I want also want it to be kind of an experiment...a living breathing reflection of a mind's meanderings. A wide open window to a day dreamer's thoughts and artistic impulses...which is funny because Maryanne Wolf, the author of Proust and the Squid, pretty much gives me the permission to do just that.
In chapter 1, page 14 she says, and I quote: "In much the way reading reflects the brain's capacity for going beyond the original design of its structures, it also reflects the reader's capacity to go beyond what is given by the text and the author...you, the reader, automatically begin to connect what [an author like] Proust writes with your own thinking and personal insights." (--her tense was past, I changed it to present to fit what I am trying to say.--) Essentially what she tells me is this, and I paraphrase: 'just like our brains had to hot-wire themselves to learn to read we get to hot-wire the ideas presented in any given book and take them for a joy ride to wherever we might go.' And what is so cool about it is, that is the way it is supposed to be.
SO, besides being a book report place, this blog is also going to be my digital sketchbook place for a while...a place where I will share random drawings and seemingly disparate thoughts or inspirations. I will try to treat this sketchbook more gently than the hard cover ones I keep with me in my bag. I don't want this one to sail off the roof of the car it is resting on as the driver (whom will remain anonymous) speeds away with me in the driver's seat.
I shall close with:
And Philip Glass:
It is so funny that I was having some of the same thoughts about my blog. Now that I've started writing, I had some other ideas and thoughts I wanted to share but was trying to decide if my book blog was the right place. I am inspired to include some other thoughts that have come to mind after reading your insights. And I love the music! Now I need to research more about him as well!
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize we were reading the same book! Your blog is so interesting . . . I'm going to have to revamp mine to keep up.
ReplyDeleteWow! Great approach in adding spice to your blog. I enjoyed the music and can't wait to see what will happen next! How did you add the sketch?
ReplyDeleteFor the sketch I drew it in my normal sketchbook and then scanned it onto my cpu as a .jpg then uploaded it.
ReplyDeleteLove ur drawing. How were you able to add it to your blog (I want to try that). Your blog has an interesting setting it apart from the others(mine included). Nice Job Melissa
ReplyDeleteWhat a great blog. I have to tell you I have watched more youtube in the past week then in my life. I am finding out what all the excitement is about. I am writing this at 11:45 pm and the music was so relaxing. I am still considering the thought that my brain has to be "hot-wired" in order to learn to read and write. That is amazing. I guess I am going to have to get this book. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThe quote that you used about the writer and the reader reminds me of the piece that we read on Rosenblatt's Theory in which in was stated that text is merely ink on paper until the reader comes along to give it meaning. It is fascinating how personal reading becomes and how people have different perceptions on the same reading given their various backgrounds.
ReplyDeleteI too have been thinking about different ways to express what I am reading. I don't normally write a lot so this has been a good exercise, but I would probably retain more if I used visual expression along with it.
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