Great Reading Spots
I’m sat in a coffee shop right now as I doodle this into my notebook. When people talk about their favourite places to read, coffee shops are always what come to mind for me, along with my bed on a Sunday morning or a quiet spot on the beach during a beautiful summer’s day.
Despite being mid June, here in England it’s raining heavily outside as I write this, and something about the setting of this cramped little coffee shop feels perfect to me for a little reading time. Whether it’s the warmth in here, the usual mix of jazz and what can only be described as elevator background music, the clinking of teacups or the coffee itself I’m not totally sure. But nevertheless, the balance feels just right.
With all the hum and chatter going on around me I guess its surprising that I can concentrate, but actually I find it doesn’t take long at all before I’m fully focused on the pages in front of me and have zoned out the rest of the world. Its pretty much the same feeling of reading on the underground or on a long train journey – just as in these moments we adapt to the rhythmic rocking back and forth motions of the carriage, the sounds inside a café or coffee shop become familiar and soothing.
The more I take out a book in a public place, the easier it becomes. Of course I do most of my reading at home, but I’ve also read on beaches, planes, trains, buses, inside cars, waiting rooms, cafes, coffee shops, libraries, parks and museums.
The key is choosing the right book to have with you. A truly good book has the power to transport you from your surroundings, block out all noise, and suspend reality. A really compelling read absorbs you in the story and takes you on a journey with the characters, where you witness and feel everything that happens along the way.
As Stephen King so eloquently puts it: “Books are a uniquely portable magic.”
As more and more people are now moving away from too much screen time, and trying their utmost to cut back on the amount of time spent on social media, books are for sure the way to go.
Despite being mid June, here in England it’s raining heavily outside as I write this, and something about the setting of this cramped little coffee shop feels perfect to me for a little reading time. Whether it’s the warmth in here, the usual mix of jazz and what can only be described as elevator background music, the clinking of teacups or the coffee itself I’m not totally sure. But nevertheless, the balance feels just right.
With all the hum and chatter going on around me I guess its surprising that I can concentrate, but actually I find it doesn’t take long at all before I’m fully focused on the pages in front of me and have zoned out the rest of the world. Its pretty much the same feeling of reading on the underground or on a long train journey – just as in these moments we adapt to the rhythmic rocking back and forth motions of the carriage, the sounds inside a café or coffee shop become familiar and soothing.
The more I take out a book in a public place, the easier it becomes. Of course I do most of my reading at home, but I’ve also read on beaches, planes, trains, buses, inside cars, waiting rooms, cafes, coffee shops, libraries, parks and museums.
The key is choosing the right book to have with you. A truly good book has the power to transport you from your surroundings, block out all noise, and suspend reality. A really compelling read absorbs you in the story and takes you on a journey with the characters, where you witness and feel everything that happens along the way.
As Stephen King so eloquently puts it: “Books are a uniquely portable magic.”
As more and more people are now moving away from too much screen time, and trying their utmost to cut back on the amount of time spent on social media, books are for sure the way to go.