As my brain took a massive hit on imagination and concentration when I got sick, I always prefer to go back to the things and situations i know; as it makes it all so much easier on my brain to imagine.
Now of course, like anyone else, I didn’t went through bad stuff only- there’s also some good stuff too! .. however, I gravitate towards the things that impacted me as “negative” and sad, as it makes the story so much more real. I know theses feelings really well, thus can feel the same as our characters are going through.
- Being the odd one at school, the one without friends nor anyone to really rely on.
- Mental health issues; specially depression, anxiety & suicidal thoughts.
- A relative being sick / going through an hard phase / losing someone.
As soon as I can tell the book includes one of thoses things, it’s like a magnet. I wanna read that! Part of the experience is not only really having the relatability with said characters, but also a feeling a being seen. Of being understood by someone (even if that someone is a fictional character)
On the other side of the coin, there’s also things that I love to have in my books that attracts me like a magnet that I never really experienced, too!
- That blind “love above all” / teenage romance you think will last forever.
- Siblings relationships.
What about you?
Is there things you love to re-live, or prefer to stay away from?
I definitely love more misfit characters that don’t have that many friends. This is why Fangirl stands out for me, because Cath didn’t have anyone at college and stuck to her writing most of the time.
Yes, I love thoses too! You make me think of Eliza & her monsters – but her thing was writing a webcomic under an alias.
The only thing why i’m not much into fangirl is because I couldn’t care less for harry potter; as of which im under the impression it’s heavy on it?
Actually wait- ithink I messed up between fangirl and carry on? 🤔 wasn’t there one that was some kind of HP fanfiction in it or im absolutely out of the track? Xd
I try to stay away from friends to lovers but it’s not because a memory. I just know that I don’t usually like them. I usually stay away from books that remind me of something but I do love seeing things like virgin heroines because I’m one. I don’t know why but I love reading about possessive heroes. They could be creepy in real life but I live for them in fiction 😅
I’m the opposite 🙈 I love friends to lover, and that’s something I actually haven’t lived (or will ever lived- as for that I need guy friends… maybe WAY later but erm 🤷🏽♀️).
Oh yeah! Things like possesive and bad things like that may be nice in books, but much better stay in fiction 😅 ahah that’s good! Sometimes we love to read something that feels like ourselves