Re:writers on this list
Peggy F. Jean-Louis (pfj6868@is.nyu.edu)
Thu, 26 Mar 1998 22:34:07 -0500 (EST)
Whilst wading through the 70-odd messages that awaited me in my mailbox
(I unfortunately don't get to check it as frequently as I'd like
to)including the entire thread on Writers/Writing/making a living as a
Writer/Author vs. Writer etc., it suddenly struck me that I should say
something on behalf of the Readers on this list.
It has struck me as funny (not funny ha-ha, but funny strange) that I'm
reading a lot of posts about Writing when what brought me to the list
was my love of reading. More specifically, my love of reading Salinger.
Somehow, I thought it was going to be easy to write about reading but it
turns out that it's incredibly difficult, which, as I gather from the
writing thread and life experience, seems to be true of writing in
general.
Despite being a passionate lover of books, I've never wanted to be a
writer. I have, however, always aspired to be a fantastic reader. AI
define a fantastic reader as someonewho is totally open to everything a
book has to offer, willing to soak up every drop, no mattter how joyful or
painful, happy or sad, entertaining or depressing, thought-provoking or
silly.
Ideally, a good book has all of these elements in varying degrees. As a
matter of fact, I've never thought of reading as a cerebral experience but
rather an emotional one. I always thought that writing a book was an
emotional experience too. No longer. Very serious, somber, cerebral stuff,
judging by your posts. And as a Reader, I can't relate. I feel like I
accidentally stumbled into a "So you wanna be a Writer" seminar where
people are alternatively handing in writing exercises and discussing and
grading said exercises. Not to say that some of your posts on the topic
haven't been interesting or enlightening, but also, alienating. It
turns out I'm more fascinated with the mechanics of reading rather than
writing.
I'm not trying to hinder discourse in any way, (so save any posts making
suggestions to the contrary) just wanted to remind all the Writers of
your audience(to use some of the lingo),the silent majority of us Readers who
are also on this list.
Peggy, an amateur reader if ever there was one.