Books are a blessing and a curse. They can wrap us up into getting so enthralled with the characters that at the end of the day we really don't know what to do with ourselves. One minute, as a reader, we can go from adoring the characters that we are reading about, and the next we can hate them...instantly.
So it's no surprise that after reading a well-written book that the impact of the dialogue, settings, theme stick with us far after we've finished reading the book. Maybe if we're that dedicated to what we just read, we'll read it a couple of more times until we may as well become a part of that story.
It's safe to say that somewhere down the road, you've experienced one of these feelings. Trust, you are certainly not the only one, and it's nice to know that you're not crazy but just madly in love with reading stories.
1. You begin to imagine that you are a character in the story
Whether you have convinced yourself that you are now one of the characters are an additional character that the author neglected to add, you find yourself in the same situation as the other characters. You're going through the good, the bad, the romantic, the adventure, and more. Can you even remember your real name anymore? I'll let you decide.
2. A little or a lot in love with someone
We've all been there, we've fangirled/boyed until death do us part. Maybe we've even declared our love for someone. I'm not going to say that I haven't fell in love with many characters, because I certainly have. For instance, Kaz from "Six of Crows" will always be a problematic fave, and he gets that.
3. That's it...?
If it's a stand alone, well you might as well be lonely. Nothing like a book that only has one book to it. Sometimes we're even lucky to have two, if the book is way too good. Regardless, when that duology, trilogy, whatever -ology, ends, it's as if we can never leave our room for days. "I'm fine mom, totally not mourning over a fictional world."
4. That lost felt way too real
You thought that character would make it out of this safe and sound, you really did, until they didn't. Time to dress in all black for a day, and maybe the rest of your life. When did I experience a first fictional character's death? Well, you can thank Veronica Roth for that one.
5. You hope that no one see how hard you're smiling
Please, don't tell me I'm the only one who has ever in the history of reading books has smiled like a nerd at what I'm reading. It might look weird on the outside, but it's as if you and the book are sharing something no one else knows about. (P.S. Your secret is safe with me.)
6. You really hope that no one sees how hard you're crying
Maybe there were a few tears, or maybe it was the great flood.
7. You reminisce in the bookstore
Even after a year of reading that book you still search for it in the store and read your favorite moments. (i.e. My mom had walked away only to turn and find me standing in the aisle reading a book. She said she'd buy it, but shook her head when she found out that I already read it, oops.)
8. Social media splurge
GiphyEvery once in a full moon you go full searching mode on that book. Tumblr becomes your best friend while searching for the fandom of that book who create relatable ships and content for you to enjoy.
9. Did someone say "hopeless romantic"?
I blame books for making me being a hopeless romantic and over exaggerating every interaction I have with someone else. No longer do I walk past someone nonchalantly. There's a full story in my mind. "What did that look mean?" "Did they just smile at me?" "Let's think about this more in depth months after that person literally didn't do anything but stand there."
10. Forcing someone else to read the book
That person may not even have an interest in reading, but all you are thinking of is how every single person you come in contact with needs to read a good book. Anyways the people who say they don't like reading, haven't really read a great book yet, right? Right.
