Sunday, September 9, 2012

This!

I don't have an ebook reader. This means that I always leave the house with a bag to place the 2 or 3 books that I'm currently reading. You know that one thing that you can't leave your house without? For most people, that would be their phone or their makeup or some other prosaic thing; for me, it has always been books.

I am always in fear that I would be caught dead in a traffic jam and I have no reading material whatsoever. Ditto with being in a long queue in a bank. The thought that I don't have a book with me during a lull period makes my hair stand on end. If I find myself in the hospital waiting room with absolutely nothing to read, I'd turn to the nearest person and say, "Just kill me."

When I found out that a good friend from the book club makes tote bags specifically for books, I just knew I had to get one! Even the text at the side is so book-ish. And it's true, isn't it? When you see someone reading in the train, you always assume that their IQ must be way out there. And if they're holding a Russian doorstop, really, you wanna do the dirty deed with them right then and there.

Designed by Ajie

So now I have a bag with all that extra space where I can carry my copy of Anna Karenina, Gravity's Rainbow, Infinite Jest, and Atlas Shrugged, which incidentally are books that remain unread in my shelf for the longest time. Because we know books, just as long as you're carrying them whether read or unread, do make people look smarter.

8 comments:

Teacher Pogi said...

ipahiram mo muna sa akin ang anna karenina. may dala din ako lagi libro. pero sa mga panahon ngayon, either academic material/ nonfiction.

Peter S. said...

Oo ba, Overthinker Palaboy!

Gem said...

Oh I love Anna Karenina! Definitely one of my favorite classics. I haven't tried reading books in queues and during long waiting periods as much as I want to. You know here in the Philippines, people will give you that kind of look as if reading in public is such a huge deal!

Peter S. said...

Hi, Gem! Yes, I know what you mean! Kinda frustrating, no?

Anonymous said...

We'll be reading Anna Karenina on October. I'm excited! Which edition do you have?

Peter S. said...

Hello, Angus. I have the P&V edition! Good luck on your read-along. I'm sure it'll be fun!

Unknown said...

I was once caught in a human traffic jam, on the Golden Gate Bridge's 50th anniversary when it was closed to cars so people could walk across it.

While we stood there for an hour waiting for the crowd to finally start moving again, the woman next to me quietly read the paperback she had brought with her.

Peter S. said...

Hello, C. B. James! I do that too! When I'm in a long line such as that for releasing government documents (which can take hours), I silently read my paperback.