I’ve been traveling a lot lately and yesterday was no different. I decide that to make my life easier, I’d take the train to a meeting in Philadelphia. Unfortunately, a winter storm made east coast travel difficult so I spent the afternoon waiting in line but ultimately got on the coveted train. It was crowded but I found an open seat, right next to a person who was reading a very big book. It was a pleasant ride to Philadelphia, snow and all.
Defying all logic, I decided to see if I could hop an early train home instead of spending the night, as a rational person would. Obviously, I enjoy unpleasant travel situations. Once more, I found a seat next to a reader. He was reading on a tablet, but hey, he was reading.
You may notice a pattern — yes, I actively search for people reading when looking for a seat on the train. I find they make better company. No offense to anyone but I’m not one for small talk in tight spaces.
On the final leg of the trip from Baltimore to DC, the conductor in my car smiled at me and said, “You see a lot of people reading, but not real books anymore. It’s all those fancy ebooks now.”
I smiled back and said, “I have a soft spot for the paper kind.”
“Nothing beats the feel of a real book in your hands,” she said.
We nodded and smiled. She was so right.
My book of choice was Bellman & Black by Diane Setterfield. I’m enjoying it. It’s very different from The Thirteenth Tale, which I loved, but I’m remembering what a great storyteller she is with this one.
I’m also slowly making my way through Doctor Who: The Essential Guide which was a great birthday gift.
Now that my class is over, I’m planning to start dwindling the TBR and writing some reviews. Yes, I have lots to write about.
Just Book Reading 
I love reading on trains. In the UK it is social taboo to talk to anyone on the train – so you never need to risk small talk. Only trouble is trains tend to rock me to sleep and I’m so afraid that one day I’ll wake up drooling on someone’s shoulder.
I’m a little nervous about taking my Kindle anywhere like on a train though in case it gets lost or stolen.
I want trains where small talk is taboo! It’s not that I’m anti-social it’s just that I don’t want to talk about what I do, where I’m going, and why. You know, things that are no one’s business, for the most part. I travel with a Nook too because I can carry so many extra books, in case I get stuck somewhere!
I love reading on trains too. One of the things I miss most about living in the UK (which I did for a year) is the trains. Trains to everywhere, and I loved being able to read and watch the countryside go by — it really is all rolling hills and things, as advertised, and it makes a good accompaniment for a book.
(Subways, I found while living in New York, are not nearly as restful.)
Scenery does make for a nice break on the train. 🙂 Agree about the subway; the metro in DC is a nightmare. I never try to read when I take it, I just count stops until I get off.