Shut Up & Read discussion

Does anyone else have a really really hard time getting comfortable while reading a book? I can start out sitting on my bed, then upside down, then on my stomach...then apparently the bed isn't comfortable enough so I go to the couch which is even worse, so I go to the kitchen table and keep moving my legs. The list of ways I have read a book are ENDLESS. What are some of the weirdest positions or places you have been while reading a book?
I'm just curious and hope I am not alone with this issue.

*additionally* You could also talk about anything in general that keeps you from reading in peace; noises, people, food...;D

My issue is always with noise. If I hear talking, both in the house and outside, I get too distracted to read. If I hear the TV in another room I can't read. I either need complete silence. Or I can listen to music. But I need to find music that goes along with the book I am reading or that can be distracting too.

Yeah. I have issues. Lol. =)

Traci L. wrote: "My issue is always with noise. If I hear talking, both in the house and outside, I get too distracted to read. If I hear the TV in another room I can't read. I either need complete silence. Or I ca..."

Hahaha, if it is one of those books that I can't put down then little noises don't distract me, but I am the same way with music :) I should also ask for anything that distracts someone or irritates them. Actually, I am going to add that right now :D

lol I know how you feel. I'll lie back on the couch and hold the book overhead, next thing you know, I'm running to my room to bring out a pillow to read on my stomach. Then I go to the dining room table and sit, then I'm in my room on my bed....ugh. I found the best way for me is to lie on my side on the couch with the book tucked in one arm, as if I was going to sleep with it :)

I stay in one position so long my foot or leg or hand will fall asleep, so getting comfortable's not my problem. I do have a really, really bad habit of totally ignoring anything and everything around me when I'm reading. (No, I don't have kids.) People find this annoying because they'll try talking to me and I'm not even listening. So, I try reading at night. Of course, if I'm really into a story, I can't help but read during the day.

If I get really into a book I'll walk through a store reading it (but I still pay attention to where I'm going!!!), but I'll rarely bring it to dinner (no matter how much I want to). I have, however, been known to skip dinner until I finish it. It's hard to block out noise, sometimes, but I've found that I can - especially in the car - but will always come to when I hear my name. Weird, right? I am definitly one of those people who just... has... to... finish... it. Then sleep. (Aren't we all?)

Most of the time when I get uncomfortable reading its usually because I used my hands to prop my head up when I read, and then my hand and arm goes to sleep. I can't sit and read for very long, though I have to admit if the book is really good, and I'm talking really REALLY good, I can read anywhere and not have a single thought to where I'm at or what's around me. :)

Noise is also a big issue to me too. If it's too noisy or if there is music on, I find myself listening more to what is going on around me than actually focusing on reading.

Years ago, I used to get terrible pins and needles in my legs from sitting and reading in the same position for too long.

Such is the peril of reading on the toilet.

I can't be picky about where I read, with two small kids running around. The only spot that's difficult is (ironically) while I'm eating lunch. I have to use one hand to hold the book open, and the other to eat, leaving no free hands to turn the pages. I'm constantly alternating between my food going cold or losing my place as I try to turn the pages. Thank god for my e-reader, though most of my books are from the library.

Michael wrote: "Years ago, I used to get terrible pins and needles in my legs from sitting and reading in the same position for too long.

Such is the peril of reading on the toilet."

hahaha!

I can read just about anywhere. I do get too comfortable and end up with numb arms/legs. I'm glad I married another reader as we sometimes read together while eating.

The hand alternating between turning pages and eating is so automatic for me I don't think about it. Petting the cat while eating and reading does not work... And the cat does not like my breaking petting to turn pages. She is more understanding when I'm reading paper versions rather than ebook... I don't think she's figured out that the iPad is a "book" yet.

This is the glory of eBook+Smartphone for me. Even back in the paper book days, I'd always have a book on me. Now, if I'm in a queue for more than 30s I'm reading my book. I don't think there's any place I'm uncomfortable reading :)

Me I don't know why I feel dizzy when I try to read on car, bus, or airplane. I just can't do it

Mohammad wrote: "Me I don't know why I feel dizzy when I try to read on car, bus, or airplane. I just can't do it"

well, you are not alone! I am also the same, I can't focuse on the book, well almostly because I get headache!

Atefeh wrote: "Mohammad wrote: "Me I don't know why I feel dizzy when I try to read on car, bus, or airplane. I just can't do it"

well, you are not alone! I am also the same, I can't focuse on the book, well alm..."

I get so car sick. so yeah, I can't read either when I am trying to travel. Rachel, I totally hear you about walking through stores and reading at same time if you are really into a book. I've been reading this crime novel by Nesbo recently and anyway I live in NYC and was like reading and walking through the subway and streets at same time! Just had to finish a chapter before my grad school classes.

I can read in the car. And luckily I drive in to work with other coworkers who don't care that I sit in the back and read. I get an extra 2 hours reading in my day because of it.

Now my mom can read anywhere and with anything going on. Tv. People talking. Doesn't matter. I hate to try to get her attention when she's got a book though. It isn't easy.

Sure, I move a lot when I read, but all the positions seen to be comfortable...
Also, can't read in noise. Well, I've been training to, so it is working a little.

I can read any in kind of environment, there could be a war outside, or a natural disaster and i'll be reading!! ( okay maybe a lil exaggerating but oh well xP)

But i agree i never can find a position in which i am most comfortable.... but my Daddy used to have this big red chair that i LOVED it was so comfy, soft, and warm! but now its long gone : (

So i always change my position when reading at least 12 times !!!! (Yes my brother counted ) LOL

i read anywhere & anytime. the book makes the position comfortable at least for a little while. with a marathon read i will change positions a lot without moving the book from in front of my eyes.

