Reader of the Year: The Nicotine Umbrella
I snapped this on my way back from lunch the other day and had to pass it along. The photo speaks for itself, but I just want to express my admiration for this intrepid reader. I always have great affection for people who can carve out a place in the big machine for their idiosyncrasies, and this lady has it FIGURED OUT. She likes to read, she likes to smoke, she lives in Seattle (where it's 50 degrees and rainy in June), she works in some hulking office building downtown: what's the solution? You see it before you. (I should note, since it's not quite clear, that she's actually standing in the street, in a quiet little spot between parked cars that puts her out of foot traffic, far away from the smokers-area ennui, and even deeper in her own little umbrella world. Brilliant.)
My only regret is that my uncharacteristic gumption in taking her photo did not extend to finding out what she's actually reading. Any guesses? Anybody have photos that can top this for reader dedication? (I like Maud's recent subway reading snapshot.) --Tom
Karen @ Readerville on June 11, 2008 at 12:03 PM
I can't believe she's smoking under there! But she really is a genius. The umbrella itself is key, of course — how deep it is and the fact that it's clear, so she's in a bubble instead of a black hole. I'm wondering where I can find one ...
COMTE on June 11, 2008 at 12:23 PM
Wow. She gets both first AND second-hand smoke.
Talk about total utilization.
Mr. Poe on June 11, 2008 at 12:23 PM
Rock.
Greg on June 11, 2008 at 01:21 PM
Hmm. 5th and Marion. There used to be a giant tree and a courtyard at the church across the way there, but the brick annex has been torn down.
Tom on June 11, 2008 at 01:33 PM
Yup, they just got torn down this month. I've got a picture of that too, but there's nobody reading in it...
Sonya Worthy on June 12, 2008 at 04:18 PM
Hi,
It's such an artistic shot, I really don't care what she's reading! Here's a sight I do of pics of people reading --I generally interview the reader...(www.peoplereading.blogspot.com) though none of mine have pretty transluscent umbrellas.....
Is her hat holding the umbrella up?
sonya
juhi on June 13, 2008 at 06:46 AM
Love it! and love the name of your blog! AND can't believe there's someone else who's read Return of the Native.
side-confession: I had this notion that Americans didn't read Thomas Hardy. :P
Heather on June 18, 2008 at 08:17 PM
I lived in Seattle. I read and smoked. This isn't me, but it could have been!
--Now I live in the sunny south, but I still bring a book with me everywhere just in case I have time! :)