Coworker to me: "Twilight is on your list of books to read soon, right? You have to read it!"
Overheard in the office break room by someone talking on her cell phone: "The Kite Runner. A Thousand Splendid Suns. No, Splendid. S-P-L -E-N-D-I-D. If you can't find them, you can borrow my copies."
Me to my staff as I head off for lunch: "I'll be in Africa for the next half hour with a stopover in Georgia."
Coworker upon seeing me reading during my lunch break: "Shh! Quiet; Wendy's reading again." *chuckles to himself as he walks out the door and I roll my eyes in exasperation*
A coworker interrupts my lunchtime reading to complain about something insignificant, while I'm screaming in my head: "Can I get back to my book, please? I'm not on duty right now. Go away!"
Sitting on table in break room: Dr. Phil Getting Real: Lessons in Life, Marriage and Family by Phil McGraw, Unnatural Exposure by Patricia Cornwell, and Queen of Babble by Meg Cabot
Coworker seen reading while tech works on her computer: Woman Hollering Creek and Other Stories by Sandra Cisneros
Another Coworker reading at her desk on break: The Bible
Employee caught reading in car: The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Coworker overheard saying: "I hate this book! Now I have to wait a year for the next one to come out! Not fair!"
Overheard in the office break room by someone talking on her cell phone: "The Kite Runner. A Thousand Splendid Suns. No, Splendid. S-P-L -E-N-D-I-D. If you can't find them, you can borrow my copies."
Me to my staff as I head off for lunch: "I'll be in Africa for the next half hour with a stopover in Georgia."
Coworker upon seeing me reading during my lunch break: "Shh! Quiet; Wendy's reading again." *chuckles to himself as he walks out the door and I roll my eyes in exasperation*
A coworker interrupts my lunchtime reading to complain about something insignificant, while I'm screaming in my head: "Can I get back to my book, please? I'm not on duty right now. Go away!"
Sitting on table in break room: Dr. Phil Getting Real: Lessons in Life, Marriage and Family by Phil McGraw, Unnatural Exposure by Patricia Cornwell, and Queen of Babble by Meg Cabot
Coworker seen reading while tech works on her computer: Woman Hollering Creek and Other Stories by Sandra Cisneros
Another Coworker reading at her desk on break: The Bible
Employee caught reading in car: The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Coworker overheard saying: "I hate this book! Now I have to wait a year for the next one to come out! Not fair!"
Those are great. At least you have coworkers that read... At my last job I was the weird girl who turned down lunch invitations to go off and read :)
ReplyDeleteAnyway, guess what? You won one of my journals! Send me an email with your info when you get a chance and I'll mail it out to you next week :)
Well, I don't think anyone reads in my office, except papers. ;P I'm glad my workstation is at a corner so no one will disturb me if they caught me reading my book, hehe.
ReplyDeleteI'm not the first to say it, but...at least you get to observe reading-related behavior at the office! It doesn't seem to be a popular pastime where I work.
ReplyDeleteThe coworker that has to wait a year for the next book to come out? I remember that feeling back in the Harry Potter days :-). Now, it's just waiting eight months for a new episode of Lost...
Nobody but me brings a book to work. *sniff*
ReplyDeleteI'm kind of impressed by Woman Hollering Creek...but I like that collection of short stories.
I sympathize with your last coworker's frustration. However, that makes me love the book in question...what could be better than getting that invested in a story?
ReplyDeleteI'm like Iliana: the weird girl who turns down lunch invitations to read :P
I love peeking at what other people are reading. Especially on public transportation, because you get such a wide array.
ReplyDeleteHow nice that you're surrounded by fellow readers at work! Every job I've had the co-workers thought I was weird to open a book during breaks instead of gossiping!
ReplyDeleteIliana - I like having my quiet away time, especially in the middle of a busy day. So, I understand turning lunch invitations down to read. :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! I can't believe I won! I was behind in visiting my friend's blogs and figured I was too late for the contest. Thank you!
Melody - This is the first office I have been in where people do read things other than work related documents. I love being surrounded by other readers. They aren't quite as obsessed as I am, but that's okay. :-)
Florinda - I think the job most of the people in my office do lends itself more easily to reading in some respects. And reading is one of the few acceptable ways to pass the time when things are really slow.
