Memorable Reading Spots

I was inspired by the great responses to my earlier post (inspired by a meme from A Patchwork of Books) about where people do most of their reading to start a list of my personal most memorable reading spots. I've broken into two categories: places I have enjoyed reading, and places that reading has made bearable.

Places Where I Have Enjoyed Reading

• In a tree in my front yard growing up in Lexington, MA.
• On the roof of my childhood home (it was actually a bit tarry, but it was interesting).
• On a dock in a lake in New Hampshire, during a childhood vacation. I had to swim with one arm out of the water, holding up my book, to get out to the dock with the book dry.
• On a bridge in the wooded portion of Duke Gardens during college.
• By the pool in my apartment complex in Austin, Texas, during graduate school.
• In a comfy lounge chair on a spit of land sticking out into the ocean in Bar Harbor, Maine (while drinking wine cooler—that should date this incident).
• By the pool at the Dixie Landings resort (now renamed) on one long Disney World vacation, while Mheir went golfing every other day.
• On a private balcony at the Whale Watch Inn in Mendocino, California, while Mheir was out making preparations for a very special picnic.
• On the lanai of a rental property called Hale Nani on the south shore of Kauai, looking across the road at the ocean, where I had one of the best vacations ever.
• In the "sitting pool" of a rental property called Kinamwei in Turks and Caicos, looking out over the garden to the ocean, with friends nearby.
• On the back porch of a cabin in incline Village, Lake Tahoe, generously loaned to us by friends from Palo Alto.
• And, wherever I've lived, in my bed and on my couch.

Places That Reading Has Made Bearable

• In the car as a child—no trip was too short, or too long, for a book. I read a lot when we drove from Boston to Disney World in fourth grade. Sadly, I now have motion sickness, and can't read in the car at all.
• On board airplanes and trains on countless business trips.
• In and around hospital rooms and waiting rooms (I had some health problems as a child).

Comments

[Mrs. K (at readathon)]

You've inspired me! My list is up -- and what great memories . . .

[Danni]

I like reading under a tree. It gives a fresh environment with the abundance of nature's sound. Though the wind may cause unexpected page turn. I just make sure that it is secured to avoid skipping several pages.

[Kate]

Great idea, Jen! I'm going to copy you!

[Jen Robinson]

I'm so happy to have inspired others to share favorite reading spots. Everyone has something unique (click their names above to see Kate and Mrs. K's lists) to contribute. Thanks for taking this trip down memory lane with me, Mrs. K, Kate, and Danni!

[Emmaco]

I love your list, Jen! I ended up adding a rambling nostalgia entry on my blog as a result :)