I search for books that make me stop reading. Usually, I live in a constant state of reading. I begin a book, read and as soon as I finish, I search for the next story. Some of them are truly horrible pieces of literature; others are lovely stories that I remember for a long time after. But once here and there, I find a book that keeps me from venturing to the shelves for my next book
These books don’t just tell stories, they create worlds that fill my eyes, ears, heart, stomach and every inch of my mind. I can’t escape these worlds by simply picking up a new book. These books pose questions I can’t answer, but desperately wish I could. I want to meet these authors, and learn how they came to create these worlds. I want to know the characters inside and out. I become so engaged in these worlds, I sometimes see and feel the ideas of the characters clearer than what is actually around me.
My latest novel that stopped me in my tracks is entitled The Hunger Games. Usually dystopian novels do little for me, but the characters that grew in this story, and the setting the author painted was so clearly chiseled into my mind, I can’t escape the story or the ideas and questions it left behind.
I have a perfectly interesting looking novel sitting in my bag, just waiting for me to delve in, but for now, all I can do is wonder where are my characters going. How will they resolve their questions of the final page?
I read for entertainment and to simply hear a story. Rarely do I find book that simply imprints itself upon my mind in a way that I know that it will never leave. I almost hate this, as I know that no book will measure up until my next discovery. But to be able to find a story like this is enough to make up for any mediocrity I might find next.
