Have you ever been sitting in a library (or on a bench, or a train, etc.) when you realize that the person next to you has acquired a strange spinal position to observe the title of whatever you're reading? Of course, you politely lift the cover a bit so they can see without risking paralysis. There is nodding. And mutterings of good author that...ooh...ah... And then... silence. A long and drawn out space completely devoid of sound. And then one person breaks it.
Person 1: I read a book by that author once, can't remember the title though. Hmm... Well, either way, it was really good.
You: Oh. Well. That's interesting. Was it... (pull title out of air)?
Person 1: No.
You: Oh.
Painful gap of empty air ensues
But sometimes there are great conversations to be had in libraries. I've discovered all sorts of titles and authors through aimless book chat. Once or twice I have joined in a heated quality control debate about some novel or other.
*same scenario*
Person 1: Ugh. How can you stand that? I never like that author.
You: Have you even read this?
Person 1: No.
You: Well, there you have it.
Aggravated huff
But sometimes there are great conversations to be had in libraries. I've discovered all sorts of titles and authors through aimless book chat. Once or twice I have joined in a heated quality control debate about some novel or other.
*same scenario*
Person 1: Ugh. How can you stand that? I never like that author.
You: Have you even read this?
Person 1: No.
You: Well, there you have it.
Aggravated huff
Has anyone experienced either of those situations? Was it awkward or enlightening or mildly amusing?
Intrigued and Engaging in Heated Debate,
Intrigued and Engaging in Heated Debate,
4 comments:
whoa, new formatty. nice.
also, Wildwood Dancing was good.
and i rarely spend time sitting around reading in libraries, so i can't say i've experienced that.
(which isn't to say i don't patronize libraries. i am a huge library-user. i just use my librarian connections to get them delivered directly to home)
that is not to say, however, that i don't have some truly fexcellent library stories.
see, the library in my town is next door to the middle school, so after school many of us delinquents would flood the place.
many, many tales.
like the many impromteau guitar concerts
and the one percussion one played entirely on tiles ripped up from the school floor during class.
or the time Frosting Dealer and his friends got banned for life for trying to burn the place down.
or the time Frosting Dealer...dealt frosting.
or the many, many times they kicked us out with complete inconsistancy.
Ah, yes. The library. I just went to the big library downtown. There were so many books!!
I love engaging random people in intense conversations in the library. We usually disagree, but we can't fight and be quiet at the same time. So we just talk about books we agree on, which at times is a bit of a downer.
I like the format. Our blogs are like twins! Except, your twin has master art. My twin is never updated.
Frosting Dealer?
Anyway... I haven't been to the library in a while (heheh, but will definitely start to go more often)... and I almost never read there... I'm usually in and out with my stack of 6 books (don't know why, but I always pick 6)....
*shudder* lurkers....
yeah. frosting dealer.
as in, one time he brought in a tub of Betty Crocker and some pixie sticks and sold them to kids, hiding them in a plastic bag in the corner of the library.
hence the name.
also, there's a good market in that. he made like, ten bucks, i think.
i've made five on a handful of Smarties.
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