During my senior seminar class in college, one of the guest speakers mentioned that his favorite spot to read was a bar. Hmm, I thought. Reading in a bar. Seems awfully distracting.  But this summer, I tried it. I’ve newly started carrying a book around with me everywhere I go—something that was habit all the way up through high school, and then when I got to college, fell by the wayside. There were too many other things for me to be carrying around in my bags and spare moments between class, extracurriculars, and social time were few and far between.

I went to a bar I’d wanted to try, ordered a drink, and sat the very end of the bar and started reading Paradise by Toni Morrison. Oddly, the background noise was soothing instead of distracting, I mindlessly munched on bar snacks, and an hour later, paid my bill and went home, having finished a good chunk of my book. Since then, I’ve tried to get to bars or restaurants a little early if I’m meeting friends—for the sole purpose of whipping out whatever book I’m currently reading and getting another chapter further.

Where are your favorite, odd places to read? What’s the best atmosphere for you to read in? (For more Friday fun, check out this Instagram that documents some great subway reading. And anyone under 21 who’s reading this, don’t try this until you’re of legal age, please.)