Immersed but detached
I think everyone has expectations of how they want to feel when they do things. I'm no different. I want my life to feel like reading a good book whilst listening to Gabriel. Is that strange?
Book have memories for me. At the first time of reading Atonement (Ian McEwan), I was painfully shy and quiet. I read it many times afterwards, and each time reminds me of school and blushing and fickle friends.
The first time I read Fingersmith (Sarah Waters) - my mother bought this book from the Oxfam charity shop - I was immediately mesmerised, and spent four days curled up on top of my bed eating apples and marzipan. That was the first book I had real trouble putting down. A few sleepless nights and achey eyes. I was 14.
Kate Atkinson - Emotionally Weird. With the lost yellow dog and lethargic boyfriend Bob in bed. I read that and imagined Edinburgh. Possibly 12 years old. Sitting on the sofa and not eating dinner.
The Time Traveler's Wife. I read this in Scotland a few years ago. Putting it down to text The Boyfriend before he became The Boyfriend. Reading in the car - flying over bumps in the road. Reading it whilst packing, picking up a sock every five minutes and absent-mindedly throwing it into the open suitcase. Lying on my front on the bed, crying as he dies. Crying as he comes back to talk to his daughter.
There are so many more. I remember how I felt reading them. Immersed, but detached at the same time. That's how I want to feel when I do things. Immersed but detached.
Book have memories for me. At the first time of reading Atonement (Ian McEwan), I was painfully shy and quiet. I read it many times afterwards, and each time reminds me of school and blushing and fickle friends.
The first time I read Fingersmith (Sarah Waters) - my mother bought this book from the Oxfam charity shop - I was immediately mesmerised, and spent four days curled up on top of my bed eating apples and marzipan. That was the first book I had real trouble putting down. A few sleepless nights and achey eyes. I was 14.
Kate Atkinson - Emotionally Weird. With the lost yellow dog and lethargic boyfriend Bob in bed. I read that and imagined Edinburgh. Possibly 12 years old. Sitting on the sofa and not eating dinner.
The Time Traveler's Wife. I read this in Scotland a few years ago. Putting it down to text The Boyfriend before he became The Boyfriend. Reading in the car - flying over bumps in the road. Reading it whilst packing, picking up a sock every five minutes and absent-mindedly throwing it into the open suitcase. Lying on my front on the bed, crying as he dies. Crying as he comes back to talk to his daughter.
There are so many more. I remember how I felt reading them. Immersed, but detached at the same time. That's how I want to feel when I do things. Immersed but detached.
kiwiqueen - 3. Oct, 10:25
I like the books that are hard to get into, but once you are there are absolutely amazing. It feels like you have found a little hidden gem that so many other people will miss out on. Eclipse of the Century was like that...