Patricia Abbott (pattinase): The Commute Read

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

The Commute Read

My best reading took place when I took a bus to work. It was an hour ride and I could sometime finish a book in two days that way. Airplanes are very good too. Trains not as much because you pass too many interesting landscapes but still...

But maybe this doesn't work for everyone. Where do you do your best reading?

11 comments:

Scott D. Parker said...: Audio! During work, during yardwork, during chores at home, anywhere! :-); 7:25 AM
Anonymous said...: I get sick as a dog trying to read in anything that's moving, so commute reading is off the table for me. On the other hand, when we travel any distance on a trip, we always listen to something. On a ten-hour (each way) trip this past June, we listened to all Agatha Christie, including SPARKLING CYANIDE, WHILE THE LIGHT LASTS (short stories), and DEATH COMES AS THE END (a murder mystery set in ancient Egypt, but could easily have been set between the wars in a big manor house, with more pronounceable character names!). My husband had a long work commute, do he listens to audiobooks all the time. My commute is much shorter and I tend to listen to music.

-- Deb; 7:41 AM
Anonymous said...: When I used to take public transit to work, I read a lot while I was on the train, Patti. Still do when I travel.; 7:45 AM
pattinase (abbott) said...: Yes, if you drive audio is best by a long shot.
I get car sick if I read in the car. But on a bus, I don't. I think it's because I have more air around me.; 8:13 AM
Jeff Meyerson said...: Well, obviously I don't commute any more, haven't in a long time. My problem was, as a kid I'd get carsick all the time. On trains it was better, but reading was a no no. I'm generally better off not reading while commuting, even to this day, though I can read on an express bus or commuter-type train better than the usual bus or subway.

That said, I read mostly sitting on the couch in the den, though any place that is not actually moving is fine!; 8:16 AM
George said...: I read a lot on airplanes when I worked as a consultant. And I spent even more time sitting in Airports waiting for flights over the years. I got plenty of reading done in hotel rooms, too!; 8:17 AM
Jeff Meyerson said...: Airplanes, absolutely. It's a necessity. In 1974 we got Eurailpasses and took long train rides - Milan to Vienna, Vienna to Munich, Munich to Copenhagen, Copenhagen to Paris were the longest. I remember reading a bunch of books on the train Ross Macdonald, Helen MacInnes, John Wyndham, Ed McBain, P. D. James.

It really helped pass the time.; 9:07 AM
Charles Gramlich said...: These days, often in the bathroom.; 9:24 AM
J F Norris said...: To me audio books have nothing to do with reading. You're listening to a performance. That's not reading. Someone else is doing most of the interpretation for you. It's radio drama, IMO. If you listen to a radio show are you reading?

Best reading is done at home of course. Surprised no one said that. Alone with some music playing quietly and no one else around. I read on the bus or train to work every day. But can only do it in almost complete silence. I am disturbed (not just distracted) by people talking obnoxiously loud on their cell phones, people who play video games without using headphones, and anyone having a conversation at any voice level standing or sitting right next tome. Often I have to stop completely and put the book away if there is too much background noise. I've gotten up and changed cars on the train if the noise level is intolerable while most people would find it perfectly fine. I absolutely cannot tune out those noises and it's can be extremely unnerving. I've always had a heightened perception but it really bothers me now that I'm older. Someone once said I probably have ADHD, but it's a lot more complicated than that. Bubba Watson, the golfer, has exactly the same thing as me. I heard him on 60 minutes explain his "behavioral issues". Exactly the same -- heightened sense of hearing and sensitivity to background noise, fear of crowds, dislike of anyone standing too close or behind him, all sorts of perceptual issues. Amazing.; 11:07 AM
Rick said...: In bed.
Reading in bed plays hell with my hands and--especially--my thumbs, though. Sometimes the pain's bad enough that I move to the bathroom solely to read....; 12:18 PM
Rick Robinson said...: In my favorite chair. When I'm in the car, I'm driving, I don't fly, so no reading on planes most other places I have the same problem John does, other people disturbing my concentration.; 1:23 PM