Reading A Book In A Pub. Weird?

strobe · 07-05-2010 02:13PM #1

Ok so, a couple of weeks ago I popped into a pub I was passing on my way home from town and had my usual pint and a few whiskey n ices and sat there and read the novel I'm currently into. I've been doing this for years, since I was old enough to get served in bars.

I was there for about an hour and a half and on my way out I ran into someone I know. They asked who I was with but I just told them I just came in to read my book and have a few drinks, and that it was something I always do. He thought it was gas in anyway. Then when I got home I just got thinking that I never actually recall seeing a single other person sitting on their own reading a book in a pub. Lots of people reading the paper but never a novel that I remember.

So is it an unusal thing to do? Does anyone else here do it?

Abrasax · 07-05-2010 02:14PM

It's quite a novel thing to be doing.

Lux23 · 07-05-2010 02:15PM

I do it but I have found that people normally come over and chat to you. I would do it in a Cafe but its nearly impossible to find a comfy seat in a Cafe in Dublin. Most are set up so you will want to leave after drinking your coffee.

easyeason3 · 07-05-2010 02:16PM

I would never, ever do that at home but in a random place that I'm not known then yeah I wouldn't mind.

But I'd have to be having lunch or dinner. There's a real air of desperation off a woman if she goes into a pub alone to have a drink...reading material or not it smacks of being a loser.

KevinVonSpiel · 07-05-2010 02:17PM

What ya reading for?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uvs2g5Nj0NI

AnonoBoy · 07-05-2010 02:17PM

easyeason3 wrote: »

I would never, ever do that at home but in a random place that I'm not known then yeah I wouldn't mind.

But I'd have to be having lunch or dinner. There's a real air of desperation off a woman if she goes into a pub alone to have a drink...reading material or not it smakcs of being a loser.

You worry too much about what other people think of you.

m5ex9oqjawdg2i · 07-05-2010 02:18PM

Well people read newspapers in pubs all the time. A novel is just different content.

I would find it odd if you were reading a book in a busy pub on a Saturday night. It would be out of place, but normally? No, it's fine

easyeason3 · 07-05-2010 02:19PM

AnonoBoy wrote: »

You worry too much about what other people think of you.

Maybe.

But do you not think it's really scummy if you see a woman in a pub on her own nursing a drink?

Lux23 · 07-05-2010 02:19PM

easyeason3 wrote: »

I would never, ever do that at home but in a random place that I'm not known then yeah I wouldn't mind.

But I'd have to be having lunch or dinner. There's a real air of desperation off a woman if she goes into a pub alone to have a drink...reading material or not it smacks of being a loser.

Should it be Easy in Easons?

landsleaving · 07-05-2010 02:20PM

I do it all the time, don't see why it would be a problem, it's nice and quiet in a pub, relaxing place to read.

seamus · 07-05-2010 02:22PM

easyeason3 wrote: »

But do you not think it's really scummy if you see a woman in a pub on her own nursing a drink?

....no?

Maybe you live in a different country where it's frowned upon for a woman to be out on her own?

I've never done it - the opportunity to have a sneaky pint during the day rarely presents itself - but I wouldn't think it was odd in the slightest. If I had an hour or two to kill and nowhere to go, the first thing I'd do is probably grab a paper and nip into a quiet pub.

i71jskz5xu42pb · 07-05-2010 02:22PM

What were you reading, the Joy of Sex? You have to expect some strange looks.

I wouldn't consider it strange and I'm pretty sure I've seen people in Dublin reading in pubs. Not my cup of tea though, my house is much more comfortable than any pub and the beer is a lot cheaper.

Lux23 · 07-05-2010 02:24PM

Darwin Numerous Topaz wrote: »

I wouldn't consider it strange and I'm pretty sure I've seen people in Dublin reading in pubs. Not my cup of tea though, my house is much more comfortable than any pub and the beer is a lot cheaper.

Sometimes its nice to be on your own but surronded by people. I think its peaceful like going to church for some people.

AnonoBoy · 07-05-2010 02:24PM

easyeason3 wrote: »

But do you not think it's really scummy if you see a woman in a pub on her own nursing a drink?

No.

ejmaztec · 07-05-2010 02:28PM

People do weird things in pubs:eek:, and reading a book isn't one of them.

happyfriday · 07-05-2010 02:28PM

No I don't think it's unusual, I've seen quite a few people do it and I myself have done it, sitting in front of a fire and a glass of red wine. And OH MY GOODNESS I'm a women so I must be desperate!! :rolleyes:

IvyTheTerrible · 07-05-2010 02:32PM

happyfriday wrote: »

No I don't think it's unusual, I've seen quite a few people do it and I myself have done it, sitting in front of a fire and a glass of red wine. And OH MY GOODNESS I'm a women so I must be desperate!! :rolleyes:

I do it too. It can be really relaxing.

