Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Judging in transit


I’ve noticed a new trend on the train lately – dudes with old books. I can’t decide if I find them endearing or pretentious… I think I’m leaning toward the former, probably only because I notice these readers during rush hours and therefore assume they’re bored corporate monkeys like myself, rather than scornful hipsters, who I (again) assume wake up around noon and have no reason to travel to the Loop.

But as I was contemplating this while standing behind one of these dudes on the brown line this morning, I noticed what looked like a hand-made bookmark peaking out of his yellowed paperback. It read, “No one knows me.” It looked like it might be the title of a poem…

Hm… Or maybe used books are just another sign of “these uncertain economic times.”

Probably a better question on the train car this morning was what that crazy lady was doing taking pictures of random strangers with her phone… and then she pulled a shiny new copy of Celebutantes out of her giant purse. Who would spend money on that? What a tool.

5 comments:

The Singlutionary said...

I love people who call themselves tools. I no longer live in a subway equipped city so I have not taken notice of this fad. Old books are indearing. Fads are pretentious. I see the dilema.

Stephanie Faris said...

I was reading a book recently ("How I Stole Her Husband") where the main character was given a book by a friend. "Getting Rid of Head Lice" or something like that? She didn't have head lice...but she'd just moved to NYC. Her friend said it was to read on the subway, to keep people from getting too close.

Amy said...

LOL!! That is such a good idea...

Ms. P said...

What is celebutantes...?

I'm too embarrassed to read Twilight on the train. I take the cover off so no one knows I'm reading crap.

Christina Lee said...

hahaha how funny--I used to see soem Whack things on the subway when I lived in NYC!

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