Depends on the book, sometimes I get so sucked in the book I forget to eat....

lol, I actually love that when I finish a book and realize, "omg, I'm so stiff, and wow, I'm starving." Then you know it was a good book!

Mitsy wrote: "I stay in one position so long my foot or leg or hand will fall asleep, so getting comfortable's not my problem. I do have a really, really bad habit of totally ignoring anything and everything aro..."

OMG YES! I completely block out surrounding noise and time without even trying to. it always aggravated my teachers when I would read after finishing my work before everyone else and when they would continue the lesson and call my name I wouldn't respond cause I didn't hear them. I never got in trouble for it though which is surprising lol. Sometimes I do completely lose track of time, I'll even read right through meals and be starving by the time I notice. My boyfriend loves it cause he can watch his golf or other shows in peace while i read quietly. ;)

I toss and turn a lot when I'm reading. I'mm stay laying on my back, then move to may stomach, finish on my side. Sometimes I do have to get up and move somewhere else.

Haha! TMI alert... I hate it when I take a book into the bathroom with me and get a little distracted reading, then you realize your legs are numb.

Poppy wrote: "Haha! TMI alert... I hate it when I take a book into the bathroom with me and get a little distracted reading, then you realize your legs are numb."

LOL, that would happen to me more often, but usually I someone knocks on the door and complains I've been in there too long.

I *can* read in the most uncomfortable positions. I prefer sitting in an armchair sideways with my legs dangling over one (heavily cushioned) arm, my back supported by the other, and my shoulders kind of angled toward the front of the chair so that I can pretend to be engaged with the TV with my dad.

I hear about the toilet scenarios. Those are usually when I'm also lying on my stomach, propped on my elbows. Starts to hurt after a while, but you can read through the pain... Anything to see that page, right?

Poppy wrote: "Haha! TMI alert... I hate it when I take a book into the bathroom with me and get a little distracted reading, then you realize your legs are numb."

Ahaha! That's so true. Ahem, I mean...what? No, that never happens. :P

Used to lie on my stomach but then my elbows got sore and red. Now I sit with pillows but i'm leaning to far back usually and then my back hurts. Can't read with noise at all. Should find some good music to listen to that goes with my books.

I used to love to read in the bath but now i'm so terrified of dropping my kindle into the water that I can't get comfy any more.

Marie wrote: "I used to love to read in the bath but now i'm so terrified of dropping my kindle into the water that I can't get comfy any more."

i put my nook or my sony in a ziploc when i'm in the bath it works great!

Pat wrote: "Marie wrote: "I used to love to read in the bath but now i'm so terrified of dropping my kindle into the water that I can't get comfy any more."

i put my nook or my sony in a ziploc when i'm in th..."

Now THAT is an ace idea...

I read my kindle in every gravity possible position, also once tried to do it once biking,,,not a very good idea!

Vardan wrote: "I read my kindle in every gravity possible position, also once tried to do it once biking,,,not a very good idea!"

HAHAHAHAHA, while biking ?!?!?! That's hilarious ;D

Pat wrote: "Marie wrote: "I used to love to read in the bath but now i'm so terrified of dropping my kindle into the water that I can't get comfy any more."

i put my nook or my sony in a ziploc when i'm in th..."

Can you still scroll down with the plastic on it?

Erin wrote: "Pat wrote: "Marie wrote: "I used to love to read in the bath but now i'm so terrified of dropping my kindle into the water that I can't get comfy any more."

i put my nook or my sony in a ziploc wh..."

yup

My back is shot, so I do a lot of moving around when reading. This sucks--oh, the good old days, when I was young and vibrant, and my posture hadn't quite screwed me yet. I could lay on the couch, or what have you, for most of the day without too much trouble. Now, I have to get up and stretch every half-hour or so.

Oh, and I really need silence. Music is okay, as long as there are no lyrics. Otherwise, someone's conversation outside in the distance will distract me. And I hate that.

Asma wrote: "I can read any in kind of environment, there could be a war outside, or a natural disaster and i'll be reading!! ( okay maybe a lil exaggerating but oh well xP)

But i agree i never can find a p..."

A war outside? I think that's a bit more than a "lil" exaggerating!

I never used to have a problem...I'd lie on my left side with one eye on the TV and read. But now I have had tennis elbow for 2 months and I can't lie like that. It's making it tougher to read!

I'm now starting to notice pain in my right shoulder and numbness in right hand sometimes. I think I need to get back to at-home physical therapy exercises I'm supposed to be doing thanks to a stupid truck hitting me in March 2012. Why do I have a feeling this is going to get worse as I age?

Olivia wrote: "Does anyone else have a really really hard time getting comfortable while reading a book? I can start out sitting on my bed, then upside down, then on my stomach...then apparently the bed isn't com..."

I love reading in bed but I also can get uncomfortable fast. I'll be moving on the side, adjusting the pillow, getting another pillow.

I used to read in the bath a lot and got an inflatable cheap bath pillow. That helps, but sometimes it can need adjusting too.

On the chair I don't seem to get uncomfortable.

Unless I am in a car, I need to raise my feet to be comfortable.
Like Erin, I used to read in the bath but not anymore. Else, if a position is comfortable, there is no way I will call it weird. :P