Getting high on books
September 12th 2006 08:15
After reading The Poe Shadow by Matthew Pearl I became a Pearl Shadow myself. I searched for Matthew’s first book The Dante Club in three libraries none of which amazingly stocked the book. So, as a last resort I bought it myself.
I have not finished the book yet. I don’t want to write a review here, just describe how it feels to read a book that speaks to you.
You buy the book and put it in your bag and board a busy train, all the while your thoughts are on the weight that’s burning like a brand in you bag. As soon as you get a suitable seat, you tear open the covers and touch the book longingly. Ahead of you, is a journey and an adventure like no other. You want to start reading it but you are too excited. You give it a try but you can’t do it, so you watch cows strolling past the window.
You are home and do all the little things that you have to do with a touch of impatience. Now you are all set and after giving a few imaginary whoops, you settle down into your book.
You are in a heightened state of consciousness. “Preternatural” is the word those Boston Brahmins or Matthew himself would use. Preternatural. Every word falls on your consciousness like a drop of hard rain. You are drawn into the maze and your sympathies are evoked, admiration oozes through your bloodstream and wonder shoots up your adrenaline. You also watch the performance with a tic of anxiety; after all, your life depends on it. And you spend the night reading, without food, without sleep until it is mid-noon and you can’t take it anymore and have to drop off into a sleep noisy with dreams.
In the end, it doesn’t matter whether the book lives up to your expectations or exceeds it. It is an experience like no other.
I have not finished the book yet. I don’t want to write a review here, just describe how it feels to read a book that speaks to you.
You buy the book and put it in your bag and board a busy train, all the while your thoughts are on the weight that’s burning like a brand in you bag. As soon as you get a suitable seat, you tear open the covers and touch the book longingly. Ahead of you, is a journey and an adventure like no other. You want to start reading it but you are too excited. You give it a try but you can’t do it, so you watch cows strolling past the window.
You are home and do all the little things that you have to do with a touch of impatience. Now you are all set and after giving a few imaginary whoops, you settle down into your book.
You are in a heightened state of consciousness. “Preternatural” is the word those Boston Brahmins or Matthew himself would use. Preternatural. Every word falls on your consciousness like a drop of hard rain. You are drawn into the maze and your sympathies are evoked, admiration oozes through your bloodstream and wonder shoots up your adrenaline. You also watch the performance with a tic of anxiety; after all, your life depends on it. And you spend the night reading, without food, without sleep until it is mid-noon and you can’t take it anymore and have to drop off into a sleep noisy with dreams.
In the end, it doesn’t matter whether the book lives up to your expectations or exceeds it. It is an experience like no other.
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