The Scariest Moment Ever: Caught Without a Book!

In similar situations I've purchased a book just to read something. Nowadays that scary scenario is less likely to happen. I have an ereader in my purse with over 120 books on it, I downloaded a book to my iPhone (I'm a belt and suspenders kinda gal) as a backup, and I still have an unread paperback in the trunk of my car. I used to keep emergency paperbacks in my carry-on for travel in the pre-ereader days.

Just thinking about a long trainride without something to read gives me the willies!

@Darlene, I've done the emergency paperback thing as well. My mother taught me to never leave the house without a book and a sweater, and that advice has stuck. With the advent of ereaders, I can tote a whole library with me as well.

Theoretically, though, any port in a storm. I'd see what was available, and if nothing, grab some paper and write my own story.

See I made the mistake on a recent trip to Florida that I wouldn't finish a book the same weekend I started it, what with beach, family, food, and such, so I didn't pack my kindle which is where I have most of my "emergency paperbacks".

You've never been quite as stressed as when you're in a Orlando airport and surrounded by nothing by 50 Shades of Grey....

I don't think I've been stranded without something to read in the recent past that I can recall... However, if I found myself in those dire straits, I would immediately launch the Kindle app on my smartphone! And if, heaven forbid, my phone battery was low and I didn't have my phone charger (which rarely happens), I would stop by the nearest Dollar General store. DG is usually good for at least one or two of my favorite genre, but I can always find something interesting for under $5.00! Score! On a whim I bought what later became one of my all time favorite books from the Dollar General store for $ 3.00! Double score!

My only experience of John Grisham came as a result of being snowed in at a Radisson in New Jersey with a really puny book rack. I read The Pelican Brief because, really, I had no choice. Thank God for my Kindle.

@cmorgan -- And to think there was a bookstore so close to you in NSB!

I tend to err on the side of bringing a book everywhere, so this hasn't happened to me in a while, but when it does...yeah, I get pretty desperate and will pretty much buy whatever I can get my hands on.

Like many of you, I have books loaded on my phone in case of emergency, and now that I have an e-reader, this sitch just doesn't happen. I used to, however, routinely carry around THREE books, in case I finished the current one, and wasn't sure what I wanted to read next.

My shoulders are very happy to have an e-reader now.

emorgan, my story is similar to yours. I flew to Orlando for a business trip. To my surprise, I finished the quite large book I had taken with me on the plane ride. Sooo, I land in Orlando and head to the first book store in the airport. I wound up buying several books (in fear I would run out again), spent waaaay too much money on hardbacks and bought so many in my panic, I had to run around and find another carryon to put them in! Then to add insult to injury (literally) I had to carry around tons more heavy books! Never again and thank goodness for the kindle I now have!

It is such a scary moment. In the past for short trips I'd run and buy a magazine. For long trips any book will do. Usually it's a mystery if there is no romance. Now I try and take my kindle everywhere if I can.

Heh. I was thinking about this the other day: When I buy a purse, I load my stuff into it before I buy it to make sure it'll fit. A small bag has to hold at a minimum my wallet, my phone, and my ereader. I'll accept an evening bag that only holds my phone, some cash & a lipstick 'cause I have a book on the phone.

That's why technology today is so cool! I'd just read a book on my iPhone. :D

In general, I tend to have at least my iTouch and/or my phone with me, so I can read the books I downloaded onto my Kindle app, but if the battery's low, I'd also run to the nearest bookstore and get something to read there. I would take as much time as possible without missing the train to find something I'll enjoy. My last resort would be a couple magazines that are semi-interesting, but only if I can't find any book that is even remotely appealing.