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Doorways to Another World

Earlier this week (on Monday actually), I walked through a doorway that led me to Paris in the 1920s. I walked through the pages of a story about the life of Hadley Richardson Hemingway. I walked into her world and saw things through her eyes (or rather Paula McLain's thoughts). I walked through a doorway and escaped into a world so very different than my own. And that is part of why I love reading so very much. I have said it before and will say it again and again. But I love the escape that reading becomes. I love the fact that I can explore and experience so many things just by curling up in a comfy chair with a well-written book. I love that I can crawl into the life of Hadley Richardson Hemingway or countless other real people or fictional characters. And I love that there are authors who are so willing to make that possible.

Paula McLain definitely did a great job of creating a story and a world that I could crawl into. Her book, The Paris Wife, was one that I didn't want to leave when it was time for me to sleep or work or clean. It was a world that I wanted to explore more than what she had on paper. And maybe one day I will find a way to explore it more. Ms. McLain had a great way of maintaining the voice of the story, Hadley's voice. There wasn't one moment where I thought that she left Hadley behind or that she made the voice of the story change. It was Hadley the whole way through and at times I really thought it was a true story and actually written by Hadley herself. It was an engaging, beautiful, heartbreaking story. I don't want to spoil it for anyone who hasn't read it yet. But it really was so very good. The only uncomfortable part was the bits that talked about Ernest and Hadley's sexual life. I don't like books that have that sort of stuff included and so that wasn't enjoyable for me. But overall, the book was wonderful and one that I will read again one day.

One of my favorite parts (and what really got me hooked) is as follows:

"I didn't learn to swim, didn't run and play in the park as my friends did. I read books instead, tucked into the window seat in the parlor, surrounded by swirls of stained glass and claret-colored drapes. And after a time, I stopped struggling even internally against the prescribed quietness. Books could be an incredible adventure. I stayed under my blanket and barely moved, and no one would have guessed how my mind raced and my heart soared with stories. I could fall into any world and go without notice... (pg. 26)"

After that, it was so hard to put the book down. I wanted to fall into her world just like she would fall into worlds as she read. And so... I did. It took me two short days to finish the book. And it was wonderful.

Comments

  1. Cedar Creek PTAApril 17, 2013 at 2:37 PM

    What a great quote. I really enjoyed The Paris Wife too, so much so that I went out and bought A Moveable Feast.

    ReplyDelete

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