I enjoyed the post last month by my fellow blogger Renee Roberson about her family being captivated by the streaming show The Summer I Turned Pretty. I was also escaping into author Jenny Han's world of young love, heartbreak, and beautiful beach houses.
Then I went online.
Sure, there was the standard debate of the love triangle. Were you Team Jeremiah or Team Conrad? But it was more than just that simple question.
Social media was flooded with discussions of every detail of the show and books from the use of color to movies (Sabrina and Bye, Bye Birdie made several appearances) to the symbolism of numbers, food, music, clothes, home decor. These super fans were investigating even the smallest detail as they went over each scene, each word, each pause with a fine tooth comb. What was the meaning behind that song, that dessert, that seating at the dinner table?
It began because author Jenny Han confirmed in interviews that there were "little breadcrumbs" giving hints to the final outcome as well as some that were tributes to her favorite songs, her other books and more. I think for many people "the hunt" to try and decipher what was going to happen before it happened was as fun as watching the actual show.
Could authors do this in written works? Leave easter eggs that are so subtle they are almost unnoticeable but when they are revealed produce an "ah-ha" moment? As writers, we dream of people not only reading our words but remembering them, recommending them to others, interacting with them. Hidden puzzles could be a way to make that happen. An extra to keep readers anchored in your world even after they've read the last page.
I often place my own version of easter eggs in my writing but they are only noticeable to my family and close friends. My fictional characters might have the initials, favorite foods or quirky habit of a loved one. Many are secret little tributes to each of my children.
Many books through the ages have included that hidden layer that are easily overlooked on the first read through: The Great Gatsby, The Narnia series, Alice in Wonderland, the books of Dan Brown and Stephen King. That hidden layer encourages you to hold on to a book - reading it multiple times, searching for the hidden. It becomes more than just a book - it becomes an experience.
What do you think about literary easter eggs?
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Jodi M. Webb writes from her home in the Pennsylvania mountains about everything from DIY projects to tea to butterflies. She's also a blog tour manager for WOW-Women on Writing. Get to know her blogging at Words by Webb.
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