Readers, describe the spot(s) where you do most of your reading

Cafe Society
21

Everywhere?

I read in bed a lot, but the Kindle goes with me wherever I am in the house. “My” chair is a recliner in the living room, so that’s a common place, and when the weather’s nice, I’ll wander outside and sit on the back porch or at the picnic table in our gazebo (we created two very nice outdoor living/entertaining spaces in 2020, thanks to our daughter taking initiative). I end up reading in the bathroom, and it’s really common for me to find myself in the kitchen trying to read while feeding the cats, cleaning, or making dinner. Doing the last, of course, doesn’t make for good reading comprehension or good task completion.

22

I will look at these. But I don’t think sitting behind my neck will do very much to help, it needs to sit behind my actual head. Observe the woman in the first photo for this pillow, she is looking at the ceiling; now observe the older gentleman in the first photo for this pillow. It’s the second one that looks like it could work.

Anyway, it’s worth a try. I promise to come back and report.

23

Everywhere, mostly my bed either if I’m preparing for sleep or just trying to relax. It’s adjustable so a great place for reading.

But mostly anywhere. I also read at work if I have to babysit a process where I’m keeping an eye on something (like a file copy or installation) and I am stuck there and killing time.

Books on my phone are the best, especially with Kindle Unlimited giving me an endless supply.

24

Not to beat this to death… <As ThelmaLou winds up for another pitch…>

I completely grasp your question and your dilemma. Really, I do. I’m not offering futile suggestions, I promise.

I hesitated to use the term “neck roll” so as to avoid the very objection you have just raised. That’s why I said “small, squatty pillow.” Something like the pictures below-- smaller than a bed pillow (which they are positioned up against so you can see the size), small enough to fit behind your neck, but wide enough to support your head. I have several of them and use one in a rocker to accomplish the very thing you are needing to do, namely to support my head so I can read in the chair.

Sometimes they’re called “travel pillows,” and you can find them at Wal-Mart. Like the little pillows you get (used to get?) on airplanes.

Of course, YMMV.

25

Always airplanes, but I only fly about once a year.

Always read in bed before sleep. Occasionally I’ll read on the couch or recliner in the living room.

I’m an opportunist when it comes to reading. My phone is synced with my Kindle and visa/versa. So any where that I will be waiting for 5 minutes or more, I’m reading.

26

A small-town coffee shop, where I won’t be interrupted by anyone I know. An overstuffed armchair in front of a fireplace.

(See, In my house, I’m fair game for whichever task my wife’s thinking about. Even if it’s “Can you paint the rain gutters in August?”, it needs to be discussed right now, while I’m trying to read.)

Or on the front porch. That’s good for half-privacy, and there’s a view and a breeze there.
I’m out there now, with a stack of (comic) books.

27

Mostly on the trampoline while I’m jogging.

28

On the back porch in a glider, or in bed before sleep. One of my favorite summer activities is porch reading with the Sox game on the radio as background noise. 'Course, living in upstate NY and wanting the Boston feed, I’ve got to get creative with itertubes and bluetooth speakers.

29

In my family room, adjacent to a lovely wood burning stove across the room to my right and a large window to my immediate left that looks out over picturesque woods and a garden area. There is a wicker tray to my right that holds the detritus of my life: phone, books, magazines, Kindle, remotes, glasses, Chapstick and yada yada. Between the tray and me is the perfect dog niche. It is unoccupied at present, a situation soon to be remedied, I hope. My ex-husband used to refer to this arrangement as Pooh Corner.

The only disharmony is that Pooh Corner is built on the Most Uncomfortable Sectional Sofa in the World.

I have at least 5 other far more comfortable places I could choose to sit and read in my home, but I don’t.

I’m stuck with the Most Uncomfortable Sectional Sofa in the World because it is in the best spot in the house, and I just don’t know how to get rid of the goddamn thing. I bought the original cheap and nasty – yet reasonably comfortable – sofa for one reason alone: it fits perfectly in an awkward space in the hub of the house. Over time and due to its cheap construction, it began to break down. I ought to have replaced it promptly, but instead I sank and dithered, dithered and sank.

A dear friend felt sad at my sinking circumstances. She loves to reupholster furniture. You see where this is going. She asked if she could recover it for me. Against my better judgment, I said yes.

What she didn’t mention was that she didn’t intend to just reupholster it. She rebuilt the frame and replaced every bit of stuffing material with the thinnest, meanest cushions ever made, hard as the hounds of hell. She would not hear of me compensating her for her efforts. It looks stunning, nothing like the original. You can sit on it for about 15 minutes before your ass goes to sleep.

She worked so hard.

At present, my remedy is a fluffy bed comforter folded into an 8-ply thickness. I look forward to the day when I can quietly send the torture instrument on to Good Will.

It is soon my turn to host a monthly theme party for friends, including my upholsterer buddy. Maybe after that event, the sofa will suffer an accident from which it is unable to, umm, recover.

And then Pooh Corner will be perfect once again.

30

When I was very young, lying in bed in whatever position allowed me to take advantage of the light spill from the hall. When I grew older, lying face-down on the bed, with the book lying on the floor. When I grew stouter, face-up on the bed, sometimes shifting to one side or the other.

31

I soak my arthritic bones in a warm bath every day, reading book #1, always non-fiction.

After dinner, I recline in a, um, recliner, reading a different book, #2, usually fiction.

Before turning off the light I read book #3, again non-fiction, in bed.

Get through a lot of very different books that way. Real books, on paper. I spend enough time on the computer in between books. I want the feel of a real book in my hands.

32

After seeing this thread topic, it occurred to me I do most of my reading at the dog park. I read from the phone while my dog runs around and plays. I use the Google Play Books app, which gives me reward points for crap I don’t want to buy.

33

I’m primarily an in-bed reader as well. I have been since I was a small child.

34

At the Y, walking the track, listening to my audiobook.

If I try to, you know, actually read, I will fall asleep after about 1-2 pages, especially after sundown.

35

Lying on my bed.

36

Bed readers, what is your position? Sitting? side-lying? On back holding book aloft over your face? On your stomach with your legs in the air? Do you settle into one position, or do you mix it up?

mmm

37

Bed reader here. Usually side, but I switch from side to side, as my circulation issues leads to my arm falling asleep if I spend too much time on one side. Preferred is left side, but that side seems to have the circulation problems quicker. Sometimes I’ll do on my back with the kindle on my chest and my head propped up on a pillow.

38

I used to prop my head up on pillows. Now I have a Sleep Number bed whose top rises. I lift it to the proper position. And then prop my head up on pillows.