code: public int read(char buff[], int off, int len) throws IOException
      {
          int b = read();
          if ( b == -1 )
              return -1;  // EOF, not zero read apparently
          else {
              buff[off]=(char)b;
              return 1;
          }
      }
docs: This is a degenerate implementation.
  I don't know how to keep this from blocking if we try to read more
  than one char...  There is no available() for Readers ??