alone with all the other voices vying for attention in your head…
not to mention the countless others teeming up from the words nailed to the page…
I’ve often experienced reading as a very noisy internal activity. The zen bit comes when I put the book aside, snuff those voices out and am left not with a word but with a sound (on a good day and with a good book): the satisfying sound of having grown richer.
It’s hard to be alone with a very good book as you are in that world with the characters…unless it’s Dr Seuss in which case you think you are the characters.
You’re absolutely right, InfiniteZip. The best way to be alone is to not feel alone, and to be to able channel the experience of a book in such a way that it is there with you like a good friend.
Yes Lorna’s Voice, exactly. For what you are feeling illustrates, I believe, Franzen’s point superbly. What better way could there be when alone than experiencing a feeling such as yours when reading a wonderful book?
Kurt here to let you know that I am breaking free from publishing’s Amazon Overlord by building a store to sell my books directly to you. Currently I am in test mode and my ebooks may be free for a time. If you feel so inclined, please help me ensure all selection and ordering processes are easy and error free by purchasing the free books and then letting me know how it goes by writing a review, right here, at my site! And while at it, how about telling me what you think of the books too! Paperback and hardcover editions are coming soon.✌🏻 Dismiss
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alone with all the other voices vying for attention in your head…
not to mention the countless others teeming up from the words nailed to the page…
I’ve often experienced reading as a very noisy internal activity. The zen bit comes when I put the book aside, snuff those voices out and am left not with a word but with a sound (on a good day and with a good book): the satisfying sound of having grown richer.
Love your site more and more, Kurt. 🙂
Yes. Being in the moment, just you and the book … and all the wonderful world that comes with it.
I’m so glad you enjoy it here, joanbarbarasimon. Once again you’ve managed to amplify my happiness.
It’s hard to be alone with a very good book as you are in that world with the characters…unless it’s Dr Seuss in which case you think you are the characters.
You’re absolutely right, InfiniteZip. The best way to be alone is to not feel alone, and to be to able channel the experience of a book in such a way that it is there with you like a good friend.
Yet, when I’m reading a wonderful book, I feel like I’m with the characters–not alone at all. 😉
Yes Lorna’s Voice, exactly. For what you are feeling illustrates, I believe, Franzen’s point superbly. What better way could there be when alone than experiencing a feeling such as yours when reading a wonderful book?
It doesn’t happen real often. But when it does, WOW!