Last week I discovered Booking Through Thursday – a site that releases a meme (viral question) into the lit-blogosphere every Thursday in order to get readers everywhere thinking and chatting… 

Photo by John H. Kim

Here’s this week’s question: 

You’ve just reached the end of a book . . . what do you do now? Savor and muse over the book? Dive right into the next one? Go take the dog for a walk, the kids to the park, before even thinking about the next book you’re going to read? What?

Here’s my answer:  If I can help it, I try not to start a new book the same day as the last book I just finished.  Most of the time, this isn’t too hard, but occasionally — like last weekend when I finished The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay mid-afternoon and was really looking forward to starting The Book Group — I do double-up.  Ideally I like to give a book a little time to sit, sift, and settle before I jump into the next experience.  Chabon certainly deserved this, but spending three whole weeks with his characters ensured that they would be a part of my consciousness forever.  This will not be true of The Book Group, but I am truly enjoying it and do recommend it. 

I always know what’s “on deck” though.  Right now I have Julie and Julia and The Savage Detectives “on deck” for next week.  The question is…  do I follow candy for the brain with more of the same?  (Judging by its cover, I’m assuming Julie and Julia is on the lighter side, like The Book Group…).  I usually like to mix it up a bit more — vary the cognitive challenge a bit.  However, I will be spending time in airports this week, so I may not be able to give Detectives the attention it apparently merits…

What about you?  Do you take a break between books?  Are you always aware of what’s next?  Inquiring minds — and readers everywhere — would love to know your answer!!