Why Does My Reading Make People Mad?

[Juniper]

This is a phenomenon I've often noticed and I do not understand it; I wonder if other people have this experience. What is it about reading a book that makes other people so angry?

My parents always encouraged me to read. If I had a book in my lap, I got praise! And I often did. So it was rather surprising to find that the rest of the world doesn't feel the same.

My husband dislikes when I read. He says it's "antisocial."

If I am in public, say, in a waiting room, reading a book seems to attract everyone and make them desperate to talk to me. "What are you reading? What's that about? Oh, I never can find time to read. I like mysteries, don't you? Blah blah blah blah."

If I am relaxing somewhere, say, on a camping trip with friends when there isn't much going on - I mean seriously, people are just sitting and staring at a smouldering fire - if I read a book people get angry with me. "Nose in a book again!" they exclaim. "Don't you have anything else to do?"

And today, would you believe this? I was at my daughter's cheer competition and the woman in front of us (who I didn't know) actually said that I was STUPID for reading a book at a cheer competition. Yes, STUPID. I was flabbergasted. I guess I should have been watching all umptyzillion glittery, bow-headed girls' teams do their flips and pyramids instead of (gasp) READING. But come on! I had to be there for EIGHT HOURS both days this weekend. How many cheer routines can one person watch before they all blur together? I'd rather read, thanks. I'm reading a Phillipa Gregory novel.

Oh well. If reading makes me stupid, then put me on the short bus!