The coworker waiting for the next book to come out is a huge Harry Potter fan, so I imagine she was thinking much the same thing with the release of each of the books in the series. :-)
Bybee - That's sad that more people around you at work aren't reading. I guess we all have our own interests and hobbies. More people should read, I think. They're really missing out.
I got really excited when I found out that someone in my office was reading something by Cisneros. I really like her work too.
Nymeth - I think she used the word hate but really meant love in terms of the book. :-)
Charley - So do I! Sometimes when I'm sitting in the breakroom reading, another reader will come in and try and catch a glimpse at the cover of my book to see what I'm reading. She'll be so quiet about it so as not to disturb me, which I think is nice of them. It's those people I don't mind stopping and chatting to when I'm reading on my lunch break.
Jeane - We have our share of gossiping too, unfortunately. :-( It is nice though to have other readers around me.
ReplyDeleteVery neat post!
ReplyDeleteWe're reading Twilight in my reading group for July but I'm like 17th in line for it at the local library. I've heard a lot about The Kite Runner but I haven't read yet. Let me guess, the last quotation is about Fearless Fourteen?
ReplyDeleteWell, at least they can read. And how long has it been that you stopped yourself from thwacking the "Ssshh! She's reading!" coworker? I commend you.
ReplyDeleteI love it! When I first started my job I would leave at lunch to read my book. But now one of my coworkers has also started blogging and we all read at lunch. And we talk about books a lot a lot a lot (oh, and the office book club that starts in a few weeks). I love the spreading joy of books!
ReplyDeleteLOL! I love your observations! I was stuck with a sister who is very proud of the fact that she doesn't read, for a couple of weekends. Just reading your post made me feel like, "Ahhh, I'm home." Thank you for that. So refreshing. :)
ReplyDeleteEva - Thanks!
ReplyDeleteJen - I hope you are able to get the copy of Twilight in time for your group read. You're guess would be a good one! Haha
Carrie K - Yes, I at least they can. :-) If only you knew about the "Shh!" coworker . . . There have been several times I wouldn't mind offering up a good thwack! He doesn't think reading is a worthwhile way to spend time to give you a better idea of where he's coming from.
Trish - I think it's great that your office has organized a book club! I hope it turns out to be a real success. :-)
Nancy - I don't understand being proud of not reading and poor you being stuck with her for a couple of weekends! I'm glad you are home again and back among us readers. :-)
Very interesting to see/hear where ever the books are talked about, no matter where it land to :) Love your observations surrounded the office :)
ReplyDeleteJulia - It is interesting to see what everyone is reading around the office!
ReplyDeleteThere are sure lots of readers in your office, Wendy! I wish there'll be more bookish sightings here but then... LOL.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny to see how my colleagues often eye my handbag with 'suspicion' during lunch because they know I'll be reading).
Great observations! I took my tween and her friend to the mall today. Sat in a comfy chair in a quiet end of the mall and read for two hours (checking in with the girls every half hour!). Anytime I get a minute ...
ReplyDeleteI posted this joke in response to a comment you left on my blog, but wanted to put it here, too, since you probably won't get back to that particular post over at my place ...
It's a good one, even if you've heard it before:
NEVER ARGUE WITH A WOMAN
One morning, the husband returns the boat to their lakeside cottage after several hours of fishing and decides to take a nap. Although not familiar with the lake, the wife decides to take the boat out. She motors out a short distance, anchors, puts her feet up, and begins to read her book. The peace and solitude are magnificent.
Along comes a Fish and Game Warden in his boat. He pulls up alongside the woman and says, 'Good morning, Ma'am. What are you doing?' 'Reading a book,' she replies, (thinking, 'Isn't that obvious?').
'You're in a Restricted Fishing Area,' he informs her.
'I'm sorry, officer, but I'm not fishing. I'm reading.'
'Yes, but I see you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment. I'll have to take you in and write you up.'
'If you do that, I'll have to charge you with sexual assault,' says the woman. 'But I haven't even touched you,' says the Game Warden.
'That's true, but you have all the equipment. For all I know you could start at any moment.'
'Have a nice day ma'am,' and he left.
MORAL: Never argue with a woman who reads. It's likely she can also think.
Thank you for sharing the joke! It was funny. :-)
ReplyDeleteWhenever my husband wants to go to one of his specialty stores and I tag along, you'll often find me sitting or standing outside reading while I wait.