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Books are a UNIQUELY portable magic.
(Stephen King)
I am not the most social person. I’m shy and awkward. I like
to listen more than I like to talk. (This is true, regardless of what my
husband says.) Having a book in hand becomes an escape route, where I can
disappear into another world or someone else’s story and avoid those awkward
conversations where I tell people I’m a writer and they stare blankly back.
But books are magic for another reason. They’re also often a
connection to another person. I’m the geek in the bookstore who, if I see you
flipping through a book I’ve read, will approach and tell you my thoughts on
it. If you’re not spooked by a total stranger, you’ll smile, and we’ll chat
about the book as if we’ve known each other for years. Sure, it’s not Harry
Potter wand magic, but it’s magic all the same.
I love the idea that books are portable magic. Like you, I tend to listen more than I talk, but I love to talk about books.
ReplyDeleteYes!!! I'm exactly the same way. Why is it that a book store can suddenly turn an introvert into an extrovert?
ReplyDeleteIt is magic, you're so right. And I'm shy and awkward as well, I've never been much of a talker, but writing is a whole different story. It's amazing what stories and books can do for us. :)
ReplyDeleteDonna - I will usually nod along or maybe ask people questions, but start talking about books and I'm good to go! :)
ReplyDeleteKate - I've actually done the same thing in the library when looking at the new fiction shelf. :)
Julie - I find the same thing happens with me and talking at writing conferences. It's like finding your people. :)
I think all writers are socially awkward.
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome - shy one moment and outgoing the next. Definitely the magic of books.
ReplyDeleteSee, you do like to talk!
ReplyDeleteI always read to escape. That's the same reason why I write.
Michael - hmm, maybe most of us. or at least a lot. :)
ReplyDeleteJai - I don't know if I'd go so far as to say "outgoing" but I know what you mean. :)
Alex - my husband would so agree about the talking part. :)
LOL. Now the question is, do you do the same thing on Goodreads? (The social aspect.)
ReplyDeleteI love this post! This same magic actually struck me in a big way the other day. At my new job, I met a group of middle school boys on the autism/Asperger's spectrum obsessed with computer programming and video games (and despite being married to a computer geek, those are so not my forte). I wasn't sure how I was going to effectively interact with them, but it turned out they also loved Ender's Game, The Hobbit, and a bunch of YA dystopian books that I'd read. It let us form an immediate connection with endless conversation topics. I've never been so grateful to be a YA book addict, or so excited to share book recommendations with someone!
ReplyDeleteCrystal - you know, I think I kind of do but not as much as I could. :) Thanks for joining us here at TSR!
ReplyDeleteJillian - that is so wonderful!! :)
It's great to be able to escape into another world. I think that's what we're all in this for!
ReplyDeleteNick - definitely!
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