Today I picked up what is no doubt a perfectly good book. I got about five pages in before the narrator was waking across an iconic area and I was immediately catapulted right back to grad school, waking across the plaza being sad or afraid or lonely or all of those at once. I just couldn't read it even after all this time. Even though it's long gone, even though I'm happy and warm and living a rich life full of friends.
It's like the reverse of Proust's madeleine.
It's a good plan to avoid triggers for your old traumas!
ReplyDeleteOMG Nicky, it was so amazingly evocative. NOPE
DeleteI recently tried to read what appeared to be a very good book but it was so reminiscent of a personal loss that I cried all the through the first half. I decided it wasn't worth it. I wish I had abandoned it 5 pages in! I applaud you!
ReplyDeleteBeinecke plaza: forget it! Feels like being outside alone at 9:30 PM and the shuttle bus just isn't coming! Feels like being cold and alone!! Nope!
DeleteShel Silverstone once famously said it was easier to write for adults than kids because kids would just NOT READ a book they didn't like and I have tried to embrace my inner child in this regard.
Ohh I had one of these. I can't even remember what it was but I noped out of there so fast. I had the same reaction to watching Onward, too. Nopity nope! Just walking away.
ReplyDeleteOh boy! I finally just found a new therapist and when she was like what's something you want from me and I'm like processing all the trauma from grad school I mostly blocked out.
ReplyDeleteMy sympathies. I'm not sure it ever goes all the way away, but it's a lot better than in 2008, the last time I walked across that plaza. I still want to murder people who try to steamroller me though.
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