When it's warm enough and the weather is nice, my favorite reading spot is in the swing in the backyard.

For colder weather, my favorite spot is curled up on the couch, with dh and the kids all in bed for the night:-)

Kelly

Definitely in bed is my first choice, right before I go to sleep. This clears my brain of the days clutter and I am more likely to have a restful sleep. Second would be lying on the couch. I talk my book with me wherever I go so if I end up having to wait I can always use the time to read. This isn't always the best choice because there are lots of distractions.

Ditto in bed for me. I have to read at least for a few minutes before I go to sleep; like Deborah, I need to clear the clutter from my brain before I can fall asleep. Besides that, I have a comfortable chair in the family room, a glider rocker in the library room, and a hammock swing in the garden that I can use during nice weather.

It depends on the day and season. Right now, its my screened porch. Winters its usually in the family room in front of the fire. In between seasons, its my library.

When the weather is nice (aka not summer), I usually in my lovely back yard on the porch swing, surrounded by cats. Right now tho, I tend to stay in our Az room (also known as a Breakfast room). I keep all of my house plants there so its a lovely green space when everything outside is brown, dry, and how. I have a small fountain, and a perfect chair for me to sit on. And I am also surrounded by cats.

In my office, in my large, tall, overstuffed, old-fashioned chair with hassock-usually with a cat draped on the top of the back above my head,(I told you it was tall) reading along, and the other on the hassock draped over my ankles. Tea and nibbles to the left.

Stretched out on the bed, after I've made it. With both windows open slightly, the curtains fluttering, the ceiling fan on. The bedroom overlooks the street, so I can see what's going on. And cuddled on her pillow (at the head of the bed) is my puppy girl. Cuz where I goeth, she followeth.

I read in bed most nights before I go to sleep. I also have a favorite chair in the living room. Sometimes I read while cooking. And I usually keep a book in the car so I'll have something to read if I get stuck in a waiting situation (no, not while driving!).

Mostly I don't read outdoors. The light glares off the page. Actually I don't rest well outdoors. I am an active gardener and work there many hours, almost like a part time job. I placed several benches and chairs in convenient and pretty places around the garden, thinking that I would read and reflect, but I never do. Sometimes when we give a party, guests use them. That is nice.

Rosefolly

In my chaise longue in the bedroom. It is absolutely wonderful--my favorite possession ever. The back is high enough, and includes a comfy cushion, so that I can put my head back and have a nap if I want to. A tray lamp sits on the left with ample room for books, snacks, and cups of tea.

This spring my husband put a fountain in our back yard, where he has lots of flowers, and we bought new patio furniture. One piece is a loveseat that included two throw pillows along with the regular cushions. I am short enough that I can put a pillow on one arm and stretch out across the loveseat and read very comfortably. (This is the first time I've ever considered my lack of height to be an asset. Would it have mattered in the grand scheme of things if I could have been a couple of inches taller?) Anyway, I have told everyone that our patio is now the laziest place in town. He even put a roof on it.

Yesterday, our two-year-old great-grandson paid us a visit and tried to climb into the fountain. He only managed to get one foot in, but he got plenty wet splashing around and then took a drink from one of the spillovers--not a good idea since the birds love it. My stepdaughter got a little hyper, so I kindly told her probably the worst thing that could happen would be his getting bird flu. She didn't seem to think it was as funny as DH and I did.

Carolyn, I'm told my Grandmother's fish pond was filled in after my two year old self was discovered sitting in the middle of it eating fish.

I try to read in my hammock, but keep falling out. I try to read in the porch swing, but keep getting motion sick. I try to read in the yard chairs, but keep getting bit. I try to read in the mission style sofas bought specifically for reading (those big flat arms looked great for stacking books I read along with the main book I'm reading) but can never get comfortable against those hard arms. So I read in bed, or in my comfy chair, or, this time of year, lounging by the pool.

Quirky perhaps, but I love to read in the tub - almost nightly. No wonder I'm turning into a wrinkled prune! I also read in bed. I'm really wanting to create a 'reading area' either in the living room or in the office. Something with a big comfy chair and good lighting that just yells 'come, get comfortable and read'.

Carolyn, I can understand why his mother freaked. A child can drown in two inches of water. If he is outside, one of you must watch him constantly. We live in an area where child drownings are almost a daily occurence, usually because a two year old manages to slip away quickly. The worse thing that could happen would be a horrible tragedy. Watch your kids around water, even if its not a pool!

