Have you ever gotten so involved in a book,that you thought you were literally in that world? (Full Version)

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Samurai_of_God777 -> Have you ever gotten so involved in a book,that you thought you were literally in that world? (6/6/2009 7:34:40 PM)

It happened to me once.I was laying on my bed reading the Lord Of The Rings and it was taking place in Rohan(I think near the battle of Helm's deep) anyway,I see a light out of the corner of my eye and can't think of what it is,I actually thought it was a torch or something.Then i remembered where i was and it was a light on a garage.



Consecrated2God -> RE: Have you ever gotten so involved in a book,that you thought you were literally in that world? (6/6/2009 8:23:49 PM)

The most involved I've ever gotten was when I was reading "The Chronicles of the Kings" series by Lynn Austin. I caught myself about to make a prayer request for King Hezekiah at church one day.



PinkCarnations -> Have you ever gotten so involved in a book,that you thought you were literally in that world? (6/7/2009 11:26:09 AM)

I haven't gone as far as to think about making a prayer request in church, but I have found myself starting to pray for characters in books that I'm reading.



Random -> RE: Have you ever gotten so involved in a book,that you thought you were literally in that world? (6/7/2009 2:23:39 PM)

This happened to me when I read the Hungry Caterpillar.



betterisoneday -> RE: Have you ever gotten so involved in a book,that you thought you were literally in that world? (6/7/2009 3:19:36 PM)

Most people "don't" do this??? That happens to me with pretty much every book I read, even some theological/commentary books. I've never thought it odd. [&:]



cries-within -> RE: Have you ever gotten so involved in a book,that you thought you were literally in that world? (6/7/2009 10:50:56 PM)

of course isn't this part of the fun of reading... escaping your world... and unfolding theirs page by page word by word. :) Makes me think of one of my favorite all time movies.... and books... though sadly didn't get a chance to finish it. :*( Neverending Story
Another one.... was Willy Wonka and the Glass elevator... I was sure I could almost see those nasty knids just outside the glass elevator about to get them... LOL



uncabeeil -> RE: Have you ever gotten so involved in a book,that you thought you were literally in that world? (6/8/2009 10:16:03 AM)

The Thomas Covenant Chronicles (both trilogies) did that to me. The Illearth War was not a fun read the first time around.



Auben -> RE: Have you ever gotten so involved in a book,that you thought you were literally in that world? (6/8/2009 2:16:10 PM)

No, but I have read so hard that when I stopped at the end of the chapter I literally could not remember who I was, what my name was, what my life was like...nothing. Then I'd start to panic a bit. Once it even took me 10 minutes for it all to come back.

I've done that a few times.



E_Lin -> RE: Have you ever gotten so involved in a book,that you thought you were literally in that world? (6/9/2009 8:58:13 AM)

I never really find myself believing that I am inside the story of the book. But I do often get so wrapped up in what is going on that while reading, people have observed me acting out what I am reading. Such as dialogue, or facial expressions and body movements related to how the characters are behaving. I even catch myself doing this at times. It seems there is nothing I can do about my lips moving while reading...

I do tend to get wrapped up in my own little world while reading. Reading, for me, is playing the movie in my head. For every character in the book, I choose an actor or person who best fits the role. Then I imagine the performance as I am reading. Doing this tends to leave me focused only on the book, and oblivious to all else going on around me at the time. Not only do I have to concetrate on what I am reading, but I also have to "picture" in my minds eye what what the "actor" I have picked looks like, and is behaving given how the story is unfolding.

Not to mention if I have to go an extended period of time between reading a series. Then I have to go to the trouble of remembering who was "playing" all the book's characters' roles. What is even worse is when I get the character wrong. That really screws me up, when I have to "re-cast" a person.

So you see, I get all involved, but not so much that I think I am in the story. I only get so wrapped up that I think I am seeing the story, unfolding in my mind.

