Ode to Great Books

When I love a book, when I crave the story as much as water, I dig myself deeper into the chair, pull my knees to my chest and throw my head back and laugh. Or tremble with excitement or exclaim: "Holy shit!" I lose all sense of control, really, as I'm transported beyond the pages and into the adventures of someone else. 

I watched Esme react exactly this way when she came to the end of the Harry Potter series. She curled into a ball in her chair, overcome with anticipation and the need - the compulsion! - to learn how it all ended. 

This morning, I found Desmond cackling like a madman in the front room as he raced toward the end of "The Mysterious Benedict Society." He could not contain his joy. It made his feet move, his body dance. If he was a comic character, multi-colored sparks would have flown from his head. 

It was awesome to behold.

Comments

[Lea R.]

I.
Love.
This.

[Husband of the Goddess]

"cackling like a madman" captures the joy, and the boy, perfectly.