I found my reading self in a book, and I’m grateful.
The book that took me there was Stoner by John Williams. First published in 1965, it sold only 2,000 copies. It’s an Everyman story written to perfection.
Much like the protagonist in the book, Williams was a teacher, a professor of literature.
In a 1985 interview, Williams criticized the direction of the teaching of literature and the growing attitude toward text “as if a novel or poem is something to be studied and understood rather than experienced.” And in response to the question, “And, literature is written to be entertaining?” he said,
“Absolutely. My God, to read without joy is stupid.”
Reading Reclaimed
To find joy in the journey, to shed a tear or laugh out loud.
But also,
joy in words.
How they line up
on the page
and sing
all by themselves.
When I can’t help but say,
oh, my.
I’ve missed it.
Thank you to Tabatha Yeatrs at the Opposite of Indifference for hosting Poetry Friday.
To Read To Write To Be 
I so agree, Julieanne. When I find a good book it is absolute joy. =)
Yes to the joy of words and reading as an EXPERIENCE! That’s the way writing is, isn’t it? Words/stories/poems should be received in the same way they are created. Thank you!
Beautiful, Julieanne. Thanks for bringing the words to us today. Love “and sing/all by themselves.
Love this:
How they line up
on the page
and sing
all by themselves.
Thanks for sharing reading love today, Julieanne.
Line up and sing for you to hear and love. Nice words yourself. Thanks for sharing.
I agree, lining up and singing is a beautiful image! Happy sigh.
Love that feeling of words lining up and singing. I want that experience to happen every day for the kids I teach!
Lovely. Glad to know that you are found again, even if that meant being lost!
Love John Williams, “And, literature is written to be entertaining?” he said,
“Absolutely. My God, to read without joy is stupid.”
So TRUE!