I thought it was really interesting that two blog posts today were about the immersive (I think I just made up a word) world of fiction. The Living Notebook writes about Absorption today, about fiction that “brings us further into [a] dream, overwhelming our senses until the dream seems real.”
And over on popcorn, Karen McHegg discusses books that “create a world different from the one [she] lives in.” You can read about those books here.
It made me think: which books have most absorbed me in recent years? My first thought was Emma Donoghue’s brilliant novel Room. I also felt immersed in the strange world of Karen Russel’s Swamplandia and the more-real-yet-also-quite-strange one of Ann Patchett’s State of Wonder.
Which books have absorbed you lately? Head on over to popcorn and tell Karen McHegg.
And me? Today I’m immersed in three-year-old land. L. had a touch of pinkeye, and I knew I’d get the stink eye if I sent him to school.
Onward,
Susie
I loved Room and State of Wonder… totally immersed me. Swamplandia is on my Kindle…
I’ll be curious what you think of Swamplandia. What others have enveloped you?
Susie–Thanks for adding to the list. I had a hard time being absorbed into Swamplandia, but I’ll add Room to my list. (Hope the pink eye clears up quickly!)
Hi Karen, Swamplandia rubbed so many people the wrong way. I have friends who loathed that book. I read it in close to one sitting and was just riveted, but I’m learning I was not joined by many friends in that. Room is the best novel I’ve read in years.