“The existence of the text is a silent existence, silent until the moment in which a reader reads it. Only when the able eye makes contact with the marking on the tablet does the text come to active life. All writing depends on the generosity of the reader “.
Alberto Manguel
One of the things I loved about this quote was how it made me think reading, such a solitary pursuit, was perhaps a social one or one at least that requires two participants. The sense of group or gathering came for me by thinking about all of the folk who have read the book I am reading all over the world at different times.
I guess like some enormous virtual Book Group.
My mind's eye image of it was like one of those photographs at night from space looking down and seeing the lights come on over the world popping on, then off...and they symbolised the book being read, put down, opened again, finished, returned or passed on.
I also love how it describes the realisation of the work being given by the reader. How the wholeness of the book is made by virtue of the reader/s engaging with it. Without readers what is writing?
Of course writing without readers is what most of us do all the time - but from a book and literary perspective - the reader completes it.
I didn't have a picture from space, but this is looking up at some street lights in Stanthorpe in March!
Alberto Manguel
One of the things I loved about this quote was how it made me think reading, such a solitary pursuit, was perhaps a social one or one at least that requires two participants. The sense of group or gathering came for me by thinking about all of the folk who have read the book I am reading all over the world at different times.
I guess like some enormous virtual Book Group.
My mind's eye image of it was like one of those photographs at night from space looking down and seeing the lights come on over the world popping on, then off...and they symbolised the book being read, put down, opened again, finished, returned or passed on.
I also love how it describes the realisation of the work being given by the reader. How the wholeness of the book is made by virtue of the reader/s engaging with it. Without readers what is writing?
Of course writing without readers is what most of us do all the time - but from a book and literary perspective - the reader completes it.
I didn't have a picture from space, but this is looking up at some street lights in Stanthorpe in March!
book authors rarely have the chance to get feedback from their readers (except for book reviews and the occasional tour to promote a new book) ... it must be a huge leap of faith for them to imagine an audience to whom they write ... the lights flickering on and off even beyond their life's end
ReplyDeleteWhich is, I guess, why I love blogs ... the give and take of reader and writer is so immediate ... and in your Thursday Thoughts, you give us opportunities to interact not just with you, but with other writers ... what a gift!
Thanks Liz - I hadn't stopped to think of all the lights continuing to blink after an author's death, but of course they do. And yes blogs allow us to talk more in real time don't they, and to read and write as well which is different to the image-focus of other platforms. The leap that authors who are published take is enormous! Go well.
ReplyDeleteAs usual your thoughts enlighten, spark and inspire. We have a programme on the tv at the moment called Earth from Space that is mind blowing. I hope you can get it in Australia sometime, it is frightening ( the damage being done to the Earth) but utterly beautiful. Look out for Rob McFarlanes new book Underland. Visits to caves etc. I imagine everyone round the world reading this and gaining new insights into our precious world.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Louise - what lovely words; enlighten spark and inspire! The BBC show may make it here sometime which would be grand; and any book of Robert MacFarlane's is worth a look; such close attention paid to other worlds and words. Go well.
DeleteI was having a conversation (via email) with a friend who said that readers bring a piece of themselves to a book when they read and that it changes with each re-reading.
ReplyDeleteThere are many books I would not re-read, but for some the changing appreciation does apply.
Good food for thought!
Hi Dinah - I love a good email conversation! It give me more time to think sometimes. I completely agree with your friend about readers bringing parts of themselves to a book; and that if we read the book again later we bring a different part of us - something has changed. Sometimes the change in us enhances the reading; sometimes it makes the reading less satisfying...intriguing! Go well.
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