Reading Is…

When it comes to reading, the fact is, it is not always relaxing. Reading is exciting, stressful, infuriating, and emotionally fraught in just about every which way. There have been times, when, upon turning the last page of a book, I have screamed in pure frustration, or have been so emotionally wrecked after the death of a beloved character that I’ve actually sobbed. Books have kept me up all night, jumping and flinching at the slightest sound, terrified of what might be lurking in the dark. Then of course, at times I have become so immersed in the world of whatever I am reading that when I finally finished the book, I’ve wandered about in a haze for a solid week afterwards.
No, reading does not relax. It devastates.You know you’ve got a compelling book on your hands when you’re emotionally compromised. Reading is addictive. You know that a book will become a favorite when you postpone all your other plans because you absolutely cannot stop reading until you’ve reached the next chapter. Perhaps most of all, reading enthralls. You know you’ve found something truly spectacular when the outside world ceases to exist, and only the contents of your book really matter. It’s times like these when your family and friends know better than to bother you. They know, after years of experience, that any questions they ask will go unanswered, and any conversation they attempt to start will shortly fizzle out. You’re busy, preoccupied, and immersed in the story that you hold in your hands.
It can be a hassle at times. Books have made me late to important events on more than one occasion. Books have kept me from doing other, more pressing work. Regardless, it’s always been worth it. I suspect it always will. Sometimes, you just need a break from reality. When school takes over, when work runs you ragged, when everyone around you seems annoying, it’s nice to take a break and escape for just a little while. It’s nice to lose yourself in someone else’s story. A character’s woes become your woes, and their triumphs become your triumphs. For just a little while, you leave for an adventure unlike any other, and all you have to do is to keep reading. It’s not a relaxing journey by any means, but it’s one you happily take time and time again.