Lately I’ve begun reading again…..well, when I can. It’s not always easy and if Luigi sees me with a book in hand then he wants it. He’s pretty tricky too, finding ways to get me to put it down where he can reach it and then trying to snatch it when I’m otherwise occupied.
Getting back to reading, which I’ve always enjoyed, made me think about the fact that I don’t see many people reading here. Back in the States, people carry books around with them whenever they think they may have to wait for something for longer than a couple of minutes. Many people take them with them to work and would read during their breaks.
Here I have never seen anyone take a book with them to the doctor’s office or on public transportation. And speaking of the doctor’s office, people rarely pick up the magazines that are there. They’d rather just sit and look at one another. When people are waiting among strangers they often just sit there – which makes me wonder what in the world they could possibly be thinking about. I would go absolutely crazy if I had to just sit there and stare into space.
When I went to the hospital I took a book with me, but I was probably the only one there who had one. O even brought me a magazine while I was there, but none of the other mothers seemed to even be interested. Now granted, there wasn’t all that much time to read, but still, I did manage to read that magazine.
There aren’t many book stores around either and the stores that do have books don’t carry a huge selection. That’s not to say that books aren’t sold. I’ve found a couple of very good websites here in Italy that actually even get the books to you within 24 hours (a record here) and one even offers books in English. So obviously someone reads.
Next time I have to wait somewhere I’m definitely taking a book with me. I wonder if people will look at me strangely….
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Would love it if you could share the links to those book websites… especially the one with English books!
We are moving to Scerni (CH) in three weeks and I already miss Amazon.com!!
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Mary Reply:
November 11th, 2009 at 6:53 pm
Hi Anna! If you’re moving to Scerni, you won’t be far from me. As for the booksites – the best one is http://www.ibs.it – they have English books. You can also get them sent in from the UK with http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/ or with Amazon.com in the uk http://www.amazon.co.uk/ or France http://www.amazon.fr/ (which also has English books). Congratulations on your move!
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I was once on a public transit bus to go get my kids from their school across the city from where we lived in Torino, and I was reading a book as usual. I heard someone remark ” Oh she must think she is so intelligent, to be reading a book.” I remember thinking that was such a strange conclusion, and it definitely made me feel awkward. Like you, I use books to keep boredom at bay, especially in crowded places. It definitely beats staring at strangers!
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I took a book into hospital with me when I was having no.1. The nurse told me I couldn’t possibly be in labour if I was still reading a book. I insisted, so she checked – 7cm. Books are real escapism for me, and that was my way of dealing with it!
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