On the Day of the Book
The romance of the book is all but gone today. Our visual culture has seemingly killed the love of the book. The thrill of reading a tale that whisks you away from the pain and complexity of this world, dropping you off at the feet of exciting, fascinating, and outright bizarre characters is gone. Like a knife piercing the heart of fantasy, removing the need for imagination and intricate thought, the hustle and bustle of today provides all extracurricular activities for us, neatly packaged, marketed and delivered to our visual and audible senses so vividly that the detachment refutes its very own purpose. What happened to the escape? I have a thought in my mind of how life with the book used to be. An era where, what a man read or wrote defined him. A time when people made small talk at dinner parties about the interweaving plotlines of the literature they just could not put down. When cigar smoke filled railcar parlors and gentlemen went on about Melville, Dickens, Twain, and the like. This time is dead, giving way to a period of movies and video games. Never again will there be significance to what book lay half read on the desk in a man’s study after he passes away. No, now people concern their idle chat with which starlet gained the most weight after giving birth to a child, which celebrity converted to Scientology, and who will become America’s next pop-icon.
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Ty,
I just wanted to say that you and I have been friends for many years now. As young adults we discuss likes and dislikes, thoughts and theories. But that’s not what brought me to your site today.
In thinking about your up and coming literary scribe which seeks publish, I remembered that some time ago, I received an email to view your page and leave comment. Well, as you are aware, I tried. But, for some reason, even being technologically savvy, I still struggled with getting the post… to, well, post. So, knowing that the website has had some restructuring, I am here to try it again. In summary, no matter how literate in technology I am, I could never more agree with the feelings you voice about the book.
It’s saddening to witness a time long treasure, such as the book, become nothing but a paperweight in today’s society. A society in which we lean towards independent learning, computer literary means, tabloid media, or simply laptop discussion… all of which do not concern books nor do they provide meaning.
Do I blame this for our diminishing intellect as a society? Yes. Plain and simple, yes. Excuse me as I regard this comment to more than a book by Mark Twain, a short science fiction story by R.A. Lafferty, or even a historic poetic play write by Dante Alighieri. No, I refer to literature of all magnitude and capacity, educational text books included.
It is sad that the once proud and appreciated ability to read a book is no more. A day when reading stated both dignity and intellect. A day when people understood that no matter what the books contents where, knowledge was gained and the soul was humbled…
In today’s society, video games, computers, televisions, and wireless media by phone have taken us by storm. Merely routing our only intellect to becoming propagandized and meaningless. Ask today’s American youth about General Custer. Ask them about causes of the American Revolution. Ask them to define basic principals of The Constitution. Better yet, ask them any question about world or American History. But most sadly, ask them to cite any incident or name more than two characters of The Bible.
We now live in an era where reading to your infant child is done with a plastic tool that reads for you. Where if you struggle with math, you participate in an online tutorial at your own discretion rather than sit and tutor with an individual using a book. People claim this to be a better means of teaching or discussing? A better means of gaining knowledge? A better means of reaching peace and relaxation? Since when and how? To all this I say nay!
I have yet to come across a young adult under the age of 25 who can count back change or pronounce a medical term such as electroneuromyography. Should you ask a teenager to do either you most likely will get a look of disgust or no look at all. Simply because you just stunned someone what once was considered elementary knowledge that was bestowed upon our generation and our elders years ago… by books and with chalk boards.
O.k., before I run from equal opinion to lecture to rant against a growing more ignorant society… I want to say that I could not make a better statement than you on this topic. This is a subject of much more depth today than simply taking the time to free yourself to a great story. You identify the diminishing facet of book in leisure reading and I identify its fade from education. Both of which could strike debate or conversation for hours. As mentioned before, this includes moral and religious writes.
