Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Books That Don't Let Go

Occasionally I read a book that casts such a spell on me that I have trouble moving on to the next book. It isn't always that the book is a great one although it usually is. It is more that it evokes something so scary, or so fully realized, or hypnotic that I can't let go. 
Does this happen to you? Do you pick up and put down the next five books because you are still in the thrall of that "one."

Here are a few of the ones that did it for me. 


11 comments:

Cap'n Bob said...

No. I have enough trouble just remembering a book right after I finish it.

Unknown said...

I'm with you on Never Let Me Go. It did not let me go. I assigned as one of the novels in an intro to lit class a few years ago. It freaked everybody out. Good!

Perhaps I need to try the others you have cited.

As for me, two others have always stayed with me: 1984 and Brave New World. With passing year, I am more disturbed about the prescient qualities of those books. Actually, I am disturbed about our own brave new world.

Anonymous said...

Yes, absolutely, and the Atkinson is a good example. Others that come to mind include SHOGUN and NEVERWHERE and THE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE.

Jeff M.

Yvette said...

Normally I'm with Cap'n Bob. Though occasionally a book will grab hold and cause me some discomfort. :) It used to happen much more often when I was younger though, Patti.

LOOK HOMEWARD, ANGEL by Thomas Wolfe was a book that I had real trouble letting go of when I was a kid. Also ETHAN FROME by Edith Wharton.

I've got LIFE AFTER LIFE on my TBR list for this year. Soon as I shake my begining of the year reading doldrums, I hope to begin some real reading. :)

pattinase (abbott) said...

When I read LHA as a twenty-something, I immediately started it again. Same with GWTW although I doubt either would have the same hold on me now.

Dana King said...

In the past year, I read Adrian McKinty's THE COLD COLD GROUND and Scott Phillips's THE WALKAWAYi ans had to take a little time off. Both affected me in different ways, but neither wanted to let me go.

Anonymous said...

It definitely has happened to me, Patti. I felt that way after Catherine O'Flynn's What Was Lost. So mesmerising.

Charles Gramlich said...

I know the feeling you mean. I haven't read any of these, though.

George said...

I sometimes experience this when I read a great Anthony Trollope novel. I read a couple non-fiction books after that and find myself back to normal.

Todd Mason said...

Interesting how much sf and fantasy is in play here, with LIFE AFTER LIFE, NEVER LET ME GO, etc.

Al Tucher said...

CODE NAME VERITY, by Elizabeth Wein. I was a puddle on the floor for days, and I still haven't recovered.

She has a new book out, but I haven't read it yet.