Writer Kia Abdullah had the idea for this post, which is something we may lose in the e-book era: seeing what strangers are reading and possibly striking up a conversation.
Kia writes:
…So I saw a person reading Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides on the train and I just had to talk to them about the book (something I’ve never done before). If you haven’t done something like this already, it might make a good You Tell Me (i.e. what book would make you talk to a stranger). I don’t think it’s always necessarily your favourite book, but one that you may have read recently or that is largely unread by your circle of friends and acquaintances.
Is there a book you’re so passionate about that you’d strike up a conversation with someone you saw reading it?
I did this when visiting the UK, on the tube once a woman was reading Mansfield Park.
Probably any book I really liked, honestly. Conversations struck up with strangers have led some pretty good friendships. Particularly when strangers are in line to meet Neil Gaiman
I've done this three times to strangers this week alone. Two different people were reading THE HELP (which I adored), and the other was reading GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO (which is on my TBR pile but I loved the movie).
Although I'm usually an introvert, I'll pretty much talk to anyone about books–people who read aren't strangers to me.
I think I tend to hold my books up so people can see what I'm reading just so someone can ask me about it. I'm a dork. I did have one young guy tell me he "didn't think girls read that kind of book" one day. I was reading one of The Sword of Truth series by Terry Goodkind. I'm a fantasy geek. That's about all I read!
If I saw someone reading a Kindle at this point in time, that alone would be enough to start a conversation over. (I'm in a fairly rural area and don't know anyone a single person who's bought an ereader yet.)
In the future when they're more common, I'd probably ask him what he was reading on it and start a conversation that way. If I see someone reading something I already know about I'm unlikely to want to talk about it, but if it's a mystery that needs discovering, that's different.
F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Beautiful and the Damned" – that book was one of the most enjoyable I've ever read, and, as it was the first exposure I had to Fitzgerald, I will always be in awe of how freaking good it was.
I frequently start conversations with strangers. Good or bad, it's something I do. But probably any book that I could have conversation about, any book I had an opinion on.
Ender's Game — Orson Scott Card !
Three Cups of Tea because it's an inspiring true story of how one person can make a huge difference in the world without actually having that grandiose objective.
I don't try to start up a conversation, for two reasons:
1. I don't want to disturb their reading. It's kind of a "do unto others" thing, because I prefer to read without the distraction of a conversation.
2. I'm probably busy reading something.
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i'm not shy at all about talking to strangers about books they're reading. generally, if it's a book i enjoyed, especially a less popular book, i'll say something. ditto for books i absolutely hated. a good example: jay's journal. HATED that book w/ the heat of a thousand hot pockets. it gave me nightmares for weeks, and i won't hesitate to tell anyone to never, ever read it. it's a true story, some kid's journal that the mom found and published w/ changed names after he committed suicide, but it's really dark and super creepy, and if i ever saw someone reading it, i'd advise them to burn it on the spot. i'd even supply the lighter fluid.
Peace Like a River by Leif Enger
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Anything by David Sedaris
And so many more…
This is a twist on the question.
I once had a handsome man ask me about a book I was reading on the metro in Washington DC. The book was "Blue Highways" by William Least-Heat Moon. He said he'd read it too and we talked a little about the book before he asked me for a date. Several dates later he admitted he'd never read the book. Should have been a sign for me…
I'm a walking stereotype from the South. I don't need any reason at all to talk to a stranger.
I actually do this all the time. I meet people in the strangest ways and in the oddest places.
The Hunger Games, Catch 22, anything by Bill Bryson, Going Bovine, and anything I've read recently or am currently reading. And anything currently on my radar as something to read or pay attention to.
If I saw someone reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett, I'd definitely want to discuss.
This is why e-readers need a "show-off" function, namely, a second screen ON THE BACK that displays what you're reading at the time. Of course, we'd soon see apps that let you display that you're reading Tolstoy when you're really reading John Grisham . .. . .
I used to re-read 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas' on public transport in the hope that someone else who loved it too would talk to me. This was on the basis that anyone else who enjoyed it would be someone interesting to talk to, (and hopefully be an attractive and charismatic male).
I talk to people about books all the time if I have read the book, thought about reading the book, or hated the book. There are many, many reasons why I start up conversations with people about books.
Gosh, so many … "War and Peace," of course, "The Possessed," anything by Turgenev except "Fathers and Sons," "Great Expectations," and from there it kind of degenerates into obscure stuff that I would want to talk about simply out of surprise that someone else knew about them — "Utopia," for example.
I have had a couple conversations with complete strangers about Harry Potter. And I've personally struck up a conversation with someone at the airport who was reading the Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, after seeing many a passenger carrying it.
It depends how nerdaphobic I'm feeling at the moment, and of course the person needs to not be super sweaty or look scary for any other reason.
Hey, anytime I see anyone reading my book, I will talk with them, no doubt about it.
Either The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle, or That Hideous Strength by C.S. Lewis. With both books, the appeal is not so much the story as the thoughts presented in them, and I would love to hear the stranger's opinion on them.
Anything/everything Vonnegut.
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House of Leaves. Oh, and Shantaram because none of my friends have read it.
"Virus of the Mind", Richard Brodie. Just about anything by Gregg Braden. "Eat Pray Love". The Sookie Stackhouse series. Anything on Philosophy, World Religions, Horses. I'll also strike up random conversations if you are knitting or crocheting.
You know, the advent of the Kindle could spell the end of the randomly struck-up chat–unless you're nosy enough (or they are) to peek.
