When That Book Finds You

 

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I love to read. I’ve liked stories from a very young age. My mom would play audiobooks for me, and I’d listen to them over and over until I memorized every word. Later on, I learned to read, and a new world opened up to me. I fell in love with words. Every Saturday morning, my dad would go to the newsstand, and he’d bring me comic books: Little Lulu, Archie, and the original Mexican series Memín Pinguín (a bitter-sweet story of a poor Afro-Mexican boy, that today would’ve probably been diagnosed with ADHD, in Mexico City – really, Dad?).

Anyway, I didn’t love reading comic books exclusively I was crazy about all kinds of books. The Choose Your Own Adventure series and the Hawkeye Collins and Amy Adams novels were my favorite. Then I discovered poetry through my brothers’ literature books from Middle School; I couldn’t get enough of it. When my parents went out on their routinely date night, I would stay up reading until my eyelids closed involuntarily.

In my teenage years, I continued reading books but mainly for school. Some books I liked, others I didn’t, some I’d get the abridged version or others I didn’t even open them and when I had to write a book report I’d convinced my nerdy friend to give me her “abridged version” (this was our Google, back in the day – sorry, Mom). Until it found me: that book. I’ve fallen in love with words and stories before, but this was different. It was finding the one. That book that you rush home to read. That book that makes you stay up late. That book that you daydream about. That book that you can read over and over and every time you read a different version. That book that makes you want to become a writer. That book that changes your life: Niebla, by Miguel de Unamuno,was mine (translated into English as Mist). A little dark and melancholic, but so original and fascinating. As I am writing this, I realize that I haven’t read it in a long time and that I don’t even have a copy here in Los Angeles. I wonder if I were to read it now what would my experience be?

After that, other books came and left a mark, some broke my heart, others made evoke a particular time in my life, some characters exasperated me, others inspired me. Sometimes I am so immerse in a story, that I miss certain characters after I finish it: Lisbeth Salander and Theo Decker, from The Millenium Trilogy and The Goldfinch, respectively. Sigh. I started mourning them as soon as I finished reading the last page.

As you will read in my future posts, I enjoy reading almost every genre. Chick-lit, as they call it brought me back into reading when I had a “drought” after having my babies – times when your friends talk about books and you cannot imagine reading more than two sentences before falling asleep or when you’re so mentally drained that all you can do with your free time is watch reruns on TV. More about this soon.

I am curious to know about your experience. Has that book found you yet? Have you read it lately? I’d love to know. Keep me posted.

,

Marcela

18 responses to “When That Book Finds You”

  1. Milena Allier Avatar
    Milena Allier

    Amo como escribes, como te describes y es como si te tuviera aquí, cerca de mí y te pudiera abrazar. Creo que al final encontraste tu pasión y es esta. Te adoro!!

    1. mycupoftea Avatar
      mycupoftea

      Gracias por SIEMPRE apoyarme. ¡Te quiero muchísimo!

  2. Carla Huitron Avatar
    Carla Huitron

    Me encantan tus blogs!! Y si he tenido muchos de esos libros! ?

    1. mycupoftea Avatar
      mycupoftea

      ¡Mil gracias! Me hace muy feliz saber que te gusta.

  3. Ana Avatar
    Ana

    Me encanto!! Y si es cierto esto es lo tuyo mi Marc, que padre que lo encontraste!! Ya soy tu fan! Te quiero mucho, mucho!!!

    1. mycupoftea Avatar
      mycupoftea

      Yo a ti. ¡¡¡¡Mil gracias por tus porras!!!! Te quiero mucho yo también.

  4. Priscila Avatar
    Priscila

    Siiii justo tengo “ese libro” q me abrió a la pasión por leer, el q hizo un parteaguas entre la lectura obligada de la escuela y la maravilla de leer. Y es por eso que le estoy muy agradecida, así como a quién me lo regalo. (Gracias Jules). Marce no dejes de hacernos tu recomendaciones literarias, me va a encantar leerlas!

    1. mycupoftea Avatar
      mycupoftea

      ¿Cuál es, Ga?
      ¡Tengo muchas recomendaciones! Ahora sí que “pochamente”: stay tuned!

  5. Nuria Avatar
    Nuria

    Me encanta Mars!!!! Es como estar platicando contigo. Oye y no leías el cómic de “Sal y Pumienta”? Era mi favorito! Felicidades y sigue compartiendo! Te adoro!!

    1. mycupoftea Avatar
      mycupoftea

      Me suena “Sal y Pimienta”, ¿salían en el periódico los sábados? Gracias, yo también te adoro!

  6. Cecilia Silva Avatar
    Cecilia Silva

    Marce, ¡qué gusto leerte y conocer más de ti! Escribes de una forma muy amena.
    Para mí “ese” libro fue “Memorias de una joven formal” de Simone de Beauvoir, que leí hace mucho tiempo atrás. Me dejaste pensando: no sé qué sensación me dejaría hoy si lo volviera a leer. No suelo releer.
    Te mando un abrazo y gracias por compartir.

  7. mycupoftea Avatar
    mycupoftea

    ¡Ceci! No lo he leído, lo voy a apuntar en mi lista.
    Gracias por escribirme y me da gusto estar conectadas por aquí.
    ¡Un abrazo!

  8. Kathia Molina Avatar
    Kathia Molina

    You made me go back in times with comic books specially memin pinguin, Mafalda y Calvin Hobbes eran mis favorites!! And for that book for me “The Fountainhead” and the Sexual Life of Catherine M shock me and teach me a lot ;).
    Atlas Shrugged , Cartas a un Joven Poeta de Rilke … Ya me voy a leer!!

    1. mycupoftea Avatar
      mycupoftea

      Kathia,
      Definitely reading those books since if there’s such thing as a book soul mate, you’re mine! We have the same taste in books.
      xo

  9. Priscila Avatar
    Priscila

    Marce: es el testamento de John Grisham, en su género vale mucho la pena. ¿Sabes que se está perdiendo la cultura de los comics? Ya no se encuentran en los puestos de revista. Es una lástima!

    1. mycupoftea Avatar
      mycupoftea

      Me gusta John Grisham, lo voy a leer. Gracias, Pía.

      ¡No me había dado cuenta de lo de los comics!

  10. Amanda Avatar
    Amanda

    Marce! Me encanta lo q escribes! A mí también me encanta leer desde chica, se lo aprendí a mi papa. Llevo 5 libros en el año, y ahorita no he encontrado nada q me interese. Q me recomiendas así como novela histórica o algo lindo? Necesito cosas stress free. Muchos besos!!

    1. mycupoftea Avatar
      mycupoftea

      ¡Gracias, Amanda! Voy a preparar un post con libros para el verano. ¡Besos!