Crisp air this morning. My breath steams out in clouds. And yet, the sun shines, and the sky is blueblueblue. Perfect autumn morning. Ahhhh.
Have you heard that Edinburgh book spaces are being gifted by a lovely artist? Someone is making book-and-paper sculptures and leaving them in libraries, book museums, and other public spaces — for the library staff and patrons. Poetrees, grammaphones, theaters, and more, these are fragile, exquisite, and look time-consuming… and they’re being freely given, and left around the city. Are they not beautiful? Surely, a whimsy-full world is a glorious thing.
Meanwhile, I’m in denial… I’ve answered yes to far more than four of the following questions…
– I have read fiction when I was depressed, or to cheer myself up.
– I have gone on reading binges of an entire book or more in a day.
– I read rapidly, often ‘gulping’ chapters.
– I have sometimes read early in the morning or before work.
– I have hidden books in different places to sneak a chapter without being seen.– Sometimes I avoid friends or family obligations in order to read novels.
– Sometimes I re-write film or television dialog as the characters speak.
– I am unable to enjoy myself with others unless there is a book nearby.
– At a party, I will often slip off unnoticed to read.
– Reading has made me seek haunts and companions which I would otherwise avoid.
– I have neglected personal hygiene or household chores until I have finished a novel.
– I have spent money meant for necessities on books instead.
– I have attempted to check out more library books than permitted.
– Most of my friends are heavy fiction readers.
– I have sometimes passed out from a night of heavy reading.
– I have suffered ‘blackouts’ or memory loss from a bout of reading.
– I have wept, become angry or irrational because of something I read.
– I have sometimes wished I did not read so much.
– Sometimes I think my reading is out of control.
…which means that yes, I am at high risk for Literature Abuse.
You, however, may need to read on to find help and support. There’s all kinds of information here, including What to do if you suspect your child is becoming an English major:
– Talk to your child in a loving way. Show your concern. Let her know you won’t abandon her — but that you aren’t spending a hundred grand to put her through Stanford so she can clerk at Waldenbooks, either. But remember that she may not be able to make a decision without help; perhaps she has just finished Madame Bovary and is dying of arsenic poisoning.
Well, you know. These things happen.
Though the social costs are high, I refuse to go into recovery…
I’m swooning over those paper sculptures. You just made my day.
And, yes, ummm, I abuse literature and I will never, ever, ever go on the wagon.
Hi, I’m Laura. And I’m a book addict. Hey, much worse things I could be.
Love that photo–I want to go back to Scotland!
Me: I put my name in for the Cybils again.
Ben and Mattie: Oh Mama, no! Don’t do it!
Poor neglected childrens.
HAHAHAHA! Oh, yeah. That’s some ADVANCED literature abuse there, chick.
As a child, there were times when adults came up to me and noted that I always had my nose in a book. They acted as if it were something pitiable. I thought (but did not say), “Leave me be. You have nothing better to offer me.” Believe me, had someone said, “Put down that book for a week or two and I’ll fund your travels to Greece,” I would have peeked over the spine of the book and said, “Tell me more.”
I’m proud to be at high risk for Literature Abuse. Social Costs, smocial costs.
fascinating about the paper sculpture gifts. I plead the Fifth on the Literature Abuse list.
Also guilty of almost everything on the Literature Abuse list. Oops.