Usually when I open a book, I look forward to the exiting parts of the story. I convince myself that it is going to start on the next word or sentence and try to find it. Most of the time, however, I learn all I can about the setting,the characters and ect. in the first few pages. Soon enough, the story picks up and I can read and focus on the book without much distraction.
As for the ideal place syndrome, It is very hard to find the ideal place to read. this summer I had the ideal circumstance often, but I also had a lot of time on my hands. now as i am starting to do more and more things the ideal place is getting rarer so i have to try to get used to it, and not desire the ideal place to read.