You’ve just reached the end of a book . . . what do you do now? Savor and muse over the book? Dive right into the next one? Go take the dog for a walk, the kids to the park, before even thinking about the next book you’re going to read? What?
(Obviously, there can be more than one answer, here–a book with a cliff-hanger is going to engender different reactions than a serene, stand-alone, but you get the idea!)
Well, like she said, it's different based on the type of book. If I'm reading non-fiction, I'll just slide right into the next non-fiction book.
Not a lot of books I read have cliffhangers, so I don't have that complication. Usually, I need a few days between fiction books. I like to, like she said, savor and muse over the book. It's like I need to let that dream fade away, create some headspace, so I can then travel to a new place, refreshed. If I've really enjoyed the book, I like to consider what happens after The End, and what all the subtext means, and replay powerful or well-loved scenes in my head.
If I've really loved the book, and hate to leave the world that's been created, I have to fight the urge to turn the book over and start again. I do that every time I get to the end of the LOTR trilogy, and I did that when I got to the end of the 20 (and 1/4) Aubrey-Maturin cycle by Patrick O'Brian. I slowed down reading the last couple of books, savoring them, because I was so gutted it was almost over. If I have successfully fought the urge to start a well-loved book again, I can't read other fiction for a week or two. I've usually got two books going at the same time, so I'll have a non-fiction already in process, ready to fill that void.
I savour and muse over a book when I go to sleep. In bed! Not before. No time!
ReplyDeleteBooking upto ending
I don't start a new book until the day after I finish the previous one. I need time to clear the palate, so to speak. If it's an old favorite I won't need much time, but if it's a new read - especially one I really enjoyed - I might take a couple of days to let the world and characters fade before I start something else.
ReplyDeleteThat's also why I generally don't read more than one book at the same time.
I jump right into the next one because I usually have such a backlog of "want to read books", I always want to go on the next adventure.
ReplyDeletePaul
I can't imagine not reading fiction every day, so I guess I don't savour, at least not to the same extent that you do.
ReplyDeleteI can't have two books on the go as I like to focus on what I'm reading. I'm a diver!
ReplyDeleteI played too :)
Gautami - I often do that too, especially if I'm feeling anxious, it's nice to drop back into the action of a book in my head
ReplyDeleteHeather - clearing the palate is exactly right. I think in a weird way I feel like, if I get caught up in a book, I'm not doing it justice to jump into another right away
Paul - oh yes, the tyranny of the to-read pile! I still have a bunch of books from Christmas yet to read, and yet I keep adding to the pile...
TT - I find when I'm heavy into writing my own stuff, I read a lot more non-fiction ... when I'm in the revising stage, I tend to read more fiction. So it goes in waves.
Teena - A diver, I like that! I never have 2 fictions going at the same time, but I will have a fiction and a non-, or two non-fictions.
Hi Julie,
ReplyDeleteI am a bookaholic. Half Price Books loves me! I relax best with a wonderful book. I have many co-dependent friends who are bookaholics as well. We refer to eachother our next reads. I'm now reading a wonderfully sweet book called, Place To Belong. It's written by Paul Miller. His first and hopefully not his last book. It's a little like "To Kill A Mockingbird". A story about a little boy growing up in some rough times and how he comes to be as an adult. I hope you have a chance to read it. I'm recommending it to all of my bookaholics!
Thank you for the post!
Mary :>)
Me again,
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry my book link didn't work. Here it is again. Cross your fingers! A Place To Belong
Mary :>)