There’s a definite difference between a book you simply enjoy and a book that somehow talks to you. It wiggles its way into your mind, your heart or maybe even brings out the devil in you. In those cases, you just want more. More adventure, more action, more love or whatever it is that speaks to you.
For example, you read a book and you enjoy it. Maybe you even love it. But did you turn that last page and immediately run to buy the next book in the series or something else the author has written? I mention this because I read a book a few weeks ago, even blogged about it, and I genuinely enjoyed it. I was completely content with the read. I found it to be a page turner and it left me smiling. I did not, however, rush out to grab the next book. I ended up reading a few books by an author I had read before and enjoyed. After a couple of those, I switched gears and went in search of something new. Finding it, I tackled it and you know what? As soon as I finished that last page I promptly went and bought the next book. It was bedtime so I didn’t crack it open but I made sure I had it for later, no questions asked.
One book may talk to you or be more real or more something than another. It doesn’t mean one is less than the other, although I am sure that many will disagree, it just means that it didn’t talk to you the same way and deliver whatever it is that you need to smile at the end.
I’ve had two debates recently with people who I feel, frankly, are pretty shallow minded in this regard. They read a book and it either speaks to them or it’s crap. Or in another’s words, a piece of shit. Well, I’ve read some books that I thought were shit. But I don’t share that around because something I don’t like might be enjoyed by someone else and I don’t really think its my place to judge for someone else.
A piece of shit could also mean a million different things. The book didn’t talk to you at all (hello, anyone there?). Or maybe it was so full of typos that you were pulled out of the story too many times and found yourself annoyed. Or maybe at the end you didn’t get what you were looking for. I don’t like to read dramas, for example. I have my life with its ups and downs and everything that goes with it. I read for pleasure. I read to feel the emotion of the character who overcomes the bad guy, finds love or wins the war. I don’t really want to read about someone ending up with the short end of the stick. I see that in life, my own and others, and I read for the joy. Now that’s me. Others like ‘reality’ books and I’m down with it and I don’t call it shit just because it’s not my thing.
All that said, I like cake.
The co-founder of my writers group and I were talking about a book one day and she commented that she didn’t get pie at the end. I loved the saying and it has since spread through our group like wildfire. I don’t know where she got it from, I’ll have to make a note to ask. The funny thing is that I’m not really fond of pie but I sure do like cake, especially angel food cake. So I just changed up the comment to fit me.
So I like cake. Particularly if it has supernatural features. Read and enjoy whatever it is you like. And do it often. Cheers!
Author Lisa Barry 