©readinginterrupted.com
There’s something special about reading in a café. Your reading is interrupted, yes, but pleasurably so. The clanks and whooshes of the kitchen, the murmurs and laughter of the people around you, the background music, and the beeps of the passing cars.
They all create a soundtrack to your reading experience.
It’s hard to concentrate as you suddenly hear an intriguing half-phrase from a nearby table “… and that’s why she never goes swimming anymore.”
Your rhythm is off its normal course as your gaze catches the sight of a dog being pushed in a stroller in the street.
But, in the end, having a book as company in a café is a lovely experience.
reading interrupted. 
Writing in a café has the same allure, though I rarely do it. Nowadays, it’s more likely I see readers on devices than with actual print books. 😉
eden
I used to see a lot of people reading on their kindles and such but, recently, I have seen more physical books again. I think they are making a comeback! Hope you are having a good weekend, Eden 🙂
Just costs you a fortune in coffee. A couple of good writing prompts in your post Letizia, if you like to write in coffee joints 🙂
That’s true, Roy. Listening in on other people’s conversations in cafes could lead to many interesting stories!
I love reading, no matter where I am. If I can steal a moment to read, I usually will. The same experience of reading at a coffee is one that you can get reading at the mall. A lot of them have these comfy chair areas at main thoroughfares.
I’ve never read in a mall but, like you, love reading everywhere. It’s good to always have a book handy as you never know when you can have a few moments to read a chapter!
I agree wholeheartedly!! There is a warmth that comes when surrounded by the gentle chaotic hum in the background! And of course, coffee and tea are great companions!☕️☕️☕️
Chaotic hum, that’s the perfect phrase!
Half a book in two sessions today.
Two cafe reading sessions, I love it!
I could not read in a cafe but love the idea. It makes me feel like Sartre in St Germain…..
So true!
I’m such a snoop when it comes to coffee shops, Letizia – we can get SO much from snippets of conversations and watching the people in the street. And of course there is the yummy coffee… 🙂
It’s hard not to be a snoop, isn’t it? And if I can’t listen in, then I try to imagine who the people are, what their stories are. And I’m not even a fiction writer!
You captured the experience perfectly – enjoyable distraction!
Yes, I’m not sure how much reading we actually get done but that’s ok!
I enjoy reading anywhere, but being around other does make it more interesting. Another great post, Letizia
There’s something about reading in public, isn’t there, Dannie? At once, communal and yet very private. Thanks for the tweet share. I hope you’re been well!
Totally agreed! I love writing in cafes too – at least then those tantalising overheard phrases sometimes work their way in to dialogue!
It’s so tempting to include those snippets of conversation somewhere as they are so intriguing at times! Thanks for dropping by and taking the time to comment 🙂
Confession: I once followed a couple off a bus to hear the rest of their argument. Not proud. Wouldn’t definitely not do it again… 😉
Oh I love that!!
I do a good bit of writing in my neighborhood coffee shop (not much reading). Even though there are more distractions at the coffee shop, I find I’m able to focus on my work. It’s too easy to procrastinate at home. I always find something I “must” do immediately — like vacuuming. 🙂
I know what you mean, when one writes at home the house suddenly becomes very clean, doesn’t it? The buzz of a cafe does make a good background as long as it’s a buzz. Almost like white noise.
Indeed it is!
🙂
It sounds a lovely experience. Have you read passages about cafes when you are in a cafe? That might be a curious experience.
I can’t think of a specific example, but I’m sure there have been moments when I have been reading in a cafe about a scene in a cafe. Or certainly about a scene involving food or coffee. I also like reading a sentence such as “It was a cool September Tuesday” on a cool September Tuesday 🙂
Yes, that would be very cool!
Interestingly, I get too distracted in a café to read, but I can WRITE in one, sipping on my tea, stopping every once in a while to get inspired. Perhaps because I now spend more time writing than reading, if possible, I feel less guilty if I stop at a café and write up my 1,000 words. I snatch up snippets of conversation and use them in some dialogue. I peruse the fashion and suddenly a character is holding the same red leather purse as the lovely young woman in line, and pursing her lips like the barista behind the counter. 🙂
I like that you are not only inspired by the snippets of conversation but by people’s style choices! Next time I see someone writing in a cafe, I will be more aware of whether or not they are looking at my outfit, haha!
🙂
Or eavesdropping on your conversation! 😉 It’s a great place to pick up dialogue ideas.
It really is a wonderful feeling to read in a café, it is strange that being put off is so pleasing when normally it is infuriating. Now that the weather will turn, it will be a pleasure to hear the clinking rather than the wooshing of the wind on the trees.
