On the challenges and joys of resting.
This week every year, like clockwork, I get sick.
I don't even know what day it is right now. The calendar says it's Saturday but my body's all thrown off. All things considered, it's a decent time for it. I mean, it's not ideal...but it could certainly be worse. The world seems to collectively take a break between Christmas and New Year's, anyway. So, my plan for the week is to rest. More specifically, it's to read unapologetically. That's how I finally wound up reading Memoirs Of An Imaginary Friend by Matthew Dicks.
I've read 15 books so far this year. Since I have the time, I'm trying to squeeze in one or two more books before the end of the year, if I can—last year I read 26. I might be resting but I'm also competitive, which I've now realized is part of the problem.
Whoops.
I... well... if reading's the vice I'm choosing to indulge here, I think I'm inclined to let it continue. Lucky for me, I've got shelves at the ready and a special stack of shortlisted titles to read next.
I first discovered Matthew Dicks from his many notable stories told at Moth StorySLAMs. Then I found his Ted Talk on his "homework for life" practice to help his storytelling. Soon after, I bought his non-fiction book Storyworthy. I've become a big fan of his and, still, I was skeptical when I first came across his novel Memoirs Of An Imaginary Friend.
An imaginary friend must save an eight-year-old child on the autism spectrum who's been kidnapped. The description goes on to talk about a story told through the eyes of a kid's imaginary friend, yet the book was blurbed by Jodi Picoult. Which I found to be... odd.
Matthew can tell a hell of a story. This one had great ratings and lots of reviews. So I gave it a shot because of one very crucial puzzle piece: trust.
Once I started reading, I couldn't put it down.
Our Daily MAP Year Prompt
118/365
Who's someone whose work you found accidentally that quickly became one of your favorites?
onward.
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