There are issues, Bookworm Problems, if you will, that can cause all manner of mischief in our “quiet” lives. What’s a nice book-loving person to do? Well, I’ve been a bookish type for a very long time, my friends, and I have 3 tricks for bookworms that I think might help in the following scenarios. (Bookworm Problems 1-3 can be found here.)
Bookworm problem: you’re holding a grudge
I remember my father rolling his eyes at me. “It’s just a story,” he might say, which would frustrate me to no end. Didn’t he have friends? Didn’t he worry about those friends and get upset if something bad happened to them? Well, these were my book friends and some evil author had arbitrarily wrecked their lives or even ENDED THEIR LIVES! I was distraught with good reason. Other bookworm friends and I would quietly (or in our most dramatic voices) wail over the loss.
My daughter pointed out to me the other day that there are characters that she doesn’t get upset about dying because she could tell from the beginning their only purpose in the story was to upset everyone with their unjust death. She did not attach herself because she knew goodbye was inevitable. But what about the beloved characters in Harry Potter, or the Hunger Games, or . . . please don’t tell me you’re a fan of Maze Runner! Good grief! If so, your heart may be in shreds. In such a series, it feels as though the author was intentionally killing people off to get a reaction out of us. And, they were. In certain genres, lots of people die.
Now, I write books and sadly, just like in real life, people die. My husband came home one day and asked how my day was and all I could do was complain about my frustrating characters. He reminded me that I was the author. I should just make them do what I wanted them to do. But I’m not that kind of author, my characters seem to possess their own free will.
Tricks for Bookworms #1–take your temperature
I guess the trick is as both an author and/or a reader to kinda recognize where you are emotionally–maybe even spiritually. Can you handle the type of story you are investing in? Maybe as readers we should beware certain genres when we are particularly vulnerable. Since I deal with depression and anxiety on a daily basis I have to monitor what I am reading. I take little breaks from different genres and switch it up with some cheesy romance or predictable mystery when I’m feeling down. It can act like a reset button.
But I’ll admit it. The best part of reading is the emotional roller-coaster. After all, my best friend is still mad at me for “killing off” her favorite character. (Like I said, sometimes people die. And it was the first novel I finished writing, so I might have been looking for a reaction.) I guess it can be satisfying to be angry at the author.
Bookworm problem: you might be a bit dramatic
This probably goes without saying, but most people think of bookworms as quiet librarians who sit silently turning pages. They think of us as shy, perhaps smart, but incapable of expressing emotions. (These are people who have never discussed authors we are angry at with us.) But the truth is, even my quietest, most introverted child is loud and dramatic about the plights of her favorite characters. She rages over poor decisions, unjust deaths, and hateful antagonists.
Since she is shy, I will not share her name, but I imagine her teachers saying something like, “________, loud? I can’t believe it!” Believe it, buster! All of us get loud and dramatic about whatever our characters are going through. We are connected to them, and honestly, I must return to this again, it’s not just a story.
Tricks for Bookworms #2–use storylines to explore feelings with family & friends
We recognize ourselves in the pages of the books we love. We see our own struggles, though our circumstances are different. (I sincerely HOPE your circumstances are not the same as those of Tobias in Divergent). We may make ourselves a wee bit scary when we express our somewhat violent feelings, but maybe if we tone it down slightly, we will find that what we are upset about has to do with something going on in our own lives.
The other day, when everyone was supposed to be getting ready to run out the door for karate, my daughters and I had a huge heart-to-heart about some choices that characters were making–because my daughters saw their friends making the same choices. It scared my daughters, they weren’t sure how to react. I’m glad they felt comfortable talking about fictional characters problems so we could also discuss real problems, namely, how to love and support your friends even when you don’t agree with everything they do. (Here’s a hint, if it’s legal and not hurting anyone, you can express your opinion, why you feel that way, and still show unconditional love. Tricky, but worthwhile. It doesn’t get easier when you’re an adult).
Bookworm problem: you discover you’re impatient
I would like to say that I have mastered this issue. But I haven’t. I loved the first two books in The Traitor’s Game. Waiting for number three due out spring 2020. Loved Nevermoor, can’t wait to read Wundersmith as soon as I can get it (update, it’s out now!), but there are three more after that she hasn’t even written yet. Is Jessica Townsend trying to kill me?
I know you know what I mean and that you have been here. You’re longing, you’re yearning, you’re waiting. And Netflix is no help since every series has less and less episodes, right?
Tricks for Bookworms #3–develop a long-term perspective
Here’s the funny part. Well, kinda funny. I now get it. It takes time to write books. Some authors are speedy, some are not. Would any of us want J.K. Rowling rushed when she was untangling a mess she had as she rewrote Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire? Certainly not! That series hinges on book 4. I’m grateful they pushed back the publication date to maintain the integrity of the work!
I am currently working through a series and I’m feeling a bit of that reader impatience. While I’m editing book three (update, it’s out now and you can start at book 1 for free!), I’m also outlining the next trilogy in the series. You see, I’ve already written the last book in the series and part of me just wants to hurry up and jump ahead there–but really, do I want to miss out on the adventures between here and there?
What if stressing about things we don’t have right away, we savor what we do have, enjoy the anticipation, take the time to discover new authors and different stories. Good glory! Since independent publishing became so popular there are literally millions of books in the English language to choose from on Amazon alone. And experts are predicting that AI will make translation so inexpensive and convenient that we will have millions of new titles very soon. Imagine that!
Wrapping things up
So, in conclusion, these pesky annoyances need not deter us from reading or enjoying our lives. They can actually be part of the fun. Now, it is very possible that most “normal” non-bookworm people won’t understand our brand of bookish fun, but that’s a whole different bookworm problem blog. And I’m sure I can dig up some more tricks for bookworms. Hmmm, we’ll have to see. Till then, have fun reading! And let me know what I should add to my TBR stack.
About JacQueline
As the author of The Journey series, a young adult fantasy retelling Rapunzel’s misadventures, JacQueline also wrote Memoirs of a Headcase: Held by the God of Hope, to share hope in the battle against chronic pain and depression. Currently she lives in North Alabama with her karate husband and three book-crazy kids. All opinions expressed on this website come from her own experience. Do not substitute it for professional therapy or medical advice. Any affiliate links used on this website will provide additional income to JacQueline’s family at no additional cost to you.
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