It’s one of the reading distractions that we welcome, funny how that works!
Oh, I do miss it. Reminds me of college, grad school, single days. That’s what I did before I became a mom! I forgot…haha. Thanks for taking me back for a few moments. Must find time more often to go someplace and sit and sip coffee and read or write. That time is usually at 4 am in my office/library/guest room, these days. If the kiddo sleeps well. 😉
This will also give you something to look forward to again as when your little one is older, you can do it again! I saw a mom reading as her little boy was drawing a few weeks back, it was so sweet 🙂
I wish I could read and write in cafes without being distracted. But I’m too much of a people watcher, methinks!
It’s a delicate balance, not being distracted by other’s conversations but still listening in!
Love, love, love this! Afraid I don’t read in public as much as I used to, but I do love working in cafes on my remote days for all the reasons you listed. A welcome distraction can be just the right energy to keep you going, especially in my neighborhood. Lots of puppies around!
I have been writing on my train commute lately. Sigh…writing on a train. 😉
Writing on the train must be interesting as well, with all those distractions, noises, people and views to look at. I like to read on the train for just those reasons!
I love reading in cafes! I don’t do it as much as I like, as most of the time I’d be with company, but it’s so nice when I get the chance. There are a number of cafes around my house that are rather quiet during weekends, and I manage to get a good chunk of reading (and sometimes writing) done!
Yes, one has to be alone or with someone else who is reading or writing, it’s true. I always have a book with me (I’m sure you are the same) so if someone I am meeting is late, then I can get some reading done!
Letizia I have an image of a dog in a stroller, too funny. It is a rare occasion for me to sit in a cafe and read, but when I get the chance I, like you, struggle to focus because I love watching people, something I have done since I was a little girl. Don’t know why? I imagine their stories and my mind wanders far away I guess. Just like when I read.
A dog in a stroller is always a surprising and fun sight – I think it’s because I anticipate a baby in the stroller and then see a furry face with its long tongue hanging out,haha!
Quite right!… I have many good memories from my early 20´s involving books and a café… I remember reading part of the second book of Proust´s “Recherche”… in a bar nearby… called Pompeii… Sending love! Aquileana 😀
Reading Proust in a cafe sounds wonderful!
I agree completely! Plus, having your book open, the way you do in the picture, let’s you travel back and forth between the snippets of the world around you and the world inside the pages. Almost as if the two things are going on simultaneously.
So true, one travels form the story to the cafe and then back to the story again – it’s part of the joy!
A soundtrack to the reading experience.. yes! I know people that cannot stand interruptions when they are reading though 😉 I’ll have to send them this post, hehe!
Some interruptions are tough, it’s true. But there’s something about a background hum that makes this kind of noise easier somehow, right? 🙂
I completely agree, I love reading at cafes too
There’s something about the distractions, isn’t there? And the coffee, hehe. Thanks for dropping by.
Yeah, I think it’s the fact that there’s always something going on. At home when you look up from your book you see the same thing whereas at a cafe there’s always something different going on when you look up from your book
My favorite activity on my days off, to seat at a cafe with friends reading and commenting books. 🙂
I’m happy to see the page is open to something about goats! I’ve missed you guys – hope your summer was filled with lots of fun and great books. Now it’s already time for the cozy fireside reading.
I think readers are the most excited about Autumn as it means cozy reading time. Hope you’ve been well, Sheila!
Well described! I’m used to working from cafes almost daily, which involves a lot of reading and writing. And the strange kinds of interruptions in cafes are comforting and disturbing at the same time. But as you said, with books as your company, little can bother beyond a point. I recently wrote a haiku on this experience (https://avanip.wordpress.com/2016/10/11/haiku-29/) that has a similar feel to it.
Also, I love the overall feel of your blog. I’m glad I stumbled across it while scouting for fellow book lovers. Good day!
Your haiku and my post go so well together!
They really do, that was my first thought when I read your post. 🙂
I love this. I love those interruptions too. In a world where we are often in our own isolated units – a home, an office, a car – it can be so wonderful to find ourselves in the midst of engaging life, while at the same time enjoying our own private engaging world. The cafe I go to sells tea for 1.50 so it’s not at all expensive for a few hours of golden joy. Thank you.
“in the midst of engaging life” – so well put! It’s important to not isolate ourselves too much and a cafe is a good place to be.
Thank you for visiting and taking the time to comment (sorry I took a while to respond, the comment went into my spam file for some reason!). Wishing you a peaceful holiday season.
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