I'm currently reading "Death by a Thousand Cuts" by Shashi Bhat and "Last Woman" by Carleigh Baker. I read your post several days ago and have been chewing on it ever since. To me, a book does not really exist until it is read. And each time it is read, it becomes a new book. Words are abstractions that only become concrete when imagined into being. There is an exchange between the writer and each reader. They form a relationship with each other. Some of the relationships last; others don't really get started. But there is a bid for intimacy, for the sharing of thoughts and feelings... and this happens in stages. So recognizing these stages and pausing to enjoy them can increase the joy and meaning of discovering a book. Over the years how I read has changed radically. These days I read slowly and I often reread books I feel particularly drawn to. This has increased my joy and my sorrow. It is double-edged because I am sad about the books I do not get to read. Yet, deepening my connection to the ones I do has made life itself more meaningful.
I love this! I was just mulling over a half-written piece about prize-winning books I DNF'd. There is something to be said for initial reactions and all of the complicated feelings of our reading lives - if we wanted perfect polished reviews only we could all just go read whatever nice publications push those out. I love seeing the messy-ness of the in-between
YES! You’ve expressed this so well—there can be so many complicated (and often conflicting) feelings in our reading experiences…let’s normalize the messiness of it all and use it for some great bookish discussion!
I'm currently reading "Death by a Thousand Cuts" by Shashi Bhat and "Last Woman" by Carleigh Baker. I read your post several days ago and have been chewing on it ever since. To me, a book does not really exist until it is read. And each time it is read, it becomes a new book. Words are abstractions that only become concrete when imagined into being. There is an exchange between the writer and each reader. They form a relationship with each other. Some of the relationships last; others don't really get started. But there is a bid for intimacy, for the sharing of thoughts and feelings... and this happens in stages. So recognizing these stages and pausing to enjoy them can increase the joy and meaning of discovering a book. Over the years how I read has changed radically. These days I read slowly and I often reread books I feel particularly drawn to. This has increased my joy and my sorrow. It is double-edged because I am sad about the books I do not get to read. Yet, deepening my connection to the ones I do has made life itself more meaningful.
This is so, so true! Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experience so beautifully ❤️
I love this! I was just mulling over a half-written piece about prize-winning books I DNF'd. There is something to be said for initial reactions and all of the complicated feelings of our reading lives - if we wanted perfect polished reviews only we could all just go read whatever nice publications push those out. I love seeing the messy-ness of the in-between
YES! You’ve expressed this so well—there can be so many complicated (and often conflicting) feelings in our reading experiences…let’s normalize the messiness of it all and use it for some great bookish discussion!