June 18, 2012

The Moment of Reentering Reality


I saw this on the The Reader's Nook Facebook page. This has happened to me so many times, but only with really good books.

Before children (affectionately known as BC in my house), my husband and I lived in a northern suburb of Chicago and commuted into the city every day for work. For this very non-city gal, it was heaven because I had 45 dedicated minutes to read twice a day. I read so many books during that time.

I'd become so engrossed in my read that I'd almost miss my stop. One time I did. Thanks to having three children, and the brain cells they have destroyed my subsequent memory loss, I can't remember which book caused that. Wish I could.

Even when I'm reading at night, the only one in the house not sleeping, I will get to a part in the story and want to wake someone up to tell them. When I finish a great book late at night, I feel thrust back into reality and sleep becomes an impossibility.

Recently, I bought Fifty Shades of Grey. Pure curiosity got the best of me. There's a book I definitely wouldn't want to be reading on public transportation! What a great benefit to having a Kindle... nobody knows what you are reading.

The best books take us so far out of our own reality that it's an adjustment coming back.

When's the last time this happened to you?

4 comments:

Sonja Haller said...

Hello! I don't remember the last time it happened, but I do remember the first time. I was listening to Raymond Carver's short stories on a walk through a river bed. I was so blown away I had to stop several times. Look around. Think, Damn! And I can say my world has never been the same since. I learned the power of words and what was possible with story.

Anonymous said...

Mystery novels usually do it if the characters are well developed, but the one I loved to get mixed-up in was Twenties Girl. Fun, involved and wanting more...

Jo Michaels said...

I just bought 50 Shades as well. I'm about 5 chapters in and the language is irritating me. I hope your experience is better :) I do love those books that leave me traumatized but I hate them because I have to come back to reality afterward. WRITE ON!

Tia Bach said...

Sonja, That's inspiring. I've always loved words and where they can take us.

Circe, Ah, mysteries. I agree.

Jo, I've heard that about 50. I'm interested to read it.

Thanks for visiting. I always appreciate some blog comment love!