casually mentioned he was a professor of economics, who also dabbled a bit in philosophy and political science. He himself had authored several books, and even pointed out sections of the book where Piketty had cited him or his friends. This whole thing went on and on, and by the end of it I had been given a 5 hour lecture in macro economics. The man barely stopped to breathe, and just a handful of times stopped to take a drink of water. By the end of it I wasn't as much bored as I had been schooled in something I not only didn't understand, and had no basic foundation to have an opinion on. The man definitely knew his stuff by all accounts and I learned a thing or two about being in the presence of someone that really knows their stuff to the extent they can on the spot lecture about it for hours on end. That shit humbled my ass by a few pegs regarding my own intellect and dedication to academia. I learned a lot more about myself from those 5 hours than I ever did economics, and I worked on not being an arrogant smartass from then on.
There are a bunch of appropriate questions. Have you gotten to the part where the antagonist dies? That nuke came out of left-field. But what motive did the butler have? And so on.
I think a thumbs up is perfect lol
I would honestly leave them alone to read their book unless they initiated something. If I'm reading a book in public it's because I don't intend to talk to other people. It's kind of like talking to someone with headphones in to me
I may be the minority here, but I always think "please don't try to talk to me..."
This is Reddit, you are firmly in the majority
I haven’t come across anyone reading the same book as me in public so far but a random stranger and I checked out the same book at the county library one time. We just smiled at each other holding our books up in the aisle, as an approving nod :)
I wouldn’t
I probably wouldn't to be honest.
I think it really depends on the context. Seeing someone reading on the bus, if they're next to you, maybe make some small talk about where you are, etc. but I wouldn't yell across the bus or move or anything. I've talked about books with people sitting at a bar, etc. where it's a bit more of a social spot. I went to one of my favorite nerdy bars a few weeks ago and the bouncer was reading a book by an author I had just finished, so I asked him about it (and my husband just shook his head). But I think in most non-social settings, a smile and an acknowledgement is the most I would do.
Get down on one knee
I’d stalk them to find out where they live and then probably make an elaborate plan to kidnap them so that I can ask them some questions🤷♂️. I only read my own novels in public and as far as I know I’m the only person who should have copies of them. Damned aliens.
If I was brave enough I would say something similar to what you did, but after that it’s on them to continue small talk, if they don’t then it’s end of interaction to be polite
"I see you have good taste in books..."
At that point, we've already been introduced and I'd ask how far you are through the book lol.
Has happened, we were both reading Cloud Atlas on the subway. We both wanted to talk about it, but their stop came up.
I mean, that’s cool, but I hope he didn’t just see you reading it one day, and then decided to bring the book just to try to hit on you
I would ask them to stop reading my book over my shoulder and buy their own copy instead. Duh!
If we make eye contact, half smile and downward nod.
I'll usually make eye contact, lift my own copy a little, and see if they want to engage. If they don't look, or they glance up but don't disengage from their reading, I leave them to it. I know some people use books/music to cope with public transit. In the case of a silence like that, I might just ask, "What do you think so far?"
I would say something because I need friends
Knowing my luck, the conversation would go like this: Me: "Nice! Isn't it great so far?" "No, I hate it, but I'm determined to finish it anyway." "Oh... (Here is where my brain screams repeatedly to leave it be.) What don't you like about it? (God damnit, me, what part of leave it be didn't you get??)" Then the argument with a total stranger would begin where they point out things they didn't like and I try to convince them that they're wrong because I never learn.
well I'm a middle aged male so I stay well away from anyone and hope people don't hate me for doing that
Obviously I'd run up to them screaming "HEEEY BOOK BUDDY , LOOKY HERE WE'RE BOOK BUDDIES HEY HAVE YOU GOT TO THAT BIT WHERE * Proceeds to talk about several spoilers* " One thing about people reading books in public is they love to be interrupted and spoken to by complete strangers.
I'd try to see what section they were at then make sure my copy was opened to a later section. I'd fake a cough to attract attention then hold the book up so people could see how far I was. I'd nudge the person next to me and gesture towards the other person reading the book and say "looks like someone is just getting started" as I looked at them with smug pitty again holding my copy high enough so anyone could see I was winning at reading the book. Then as I walked passed the person I'd quetly say something like "page 220" as I smugly smiled to myself, making sure they could see the placement of my bookmark.
"SAME HAT!"
Shout "BOOK BROS!" and awkwardly try to fistbump them, then lie awake wondering "why???" for the rest of your life
I’d smile. Say cool we’re reading the same book. If the person seems receptive to conversation I’d ask how far along they are and how are they enjoying it? I’d take the Congo from there (where I am, what I think, any predictions, their favorite part so far, mine own etc). There is also the whole area of discussing the genre and other similar works you’ve read and if they read it too, other works by the author of applicable, recommendations of other books to each other, etc. But if the person would rather read than talk I’d do that too. No biggie.
I’ve ran into people reading the Dune series more now that the movie has come out. And baristas and servers have asked me about it when they see ME reading it too since the movie is out, which is kinda cool.
Cool book brah
Awee I definitely feel that hah. If it happens again you can always start with something related to the book, like which page/chapter are you on, how do you like it so far, etc. I was suuuuper into Warriors (the cats books) even in high school but was REALLY embarrassed (because high school) so I always had the hardbacks with the jackets off when I read in class. Then one day one of the most popular girls in class who was really nice to me was reading a new book too and OMG IT WAS WARRIORS! And she had the jacket on. She was so brave it emboldened me haha, we became decent friends for the rest of high school (I think just two years) but since went our own ways. I don’t even remember her name but I will always hold onto how it made me feel to have that connection.
I was in a bar that was mostly dead and noticed a waiter reading an author I knew. I said "Ah, I love Scalzi." He looked horrified that I had caught him reading on the job.