Full Description
How does the act of reading shape an individual? In this stimulating book, fiction authors and literary scholars reflect on their memories of reading to explore that question, from their childhood and adolescent years into adulthood and beyond. Instead of focusing on reading as an act of escapism, or mere literacy, these writings celebrate reading as a lifelong, joyful experience that intertwines past and present. By revealing our diverse reading histories, the collection fosters awareness of the profound impact of reading on a person's development and offers readers insights that will enrich their own literary experiences.
Introduction by Sander L. Gilman and Heta Pyrhönen, with essays by Natalya Bekhta, Peter Brooks, Philip Davis, Linda and Michael Hutcheon, Sander L. Gilman, Daniel Mendelsohn, Laura Otis, Laura Oulanne, Heta Pyrhönen, Michael Rosen, Salman Rushdie, Cristina Sandu, Pajtim Statovci and Maria Tatar.
Contents
Setting the Scene Sander Gilman and Heta Pyrhoenen
1 Ask Yourself Which Are the Books You Love Salman Rushdie
2 Portable Magic Maria Tatar
3 The Dream of an Intenser Experience Peter Brooks
4 Reading a deux Linda Hutcheon and Michael Hutcheon
5 A Life in Literature Philip Davis
6 Reading (in) my Father's Shadow Heta Pyrhoenen
7 Reading in Times of War Natalya Bekhta
8 Reading as a Rambunctious Boy-Girl Laura Otis
9 Figuring Stories, and Jumping Off the Page Pajtim Statovci
10 Reading from the Spine Laura Oulanne
11 The American Boy Daniel Mendelsohn
12 A Typewriter's Travels Cristina Sandu
13 What Did the Bear Think? A Chat with Michael Rosen
14 Words After Sander Gilman
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