I recently discovered that my friend Mary, when one book ends, makes a few days pass before you start another - she wants to give the last reading a little more breath, before it is suffocated by the next one. It is a sensible thing, and it seems to me an absolutely commendable line of behavior. We who read neurotically, however - to avoid boredom and fear of ignorance and our imminent death - we cannot afford to do so.
In "Shakespeare Wrote for Money," Nick Hornby reflects on his friend Mary's reading habits, highlighting her approach of pausing between books. She allows time for the impact of the last story to linger before diving into the next one, which he finds commendable and a thoughtful practice. This intentional break lets readers savor their experiences, ensuring that the significance of the previous book is not overshadowed by the next.
In contrast, Hornby reveals that he and others like him read compulsively, driven by a sense of urgency to avoid boredom and the fear of missing out on knowledge. This anxiety about life slipping away leads them to continuously consume literature without breaks. While Mary offers a reflective pause, Hornby embodies for many readers the frantic pace that modern life encourages, where the joy of reading can sometimes be lost in the race to read more.