I had a 6 hour flight yesterday, in the middle of the day. Apparently middle was the theme of the day. I was also in the middle seat, squished between a guy who was somewhat smelly and a woman who kept rubbing against my arm {I don't like touching strangers}. With these circumstances, I didn't have much of a choice- I read. The entire flight. I don't remember the last time I read a book cover to cover in one sitting, but I finished The Lovely Bones about 20 minutes before touching down in Los Angels (about 2,500 miles from New York). I don't know that I loved it. I don't know that I can love a book that so vividly describes murder and the wave of consequences that follow. It was disturbing & sad. It made me feel scared & anxious, knowing that something so devastating can happen to anyone. Especially horrible is that it can happen to my family, or someone close to me. I had a pit in my stomach throughout all of the 300-and-something pages. However- I like being reminded about what I care about, and how much I love the people in my life. I appreciate being {uncomfortably} reminded just how important these people are to me, and how devastated I would be without them. I like being reminded that death is not the end, that relationships continue, and that there is a source of comfort. In the end- I'm happy I read it.
5 comments:
I read this a couple years ago. It made me feel anxious too. I hate it to begin with {the intro chapter!} but kept with it. And like you, felt like the ending gave me a sense of peace about it all.
I also read this a few years ago- I think one summer during college. I was also glad I read it but horrified by the atrocities of some people in this world. Good reminder to live and love in this life and that relationships are eternal.
I have serious motion sickness problems so I can't believe you read an entire book in one airplane ride! Airplanes, cars, etc, no reading for me- I have to be completely still!
Oh no, you can't read on airplanes, Heidi?! You must get so bored! I definitely get carsick (I always make self ill when I'm on my blackberry), but I've never had a problem on the train or on planes.
Yes I do get very bored on airplanes- I can watch movies, but that only lasts as long as the laptop battery ;-)
Oh, yeah. I read this too. And I remember it being an easy read that I enjoyed. (I really love words. And sometimes even if the plot is a little...disturbing, I like the way the sentences are put together. You know?) But The History of Love definitely sounds like a more uplifting option. It's next on my list.
I can't read on planes. Never. Major sickness. I just people watch and try to sleep...also almost impossible.
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