News

Are They Really Your Friends if They Don’t Read Your Work?

In the months before my first volume of stories was published, I was very excited. Finally, people will read my work! Mine friend will read it. The book came out and I had a publication given it by a wonderful cousin; My goddaughter oversaw the sale of autographed books and everyone in the party bought one. It’s everything I imagined! I was delighted.

A week later, I’m looking at stacks of old books in Bookstore of housing projects in New York City. There is my book, in perfect condition, between Marc and Markson. I had a heart-pounding moment of shock. I slide it out and open to the title page. Has my signature along with the name of the “friend” who bought the book at my party. The fact that she didn’t read it was disappointing enough, but she couldn’t even force herself to read it. keep it’s a knife in my heart.

A friend is only really a friend if they support your work, and supporting it means reading it, right? Not too fast. If I kept that attitude, I would have far fewer friends and they would all be colleagues. However, when I find out a friend hasn’t read any of my books, I’m always a bit shocked: I can’t help but believe that just because they don’t care about my work means they don’t care about me. . But I also know that there are some extenuating reasons for a friend not reading my work.

Hard to believe, but some people don’t like reading. They love that you’ve achieved your goals and are passionate about your work, but the idea of ​​reading your book scares them away. If they don’t read any books, they won’t read yours. A non-reading friend whose wife enjoyed my second collection made a great and much appreciated effort. He read the first story in the book, thought about it, and came up with a question to ask me. I understand that he won’t read any more and that’s okay. I love that gesture. Is he my friend? Yes, and maybe even more for his effort.

A friend of mine who is an avid fan of sci-fi novels has also not read my book. If I were to write an anthology of science fiction, she would gobble it up because all science fiction is what she reads. Same goes for my friend who is only interested in biographies, and another who loves silly romance. Sure, they can skip their favorite genre for a few days and wallow in literary fiction, but their dance cards have a lot more compelling counterparts. Are they my friends? Sure.

I’m never too busy to read, but I know a lot of people are busy. Maybe they read one or two books a year and only read those when they’re on vacation. They bought my book, sure, but then forgot about it. If a book can’t be found on Hudson News at LaGuardia, it won’t be read and the last time you saw a story collection sharing space with People magazine? Do I like being ignored? Of course not, but I get it.

My aforementioned much-loved goddaughter hasn’t read my work in years because she’s afraid she won’t like it. While this isn’t a reason everyone admits, I think it’s a common one. I would forgive my goddaughter anything, so she doesn’t count, but what about the other friends who doubt my intelligence? What makes them think they won’t like my book? Why don’t they try? These people are not as good friends as I thought.

I think she won’t read my book because it’s not “important” enough.

A few months ago, during a coffee outing, a friend enthusiastically talked about the books she was reading. She reads a lot, and the books are usually high-profile literary fiction. She had just finished an award-winning novel and was wondering what she should read next. “What about my book?” I said and received the darkest look I’ve ever received. “I’ll have to get it,” she said somberly, as if she were going to have to climb a mountain to find a bookstore. I can’t say for sure because I haven’t asked her, but I think she won’t read my book because it’s not “important” enough. Is this woman really my friend? Oh no.

Now my third volume of stories is being published. I no longer believe that all my friends will read it. I understand more these days. But a friend who doesn’t read my work for whatever reason will always be a pebble in my shoe.

Louise Marburg is the author of three collections of short stories including YOU HAVE BEEN TO MY LOCATIONwas published in November with Eastover Press and is the winner of the Eastover Prize for Fiction.



Source by [author_name]

news7h

News7h: Update the world's latest breaking news online of the day, breaking news, politics, society today, international mainstream news .Updated news 24/7: Entertainment, Sports...at the World everyday world. Hot news, images, video clips that are updated quickly and reliably

Related Articles

Back to top button
Immediate Peak