Ravenne, what a frustrating experience, but your story made me laugh
My own experience is quite the opposite. I have been asked questions a couple of times in the subway, and in each case the person seemed to know already what it was (after all, they had seen me reading it). They wanted to know how many books it could hold (I have no idea), and whether I liked it (I do!!!!). It didn't happen very often but in the Paris métro it's pretty unusual. No doubt many more people have been dying to ask me but didn't dare do it
On the other hand, at work people seemed politely interested, no more.
Florence