When your reading time is interrupted-what do you do?

[SFG75]

Since monday, I've been out of town. My brother in law and I bought Neil Diamond tickets for our spouses and took the kids swimming while our better halves had....a heck of a good time. We did lots of shopping and our four kids(two per couple) kept us very busy. I didn't get a lot of reading done, which really disappointed me and I guess that's my question. How do you react or what is your feelings when you for some reason(i.e.-work, relatives, vacation, life in general) interrupts your reading patterns and you can't have *quality* reading time that you are used to ?

Any thoughts?

 

[mehastings]

I read whenever I feel like it, so I don't really have set "reading time". I mostly get pissed when I'm reading and someone decides to interupt me to have a banal discussion about how the laundry is piling up mid-chapter.

 

[Puddleglum]

I'm like mehastings and don't really have any set reading times. I read when I feel like it. I've been known to cancel previously booked engagements to carry on reading a book I've lost myself in. If anyone I know reads this. My Apologies!

 

[feyralla]

I prefer reading instead of outdoor activity's, I do go out but if I'm reading a good book I'm kinda annoyed that I have to spend "quality time" with my friends and family. But it's just as well, because if I read to long in a row(like 5 or 6 hours) I get restless

I also thinks it's terrible annoying like mehastings says, when someone starts talking to me while I'm reading. Can't they see I'm reading?

 

[francesca]

I'm going through the same thing at the moment as we have had various people come to stay.Its frustrating but I try to get some reading in when it won't impact on other people - first thing in the morning, during siesta, or last thing at night. I tell myself a little time to myself is better than none, and I can get back on track in a few weeks anyway.

 

[ruby]

Everyone around me knows not to interrupt me while i read,because they know i am totally lost in the book and they wouldnt get no sense out of me at all!

 

[Herenya]

When I'm reading, and I'm interrupted, I just have to try not to get too annoyed. I'm interrupted a lot, and it would get tedious biting the head off everyone who makes me stop reading... especially when it's the librarian pointing out that the bell's gone, and I've got to got to class. (I've often "come to" to find the libray empty, and the lights off. One time the door was locked!)

When I don't get to read as much as normal, or I would like, I feel like something's missing. I feel more depressed, less happy and at ease with myself, and even become more irritable. Withdrawal symptoms.

 

[Jennifer]

work, relatives, vacation, life in general

Sorry, what?! You let these things INTERRUPT READING?!

Seriously though, I just deal with it. Life has a habit of interfering. I just make sure I read more the next day.
This doesn't go for actual interruption while reading. The person reponsible tends to get the book thrown at them in that instance. It takes a while for me to realise, if made to look up, that anyone around me isn't a dragon/spy/murderer, or whatever I happen to be reading about...

 

[Renee]

When life gets in the way of reading I make more time by losing an hour or two of sleep at night. :| I'm happy enough if I can a half hour to an hour of reading in a day, though I prefer more than that.

 

[Caelda]

Depends on what part of the book I'm in.

I try not to let it bother me because, unfortunately, I know my purpose on this earth isn't to only read books. If it's a constant interuption, however, my frustration level tends to increase rapidly.

 

[SFG75]

LOL@ Jennifer's comment.

It just gets me that I can complete an 8,000 page book in a short time, but a 300 page book takes much longer due to "extenuating circumstances" known as life.

 

[ions]

I like to read in as quiet peaceful place as possible. My nerves are so touchy lately that any extraneous sound can take me away from my concentration. When someone does manage to be too noisy or stops me from reading there's nothign I can do about it. Since I'm not in a race to finish a book and nor do I have assignments to complete regarding them I deal with it and read again when I have peace and quiet. Being interrupted does suck though. Especially when you're bothered by the very things you wish to escape.

 

[feyralla]

ions I know what you mean(about escape thingie) Only it's extra bothering if you lose your concentration quick. I usually notice someone is talking to me after 5 min or so (still annoying though)

 

[MonkeyCatcher]

I find not being able to read because of school commitments, work etc to be rather annoying. I always feel a bit guilty when I look at a book that I'm reading that hasn't been picked up for a real read in a few days (like the one I'm reading at the moment ) because I have had other things to do. I /always/ make sure that I read before I go to sleep though, because otherwise I lie awake for ages.

I have a really good tip for when people interrupt you when you're reading. I developed this when I was younger because I really hate having to tear myself away from a book just to hear that my sister has downloaded another Clay Aiken song (she's obssessed!!). What I do is just look up so they think that they have my attention and then start reading again. When I am asked a question on what I was supposed to be watching, I just go "Huh? Can you say that again?/ What are you talking about? I wasn't watching" while still keeping my eyes on the page. The person who interrupted always gets irritated at having to repeat themselves, so they leave you alone. It works on my sister /every/ time

~MonkeyCatcher~

 

[krmchl]

I hate when I have to go to work and I'm in the middle of a really good book. I deliver pizzas so I have alot of driving time and I tend to just ponder the book while I'm driving. Probably not very safe since sometimes I just get wrapped up in my own little world while I'm driving.

 

[velvetvanilla]

My main reading times are my lunch break at work and before bedtime. I need to set aside a few other special times to read because my usual times are not great choices. I work in a cubicle which is about 4 feet away from a very loud, uncouth woman, and she talks (read: yells) from 7:30-4:30 nonstop. Then when I try to read before bedtime, I'm typically too tired to read more than a chapter or two.

 

[Bonzo]

I do about 90% of my reading at home and my family knows that I don't like to be interrupted. However, if the phone rings, I just hope that someone else answers it. If I'm home alone, it's a different story, but I never stop reading mid-sentence. I'll finish the sentence, or sometimes paragraph, that I'm reading before I pick up the phone.

 

[Dyaus]

I'll finish the sentence, or sometimes paragraph, that I'm reading before I pick up the phone.

Hehe, I do that too! When the house's very quiet, that's a sign that I'm with a book and should absolutely not be disturbed. When I am with an interesting book, I am practically cut off from the world.
I don't like losing my 'book time' because of work (necessary evil!) and other activities and reasons so I tend to catch up some way or the other. I don't tend to sleep much anyway, so I use that additional time to read.

 

[cajunmama]

I have four kids and a husband, so I'm always getting interrupted. I just try not to get too annoyed. My kids know that if they just stand at my elbow for a minute, I'll realize they are there and see what they need. My husband annoys me the most and I do tend to snap at him. We frequently spend our evenings together, he watching tv and I reading a book, and it never fails that he asks me about something that happened on the program and I have to stop reading to tell him, "I don't know, I wasn't watching". If it is a really good book, I have been known to read for a couple of hours after everyone has gone to bed for the night so I can have absolute peace.

 

[leckert]

I keep a loaded shotgun and a shovel next to my reading chair.

People don't bother me.