Finding a good book is great, but reading a good book in your favourite reading spot is simply wonderful. We all have our favourite places to read. The weather can be an important factor, sometimes the time of day and quite often the spot you prefer can depend on what you are reading.
Some people have very odd habits with their favourite reading locations. My choices are quite unoriginal, but nothing makes me enjoy a book more than reading it in the places listed below.
In a Café with a Cup of Tea and Cake
Sometimes you just want to get away for an hour or two. Leave all your dirty washing and other household duties behind and have a bit of time for relaxation and indulgence. We all need somewhere to escape to! I have many favourite cafés in different cities across Europe that I have visited. My choice of food and drink doesn’t often change though – A cup of tea and cake!
In the Bath
Now that it is no longer seen as a chore that I am forced to do, I have discovered the pleasure of having a nice long soak in the bath. Every now and again, after a particularly difficult day, I like to fill the tub with steaming water and bubble bath and relax with whatever book I happen to be reading.
In a Garden
So long as it is a bright and sunny day, reading in the garden can be the perfect way to kill two birds with one stone: Make the most of good weather and relax with a captivating book.
Preferably the garden should be private and quiet (apart from birds twittering and the gentle rustle of leaves in the breeze). Public gardens are fine, so long as there are plenty of hidden corners and strictly no ball games allowed. Beautiful flowers, trickling fountains and rose covered archways are a bonus. If you have your very own garden, that’s great because you can sip on a white wine spritzer or other drink of choice.
The perfect book for a lazy day in the garden for me would be a long, descriptive book filled with beautiful landscapes and dramatic story-lines. Something like Atonement by Ian McEwan or Victoria Hislop’s The Island.
On a Journey
Whether by train, plane, coach or boat, having a good book on a long journey is vital. My preferred mode of transport is by train. I love watching the scenery slip past the window and the country change as you come closer to your destination. Knowing that you have a set period of time until you reach the end of the journey, and that you don’t have to feel guilty about using that time selfishly, gives a wonderful feeling of freedom. Some people like to catch up with all the celebrity gossip with Hello! magazine, others to play on their favourite nintendo game and I like to spend that few hours losing myself in a good book.
Of course, reading on a beach does have its difficulties; sand in unwanted places, uncomfortable stones and children running around spraying sea water all over the place. However, on the right beach, reading can be perfect. What you need is: A towel, a big bottle of water, a sun umbrella/sunglasses and sun cream. Late afternoon is the best time, as you will be avoiding the scorching midday sun. To avoid the crowds, the best thing is to do a bit of research to find a destination that isn’t the usual package holiday.
People like to read light hearted, simple books on holiday, but for me beach reading can be whatever you want it to be. Take time to choose a variety of books so that you have plenty to choose from. Take a new book by one of your favourite authors, or go out and buy an extra special book that you have been wanting to read for ages. Then, sit back, take a swig of water, and enjoy.
Bundle of Books 
Some really great choices! ‘the garden should be private and quiet (apart from birds twittering and the gentle rustle of leaves in the breeze)’ – I completely agree, the nature sound effects are one of the main reasons I love reading in the garden. 🙂 Reading anywhere with a good ol’ cup of tea is always excellent! If all I had in life were books and tea, I would be one happy gal. 🙂
The only one I disagree with is on a journey, I wish I could read while on the move but it always makes me feel feel ill, I still try sometimes though!
My favourite place to read is the rocks; we have some near where I live and I love to climb up to a place that has a nice view, surronded by trees (and therefore lots of rustling leaves and twittering 😉 ) with the sun close to setting with my book. Heaven. 🙂
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Thanks! There are loads of over places I love to read and on a hill or the foothills of a mountain is another place! It’s nice to get settled on a nice rock! Luckily for tea lovers like us, we’re easily pleased because we’ll be happy in any weather so long as there’s a good book and a hot cup of tea! 😀
Thank you so much for your comments! 🙂
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Haha definitely, non-tea goers don’t know what they’re missing! 🙂
No problem! I’m following you now, looking forward to your future posts. 😉 Ohh and congratulations on your freshly pressed classics post too.
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Thanks! 😀
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Great fun post! The wild windy wet weather this weekend has made for perfect reading weather curled up on the sofa. I also managed to nab a spot in the quiet carriage of the train to London and got some real headway on books over the weekend. 🙂 We’re planning some train riding in Scotland this summer and I am already picking out my reading list!
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Sorry for such a slow response! I love reading on trains so much! Hope you trip to Scotland went well!
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My favorite would be to curl up on the sofa with a book an coffee. I also enjoy reading books while travelling.
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The sofa is always a great place to curl up and read. Unfortunately I don’t have a sofa at the moment, only a couple of very uncomfortable armchairs. So instead I curl up in bed, which is also pretty good!
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What a great post! I have two favourite spots. One is in on the deck in my backyard where I can hear the birds singing, the frogs croaking, and the wind whispering in the trees in the summertime. When it is not warm and sunny I love to sit in my basement which I fondly refer to as my library because of my 40 foot long wall of bookshelves that my hubby built for me. Both locations bring a smile to my face and a feeling of true contentment! 🙂
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Thanks! They both sound like wonderful spots! I especially like the sound of the croaking frogs! I’m also jealous of your ‘library’ and bookshelves. My bookshelves are not that impressive at all but hopefully when I move I’ll be able to create my own little mini library.
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Don’t give up on your library! It took years before my dream came true and yours will too!! I smile every time I walk downstairs and see all of my books on display. 🙂
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My favorite spot: Anywhere the kids can’t find me.
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Haha, and I bet those spots are difficult to find sometimes!
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As a child I used to sit on a shelf in the airing cupboard with a packet of biscuits. It’s no longer my location of choice though, I have to say. I’m with you on the cafelocation
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That sounds pretty cosy though and perfect with biscuits!
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