Bookwormholes

You all know by now that I love movies and music. As I have said before, I appreciate all artistic endeavors, and that includes writing. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE books! If there were such an occupation as professional reader, that would be my title. I can’t get enough of books. And I like all types: fiction, non-fiction, poetry. You name it, I’ll read it. Often times, I have a stack of books on my nightstand that I’m reading, switching from one to another depending on my mood.

I just finished the book Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. I should say I devoured it for I could not put it down! I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it only because I was hesitant to read it. It was suggested by a dear friend of mine but the way she spoke of it led me to believe it was about a hot and heavy love affair. And while it was about a hot and heavy love affair, it wasn’t only about a hot and heavy love affair. There was time travel and intrigue. There were kidnappings and daring rescues. There was magic and mystery. And the love affair wasn’t the stuff of sappy romance novels. The chemistry was palpable. I found myself blushing while reading!

I could go on and on about this book, but I don’t write book reviews. Suffice to say that I recommend you read this book. You may find yourself hooked as well. And like me, you may find yourself dying to get ahold of the next book in the series.

What I really wanted to talk about was the power of books. Like movies and even music, books can transport you to another time and/or place. They can yank you out of your own little world and drop you into another. It’s almost like time traveling minus the wormhole. And Outlander was about time travel, so I was really transported!

I have always wished I could time travel. I’m not interested in the future so much as the past. History was always one of my favorite subjects in school, and the books we read for class just didn’t have quite enough information for me. I am so curious about everything, the more I learn, the more I want to know. Perhaps I am alone in this, but wouldn’t it be absolutely amazing to go back in time and watch a dinosaur battle? Or find out exactly how the Egyptians build the pyramids? Wouldn’t you want to have a conversation with some of the most famous historical figures, really find out who they are? I could spend an hour or two with Van Gogh or Edgar Allen Poe or Joan of Arc.

Many believe that we read or watch movies to get away from our own reality for a little while. I would tend to agree. I know sometimes I feel like escaping the mundane tasks of the modern world where every day is not a life or death struggle. Sometimes I don’t want to think about the mortgage or the pile of laundry or my homework assignment. Sometimes I want to find myself deep in mysteries and battles and love triangles. And sometimes, it is just a way for me to escape my own often intense thoughts and emotions.

But I also think that reading opens up my mind and my world. So, rather than ‘escaping’, it’s almost as though I become connected to the universe, as though it reveals itself to me, and it’s like the sun rising over a dark valley. Suddenly, I begin to see things in a different light. I see how everything and everyone in this world is tied together.  I also begin to see myself in a different light. Sometimes, reading other’s thoughts and emotions gives me insight into my own. I can share in love and joy or anger and sorrow. I read about other humans at their best and at their worst and I think about my own actions. It’s almost as though a book can act as a mirror and show you what you did not see before.

Again, I could go on and on but this is a blog, not a dissertation. I know I jumped around a bit and my flair for the dramatic may be a bit exhausting, but I guess what I really want to say is that reading is learning, and learning is a beautiful thing.