Life advice that only books can give
Life advice that only books can give
Books give you time to think and make life more fragrant
So what is the best life advice that only books can give? Here are just a few words of wisdom:
Read like no one is watching
If you have ever gasped at THAT twist and shocked the other passengers in the bus, never fear those strange looks. It’s confusion and envy that they aren’t reading the book you are and connecting with it in that very same way. Either that or they are yet to feel the pleasure of reading a book that makes them shout out in public. I Let You Go had one of these twists which made me squeal and get funny looks? Did I care? No and that is the power that books give you.
Go into a bookshop and imagine you’re the only one there. Run your finger along the spine of the book, open the book and sniff the pages, allow the the pages to flutter fast and listen to that noise. Stroke the cover and feel the embossed title, the way the words curl, the shine of the font. Then put in back down on the table or on the shelf, stand back and enjoy.
Read like you’ve never been hurt
Whether it’s crying over a fictional character dying or just reading a romance novel when your boyfriend or girlfriend is being a pain. Relationships in books are never easy either – Anna from Hausfrau will tell you that or the girl on the train. They got themselves into some situations. Your life is not as bad as these people.
Other relationships just inspire for what life could be like – what about Arthur Pepper and the love he has for his wife? The love that made Harold Fry walk all the way from Devon to Berwick? Now love like this should restore your faith in life again and if not there’s always a Jenny Colgan novel to immerse yourself in where you can retreat to the seaside resorts of and meet a nice new man there.
Oh and not forgetting Poldark of course…
Read like no one is listening
Similar to point one in that you should never be afraid to shout out and express your feelings out loud when reading a book. If you start to cry during a literary fight, or sad when the last page has ended,and you’re devastated the book has ended, just blend that into the next conversations you have. Don’t mention it’s a literary problem you have as people who prefer the real world will just look at you strange- just keep The Map of You hidden in your desk drawer for example and say that you’re worried about your friend Holly as she’s just jumped ship and headed out to Greece and that she’s been left a house there and doesn’t know what to do – the advice will be as if someone else has The Map of You at the same time and so you can discuss it without her being any the wiser. Or even try discussing what your friend Anna the Hausfrau in Switzerland is up to! Who knew you had such friends!
Read like it’s heaven on earth
Well it is and so there is nothing really to expand upon here. This is what every book worm knows and loves. Books take you places – whether you fancy a trip to some far flung beach or to see a more gritty side to your home city, your reading horizon is as wide as you like.
Spend time on the beach with Alex Garland, the South of France with Celia Imrie or the wilds of the Shetlands with Jimmy Perez. A rest is as good as a change.
You could and should even take things a little further. As well as exotic destinations, why not try a bit of Grand Prix action? Test the tyres at Goodwood? Your literary adventures are as wild as you want them to be.
There is so much life advice that only books can give you. And they’re very loyal listeners.
Susan Booktrailer
