Should I Be Embarrassed When a Book Makes Me Laugh out Loud or Cry in Public?

Ask Ginni, our resident Literary Lady, anything you want to know about reading and relationships! She’ll comb the books and wrack her brains to help you out with your page-turning problems, your wordy woes, and your novel nuisances. Fire away, Bookworms!

Dear Literary Lady,
Sometimes when I read a good book I’ll laugh out loud or cry. I’m always really embarrassed when I do this in public. Any advice?
—Dewey W., Chicago, IL

Dear Dewey,
I know exactly what you mean. I’ve often found myself trying to stifle laughter or tears when I’m reading on the train, a plane, or anywhere near a bunch of strangers. I used to put the book down to stop myself from reading another sentence until I regained control of my giggling. Other times, if I was crying over a good book, I’d pretend I had something in my eye or exaggerate my crying-induced sniffling so people thought I had a cold.
And then, one day, I saw someone else laughing over a book at the airport. It cheered me up to see their open enjoyment. I immediately looked to see what they were reading, making a mental note to buy it as soon as I landed. I have to admit I was a little jealous they were having such a blast reading at the airport, when I was just twiddling my thumbs debating purchasing a eight-dollar soda.
Turning the situation around helped me realize that there was no need to be so self-conscious about emoting while reading in public. When you see a fellow bookworm laughing or crying over a good book, what do you think? Probably things like, “awww, good for them” and “I want to read whatever they’re reading” and “please lift the book up higher so I can see what it is!” Rarely, if ever, would you think “how absolutely mortifying to be emoting in public!”

Other people are probably thinking the same when they see you. If they’re bookworms, they’ll wonder what you’re reading and hope to read it themselves. If they’re not bookworms, then, well, they’re probably staring at their phones trying to have feelings about other people’s tweets. So there’s really nothing to be ashamed of when you laugh or shed a tear over brilliant literature.

Of course, regardless of what others may think, many of us personally prefer to maintain a stiff upper lip in public. If you don’t like letting the chortles or the teardrops flow, here are some half-serious tips to be a bit more discreet:

• Wear a hat or a hooded sweatshirt while reading a tearjerker of a book. Pull the brim or hood down and hide your face when the tears well up.
• Pretend you have a headache. Squeeze the bridge of your nose or rub your temples. While you’re doing that, you can discreetly wipe your tears away!
• Pretend you have a cold. Wipe your tears, blow your nose, and throw in a few coughs for good measure.
• Sunglasses are your friend. But only when otherwise appropriate, like in a park or when it’s very sunny on an aboveground train.
• If you’re listening to music while reading, focus on the music for a few seconds to regain your composure.
• Put the book down and pretend to sleep for a bit.
• Rummage in your bag like you’re busy looking for something. Your face will be turned downward, and nobody will see you weeping into your backpack.
• If you need to stifle a laugh, fake yawn instead.
• Get your phone out and pretend you’re maniacally laughing in response to a funny text.
• When all else fails, just duck and hide behind your book! Then laugh and cry all you want!

Love and paperbacks,
Literary Lady