I’ve seen them on the subway. I’ve seen them in coffee shops. I’ve seen them on a glossy ad that my husband put on my desk with a post-it affixed that read, hopefully, “Perhaps for my next birthday/Father’s Day/anniversary?” and then took away because he said that the jury is still out on which is the best.
Electronic readers.
Well, yesterday, I saw a woman walking while reading her e-reader.
It looked just as awkward and unpleasant to me as reading a book while walking. Say what you like about the relative appeal of paper or machine, I do not get the appeal of the ambulatory read, electronic or otherwise. Too much distraction. Too much chance of turning your ankle. Too little like a way to happily doze off with a book in hand, which I did last night while reading aloud to the boys. (It was so odd! Half of me was reading aloud, and half of me fell asleep for a second and then woke with a start, shouting “What?! What?!” while the part of me that was awake all along looked on in wonder. Good thing the kids already think I’m batty.)
Do you read and walk?
Nathalie Foy 
No, I don’t walk and read. I’m perfectly capable of walking into things while out walking because I’m daydreaming without making it worse with a book in my hand. There is a wonderful character in Jenny Nimmo’s ‘Charlie Bone’ books for children who has to read when he walks because if he looks at anything electrical it explodes. No e-reader for him then.
I have looked at these but not really been tempted because the only one readily available in the UK until recently isn’t compatible with my Mac system. Now, of course, there’s the I-Pad. I still don’t think it’s going to have the attraction of a proper book.
Oh dear, I absolutely read and walk. All the way from Bloor & Avenue to Bathurst & Dupont. I’ve walked the route so many times over the last six years that I can do it on autopilot. Admittedly, though, I am in danger of barreling into another person if I don’t keep way over to one side of the sidewalk. >.>
It’s one of the reasons I am gung-ho for the return of the three-decker! If I had _War and Peace_ in three volumes resting in a beautiful little slipcase I could take one at a time with me – and be able to walk and read with it. 😀
I also read and walk, and I’m good at it, though it makes passerbys nervous. I dream of installing a bookstand on my stroller, as reading and walking has ceased to be a part of my life since I had a baby. I fear that reading while carrying her might bring someone to call Children’s Aid so I don’t do that, but I miss it…
On less-trafficked sidewalks. Depending on the size of the book and its carry-ability. Even more often on the hottest days of the year when I want to remember to move more slowly and deliberately anyway. I walk a lot, and the three tumbles I’ve taken have all occurred when I was NOT reading so, logically, one might assume that it’s safer for me to read while walking than to avoid doing so!
I used to read and walk like crazy, and I was very good at not crashing into people. I used to get a kick out of walking straight at poles and other obstacles and then veering out of the way at the very last second – passersby look on in fascination and you can feel them slightly rooting for you to bash into the pole.
These days, I don’t do it so much, because I like looking around when I’m walking, and I don’t think I’d ever do it with an e-reader. Too much danger of breaking it if I tripped and fell.
I don’t think I’ve ever done it intentionally, but I’ve become so engrossed reading a book that, while my mind is off in a distant world, my body takes control and gets me off the subway and on my way to work. Better that, I suppose, than suddenly looking up and realizing I’m at the end of the subway line (which has also happened, oh, let’s just say it’s happened once or twice before).