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Reading & Books Prompt: Lose Yourself in a Book

By Heather Eure 7 Comments

lose yourself in a book promptWe live in a world of instant gratification, where the universe is at our fingertips. We’re attached to mobile devices and use them for nearly everything in life. We can read tidbits of information, short blog posts, news articles, and check out our friends’ vacation photos.

In our busy lives, it seems many of us lack the patience or time to fall into a lengthy relationship with a story. Microsoft performed a study of Canadian smartphone users and asserted that the human attention span has dwindled from twelve seconds in the year 2000, to eight seconds in 2013. The attention span of a gold fish? Nine seconds.

But all is not lost. Book stores did not crumble under the weight of new technology as some predicted. In fact, independent book stores are experiencing a revival of sorts. People are stepping away from their smart phones (for a little while) and are diving into books, especially Millenials.

Despite the negative studies on our attention spans, we are still a nation of readers. We know how to supplement our online reading with the option of turning dusty pages, inhaling the redolent fragrance of a paper book. We still know how to get lost in a good story.

Try It

What book have you recently read that captivated you? When did you realize you were lost in this particular book? Or which book can you lose yourself in again and again? Get lost in thought and write a poem about a book that kept you mesmerized.

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Featured Poem

Thanks to everyone who participated in last week’s poetry prompt. Here’s a poem from Donna we enjoyed:

Nicholas convinced me
to secretly seek
red doors on hollow trees
and bunnies living inside.

—by Donna Falcone

Photo by Han Cheng Yeh. Creative Commons via Flickr.

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How to Write a Poem 283 high How to Write a Poem uses images like the buzz, the switch, the wave—from the Billy Collins poem “Introduction to Poetry”—to guide writers into new ways of writing poems. Excellent teaching tool. Anthology and prompts included.

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Heather Eure
Heather Eure
Heather Eure has served as the Poetry Editor for the late Burnside Collective and Special Projects Editor for us at Tweetspeak Poetry. Her poems have appeared at Every Day Poems. Her wit has appeared just about everywhere she's ever showed up, and if you're lucky you were there to hear it.
Heather Eure
Latest posts by Heather Eure (see all)
  • Poetry Prompt: Misunderstood Lion - March 19, 2018
  • Animate: Lions & Lambs Poetry Prompt - March 12, 2018
  • Poetry Prompt: Behind the Velvet Rope - February 26, 2018

Filed Under: Blog, Books, poetry prompt, poetry teaching resources, Read, Read for Fun, writer's group resources, writing prompt

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Comments

  1. Donna Falcone says

    August 22, 2016 at 10:59 am

    The others
    saiedl through the small sea of leaves
    Happy and smiling and carefreeing it along
    and there I was,
    hung up
    like whole row of commas
    in boldface,

    all

    the

    way

    through

    until it was done
    and I
    was someone new.

    And, honestly…
    I would tell you what it was about
    or what was my favorite part
    or why I loved the book’s journey
    if only I remembered
    that way.

    All I can say is this –
    Go to an art store or any store that sells paint.
    Stand with the others in front of all the colors in the worlds
    and let one paint pick you out of all the shoppers on the aisles.
    Buy it.

    Put the paint to rest in a forgotten room
    and get up in the morning ahead of the world.
    Ask the paint “what now?” and listen quietly
    for as long as it takes.

    If the paint says “spin me in circles please”
    never say “I don’t know how”
    -just do it.

    If the paint says “whisper me across the plane”
    don’t ask “What plane, where?”
    -just do it.

    If the paint says “set me on fire”
    refrain from reprimands… “that’s too dangerous!”
    -just do it.

    If the paint says “let me stay right there,
    smudged under your right eye for at least a day”
    just do-

    it will tell your story, you know.
    That is where the big magic is.

    The book: Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert

    Reply
    • Donna Falcone says

      August 22, 2016 at 11:03 am

      sorry about the typos.

      Reply
      • Donna Falcone says

        August 22, 2016 at 11:52 am

        On my blog, tweaked and such:

        http://www.donnazfalcone.com/poetry/how-to-work-with-paint

        Reply
  2. Megan Willome says

    August 23, 2016 at 12:02 pm

    Saturday I read a book in one sitting–haven’t done that in a while. Blake Crouch’s “Dark Matter,” a quantum mechanics thriller. Monica Sharman would probably dig it.

    Reply
  3. Laura Brown says

    August 23, 2016 at 3:05 pm

    Recently captivated by “Real Farm,” an essay collection (some would say memoir) by Patricia Tichenor Westfall. Currently captivated by the novel “Turn of Mind” by Alice LaPlante. With both, I knew I was hooked when I realized I’d read way past my bedtime.

    The book I have probably reread more than any other is “Harriet the Spy.” A beloved book I am currently rerereading is “The Principles of Uncertainty” by Maira Kalman.

    Reply
  4. Katie says

    September 3, 2016 at 10:54 am

    Picked up a small little book called Chance Developments by Alexander McCall Smith this week at the library. Am thoroughly enjoying!
    I’ve not really been a fan of his writing, but have listened to some on audio-book while riding with my hubby on a trip.
    Find myself “rationing” the stories, wanting to make it last longer as I don’t want it to end:)
    Talk about a master of setting and character!!
    Katie

    Reply
  5. Andrew H says

    September 3, 2016 at 3:35 pm

    I am small, I am plain,
    Yet you are rich.
    I hold no lands,
    And you them all.
    Look at my hands –
    No rings, where yours
    Outshine a king’s.
    Yet I am worthy of you
    On some fundamental
    Plane of love. Some
    Universal meaning
    That society strives to break.
    No more. I fled you,
    Into the heath
    I went, and laughed
    To hear my trembling breath.
    We are one, truly. They also
    Serve who stand and wait
    Beside God’s shining gate –
    And I would stand
    Eternally
    If so I’d do with you.
    I have no beauty,
    Nor no lands
    Nothing to give
    But heart and head and hands.
    Read this, and know
    I married you
    And stand beside you
    And cherish you.
    I care not for your missing eye,
    For love is ne’er limited, aye
    Even unto heaven and the sky;
    So bound we now are, true.
    Yet no one loves as I love you.

    (Jane Eyre)

    Reply

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