Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion

Do we have to personally see the person reading the book? I'm never really in an environment where strangers are reading, but my boyfriend commutes to work every day and has given me a list of books he's seen people reading.

Rachel wrote: "Do we have to personally see the person reading the book? I'm never really in an environment where strangers are reading, but my boyfriend commutes to work every day and has given me a list of book..."

There's already been discussion around that point, and different people are choosing different definitions of the prompt. Personally, I'm saving it for last because people don't seem to read in public in my area. If I don't see any strangers reading in public myself before I finish the rest of the prompts I'll pick something that someone else in the thread has seen, or use one of the instagram feeds of subway book sightings or such.

Raquel wrote: "Rachel wrote: "Do we have to personally see the person reading the book? I'm never really in an environment where strangers are reading, but my boyfriend commutes to work every day and has given me..."

I saw someone checkout After You from the library. So I'm using that for this prompt even though I didn't actually see the person reading it.

Reyna wrote: "You could also just visit your local book store or library to see what people are reading there."

Funny, I thought the same thing. I had a day off from work and thought I would stop by the local library to get the book picked out for that topic. The funny thing was-even though the library was crowded, not ONE person was actually there reading one of the books. They were all sitting there working on their laptops.

I went to the bookstore thinking that would be another great place to check-I wandered around for ages feeling like a creepy stalker person hoping to find someone reading. I finally found someone-but was close to giving up.

I think if this topic comes up again I will go to kids sports practice to see if any bored moms are reading to pass the time. lol

I go to my library EVERY week, I never see anyone reading a book there!! Last time I was at the bookstore, I also didn't spy anyone reading. This prompt is extremely difficult for me - much more difficult than the list-makers had intended, I expect.

I don’t think I’ve ever read in a library, I pick my books then go. I’ve found people reading on the train, on the underground, at the doctors/pharmacy, coffee shop. Now it’s getting warmer maybe more people will sit on benches with their lunch and a book on their breaks?

Isn't it kind of rude to read in a bookstore? They're providing a service for a price and you're taking it for free.

I see people reading in coffee shops quite often, but most of the time they are using an e-reader. If I haven't had coffee yet I'm not really up to conversation with a stranger to ask what they are reading. One of these days I'll be alert enough to strike up a conversation.

Jess wrote: "Isn't it kind of rude to read in a bookstore? They're providing a service for a price and you're taking it for free."

They also provide couches, and some bookstores have cafes, it seems like they want you to sit and read. It's counterintuitive, but I assume they've done marketing studies that show if you are comfortable sitting and reading, you are more likely to buy.

The only place I reliably see people reading actual books is on my commuter train. I can definitely see how it would be difficult for people that don't commute by train. Yesterday I saw about 5 people reading actual books during the morning commute, but I only got a look at the cover of one of them. It was Danielle Steele, I didn't bother with the title.

Nikky wrote: "I don’t think I’ve ever read in a library, I pick my books then go. I’ve found people reading on the train, on the underground, at the doctors/pharmacy, coffee shop. Now it’s getting warmer maybe m..."

Milena wrote: "The only place I reliably see people reading actual books is on my commuter train. I can definitely see how it would be difficult for people that don't commute by train. Yesterday I saw about 5 peo..."

This is why I feel like this prompt is slanted toward city dwellers--most of the stories I see about seeing strangers reading happen on public transportation. My large town technically has a public bus, but to be completely honest, the idea of riding it scares me a little. (Plus, there's no reason for me not to drive our car to go around town.)

I also don't see people reading in the doctor's waiting room around here, unless they're all reading on their phones.

Maybe if I spent more time at the local coffee shop, but to be honest, having one within walking distance means I've been trying NOT to start a habit of spending time there. :-D

I live in the middle of nowhere my husband is in the military lol but if I go to London I use the train :)

Took a very long train journey today - Scotland to London - and it was a boon for this prompt! Caught 4 books. One's 19th in a series (!!!) and one I could only make out the author of and so can't identify it, but the other 2 look like really good options. :)

Nikky wrote: "I live in the middle of nowhere my husband is in the military lol but if I go to London I use the train :)"

Okay, I guess people who live in OR visit cities then. :-)

Actually, maybe I just wasn't paying attention because it was last year before the new prompts came out, but last time I flew I didn't really notice people reading in the airport or airplane either. Do Midwesterners just not read in public?

