I'm intrigued by the attention span comments. I can't really watch TV anymore without simultaneously doing something mindless on the phone. It's because TV feeds me the story (same as a book) but also everything around it: characters' looks, sounds, the setting. There's nothing left for my imagination to do. Whereas with a good novel I'm actively filling in those parts of the story myself, continually. It's full-brain engagement.
Maybe that's part of why I go through phases. When I don't have the brain power to really engage, I can't get into it. And that could be caused by fatigue, distracting news, seasonal depression, or whatever. I guess in summer I've got more brains available for reading.
|