I have no idea what biological , physiological or even psychological factors convince some of us that it is necessary to read in the loo but I am quite convinced that if at least some portion of the population, were deprived of this pleasure the results on the regular routines of their lives could be extremely unsettling.

I am a Loo Reader.

That a lot of my friends are is clearly evidenced by the amounts of literature stacked and available in their loos.

The only evidence I have in literature for this phenomenon were Leopold Bllom’s reading of the torn strips of newspaper in his toilet on the morning of June 16th and a rather nice exchange between Bill Bryson and his wife from one of his books ;
She (outside the door) “Are you reading in there ?”
He (inside) “Of course not Dear ”
She “You must be you have been there for at least ten minutes ”
She ” And you have blocked up the keyhole- you must be reading ”

The trouble I find is to provide the correct type of literature for reading in the little room.
My daughters (acknowedging my problem ) have at various times given me presents of volumes of commonplace books called “Reading in the Loo” and the like.
These are fine for the first few weeks, even months but as time goes on and one has read them all at least twice the lose some freshness.
Like wise my ancient copies of compendium books like “The Book of Lists ” , you know they have been there too long when you can quote without reference Jane Fonda’s favourite ten dinner guests.

I have tried leaving my old copies of the New Yorker there but this brings its own problems.
Almost inevitably while in situ I start to read some article which I had previously reckoned uninteresting.
After about fifteen minutes of a deep exposé of something like “The Dangers to
the Body of playing American Football ” (and to avoid a confrontation with my wife like Bill Bryson’s ) I remove the magazine to read at my leisure.
And so all the magazines end up elsewhere.

You do need to have the literature ready for arrival in the right room.

There is nothing particular attractive about having to admit to what you are looking for just before you lock yourself in.

For the moment I think I may have cracked it.
In our personal loo I have now stashed “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare ”

I have started with some plays that I thought I was familiar with but am amazed at how much of Hamlet and Macbeth I have forgotten since my school days.

I think that by the time I will have gotten through Timon of Athens and A Winters Tale I may well be ready to tackle Hamlet again.
And then, there is always The Sonnets.