Reading Response Journal 8/30

The relationship of a reader and the book.

"We may try to sink our own identity as we read. But we know that we cannot sympathize wholly or immerse ourselves wholly; there is always a demon in us who whispers, 'I hate,I love,' and we cannot silence him". (Woolf 10)

This quote instantly awares the readers regarding the experience one has while reading a book. There is a clear presence of fear of judgement by other readers. The metaphor demon is compared to the fear of a reader which he goes through while piling his interpretations. The experience is rather portrayed as a relationship one has with a book that differs from person to person. This is evident when Woolf says "take no advice, to follow your own instincts, to use your own reason, to come to your own conclusions"(Woolf 1). This adds to the complexity of reading which does not end at simply reading. It is an entire experience one goes through with the freedom of 'independence'.

Woolf emphsizes the importance of reading as an individual and not as if "we are in the presence of a different person"(Woolf 3). This imagery of being distracted and influeced by others' reading experience highly corresponds with the idea Woolf is trying to offer.

The individuality and the exclusivess in further supported by Fadiman where it is stated "just as there is more than one way to love a person, so is there more than one way to love a book" (Fadiman 38) This metaphor clearly compares the relationship of two individuals and the relationship of a reader and his/her book which is to be as as exclusive as a relationship is.

The idea of relationship has been offered by both Fadiman and Woolf in order to suggest that the experience one has reading a book vary from person to person as well as book to book. Fadiman expresses her voice when she says "his handwriting still looks angry"( Fadiman 41). This personification expands upon the ambiguous and a critical tone. The relationship further helps one determines the genre that interests him. The concept of genre and the connection with the reader is further expanded by Woolf using fiction, poetry, history and biography. The metpahor of a house is used for books by Woolf which he tells to "light up" which suggests to interpret it with one's own ideas.

This explains me why one person loves the book another person hates. I agree with both Ali and Matt where they say they are both carnal and courtly booklovers. I personally hesitate to be carnal at first but the content and the experience one has with the books insists me to be both carnal and courtly.