Where Am I? When Am I?

I have been reading my way through winter. Sometimes the reading is by Audible books, which are great when my vision is less than stellar, the print is too small in the book, or my eyes are too tired. But the result is the same. I get to spend time in other places, with other people, and in other times.

As anyone who reads my blog, or who has more than a passing acquaintance with me, knows, I am a true Bookaholic.

My primary reading/listening for the past couple of weeks has been the re-read of the Brother Cadfael series by Ellis Peters. I have the complete series in book form, but the print in some of the books is very small. So I invested in one of the books from Audible, and enjoyed that format. Since I can't afford the whole series as recorded books right now, for the rest I have been reading despite the print size. This involves taking off my glasses, holding the book quite close to my face, and closing my left eye (its compromised central vision creates a blurring or double vision effect when reading small print). But despite this, I quickly get lost in the story and in the atmosphere created by the very talented author.

I have not, however, been reading only Brother Cadfael. I take breaks with other literature. I am listening to my thick biography of George Washington, and with him learning how the first government of the United States as a federal republic was worked out, and the great financial difficulties the Washingtons had gone through. With my granddaughter I am reading aloud a three-book alternate universe fantasy series by Shirley Rousseau Murphy on my Kindle. I also listen sometimes to the recording of one of the Outlander series books (author, Diana Gabaldon). I've read all the Outlander books, but, again, listening to the very well done recordings is a different experience.

When I have been deep into a book, and then must put it down/turn it off to do something else, I emerge for a moment a bit off-center. Making the transition back to 21st Century USA from 12th century England, or 18th century America, or the alternate universe of Nightpool, takes just a moment.

I know I can't be the only one who does this! To me this is the hallmark of a good writer--to transport the reader so thoroughly into another time and place that the reader emerges blinking in confusion to rejoin his/her own world.