I must be desperate too then... :rolleyes:

Dravokivich · 07-05-2010 02:33PM

I wouldn't think it was odd, sitting there with a nice pint of Guinness... looking at some words... I've done it before...

easyeason3 · 07-05-2010 02:33PM

happyfriday wrote: »

No I don't think it's unusual, I've seen quite a few people do it and I myself have done it, sitting in front of a fire and a glass of red wine. And OH MY GOODNESS I'm a women so I must be desperate!! :rolleyes:

Ah now....I'm sure you're a nice person even if you are desperate

I go to a pub to be social & have a chat with people, not to have a few drinks on my own with a book or a paper, I can do that at home if I feel like it.

mawk · 07-05-2010 02:35PM

Lux23 wrote: »

Sometimes its nice to be on your own but surronded by people. I think its peaceful like going to church for some people.

I wholly agree. I also read books in pubs when I have the chance. its nice to get in after the lunch crowd and get a comfortable corner and a pint.

I dont know if many people here read the escapistmagazine.com but they ran an interesting article on what lux just said, but in the context of online rpgs. ive never so much as touched world of warcraft personally but according to the article its really common for people to play solo, but in view of real people even though they wouldn't intentionally interact with them. apparently there is a real psychological aspect to doing , for lack of a better word atm, antisocial things but where you're still surrounded by society.

Gang of Gin · 07-05-2010 02:36PM

Lux23 wrote: »

I do it but I have found that people normally come over and chat to you. I would do it in a Cafe but its nearly impossible to find a comfy seat in a Cafe in Dublin. Most are set up so you will want to leave after drinking your coffee.

Hey, hey, hey, Mr. Genial. People come over and chat to you? Strange. I thought they only do that when it's roughly midnight and there's a few onboard. No one would really do that in the day time I would've thought.

07-05-2010 02:37PM

Sounds like a great idea. I'd love to try it sometime soon.

Gang of Gin · 07-05-2010 02:39PM

easyeason3 wrote: »

it smacks of being a loser.

Steady on. No need to be that harsh about it. Desperate or not, should the person be, it doesn't equate with being a loser.

mojesius · 07-05-2010 02:43PM

I've never read a book alone in a pub in Dublin, but I will when I'm on holidays or when I lived abroad. Funny that, maybe I should start trying it here. It is extremely relaxing.

Biggins · 07-05-2010 02:45PM

Seen a few people do it besides myself.
It depends on the type of bar your in. A mad busy pop music bar might not suit but but a more relaxed bar or beer garden can be quite pleasant at times. For de-stressing alone I can recommend it.
Puts your mind in another place for a while.

AnonoBoy · 07-05-2010 02:45PM

easyeason3 wrote: »

I go to a pub to be social & have a chat with people, not to have a few drinks on my own with a book or a paper, I can do that at home if I feel like it.

I can be social and have a chat with people at home too.

By the way - what do you mean by 'desperate'? And why do you apply it only to a woman alone in a pub reading a book?

neil_18_ · 07-05-2010 02:46PM

Not weird at all. I think a problem is that not as many people read books anymore so they don't understand that you want to sit somewhere comfortable with a drink and read.

They can mind their own business anyway.

Lux23 · 07-05-2010 02:51PM

Gang of Gin wrote: »

Hey, hey, hey, Mr. Genial. People come over and chat to you? Strange. I thought they only do that when it's roughly midnight and there's a few onboard. No one would really do that in the day time I would've thought.

Its Ms Genial and I have rather big breasts...

ejmaztec · 07-05-2010 02:54PM

AnonoBoy wrote: »

I can be social and have a chat with people at home too.

By the way - what do you mean by 'desperate'? And why do you apply it only to a woman alone in a pub reading a book?

A woman so desperate that she's trying to get picked up by an alcoholic librarian who drops in for a skinful on his way home from work.

AnonoBoy · 07-05-2010 02:55PM

ejmaztec wrote: »

A woman so desperate that she's trying to get picked up by an alcoholic librarian who drops in for a skinful on his way home from work.

Oh right well in that case I agree.

easyeason3 · 07-05-2010 02:57PM

AnonoBoy wrote: »

I can be social and have a chat with people at home too.

By the way - what do you mean by 'desperate'? And why do you apply it only to a woman alone in a pub reading a book?

I worked in a pub a few years ago. Usually the women that did come in alone for a drink, during the day or at night, were a bit dodge. Quite a few of them needed professional help. I applied it to women because I am one!

I'm all for equality & everything but at the back of it all I'm old fashioned enough even though I'm a young woman.
It's just not something I would do so that's why I'd find it strange.

Reading A Book In A Pub. Weird?

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