Maybe the books you read in public are too good for you to stop reading so you don’t notice what people are reading around you lol :)

I read on my phone all the time. If I'm waiting in line at the bank or the post office especially. I don't fly very often any more, but when I did, I either slept or read on the plane and there were always people reading while waiting for a plane.

This week I spoke to a girl reading fan fiction in Public. She was kind enough to explain it all to me but I don't think I will try it just yet. I thought I would mention it in case any of you were looking for an excuse to fit some into the challenge.

I also saw
Traveling Light Deluxe Edition: Releasing the Burdens You Were Never Intended to Bear
The Gaia Effect
The Escape Artist

This morning I saw a woman crossing 7th Ave at 34th in NYC reading The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. She is going to have her own brief wondrous life if she keeps doing that. Good thing this was at 7:10am.

My most recent train spots

We Are Called to Rise
Truly Madly Guilty
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

At the airport I spotted:
Slow Horses
Winter in Madrid
Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind
Travels With My Aunt
The Last Tudor

I'm holding out on this one until nearer the end. But now I'm commuting again I've had the chance to see people reading on the train (sadly not as many as you'd hope...). The most voracious reader on my journey unfortunately reads a lot of airport/chick lit stuff that I wouldn't touch! But so far I've seen a couple of promising reads:

The Sound and the Fury
The Couple Next Door

I think TSatF is leading just now. But there's a lot of train hours still to clock up before the year is out so I'll keep my eyes peeled!

I spotted someone reading in the cafe at work last week. It wasn't easy to see the cover! It was a copy of The Secret History. I've not read it yet but do own a copy so might go with that.

Don't mind me, people of Cary, NC! I'm not creeping on you . . . I'm creeping on your books!

People at the coffee shop had the gall to be working on laptops instead of reading, but I spotted A Mind for Numbers: How to Excel at Math and Science at the library, which actually looks intriguing.

I stopped at a coffee shop today. It was empty, for one, and the few people there were either talking to each other (the nerve!!!!) or reading the newspaper. I just never see people reading books in public! Good coffee, though.

I was in a restaurant and I saw a lady reading a book. I thought sure it would be something to fill this prompt. As I walked by I saw the title. It was a text book on Holistic management. Not today, will keep trying. I have never seen anyone at the library reading books. Most people are reading newspapers or using the computers. You would think a library would be the perfect place to find someone reading

I am rarely on public transportation or places where strangers are reading books. The only book I can say I have seen strangers read is the Psalms, yes, from the Bible. But I live in Israel, and reading the Psalms is quite popular/common here in certain circles. But somehow, that's not the direction I want to take....

Cindy wrote: "I was in a restaurant and I saw a lady reading a book. I thought sure it would be something to fill this prompt. As I walked by I saw the title. It was a text book on Holistic management. Not today..."

Coffee shops and parks are really your best bet

Cendaquenta wrote: "Caught 4 books. One's 19th in a series (!!!) "

The book I ended up reading for this prompt was 45th in a series!! Not one I'd heard of before. Interesting enough, but I did feel like I was missing a lot of background knowledge on the characters. The book was Secrets in Death by JD Robb (who is actually Nora Roberts).

I may just go to the library and see what is being checked out. I rarely see anyone reading. :(

Shannon wrote: "I may just go to the library and see what is being checked out. I rarely see anyone reading. :("

That's what I did. I saw someone checkout After You. I have it on hold now.

Last week I stopped in a coffee shop in the evening, something I rarely do because I cut myself off from caffeine at 2pm. But my craving for a specific tea that day was perfect...there was a small book club meeting (it was a large coffee shop that also serves wine after 5:00 so maybe I should go more often in the evenings? LOL). Their monthly read was Too Fat, Too Slutty, Too Loud: The Rise and Reign of the Unruly Woman so I got a copy from my library. Yay!

Yesterday on the bus up to New York the guy sitting across from me was reading Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore

Gahhhhh so close yet so far. At a middle school event this evening I saw two different women holding books but I couldn't see the titles. One woman walked away while I wasn't looking, the other walked away JUST as I was able to walk over and ask what book she had. So, since I wasn't willing to yell across the courtyard at a stranger, I still have no actual sighting of my own. Six more months to find one!

