when stories come alive
‘The assault’ was waiting for me in my bookcase. I tried to read the book when I was around the age of fourteen, but it simply could not reach me. I had put away the book and it wasn’t since last week that I took it into my hands again. Now the book took me to my imagination in the short period of two evenings. The short but beautiful trip through the book made me realize that I, for this book, was not a suitable reader when I was fourteen. Ten years later my internal reading voice was ready to speak up.
Centuries ago it was normal for authors to read out their own books to an test audience. Meetings ranged from several hours to several days. The listeners were expected to use their critical opinion on the story. Based on this criticism the writer improved his text. The read out was drenched by the interpretation of the author. Not the tone of the reader, but the tone of the author brought the book to life.
Nowadays the book is drenched by the interpretation of the reader and together with the author’s text, they form a living story. If the internal voice and imagination is ready to handle the content, the commitment to the book can get as strong as can be. I tried to read ‘The assault’ to early and the book waited for me to be ready.
