Wow, you all really responded to my ‘Do You Read in Bed?’ post! Thank you all so much. Due to a lack of finishing any books this week, I’ve decided to make a series out of it this week and talk about other places people tend to read. First stop, the coffee shop!
I know this one is usually more of a writer stereotype, but I wanted to explore it. I cannot read in coffee shops. As much as I love reading with a warm cup of tea at home, I can’t do it at a coffee shop. I’ve even tried sitting in the armchairs, it didn’t help. I have a lot of trouble tuning out voices and people talking around me while I read so most public places don’t work for me. Since coffee shops tend to be kind of quiet, the one person having a loud conversation on the other side of the room is very clear. If I was going to read at a coffee shop, I’d need to wear headphones and listen to music.
But then, I’d be too distracted to read. I get super distracted by people walking by me. This isn’t just when I read, it’s also at work on my computer or during a conversation, anytime really. If I was reading in a coffee shop, I’d look up any time a new person came in to order. I’d be a mess trying to keep to my spot in the book and looking up all the time.
I do enjoy writing at coffee shops, but reading is a completely different animal. I wonder if I’m weird or if this isn’t a popular reading spot. How about you, Reader? Do you read in coffee shops?
Until next time, write on.
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Taking On a World of Words 
Yup – love to read in coffee shops although I don’t do it so much anymore. I enjoy taking a book to a restaurant and having a meal – need quiet restaurants for that. You have to find a quiet place and a quiet time as well as a quiet little corner in the shop or cafe and it’s better if you’re a regular.
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All the coffee shops I know are major chains. I don’t live in a good place for small and quiet haha. Happy reading!
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I never get a chance to read in coffee shops, but I’d love to do 😍
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Let me know how it goes. Happy reading!
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No, not a coffee shop reader.
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I find it too loud to read inside a coffee shop. There is a cool place new where I live that has a nice outside patio area, it’s also too loud to read out there, but I have found that patio a nice place to write in the summer. There is also a bistro place across from the coffee shop that is pretty quiet comparatively and I have spent a good deal of time reading there.
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I never really thought about restaurants because I find them too loud. Glad you found your spot!
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I often go to Barnes & Noble, grab a cup of coffee, and read comfortably in their cafe. No problem tuning out others. I got used to reading with distractions over the years…husbands, kids, etc. LOL
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B&N would be a good place for it, too! I bet it’s quieter than most coffee shops. Happy reading!
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Yes! I do read in coffee shops! I don’t drink coffee at all, but I do enjoy a cuppa tea or hot chocolate. In those cold, frigid months I love to feel the warmth and catch the scent of freshly brewed coffee as I walk in the door. I can read for a couple of hours in a coffee shop. The voices of people talking don’t bother me at all, but if there is music, that’s distracting. We have a couple of coffee shops in town that have a fireplace. Love the fireplaces!
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I hate the smell of coffee so maybe that’s my turnoff haha. The fireplace sounds awesome. Happy reading!
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That’s funny. I have a friend who hates the smell of coffee also.
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More of a bookstore reader, but if I find a quiet spot in a coffee shop I’ll read there.
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Ooh, nice! How about libraries? Happy reading!
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I love to read in coffee shops! I find I can still concentrate and I like to take breaks to people watch 🙂
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I find people watching so distracting lol. And I’m always afraid I’m being people watched haha. Happy reading!
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I can read in coffee shops. Sometimes I do put my earphones in so I block out the background noise but other times I can do without. I was sat in one last week whilst waiting for my bus and I was so into my book that I completely missed someone trying to talk to me!
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Haha, sounds like a great book! And a cozy chair for that matter. Happy reading!
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I wasn’t even in a cosy chair! All those in the shop were already occupied. It was just a normal chair at a regular table.
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I love the IDEA of reading in coffee shops. I’ve tried so many time’s that it’s crazy, but I just can’t focus. I can do homework and I love the noise (I’ve even downloaded apps for that kind of background noise), I just can’t seem to read. Maybe I’ve had the wrong book?
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Have you tried headphones? Happy reading!
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I haven’t, but I might as well try 🙂
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I do read in coffee shops, but with the caveat that I only do when I need to wait for something. I mostly work nights, so depending on the day I have to wait in the morning for longer than normal for the bus or for the grocery store to open. In those cases I will usually read, but I don’t go out of my way to read in coffee shops.
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Makes sense. I love to read to fill small gaps in my days. Happy reading!
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I feel a bit self conscious if I’m on my own in a coffee shop so not somewhere I would read. There’s no way i could relax and focus on a book. I’d much rather be at home.
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I feel you for sure. Reading in public makes me nervous I’m going to miss something important. Happy reading!
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Nope. This bookworm is shy to read at coffee shops on her own. Or maybe just a bit uncomfortable. Reading in bed is still the best because you can get comfortable like nowhere else. But sometimes, if a friends asks for company, I’ll go read there while she studies 🙂
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Aw, you’re a good friend. I’d probably to too distracting and asked to leave haha. Happy reading!
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Nahh my friends are just pushy. 😂 But thanks! Happy reading to you too
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I couldn’t read in a Starbucks (way too loud and hectic), but I can read in a cafe in a bookshop. The most obvious reason is, most people at a bookshop cafe are there doing the same thing I am – reading and enjoying a cuppa. Outside of that unique exception, I cannot read in most public places because it’s too noisy and distracting. I can’t even read while my husband watches television. 😉
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I need quiet to read, too. I do see the point of the bookshop Cafe, those tend to be quieter. Happy reading!
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Oh my word, I’m the same as you!! Every conversation I’m half listening to, until I’m fully listening. Each person that walks by, I look up to see what they are doing. I can never get comfortable either!
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Glad I’m not alone. Where can you read?
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Mostly my house or the car(if on a trip. But I also become car sick so easily, so sometimes this is tricky!) I’ve tried the library before, but that was where I couldn’t get comfortable in the chair!
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What about you?
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I’m a bed reader for sure. I can get most comfortable there and naps after reading are the best. Happy reading!
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I enjoy reading in coffee shops. I’d love to see more places that are a combination of a pub and coffee shop designed for readers. A nice big fire, comfy chairs and coffee or wine. Heaven.
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Or even a bookstore that had beer and comfy chairs. I would love that. Happy reading!
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I can only do so for an hour or so. I love white noise but the seating never is that comfortable for me to read for hours!! Also, I find it challenging to focus when I have food in front of me too haha
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Haha I find myself getting food on my book which is the worst! Happy reading!
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Whether or not I’m able to read in a coffee shop (or any other public place) varies wildly from day to day for me. I love to do it, but there are days where I have a hard time focusing on my book and tuning out what’s going on around me like you do. I wish I were able to do it all the time though because I’d be able to get so much more reading done!
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I always have trouble tuning it out. Your lucky you can some times. Happy reading!
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