The title of the book changes from month to month, but it would have to be an actual book and not a eBook. I've noticed on the bus that I can't tell what books people are reading so much anymore – I can't see the jackets or book covers.
This happened to me at work – I was reading Girl with The Dragon Tattoo and in a week three people I don't know came up to me and said they'd read it. It's sad to think this kind of interaction won't take place with e- readers…
I have absolutely done this – multiple times. Most recently, I overheard a girl asking an employee at a bookstore which of the "Gallagher Girls" books came first in the series. The salesperson didn't know, so I proceeded to annoy them both with a way-too-detailed answer. What can I say – I love Ally Carter.
But I would enjoy the "Hunger Games," "Harry Potter" and "Book Thief" conversations the rest of y'all are proposing as well. 🙂
1. Mine
(I totally would)
2. I read NEVER LET ME GO a week or two ago and really loved it, and I keep thinking about it. So that one.
3. Probably any book that I've read in the last few years and really liked
Anything by Mercedes Lackey or Anne McCaffrey. And any kind of book about writing. If I saw someone reading "Plot and Structure" I'd have to say something.
Yes, I just finished The Elegance of the Hedgehog, and if I saw someone reading it, I would want to discuss it.
Stephen King's Cell, any of the Harry Potter Books, or anything in the Odd Thomas series by Dean Koontz would qualify as conversation starters for me.
What book would prompt me to talk to a stranger? Well, mine, of course. But seriously, being a Leo I never have trouble striking up a conversation. I'd have to say to answer this that I'd be most interested in someone reading a book I didn't enjoy. I'd love to discuss what attracts that reader and debate the pros and cons of why we feel differently about this volume. Then segue into those we both do like. I learn much more about human nature by exploring our differences than celebrating our sameness.
"Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal" by Christopher Moore, because whoever I saw reading it would be laughing out loud and I wouldn't be able to resist laughing with them…and then we'd have to chortle about the scene when an inebriated Jesus explains why we have the Easter bunny…in no time, we'd be having a beer together…hey…books are a great way to make friends!!
The Road by Cormac McCarthy, Atlas Shrugged or We the Living – both by Ayn Rand, Jane Eyre, Lord of the Rings, Stranger in a Strange Land or Time Enough for Love by Heinlein.
Well…my book! But I might strike up a conversation if it's any book I read recently and loved, like the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, The Ghosts of Belfast, anything by Cara Black (she's a friend, another reason why I'd speak up), or David Corbett's Done for a Dime. Right now, Howl (Allen Ginsberg) because the film's just coming out and anyone reading poetry must be pretty interesting!
I've talked to strangers in the bookstore about The Hunger Games, and on multiple occasions I've recommended it to moms browsing for books for their teenage daughters.
Me Talk Pretty One Day by Sedaris. Did it in an airplane (meaning, struck up a conversation with the fellow sitting next to me reading the book).
Nathan…
Anything by Lee Child – the man plots the shit out of every story he writes. Jack Reacher is a character for the ages. He never fails…IMHO
Anything by Borges, Nabokov, Shirley Hazzard, Louise Erdrich, Martin Cruz Smith, YA fantasy a kid was reading, McCarthy's Bar (world's funniest book) –and mine (when I finish writing it and it's published, LOL.)
It is a truth universally acknowledged that if you see anyone reading Pride and Prejudice, you can talk to them… well, I do anyway. I would chat to anyone who is reading something that I've read. I talk to complete strangers who are not even reading when they happen to be in the same aisle of the library as me (I've found some of my favorite authors through recommendations gleaned this way). You can talk to anyone about "Twilight" and I have to stop anyone who is reading Jasper Fforde for a quick chat….
One of the Sevenwaters Series by Juliet Marillier, or The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle. Favorite books of all time and I'd definitely strike up dialogue over those!
I am an extroverted stay at home mom, any recognizable book would be a sufficient excuse to start a conversation with a stranger..
Harry Potter, any book in the series. I could talk about this book for hours.
Not to take everyone else's ideas but any Harry Potter book. I could have and have had quite a few conversations with people reading the book. The most interesting part was that some were in their fifties and sixties and others were in their early teens and each of the demographics spoke of the book with the same passion. JK Rowling is my hero.
P.S. Can't wait to talk to someone about Freedom but it won't be delivered to the house until tomorrow, so excited.
outlander series
I was reading Tom Jones in the hair salon and a woman nearby said that she used to teach the book when she was a university professor. When I looked up I realized she looked familiar. It turned out she was my professor when I was in university–at a school five hours away. She had recently moved to my small town and graciously offered up the library and its contents she had in her home. It was the beginning of a long relationship talking books, swapping treasures and closing the generation gap. (I was 28, she was 67.)
Anything I've enjoyed.
I find myself doing this every time I'm in a bookstore, too – approaching strangers and recommending some book in their hands because I liked it. Still waiting for my commission cheques to roll in…
A copy of the Bible is about all. I use to love books but these days not so much. Most: boring, crude, unimaginative, same ol', same ol'. Sorry. I rather liked the first book in the Twilight series as it was neither of the above and similiar to one of my stories. But many people read it so I wouldn't start up a conversation about it.
The Dollmaker, by Harriet Arnow. Loved the book but I don't know anyone else who has read it. A movie was made, starring Jane Fonda as a Kentucky farm wife. I was prepared to hate her in the role, was certain she'd screw it up, but she did a great job. One of the most heartbreaking stories I've ever read.