I pride myself on being a book connoisseur. I collect books the way some people collect wine, or stamps, or movie tickets. I do not read books—I devour them. Is my alarming level of dedication to books becoming clear to you now?
Alright, good.
Being the bookish-brat that I am—there's nothing more familiar to me than the bitter-sweet feeling of finishing a great book. In fact, I'm experiencing book withdrawal at this very moment.
Be forewarned: I shall now attempt to impress upon you the incredible joy and sadness that comes with turning the last page of a fantastic novel.
1. AH.
You've just finished your book. The past two days have seen you with your nose pressed into a spine, but now you're finally able to come up for air. You're astounded by your own luck—how could a book be that good?!
2. ANALYZE
The novel is over, but you still have questions. Or, rather, thinly-veiled hopes. You begin thinking: Is Character X really dead or did they fake the explosion? Character W said he was in love with the Queen, but perhaps he only did it to save the bar wench? That's when you slide into number three...
3. DESPERATE FOR A SEQUEL
You quickly search Google. You're in luck! There is a sequel! Only drawback: it's slated to be released in another year. Guess you'll have to wait.
4. FATIGUE
This is a real thing people. You realize that you've just spent the past six hours in the same position, reading non-stop. You need a bed, a blanket, and a chai latte--STAT.
5. INCESSANT TALKING ABOUT SAID BOOK
You just desperately need someone to understand how utterly amazing and life-changing this book was for you. At first everyone is understanding, but after a few days they're
tired of hearing about how the heroine was "just the right mixture of strength and vulnerability". Apparently hearing about a book you haven't read is a lot like listening to someone else's dream—entertaining, to a point, but ultimately irrelevant.
6. "READ IT, PLEASE. YOU'LL LOVE IT, I PROMISE."
You've evolved. You understand that it isn't fun for others to listen to you talk nonstop about a book they haven't read. So, you decide that they'll just have to read it themselves. You get creative, finding new and inventive ways to work the book into unrelated discussions. Your friends and family refuse, so you turn to Tumblr—where there are always people ready to discuss fictional worlds and relationships.
7. MOVING ON
You’ve decided—there will never be another book like that one. You should probably just forgo reading altogether from this point forward. Nothing could be as fulfilling, as enrapturing, as soul-altering as the book you just finished. However, your equally bookish friend has made a suggestion that she’s sure you’ll like, and you agree to read it. You’re sure it won’t be as good.
And guess what? It’s even better.
8. NOSTALGIA
Time passes. One day you pull the book from its shelf and let your fingertips run across the pages.You remember the adventures, the people, the magic and the mystery—and you smile. It won't be too long before the sequel is out, and you'll be right back in the thick of it.
You can't wait.
