That's something I really can't do that well: eating and reading at the same time. I remember reading Junot Diaz talking about how he reads every spare minute of the day. Like that's just something he loves to do, even when he's eating he has a book in his hands. I can relate to the spare minutes (that's something Zadie Smith writes about too), but for some reason, holding a book and holding a sandwich or something just doesn't work. It's hard to flip the page with one hand or dropping crumbs or whatever. It's too much going on. I'd rather just wait until I'm done.
Probably the hardest item to eat while reading is ice cream. Maybe a cone is okay if it's not too melty or whatever. But if you're eating ice cream with a spoon, for some reason it's so hard to also read. Like you have to use two hands. And my books don't often fold right down the middle to be flat on the table trying to read. And that's not a comfortable reading position anyway. Now you're bending and contorting your body just to get a glance. Plus you gotta look over at the spoon to get a good bite. Easier to just focus on the food and maybe read something on your phone for those few minutes if you're really bored.
-Rachel Wagner
