Looks like reading–one of the few remaining solitary activities unmolested by the ongoing obsession with social networking–is about to be networked.

We mentioned a few days ago that BlackBerry will be entering the tablet market with the PlayBook. Well, it was reported by eBookNewser that the new BlackBerry tablet will come preloaded with e-reading app from Kobo. And the key feature meant to distinguish it from the other e-reading apps (e.g. Amazon’s Kindle app for Apple’s IOS and Android, Barnes and Noble’s Nook app, Stanza, etc.)? Kobo’s integration with BlackBerry Messenger, BlackBerry’s own social network platform. Kobo CEO Michael Serbinis told Mashable in an interview that “One of the key things we believe in is the whole culture of reading.” Which, coming from the CEO of a company that makes e-readers and e-reading apps, one would certainly hope as much.

If done well, Kobo is sure to get an impressive number of PlayBook acolytes to turn on the social networking function built into their fancy new non-Apple tablets. (Even Apple is finally getting around to fixing some of the gripes users of their new social music network, Ping, were having–no doubt they’re busy figuring out a way to network iBooks as we type.) Social networking sites devoted to books like GoodReads–which has had a Facebook app since the dark ages of 2007–have been gaining in popularity for a while now. But they have not made the same kind of push towards integrating the reading experience with social networking. At least not like this.

If we are in the middle of the “peak of inflated expectations” for e-readers, Kobo’s e-reading software may find itself in the virtual graveyard along with other relics from this period. Or it might succeed. Either way, if you’re an avid reader who’s into gadgets but hasn’t bought a Kindle, iPad, or a Nook, maybe Blackberry just rewarded you for waiting. But if you are turned off by the push toward social networking for just about everything–if the mere mention of the phrase “status update” throws you into a fit of rage–there’s probably not a lot about this future that makes you happy.

Us? We can’t wait until our microwave gets networked. We’re itching to add your week-old macaroni and cheese with a questionable odor as a friend.