Went on vacation last week and besides relaxing and having a great trip with my family, my plan was to spot books being read in public. After two flights and numerous days around the hotel pool these are the books I spotted:

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck: A Counterintuitive Approach to Living a Good Life
Pachinko
A Storm of Swords
I Am Pilgrim
Tyranny of the Urgent
No Man Is an Island
The Old Man and the Sea
The Inheritance
Die Trying
The Happiness of Pursuit: Finding the Quest That Will Bring Purpose to Your Life
Bachelor Nation: Inside the World of America's Favorite Guilty Pleasure
Crazy Rich Asians
Red Alert
The Guest Room
Support and Defend
The Stars Are Fire
Chopping My Row
Fine Things

So I was able to spy pretty well at the pool. People may have wondered why I was walking around every hour or so. I appreciate everyone sharing what they are seeing, but I really wanted to choose one that I saw personally. However, I know some of you might not get the chance to spy at such a prolific place, so feel free to select from my list. I'm leaning towards reading The Stars are Fine for my challenge.

Linda wrote: "Went on vacation last week and besides relaxing and having a great trip with my family, my plan was to spot books being read in public. After two flights and numerous days around the hotel pool the..."

Oh, this makes me realize that I actually *saw* someone reading on the beach on vacation and I completely forgot to try to get close enough to see what book they were reading. *facepalm*

It was off-season and my general inclination was to stay farther away from strangers, plus I just kind of assumed it was a cheesy beach read, but still!

Sarah wrote: "This prompt is making me crazy. Even when I go to the library nobody is reading. They are studying or using computers or doing jigsaw puzzles.

It’s getting to the point where I’m just going to ha..."

LOL, this prompt makes me realize I don't look at people, because every time I check this thread I realize I've forgotten to look around me when I'm out to see if anyone is reading, let alone what they are reading.

On the train home last night, I saw a woman reading Tears We Cannot Stop: A Sermon to White America, so I'm pretty excited! Not only is it a book I would like to read anyway, I lucked out that the title is nice and big and easy to read without staring and squinting. :-D

On the way out of the gym last night I saw a girl reading a "Secrets of Nimh" book if anyone is looking for younger reads.

For the second week in a row, I saw someone reading The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. I have already fulfilled this prompt, but I think the universe is trying to tell me I should read this book.

Sightings:

Listening Woman
Black Widow: Kiss or Kill
The Stonekeeper
In Plain Sight
Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption
American Spring: Lexington, Concord, and the Road to Revolution

I was surprised how hard it was spying on people's reading at the airport but spotted:

Marking Time - note this is the second book in the Cazalet Chronicles series

The Mandibles: A Family, 2029–2047

Eva

Yesterday I saw Lilac Girls being read on the train. Too bad I already fulfilled this prompt.

Night Watch - Terry Pratchett
The Female Persuasion - Meg Wolitzer

I went away for the weekend so had five train journeys to spy on other people's reading (when not engrossed in my own book). I spotted:

The Miniaturist
Eleven Minutes
Swing Time

The last one is my most likely pick of my book spotting so far, but I'm still holding out for something that really grabs me

I've found it increasingly harder to find people reading in public, much less a novel over a text book... But finally found a woman reading 📚 lunch at the shanty hotdog place paid off... More so than the food. 😁
Restart
By: Gordon Korman

My husband and I were having drinks outside at a brewery. A man at the next table was reading a book. I was too shy to ask what he was reading, so my husband asked for me:

Independent People

How great is it that a man out for a bike ride brings a book with him?

I finally found out where people in my city read in public: in the jury duty waiting room. I think there were more, but these were the ones I could make out:

The Czars

Sir Knight of the Splendid Way

Let's Talk: Praying Your Way to a Deeper Relationship with God

My Hero

And something by Erica James that I think was Promises, Promises

Oh, and a book on training Labradors, but I didn't bother getting specifics on that one.

I'm currently deciding between the first two or three I listed.

I was telling my cousin and her husband about this challenge when they came for a visit and they spotted someone reading The Essex Serpent at the table next to us while having breakfast.

Just spend ages looking at Nancy Mitford covers to work out what a woman on the train platform was reading and I'm pretty sure it was The Pursuit of Love. It is at least short so I'll put it down as plan B if nothing turns up that I actually want to read.

Yesterday's train sighting was Firefly Lane.