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I once saw Ian McEwan talking about reading, and how it’s strange that some people think it’s okay to interrupt people while they are reading a book. ‘If I was playing tennis,’ he said (more or less, I’m paraphrasing), ‘you wouldn’t walk onto the court and ask me what I’m having for dinner, or whether I’ve got any plans for the weekend. Yet people interrupt all the time when one is reading a book, and think nothing of it.’
Does this happen to you? Does it bother you when it does? Do you (or would you) interrupt someone while they’re reading?
When I was young, I would always take a book on the tube to avoid unwanted attention, especially at night. It didn’t work. The first question was generally. ‘What are you reading?’ Or ‘What’s it about?’…
Nah, books are asynchronous. I'd be more bothered if someone interrupted me when I was watching a movie or tv show, assuming it can't be paused. Back before I became a freelancer homebody, and spent a lot of time on buses and trains reading, I wouldn't have minded if, as Amanda said, someone asked about what I was reading. It's a great way to strike up a conversation; much better than talking about the weather.
When I was young, I would always take a book on the tube to avoid unwanted attention, especially at night. It didn’t work. The first question was generally. ‘What are you reading?’ Or ‘What’s it about?’…
I suppose it's marginally more acceptable when the interruption is at least *about* what you're reading. Just.
Nah, books are asynchronous. I'd be more bothered if someone interrupted me when I was watching a movie or tv show, assuming it can't be paused. Back before I became a freelancer homebody, and spent a lot of time on buses and trains reading, I wouldn't have minded if, as Amanda said, someone asked about what I was reading. It's a great way to strike up a conversation; much better than talking about the weather.