I wouldn't have it any other way...



sunshine4God -> RE: Have you ever gotten so involved in a book,that you thought you were literally in that world? (6/9/2009 9:02:04 AM)

Yup,It seems like books always do this to me.



ofa23 -> RE: Have you ever gotten so involved in a book,that you thought you were literally in that world? (6/10/2009 1:10:58 AM)

I was reading a novel in Borders bookstore and drinking coffee [:)] and I swear I lost all track off time and when I finally realized that I had been in the store for a very long time, it was 4 hours later. I also had tuned out all of the people and busyness of the store. I love a good novel! [:D]



MyCatSmokey2006 -> RE: Have you ever gotten so involved in a book,that you thought you were literally in that world? (6/10/2009 1:19:34 AM)

I get so lost in a book, that I lose all track of time, just like I do here in forums. I'd be reading and someone would try to talk to me, but it's like they're annoying background noise that I try to ignore, unless it's important.

I've read some novels by Terri Blackstock, Karen Kingsbury and Dee Henderson, where I felt like praying for the character. I have a hard time putting those books down! If it wasn't for my eyes getting blurry, I'd probably read all night.



doinkdom -> RE: Have you ever gotten so involved in a book,that you thought you were literally in that world? (6/10/2009 2:21:15 PM)

Yes[8|]

As a kid, I drove my mom crazy...always acting like a character from one of the books I was reading. Katherine from Wuthering Heights, Beauty from the original Beaty and the Beast, etc. I'd dress how I thought they would and all that.

My mom would ask who I was at breakfast every morning...

Today, I am much better as an adult that when I'm not reading the book, I do not fantasize about it.



raivyne -> RE: Have you ever gotten so involved in a book,that you thought you were literally in that world? (6/10/2009 11:01:58 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: betterisoneday

Most people "don't" do this??? That happens to me with pretty much every book I read, even some theological/commentary books. I've never thought it odd. [&:]


^ yep that

quote:

I get so lost in a book, that I lose all track of time, just like I do here in forums. I'd be reading and someone would try to talk to me, but it's like they're annoying background noise that I try to ignore, unless it's important.


same... i can have short conversations with people and not even remember it. I tell my kids all the time if they happen to ask me a question when i'm reading... make sure that i look you right in the eye, otherwise i'm probably on auto pilot. One of the reasons that i try to only read at bedtime these days.

i guess i just get so immersed that everything else just fades away temporarily.



ofa23 -> RE: Have you ever gotten so involved in a book,that you thought you were literally in that world? (6/11/2009 9:40:49 PM)

I love Karen Kingsbury's "Baxter family series." I definately get lost thinking about all of the characters and how they relate to each other. I can easily imagine the Indiana winters and summer thunderstorms she so eloquently writes about. Yep, I am definately into her writing. I can't read her books on a worknight so I usually read her books on the weekends or vacations.



slushie -> RE: Have you ever gotten so involved in a book,that you thought you were literally in that world? (6/17/2009 11:24:43 AM)

I've got lost in a lot of books... LOTR was one. I got lost in a Star Wars book at one point...



SavedByGraceMD -> RE: Have you ever gotten so involved in a book,that you thought you were literally in that world? (6/18/2009 10:31:54 PM)

For me, a book that you can't place yourself in is not worth the read (outside of educational books). I thoroughly enjoy a good read, and nothing makes it better than you being able to place yourself in the story.



WholeHeart -> RE: Have you ever gotten so involved in a book,that you thought you were literally in that world? (7/2/2009 10:25:24 PM)

I once snapped back to reality and realized that I was sitting in an un-air-conditioned building in the summertime, reading a book in which the characters were walking through snow. I had felt physically cold. That was so confusing for a moment.... [:D]



Lady_Daffodil -> RE: Have you ever gotten so involved in a book,that you thought you were literally in that world? (7/6/2009 12:45:09 PM)

quote:

I love Karen Kingsbury's "Baxter family series." I definately get lost thinking about all of the characters and how they relate to each other. I can easily imagine the Indiana winters and summer thunderstorms she so eloquently writes about. Yep, I am definately into her writing. I can't read her books on a worknight so I usually read her books on the weekends or vacations


Oh, me too! I love all of Karen's books and have read most of them, but I got really attached to the Baxters. They're like close friends!

