From The Past: January 9, 2005

After a bit of an absence from reading at Christmas, I finally returned to the fifth book in The Dark Tower series: Wolves of the Calla by Stephen King. From the beginning, I have wanted to absorb these books completely, so reading 15 minutes here or 30 minutes there during the break was not going to be satisfying. I would rather read for long periods of time or not at all with these particular books. Therefore, this week became the catch-up week and I finished the book this afternoon.

Great books are akin to great movies wherein they make you really think after they are long finished. That is where my mind has been since finishing this fantastic book: on the people and events themselves. So much happened throughout the book (it was a little over 700 pages) that my mind finds it hard to remember everything. Different things come back to me a little bit at a time. I think it helped that Kevin asked me on a daily basis, “Where are you in the book and what is happening now?” At these questions, my mind would go over everything that it had learned that day and put it all into words for him. He read these books not too long ago, so he was excited to know what information I had learned that day.

There are only two books left and I am already dreading the end. I am sure I’ve said this before, but when you read about the same people for so long, they become real: they become friends. I want to know where their venture will lead them next and yet I know that finding out that information will lead me to the end. Right now, I cannot imagine reading about anyone else. Yes, it will be difficult letting go.

Book 6: Song of Susannah has merely a little over 400 pages. It will go by too quickly I am sure.