The End and nothing more

Dear Reader,

Things become much more precious to us when we know that they will soon end. While I believe this statement to be true, I’m also just being over-dramatic as I am referring only to a book I just read. I love audiobooks. One year I listened to over 100 because I had a habit of listening to audiobooks on long walks as well as listening to audiobooks while at my mindless library job. During this audiobook phase (roughly 2018) I explored a range of genres in both fiction and non-, but at the end of the day I would always revert back to my favorite genre, broadly–the thriller. 

While I’m not a fan of horror, detectives, or action novels, I very much enjoy thrillers that are “psychological” in nature. Good examples of this sub-genre would be “Gone Girl” by Gillian Flynn, “The Girl on the Train” by Paula Hawkins, “The Couple Next Door” by Shari Lapena or even (if you’ve heard of it) “Dead Letters” by Caite Dolan-Leach. These books all have women as protagonists and deal with personal relationships as well as some sort of crime or tragic event (this description could sum up my favorite “sub- sub-genre”). If you like any of the books I just named, I would recommend to you the book I finished today “The Favorite Daughter” by Kaira Rouda.

I’m a chain listener. Whenever I am nearing the end of an audiobook, I am quick to reserve the next one (many libraries have FREE electronic apps to listen to books on your phone!). If I cannot find a book quickly enough, I force myself to slow down and listen to the book at shorter intervals until I can find an immediate “next read.” Even if I do have another book lined up, if I’m listening to a particularly good book, I will sometimes try to make it drag out just because I don’t want it to end so soon. There is something so satisfying about reading something you love. Yet, unfortunately, you can never read the thing you love for the first time twice. 

For me, because I do listen to so many audiobooks (probably closer to 25-30 a year now), it is a uniquely good experience to read something that is newly captivating. Much of what I read is entertaining enough, but sometimes too predictable. Now when a new, interesting book comes along, it makes me want to savor it all and remember the words and lines that resonated with me most. And you, Dear Reader, I am sure you are a reader of many things. I hope you too continue to find those strings of curious words that speak most deeply to you.

Love,

Raven