All this said, I wish you the best of luck in your venture as a young author. I need not dwell on that though. There is a need for literature to become mainstream once again, without the help of the big screen. There is also a need for Christian authors to become as frequently popular and idolized as authors such as J.K. Rowling. In time, the right person will become just that. Not by luck, but by skill, depth, and drive. In your littlest comment you show depth, and in your story you prove skill and intelligence. As friends we can help you gain some recognition, but you as an author can help yourself gain respect in the world of literature.
To all society I say one thing, The pen always has been and always will be mightier than the sword and never has the television provided greater intelligence than the book. Knowledge is power.
W. Wheatley
W.
Thanks for the great comment. I appreciate the kind words and the thoughtful insight.
I must say that whatever success I see as an author, I pray it does not manifest itself in the form of being someone’s idol. My writing is overtly Christian, although, without explicit mention of the Church or the Trinity. This is not to say that people of other religious backgrounds will not enjoy the stories (after all, that would defeat the purpose) but that I write with a specific purpose in mind. When someone reads my novels I do not want them thinking about me, I want them to ponder the themes within the book, reflecting on the fiction and connecting it with reality. My primary goal is to write in a way that nudges readers just a little closer to the truth of Christianity.
It is inevitable (I suppose) that in order to get my work out to as many people as possible I need to establish my name as a writer. Some popularity is to come if my books develop a strong audience. But this cannot be the focus. I am not interested in celebrity status but rather in using my gifts to serve God.
See, and that is reason enough why there is no need to wish you luck. As humbled and skilled as I’ve witnessed you to be on paper, if things are to be they will be. Although, I guess idolized was a strong word to use. Understandably, it is unfortunate, that in today’s society people do not become recognized without idolization. More so, many people in today’s society have to become idolized before their message is truly comprehended by those around them.
Inevitably, as you stated, with a book being printed there will be some popularity involved. In the case of the book, an unnecessary evil such as popularity or idolization I feel could be necessary. It could take many more “mainstream” writers to show and restore power to literature and meanwhile remain humble before the book posses powers in society it once had. An author such as Rowling shares little lime light. Even though she is nearly as famous as any actor portraying her characters on film today, people still recognize her for her literary gifts… not the million dollar big screen rendition. It’s twisted yes, but in turn may work out for the best as there are things in today’s society missing. Things such as books with meaning and readers with appreciation. Hence I evolved your statement towards the deficiencies found not only in leisure but in educational literature.
A great Christian author can, and I feel, needs to become mainstream. Not to become willingly idolized by any means. But to bring heartfelt story to our lives while showcasing moral and ethic, bridging fiction with reality, and also to entertain religious beliefs. These are great goals for an author and deserve greater recognition. I would like to one day see another author be able to draw in the minds of millions of readers so that appreciation for books can continue to be obtained and once again grow. Sadly, if attention can continue to be made for books read for leisure and entertainment, the need, power, and influence of books may once again be restored throughout other parts of society.
Things work in mysterious ways. God works in mysterious ways. And this my friend, may be the given opportunity given to you in the form of literary gift that may help restore morals now depleted in society. I hope so… I’m getting sick of having to use the WWW or DVD-ROM every time I specify materials in my projects… I can’t hardly obtain printed literature any more. Do you know how aggravating that is when I need to compare material specs and am forced to toggle web pages or print meaningless pages as I try to find the necessary data. I’m all for being an advocate of the book!
Perhaps many feel its a waste of trees? Nay I say! If it were then magazines would no longer be loved. I feel the lack of love for literature and desire to read in today’s world is a waste of human intellect.
W.
Spoken like a true book lover! Thank you for such an in depth comment. Sadly, the future is definitely going paperless. I for one prefer the printed book. The feeling of the cover in my hand and the smell of the pages ease my heart before I even begin to read. As I progress through the story, a small, insignificant feeling of accomplishment propels me to complete the novel as I see the pages dwindle, my bookmark steadily traversing from cover-to-cover. An experience I will truly miss when the Kindle takes over.
Amen.