I’ve been tagged!
The tagger: Jeanne at Necromancy Never Pays. The meme: questions about reading. Here we go!
Most memorable experience reading a book?
I either can’t think of the MOST memorable or have lots of examples crowding the forefront of my brain clamoring to be mentioned. I’m going to go with the answer I choose when someone asks me if I read fast. (I read faster in High School than I do now, I think…)
My dad is always reading. My dad can watch TV (sports, of course), nap and read all at the same time but that’s not the point of this story. When I was a kid and would read books while Dad was also reading – and watching baseball, I would attempt to keep the same pace. I wanted to be able to read as fast as my dad. I would push myself and compete with him for who would turn pages faster! Eventually, I was able to match his speed and then surpass. I have no idea if he noticed it or not…
I can recall reading The Reader by Bernard Schlink on the flight from San Francisco back to KC (or Omaha? Hub swears we stopped in Denver, too. Year? 1999 maybe) – but I only remember how moving the book was. I was crying and able to finish the last page just in time to grab my luggage and exit the plane. The timing was perfect.
Most unusual place for reading a book? Once when Hub and I were traveling in South Central Missouri, I was reading a book while sitting in the passenger side of the front seat of the car. Not that unusual, unless you consider the kinds of hills and roads we were driving on – up and down and right curve, left curve, etc. I recall mentioning that I wasn’t feeling that good, a bit nauseous – IT HAD NOT OCCURRED TO ME THAT reading in the car was probably what was making me sick! After Hub told me to put the book away, I felt better. Give me straight level roads and I can read in the car just fine.
Another memorable reading was sitting in the cab of a truck in western Kansas reading The Other Boleyn Girl. It was early in my blogging days and I remember thinking about how I would review it. My husband and friends were slogging through the cold windy fields blasting away at pheasants and I was warm and reading my book. Good times.
Most dangerous place I’ve ever read a book? In the car. While I was driving. I-70 between Boonville and Columbia MO. Not proud of myself for attempting this, but tis true…
Most luxurious experience reading a book? By the pool at the Phoenician Resort in Scottsdale AZ. Very nice. 🙂
Funniest experience reading a book? I was early to an author event and brought along 84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff. I know I was laughing out loud and often – I loved this little charmer! When I looked up, the previously empty room was full of people and the author was about to be presented. It was a cool feeling to know that I had escaped into my own world and woke up to a different setting yet a bit embarrassed because I think I was laughing pretty hard.
Care's Books and Pie 
I’m glad I didn’t see you reading while you were driving down the interstate!
And I’m glad I wasn’t driving next to you! 😀
Hmmm…I’ve read on the interstate, too, but only while stuck in veeery slow moving traffic.
I just love when a story *really* transports you and you manage to forget where or even what you were doing. Sure, it may lead to some embarrassing moments, but it’s worth it! I read a really great short story on my way into NYC on the train this summer and was totally caught up in it…maybe not so great when you’ve never taken the train and you should maybe be paying attention to the stops. LOL!
Boy do I remember how Missouri roads can make you carsick. I’m in my forties, and I was actually driving the car, but I still felt a little sick the last time I drove between Cape Girardeau and Branson.
I can read anywhere except in cars! Yikes!
Reading while driving, scary! I’ve thought about it though, quite seriously… thank goodness for audio books 🙂
Kathy, I’m glad you didn’t see me, too. You might have honked and startled me!
Jill, no one was driving next to me. and I didn’t try it for very long. I realized (eventually) that it was a really stupid thing to do. But traffic was nil to none…
Megan, I had to drive 70 miles to work one way – 60 miles of it country interstate. It took me just over an hour. Ah, those were the days (I don’t miss it.)
Jeanne – I never did make it to Cape Girardeau; always wanted to see that town. But I was in Poplar Bluffs quite a bit for work. I was in SW Mo all the time.
Melody & Kim, I’m not proud of it. And I really didn’t get many pages turned… But I did attempt it!
I’m ashamed to admit that I have been known to try to grab a few seconds of reading while stopped at red lights. Usually on my way back from the library, when my books are sitting appealingly on the seat next to me and I’m trying to decide which one I’m going to read when I get home.
Nice meme, I might give it a try.
I tried competing with my mom once but she reads way too fast. I think she skims really but she wont admit 🙂
Fun meme! I can’t believe you were reading while driving though! Where do you live now? Make sure I’m nowhere on the roads near you 🙂
When I was little I wanted to invent some kind of device that let you read a book while dirving (it turned the pages for you) – guess you would have been a good customer!
Most memorable: I was reading the autopsy scene near the beginning of Snow Falling on Cedars and it was so grisly that I had to put down the book and go throw up. It’s never happened to me again.
Reading while driving on the interstate…. hmm… I thought I was bad as I was reading while walking the roads of London drinking milkshake. You topped me!!!
I’ve also read at a concert – while Girls Aloud were in the house. In my defines, they were the supporting act, and I’m not a fan!
Jenny, you are going to have to put those books in the back seat!
Violet – I hope you do try this meme. 🙂
iliana, don’t worry – I’m not driving and reading any more so you don’t have to worry. Besides, here in New England, the roads are too curvy and narrow and no shoulder.
Jodie, what an idea! Why don’t you invent such a device to turn pages while in the bath tub so I don’t have to dry my fingers to turn the pages?
bybee, now THAT is a memorable read. and that book is on my tbr. Will have to forget I read that.
These are all great anecdotes! I can relate to reading in the cab of a warm, cozy truck – but my hub fishes rather than pheasant hunts.*
I’ve read too while driving, well waiting at red lights actually, we have these annoying 6 and 7 way intersections where the red lights are good for about 10 pages or so.
*I’m curious now whether people hunt the pheasants around here – the things are massive and scary as hell when they come running all willy-nilly in your direction. (I have hit one while driving before – scared me to death, I think I may be traumatized for life.) I was not reading at the time 🙂