Interesting, but not entertaining

I am reading this book. A most interesting book. But, it has to be said, not an entertaining book.

It is a book I am fascinated with. The work that went into it is superhuman, I am in awe of the author and all that they have put in it. I wish I could just read this book and be done with it, but I can’t. If I spend too much time reading it I fall asleep, despite my fascination with it.

That happens because it is an intellectual exercise. I need to focus my mind to read it, it does not just flow through me making me want to see what happens next, or being written in a way that is just so enjoyable that I cannot wait to pick it up.

I am fascinated by this book, and I am sure I will finish it at some point, I just find it amusing, how, to be able to go on reading it I need to combine it with some other more readable books.

This gap in readability became really obvious to me when I finished another book I was reading in parallel to this one, and I was toying with the idea of not starting any other, just forcing myself to focus on this one to finish it once and for all.

But then … I woke up on Sunday, made my coffee and was thinking about my morning read, and was confronted with the idea of that heavy, demanding book. I told myself no, no, no I need something entertaining.

I have in my library many books, many books by the same authors, and some by authors that I never read and I just pick up because something about them draws me in. The blurb, the descriptions, the cover, can be anything.

So, the book I picked up is by Peter Swanson, Every Vow You Break, I never read anything by him before, but judging by this book I think I most definitely will.

The book captured my attention from the beginning, which was so nice. Often I need to read a bit before the story can draw me in, but this one didn’t and so far I am enjoying it a lot. Feels like a tall glass of cold water on a hot day! Gulp, gulp, gulp!

This made me realize even more the difference between interesting books and entertaining books. An entertaining book you read because it brings you instant joy, an interesting book you read because it brings you the joy of discovery, an intellectual kind of joy that you need to work for.

I think both are hugely important and valuable, and I am so happy and grateful that I can have them all as my companions.

Sometimes I wonder if I am not dragging the interesting book on purpose, so it does not end, because when it ends that will be it, I will not longer be able to immerse myself into its world having to work hard at building it in my imagination.

Who knows, the human mind is such an intricate thing!

Wouldn’t it be great if my book was interesting and entertaining? I would love it if I were able to do that, to make it like that …