When you are in the middle of reading an engrossing book, do you start picking up the mannerisms and speech of the characters?

If they are very distinctive, yes. Sometimes it’s not so much outward as inward. I usually find myself thinking in the language of Dickens, for example, but I tend to stop it before it becomes speech.

yep yep yep

I’m cracking up imagining how that could turn out. Every argument you have will end with, “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn!”

I do the same thing. I went through a Virginia Woolf phase a while back, and I started using British idioms in my speech and writing. I suppose I’d better stay away from Sherlock Holmes. Otherwise, I’ll end up saying, “Elementary, my dear Watson!” all the time.

Sometimes, and with movies, too. Used to bother me, but now I don’t care so much.

@Nullo I think it adds character to one’s communication. (AHAAHAHAHAHAAHAH!!!)

Happens more to me with movies, since it’s easier to see how they act. For instance, after seeing Bourne Ultimatum in the theaters, I went to my car acting like I was being chased by someone and then I drove faster with added adrenaline in my system.

I am more apt to pick up the mannerisms of someone I am speaking with on the phone or in person.

It is very humiliating. I once said “Bah” instead of goodbye to a woman I was talking to from Nashville.

@Marina O, yeah. I’ve done that to and it’s embarrassing!

omigosh – I absolutely do if the book is set in a different time, or place! I get so completely engrossed in books sometimes – It’s silly! it also happend if I IM alot during the day – I’ve caught myself saying lol!

Frankly, @Val123, I don’t give a damn.

@janbb O! Surely you don’t mean that! Why, I’m in such a flutter now, I do believe I’m going to faint. THUD!!

@Val123 Ah well, tomorrow is another day.

(You’re supposed to loosen up the damn girdle and give me smelling salts!)

Definitely. I’ve been reading Jane Austen lately, and I accidentally said that I will “endeavor” to do something. I meant that I would “try” to do it.

@Haleth Exactly!

I had a single car accident once during a time when I was reading Tom Clancy’s Patriot Games. In the book, the bad guys go after Jack Ryan in a van. At one point they pull up alongside him, open the sliding side door and open fire. What happened was I was stopped at a light at a three way intersection and on my way to making a left hand turn. A van with a “For Sale” sign was parked on the fourth side of the intersection. I totally spaced out on the van, made the turn too wide, and ran head on into a raised curb.

While reading Angela’s Ashes all I wanted was tea and bread with jam.

When I read anything British or Irish, I start spelling things with the extra “u” in them. Flavour, favour, colour, etc. And I find myself using phrases from the books. “Well isn’t he a right eejit?” It’s worst at work when I start calling people “Love.” The I.T. guys in particular look at me funny.

At present I’ve clapped on to the Patrick O’Brian series of long sea-going novels. They
do have an effect on my expression, I find. Pass along the victuals, there, for there is not a moment to be lost.

@Val123
* badum-psh! *

@kevbo Angela’s Ashes was an incredible book…..

@tedibear39 It’s especially difficult for me as I learned how to read with Rudyard Kipling and AA Milne! To this day I constantly want to throw in those “U’s” in my words, whether I’m reading a British author or not!

@susanc “Heah’s ya hom’ny!”