Book Anticipation: A Tale of More-Than-Slight Fangirling and Craziness

Citali here.

I recently received Winter by Marissa Meyer in the mail. By "recently" I refer to November 10, the release date. And since it was 1. The last book in a series I absolutely love (and I really do apologize, those who haven't read it. Don't worry, no spoilers or specific fangirling here. Just general fangirling about fangirling) and a book I preordered and have been eagerly anticipating, this post is about the various stages of a book fangirl. More specifically, me, fangirling over a book. More specifically, me fangirling over the last book in a series, especially when said book is long.

Step 1. Pre-order the book. However, Step 1 is further subdivided...

• Step 1a. Read the book preceding it. This is where fangirling begins: you realize it's the last book and you hope it's good.
• Step 1b. Reserve the said book at the library. Look at the "5000 holds on 5 copies" and sigh dramatically.
• Step 1c. Realize that at this rate, you won't get the book until the next year.
• Step 1d. Debate about getting it signed, because signed books are awesome!

Step 2. Finally you're past your pre-ordering decisions. Fast-forwards to when you finally receive the book: the first thing you do is cuddle it. 

• Step 2a. Admire the beautiful cover art. Not to judge the book by its cover, but... it's so pretty!
• Step 2b. Pretty pages! Smooth book jacket! Clean, unspoiled paper! Oh, the joy!

Step 3. Start reading. Of course, you've already read the first four chapters, since there was a preview in the preceding book, but reread them anyway, they're awesome!

Step 4. Reach the middle. Oh dear oh dear, what will happen to them now? The beautiful ships, the terrifying plot twists!

Step 5. Reach where the book would usually end, but the particular book is really long, so it always feels like it's the end buit you look reassuringly at the lots of pages left. 

• Step 5a. Here's where you wonder if the author will carry through with his/her threat of a cliffhanger or killing off a beloved character. Oh noes!
• Step 5b. Is it the end? Phew, no. Is it the end? Phew, no. Oh no, it is getting near the end!

Step 6. Finish the book. I react calmly here, but some might jump up in joy at a happy ending or bang the table at a sad ending. Usually, I close the book slowly. It was amazing!

Well, that's me done with fangirling. For now. I promise.

Happy reading! 

~Citali