>Actually I don't rest well outdoors. I am an active gardener and work there many hours,

Thats my DH. He'll come out with me to sit - for a moment. Then he spies something that he really must do, and in the hour I am relaxing reading, he is busy working. He enjoys what he does as much as I do!

I wasn't going to post here, but a childhood memory keeps intruding: I was an incurable, introverted reader as a girl, and there was a woods behind our house. I discovered a large dogwood tree that had a perfect triangular seat. This was my favorite spot to read, and I think I covered the entire Nancy Drew series up in my treehouse. Then, one summer, after I returned from camp, I discovered that my father had had this marvel cut down. I was devastated and never quite forgave him, or understood why....

I covet a chaise lounge, but don't have one, so it's the bed now for this insomniac.

Cindy, no danger of drowning. There were three adults present, and it was his grandmother who got excited about his attempting to drink by holding his mouth under a spillover. Mostly it spilled down his arm, off his elbow, and onto his clothes. Wait till I tell her about Chris's fish-eating experience.

Woodnymph, I hate to brag, but I do love the chaise longue.

Oooh, I was a tree-reader too! At Grandma's house there was a maple perfect for climbing and sitting; I would perch up there for hours in the green-tinted light, with the breeze whispering in the leaves.

Now I have a front porch shaded by a tree that is the closest I come to reading in trees these days.

I like to read in a variety of places, the usual suspects. Bed, comfy chair, waiting rooms. My more unusual places would probably be the barn: I like to listen to the horses munching their hay while I relax with a book. Back when I was in school, I had a Latin textbook with a large horse slober stain on the pages(shhh!) I also used to read my papers out loud to my horse when I was editing them.

I'm so jealous of some of you and your great reading spaces....I'm feeling inspired to create a special place of my own! It would have to have a huge lock on it so my family couldn't track me down, LOL! My grandson eats mud, not just any mud, it has to be the texture of chocolate pudding- yummy! (He's been checked- he's not deficient in anything, his pediatrician says he must just like the texture)

I love to read on our big red leather sofa under this great reading light. I can just sit there, surrounded by dogs and get sucked into whatever world I am entering.

One of my all-time favorite places for reading was in Cozumel... Our hotel had hammocks outside the rooms on the balcony and we were on the second floor level with the leaves of the palm trees. A slight breeze was blowing and as the leaves rustled and I took a slurp from a frozen margarita, I jumped back into the book I was reading and spent a very pleasant afternoon in the shade gently swaying in the hammock. DH was off somewhere doing something so I was all alone and it was BLISS. One of my favorite reading memories.

The front porch of the Bed and Breakfast we go to in Maine. Overlooks the bay - so that reading breaks can be used to watch the windjammers go floating past.

I can read anywhere. But like all of you, I too, have favorites.

In nice weather (NOT this hazy hot and humid mess we have at present), I like my back porch, covered, with a ceiling fan, listening to the birds. A big pitcher of iced tea or water nearby with, hopefully, freshly popped popcorn.

In winter, on the giant beat-up leather couch in the family room with a cozy fire in the woodstove and a dog on each side of me and a big bowl of the afore-mentioned popcorn. NEVER microwave, always popped in a pot on the stove top with peanut oil - not that I am picky or anything.

Last week, I took a book with me in a plastic baggie while I was sailing on a northern lake... a book and a granola bar. Just in case the wind died, I would be neither hungry nor bored.

PAM

Usually I read in bed at night, but I also have a favorite comfy living room chair with a great floor lamp that has an arm that swings out above my head for perfect reading light. When time allows, I also like to read on the screened-in porch, though the chairs there aren't really comfortable enough for a prolonged read.

Carolyn, I've always wanted a chaise lounge but just don't have room for one. It's on my "next house" list (along with the house elves and a library room of my own, *G*).

deborah-I have a friend who has created a reading nest in her walk-in closet. (5 kids, snoring husband) She has floor and regular pillows, blankets, a light, a tiny fridge (it's adorable-just the size of 8 soda cans) her iPod, and a radio.

cc- that sounds so nice! I think as soon as this heat and smoke clears (I live in Northern California where we are having a horrible problem with wild fires for those who may not know) I will start on my own space.

Cece, your friend needs to send a photo of her "reading room" to Bas Bleu. They could use it for cover art.

heehee! I'll suggest that to her! I would swap out the fridge for an electric kettle, myself. And a biscuit tin.

My front porch, with a glass of wine and a gentle breeze from the west. Not too many neighbors, so very few drive bys.
Jo