[:D]



Lady_Daffodil -> RE: Have you ever gotten so involved in a book,that you thought you were literally in that world? (7/6/2009 12:46:56 PM)

quote:

For every character in the book, I choose an actor or person who best fits the role.


Yup, I do that too. I can't always find an actor/actress to fit certain roles though, which is a bit frustrating.



E_Lin -> RE: Have you ever gotten so involved in a book,that you thought you were literally in that world? (7/7/2009 10:09:20 PM)

I am glad I am not the only one...

quote:

ORIGINAL: Lady_Daffodil

quote:

For every character in the book, I choose an actor or person who best fits the role.


Yup, I do that too. I can't always find an actor/actress to fit certain roles though, which is a bit frustrating.


If I can't decide who will play the roles, I lose interest in reading the book. I prefer to read authors who give good descriptions of the characters early on, or give little to no details at all (like Tolkein, who gives virtually no specific descriptions of the characters in his books, leaving it completely up to the readers imagination). What I cannot stand are authors who give piecemeal identification continually as you read through the entire book. I hate picking someone like Cameron Diaz to play a role, and finding out 6 chapters later the character is short and Asian.

When I can visualize the characters and "see" what is happening as I am reading, I feel so much more involved in the story, kind of like the director of a movie...



ManimalX -> RE: Have you ever gotten so involved in a book,that you thought you were literally in that world? (7/9/2009 4:27:55 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: E_Lin


If I can't decide who will play the roles, I lose interest in reading the book. I prefer to read authors who give good descriptions of the characters early on, or give little to no details at all (like Tolkein, who gives virtually no specific descriptions of the characters in his books, leaving it completely up to the readers imagination). What I cannot stand are authors who give piecemeal identification continually as you read through the entire book. I hate picking someone like Cameron Diaz to play a role, and finding out 6 chapters later the character is short and Asian


One of my literary pet peeves as well.

Regarding the OP, I can admit to losing track of time many times, and often reflecting on characters and scenarios after reading, but losing track of reality? Never even close. I guess it just comes down to emotional and mental make-up of the reader.



Consecrated2God -> RE: Have you ever gotten so involved in a book,that you thought you were literally in that world? (7/9/2009 9:26:12 AM)

quote:

If I can't decide who will play the roles, I lose interest in reading the book. I prefer to read authors who give good descriptions of the characters early on, or give little to no details at all (like Tolkein, who gives virtually no specific descriptions of the characters in his books, leaving it completely up to the readers imagination). What I cannot stand are authors who give piecemeal identification continually as you read through the entire book. I hate picking someone like Cameron Diaz to play a role, and finding out 6 chapters later the character is short and Asian.


This reminds me of when I was a kid and my mom read "The Lord of the Rings" to us outloud. I didn't realize Merry was a "he" until halfway through the first book--when she read it, I thought he was a "Mary". [:)]



Samurai_of_God777 -> RE: Have you ever gotten so involved in a book,that you thought you were literally in that world? (7/12/2009 10:41:16 PM)

sometimes I daydream about a storyline I read and use my friends and me as the characters.I say Hmm...I wonder what it would be like if I were such and such.

Lol I also daydream things like "I wonder what frodo would think of our world" or "I wonder what aslan would think of me." Call me crazy or obsessed but it helps time go by.
quote:

ORIGINAL: Lady_Daffodil

quote:

For every character in the book, I choose an actor or person who best fits the role.


Yup, I do that too. I can't always find an actor/actress to fit certain roles though, which is a bit frustrating.



JustaFan -> RE: Have you ever gotten so involved in a book,that you thought you were literally in that world? (7/13/2009 4:49:31 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Lady_Daffodil

quote:

For every character in the book, I choose an actor or person who best fits the role.


Yup, I do that too. I can't always find an actor/actress to fit certain roles though, which is a bit frustrating.


It must be really difficult for you when a favorite book is actually made into a movie and they choose different actors to play the parts.

I have a picture in my head of what each character looks like, and sounds like, but it's not an actor. I also have pictures of their homes, etc. in my mind. I was surprised in another book discussion when I found out most other readers don't visualize inside their head.



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