I recently began reading Far from the Madding Crowd on my Kindle. I am so glad I am finally getting around to reading Hardy. Why did I wait so long? Please don’t answer that.
Anyway, after work today on the train I was reading and Oak, the main character thus far, was playing Peeping Tom, watching an older woman and a young lady he had just seen for the first time earlier that day feed a cow and take care of her new calf. The hour was late, somewhere around 1 a.m. by the stars Hardy tells us. The young lady yawns (but not in an inappropriately large way, she does have manners) and Oak, peeping through the gap in the barn boards is overwhelmed and suddenly yawns too. And I, reading the book, found myself attacked by a yawn.
Has this ever happened to you before? You are made to yawn by a character in the book yawning?
Or what about when a character is really thirsty, have you ever suddenly found yourself thirsty too? Of hungry? Books make me hungry all the time and there doesn’t even have to be a description of a great meal that makes my mouth water. I am currently reading The Memory Garden and there is an amazing dinner scene. I was doing fine, until they had blueberry sorbet. Oh that sounded good, give me a some please! I could even taste it and feel the cold in mouth even though the author didn’t spend any time actually describing it. But what has really gotten me is the chocolate cake that was mentioned a couple times. I was struck by a sudden craving. I came really close to asking Bookman if he would make one.
Other times while reading I have felt hot or cold or found myself squinting along with the character in an imagined bright sun. And of course tears. There have also been tears springing to my eyes as quickly as they spring to the eyes of the character in the book.
Being so affected probably has something to do with an active imagination and mirror neurons. When you see someone pick up a cup, for instance, mirror neurons supposedly fire in your brain in the same areas that would go to work if you were actually picking up the cup yourself. I’m wondering if I start reading books in which people get lots of exercise whether that means I am exercising too? Wouldn’t that be nice? Reading about someone running a marathon does not equal me actually running one. Very much wishful thinking but you can’t blame a girl for trying.
That is not so unusual I think. I cry all the time when I read emotional scenes in books, and some scenes in “The Rats” by James Herbert have made me really uncomfortable. I almost looked under the bed to see if there were any rats there.
I remember watching Chocolat (the movie with Johnny Depp and Juliette Binoche) and suddenly had a craving for chocolate covered food.
Bookman bakes? You lucky girl. 😉
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Delia, you comment has given me a craving for chocolate covered food! 🙂 Oh yes, Bookman bakes. He actually does all the cooking so I am indeed a very lucky girl!
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It only seems to happen to me when chocolate is involved. I seem to be able to tune out easily when exercise is involved.
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The mirror neurons seem to kick off when temperatures are involved – I feel the cold or the heat quite easily through reading. With the rest I tend to think that is to do with the skill of the author.
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Ian how interesting! I tend to feel the heat and cold too which means in the middle of winter a book with a warm setting is almost as good as a cup of hot chocolate.
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BookerTalk, heh, craving chocolate is never a bad thing in my opinion unless there is no chocolate around to fill the void!
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I’m going to have to look out for this while reading, I’m sure it’s a mixture of good writing and great imagination!
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Cathy, perhaps you are right about the combination. If you note anything of particular interest in your future observations, you’ll have to let us know!
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Many a scene of cooking or dining has made my mouth water! I’d love it if reading about exercising would work, but they have proven that visualizing certain activities can have an effect on muscles. Sports medicine makes use of the technique; I think I’ll go see if I can visualize some arm strength…
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jenclair, heh, I’d like to visualize more arm strength too! Sadly, thinking about it doesn’t seem to translate into reality, or at least not enough to make a difference so I’ll keep struggling with pushups and weights.
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I can’t recall any specific times when I mirrored what a character is thinking, eating or drinking…or yawning, but I may not have been paying enough attention to notice. Now, of course, I’ll be looking out for it.
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Grad, yes, be on the lookout now. It might happen more often that you realize!
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I always liked the idea that if you thought very hard about exercise, it made you ever so slightly fitter…. about the most likely kind of exercise I’ll take. You are clearly a sensitive soul, Stefanie, and deeply attuned to literature!
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litlove, I don;t mind hard exercise if it something I enjoy doing like biking or hiking or gardening, but there are definite times when I wish I could just imagine myself doing it instead of actually doing it. Just like I wish I could imagine away the extra calories from eating a big piece of chocolate cake! 🙂 I don;t know about sensitive soul, more likely an overactive imagination!
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It all makes sense, and would work. If you read enough of people eating big meals, then you should feel full. That means you won’t be actually eating that much. And if you don’t eat that much, then you don’t need as much exercise to shed those calories, therefore, just reading people exercising may be enough. A full circle, thanks to empathy. BTW, I’m reading FFTMC too, in preparation for the upcoming new film adaptation. But holding a real book. 😉
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Arti, I like your line of thinking! Oh how fun you are reading Far from the Madding Crowd too! I didn’t remember that there is going to be a film adaptation.
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Coming out in 2015, yes, it might take me that long to finish the book. With my fave Carey Mulligan as Bathsheba. Screenplay by David Nicholls. Here’s the info on IMDb.
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Interesting observations! I’ve certainly had this experience too — I think it’s part of the power of being an engaged reader, building that empathy via virtual experience.
And now I really want to read Far From the Madding Crowd again!
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Melwyk, “the power of being an engaged reader” makes me feel like I should have a cape and a mask. I wonder if the Avengers have an opening? 😉
I am very much enjoying the Hardy. There are so many priceless descriptions and little bits of humor I did not expect given how everyone always mentions how depressing Hardy is.
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Reading about you reading about yawning made me yawn.
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Jeanne, oh, that made me laugh! 😀
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I’m with Jeanne. I had trouble stifling a yawn when reading your reaction to reading about a yawn, though I don’t ever recollect that happening before. I have however many times felt hungry when reading – though I can’t identify particular books or dishes. I guess it had depended on my mood at the time.
You made me laugh with your exercise idea.
Oh, and I think everyone else has been more polite than I have but I will say, Why haven’t you read Hardy before!
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whisperinggums, heh, oh the power of suggestion! 😉
I hang my head over not ever reading Hardy before. I’ve been meaning too, but, but, but… *sigh*
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Still, you’ve done it now – and that’s a very good thing!
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