I read for many reasons and yes, sometimes it’s for a bit of escapism. I usually turn to fiction (mysteries, in particular) but today I actually had to put my book away and go read something totally different.
I’m very close to finishing After The Quake by Haruki Murakami but after being glued to NPR all day and hearing about the tragedy in Haiti, I feel like this is just too close for me. The book doesn’t necessarily go into details of the devastation of that particular earthquake that hit Japan in 1995 but still it’s in the background and well I just couldn’t read about that today.
Anyway my thoughts for healing go to the people and in case anyone wants more info on how to help, here’s a great link.
10 Comments
My husband and I were just sitting here talking about Haiti 2 minutes ago. (Now we are talking about the Anaconda found in a small town near Orlando.) Why is is that the poorest countries get hit with the acts of God? Everything is stacked against them…they are an island, they are poor, they don’t have the infrastructure to deal with this. We have a sister parish there, so I am sure we will be sending aid. It is so hard to watch.
Such an awful thing to happen. Is it me, or are earthquakes on the rise?
It’s good that you stayed away from the short stories. Go back to it when you feel it’s time.
Vivienne – Check History or Discovery channel, if you have it or some equivalent channel in the UK. After a disaster like this, there are usually some documentaries talking about earthquakes and such. You might find the answer to your good question.
Haiti is a tragedy. And this after all those hurricanes a few years ago. I understand why you put the book down for a while.
Haiti is such a tragedy. Hurricanes and earthquakes are going to be more frequent in the coming years. Climate change,etc. is having an effect on the planet now. Its very disheartening.
I’m all about escapism…we all need it once in a while.
I can see that that would be a hard book to read right now. It’s so hard to try to understand what has happened in Haiti; it’s such a tragedy.
Sandy – Right now I’m so glad I don’t have a t.v. Just reading about all of that makes my heart ache. Yea, just makes you question so much doesn’t it? I’m just glad that it seems that aid is being organized and sent out.
vivienne – I don’t know about earthquakes but here in Texas there are a lot of tornadoes and I remember several years ago there definitely seemed to be a season for tornadoes and now it seems like they happen throughout the year. So I wouldn’t doubt it if hurricanes and earthquakes are also developing more.
Isabel – I’ll go back to it maybe next week. I do want to finish the book for the Japanese challenge but right now it was just too much. Good call on the History or Discovery channel. Maybe they even have some info online!
Stefanie – I know, it’s like can’t they get a break! So sad.
Serena – I’ve definitely needed some escapism and unfortunately all of my reads are leaving me a bit wanting right now. Maybe I should just pick up a magazine!
Dorothy W. – I know, you try to make some sense of it but you just can’t. Especially when you start hearing about individual and their stories and it’s just heartbreaking.
I understand that need to sometimes put something to the side when it hits a little too close to home. It is a terribly tragedy in Haiti but I am glad to see the outpouring of support and help. Have you read the talk about Pat Robertson (700 Club) saying on his show the other day that “the deadly Haitian earthquake that is believed to have killed thousands of people is God’s vengeance for a “pact” Haitians swore to the Devil”? Sadly, misguided man. Fortunately there are so many incredible people that won’t buy into that malarky.;)
I often can’t read contemporary books when the subject is too fresh either. It’s horrible what happened in Haiti–I hope that relief reaches the island soon. It’s almost unbearable to watch the news.
I started to read Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer shortly after my daughter was born. It was a great read and very compelling..But I had to put it down as the subject matter was far too intense for me at the time. There was a scene in which a man is trying to find formula for his baby (in a time when stores are running out of everything) and the thought of a starving baby just hit me much, much too hard at the time. I can totally understand that sometimes the reality of a situation and a book collide in ways that we can’t anticipate. Save it for another day I say.