Portrait of a Young Reader as an Addict

There are nothing quite like the sensations that accompany getting sucked into a good book.  It’s probably a bit different for everyone, but in my case, my psyche turns into a one-track maniacal beast, focused and unshakeable as it pushes one purpose to the forefront of my mind: READ, READ, READ.

No I can’t eat right now, leave me alone so I can READ. Yes, I know you’ve never seen me awake at 7 am on a Saturday morning, now quickly back away so I can READ.  Did I just walk into a pole? No matter, I didn’t drop my book or even loose my page.  I don’t need your concern, just your silence so I can READ!

While I do become frantic in my desire to only do one thing, despite the demands of the people around me or even my own body as it cries out for food, water, and sleep, I’m by no means suffering from my condition.

It’s a euphoric feeling to be so completely immersed in another world, with real stakes in the characters and a story so well developed and executed that it grips my mind in a kind of delirious fever, demanding nothing less than my undivided attention.

I recently got hired as a full-time intern, and while I’m really enjoying the work, (and relieved for the reprieve from my parents’ demands to get off the couch already and make something of my life) I’m often so tired when I get home, my brain squirms at the prospect of lifting up a book and flipping through its pages.

The Hunger Games offers a fresh new look to the post apocalyptic genre.

Just this weekend, though, I picked up the first book in Suzanne Collins’ critically acclaimed The Hunger Games trilogy, and suddenly, seemingly endless and untapped stores of enthusiasm are humming under my skin.  A few days later, I’m two books and 800 pages into the series and desperately looking for my next fix (the third book in the trilogy, Mockingjay, just came out this month, but I haven’t had a chance to pick up a copy yet).

How did this happen to me?  Just the other day I couldn’t be bothered to browse a bookshelf.  Today, I’m busting out the box marked “to-read” from behind my dresser, full of the books that catch my interest from my frequent bookshop visits, but inevitably get set aside when I find I don’t have the time or energy to read them.

These other books may help to curb the worst of my withdrawal symptoms, but I’m still frantic for the weekend when I can get my own copy of the trilogy’s final release.  As it happens, I’ve discovered that infecting others with my enthusiasm is the best remedy.  Even if I can’t read the next book just yet, I can anticipate it with my friends (I’ve already won two followers to the series).

Have you had a similar experience and found yourself walking through the halls with bloodshot eyes because you just couldn’t put that book down, unable to bring yourself to regret your behavior?  Employers may not appreciate this zombiesque behavior, but I personally think it’s good for the soul.

I dare you to watch this trailer and not be intrigued by the possibilities of this riveting book.

Which books have had their way with you, seducing you away from the rest of the world?  Help your fellow book lovers out by pointing them towards their next dose of the kind of exhilaration that only a really good book can bring.  Who said you need to take a vacation to make your next great getaway?  If you can find a book that grabs you, your next adventure might be sooner than you think.

Just for fun, check out leytonluv03’s fanmade YouTube trailer for the The Hunger Games to get a flavor of the story’s mood and tone.