I've been know to immerse
myself in reading sophisticated literature – but not lately.
The past couple weeks my 8
to 5 job has been spilling over, with a few similar weeks in sight.
My brain is tired.
But not quite as tired as
when I left the office. As I started the engine to drive home, my
ears were greeted by an audio version of a book in the Jack
Aubrey/Stephen Maturin series of British Naval fiction from the age
of sail.
My brain wouldn't have
been ready to unpack Patrick O'Brian's printed prose, filled with
archaic British syntax and naval jargon. But the narrator, with his
authentic accent, delivered the words directly to my ears. A
half-hour later, I was invigorated enough to tackle some writing of
my own.
As I finish tonight's last
project, I'm again running out of steam.
So I will take another
trip though a familiar mass paperback. This time a mystery by
Edgar-winning author Aaron Elkins. I won't read to discover the bad
guy, just to enjoy the trip.
If you're writing
something literary, I wish you well. Your readers will be people at
the top of their game. Tonight, I need a book for a tired reader. If
that's what you're writing, consider it a cup of refreshment for
someone who's gone dry. Thanks.
5 comments:
You are so right. Sometimes I want the challenge of theology or Biblical commentary. But many times I just want to enjoy a story, an escape, a jaunt with interesting characters. Thankfully there are writers producing all of these to match my varying intellectual energy levels.
Andy, I am the same in this respect. Even when I am exhausted, I must read something before bed. My treat for the work I accomplished that day. I usually grab an Anne Perry or Elizabeth Peters mystery - just for the journey. :-)
I usually read several books at once -- typically in different genres -- so I'm able to turn to the one that's most appealing at the moment.
I read at a pretty high rate of speed (useful in working submissions) but even when I read for pleasure I tend to read a book in one sitting. If it doesn't hold my interest enough to keep me reading I tend to put it down and move on to something else.
I'm rediscovering the joy of reading 'just because'. I also have a pile of books, also of different genres, that have the book mark in the middle. Different books for different moods!
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