Reading — an Interactive Medium.
June 4, 2008
Non-readers are so often inclined to conclude that reading is a passive passtime. One sits, book in hand, and the written word does all the work. “I’d rather be doing something,” they say.
As a reader and, more to the point, a writer, I know how ridiculous this is. However rich the layers of my work, it is the reader who supplies the detail. I breathe life into my characters, but only the reader can decide if they should continue to live and, if so, what that road they walk down really looks like. It is one of the first, the truest interactive media.
And you don’t even need a red button.
June 5, 2008 at 2:25 pm
And therein lies the problem. They’ll never understand as long as they remain non-readers.
Non-readers… Weird… It’s difficult to fathom.
June 5, 2008 at 4:38 pm
I can understand some, to a point. My folks weren’t exactly brought up with books and whilst they do both read on occasion, it isn’t exactly a priority.
What baffles me are those who are from an academic background who don’t read fiction. Admittedly, I’m more inclined to read non-fiction these days — but I could never abandon fiction entirely. Food for the soul (if there is a soul, which I doubt, but I’m sure you know what I mean, anyway
)
Fiction fosters different ways of thinking. Good fiction, at least.
June 5, 2008 at 9:46 pm
I know what you mean.
I couldn’t do without fiction either. Right now I’m reading something Mike left behind last time he was here. It’s called Necroscope. It’s quite creepy, but I like it. lol
My dad has never been much of a reader. He says he just can’t stay focused or interested. He’s one of those who would rather be “doing something”. Ah well… Different strokes and all that.
June 6, 2008 at 8:51 am
Necroscope is good… I read the second but got a bit bogged down with the third and abandoned it. I still remember how the books “felt”, though — wonderfully atmospheric — and I know I’ll go back to them one day.
June 6, 2008 at 1:18 pm
Last time I was in England, I read through all of Mark Billingham’s crime novels. Buried was about to released but hadn’t hit the shelves before I left. I can’t find it here and don’t have a credit card to order it online. Too bad I don’t have a husband across the pond who could send it to me. Oh wait… ::whistles innocently::
I sometimes grow attached to characters I’m reading and sort of miss them when I finish a book. Is that weird?
I really liked Detective Inspector Tom Thorne. Shucks! Now I miss him again. lol
June 6, 2008 at 4:28 pm
Not in the least bit weird. It happens to me, too… especially with characters I write! Christ, I carry those SOBs around in my head before, during and for a good while after.
One day you’ll see me on a park bench, drooling and talking to myself