A few weeks ago, I shared that I was changing things up with the books I read, alternating from non-fiction to fiction, to keep things interesting. I just read my first non-fiction book in years, and I couldn’t help but be amused at the experience.
I love fiction books, but they haven’t been the lion’s share of the books I’ve read for the past twenty years. Between looking for ways to deal with the loss of my father and starting my own business, non-fiction books were the priority because they served a meaningful purpose for me.
Now that I’m focusing more on my writing, I decided that I wanted to read more variety and keep things interesting, reading books for fun and not simply for educational purposes. Reading fiction books is like starting a new television series on Netflix for me, and I tend to binge because I get so caught up in the story and want to know what happens next!
I think that my urgency to know how the story ends is what spurred my fast reading skills. When I was young, I would borrow ten books from the library and go through them in two weeks, if not less. I find non-fiction books are a bit more challenging to plow through, especially when the subject matter isn’t light.
I forgot how much fun fiction books can be. The story I read is set in the 1700s, with a lot of drama, heartache, and love. Reading the book made me feel as if I was watching a soap opera, and I was thoroughly entertained.
When I got to the end of the book, I wanted more… I didn’t think the story should have ended where the author left it. There were so many questions I still had!
This is the challenge with reading fiction books; you get so invested in the characters and the story that you can take it personally when the tale isn’t told the way you wanted it to be told.
It had been so long since I read a book that I was emotionally invested in that I forgot not to have expectations on how the story will end.
How often have we watched a movie, and when the credits start to roll, think that’s it?
I think I need to make a mental note when reading fictional books (and watching movies or television series):
It’s not your book, and you are not the author. You don’t get to decide how the book ends. The purpose of reading this book is to be entertained. Sit back and enjoy the journey!
I may have to frame it and post it above my television and create a bookmark with the reminder so I don’t set myself up for disappointment in the future. 😊❤️