It's Hard to Let Go

Have you ever finished a book that you do not want to let go? After a really good book, I find it hard to pick up another one. I almost feel like I am lost; perhaps it's because the character is lost to me now. I go on with my life, and he goes on with his life.

I just finished Half-Blood Blues by Esi Edugyan. I adore Sid. He captured my heart. We do not have a lot in common but I was drawn to him. The voice Esi created for him (and the other characters) was rich and poetic, yet very real. He is an American who gets "trapped" in Europe during WWII. He loves jazz and is jealous of young Heiro, who is a more talented musician.

Obviously I relate to his feelings of jealousy. I think many of us are jealous of those who have a natural gift--a gift that comes so easily to them but not to you. Sid teaches us that loving something isn't enough. He loves to play, and wants to be as good as Heiro but he knows he never will be as good. What is more frustrating, is that he actually loves Heiro. That's what makes his character so fascinating. Of course, these feelings make their relationship complicated.

I like how the narrative flows from the past to the present with ease. Both story lines keep your interest piqued. You know these two "lines" will come together. You trust the author to get you to the finish. You can also trust her to do right by the characters. That's refreshing. Sid stays true to himself. There aren't unrealistic, idiotic changes (oops, sorry, my bias is coming through) to his character either.

Esi deftly uses WWII and Europe as a backdrop to the story as well. She carefully brings together history and settings to compliment the characters and the plot. She did her homework there. History comes alive. I am along for the ride. I am walking with Sid. I am experiencing his triumphs and failures. A strong character needs a well crafted plot and setting to do him or her justice. And Esi gives him that!

This is Edugyan's second novel. I want to read her first book now. Well ... not just yet. I am still hanging on to the second one for awhile longer.

Now You Can Have Your Book & Read It Too, Or Can You??

To read or not to read? To listen or no to listen? Many print books are audio books too. Is one format better for the mind than another?  


Sure, as a child I loved it when someone read to me. That is, until I learned to read. Being able to read gave me autonomy. The school library was a restaurant with an extensive menu. The sky was not the limit. I choose the books and the pace at which I read them. I could, if I wanted to, read two (or more) at a time. After that I read books on my own. Well, 99% of the time I did. I still remember Mr. Ford reading the The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe to our grade 4 class. Of course, Mr. Ford was had one of those voices that made you want to listen! I also remember listening to an recording of The Hobbit when I was in grade 7. It was very dramatic - complete with different voices and sound effects. But other than that ... I do not recall any other listenings.


Recently, however, I have been listening to audio books, and enjoying the experience. Audio books are perfect for long road trips or working out on the treadmill. Like print books, not all audio books are equal. Some are quite bad. Sometimes I cannot tell if it's the story or the voice that is reading the book that turns me off. Once an audio book turns me off though, that's it. I do not go back and listen to it again. I know for certain that the the reader's voice has to be just right or I cannot bear to listen to the story! One of my favourites, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, is good in print and in audio format. The reader (in the Audible version) is marvellous. I could listen to him read all day! And I have.


Audio books have become a guilty pleasure. Why a guilty pleasure you ask? 1) I enjoy the experience (if the reader is right) - so that's the "pleasure" part. 2) Yet, I feel guilty too--like I shouldn't be doing it. I feel lazy when I let someone else do the reading for me. It's like that person is doing all the heavy lifting and I am just sitting there watching him work. Then I worry about my mind turning to mush. Does someone else reading for you turn your mind to mush? Does it matter? I am not sure. I haven't stopped listening to "good" audio books; I just continue to worry.