The Joy and Enthusiasm of Reading
By Rick Moody
MARIE:
[enthusiastically]
Let’s go get some new books! I’ve been dying to read something new.
MAE stretches across the couch and sets a small, leather-bound book on a coffee table.
MAE:
Don’t you have enough books though? Why don’t you go and re-read Pride and Prejudice or Emma again?
MARIE:
Because I’ve already read them. I want to read something new-something exciting.
MAE:
Why don’t you re-work your way through the books you’ve already read? You can figure out hidden meanings and find new truths or ideas encrypted in the author’s writing.
MARIE:
How about I just go and get a new book to read, and de-crypt that author’s writing?
Enter NICOLE stage right. She looks rather annoyed.
NICOLE:
By Rick Moody
MARIE:
[enthusiastically]
Let’s go get some new books! I’ve been dying to read something new.
MAE stretches across the couch and sets a small, leather-bound book on a coffee table.
MAE:
Don’t you have enough books though? Why don’t you go and re-read Pride and Prejudice or Emma again?
MARIE:
Because I’ve already read them. I want to read something new-something exciting.
MAE:
Why don’t you re-work your way through the books you’ve already read? You can figure out hidden meanings and find new truths or ideas encrypted in the author’s writing.
MARIE:
How about I just go and get a new book to read, and de-crypt that author’s writing?
Enter NICOLE stage right. She looks rather annoyed.
NICOLE:
[exasperated]
What is the point of reading “for fun” anyway? Why do you want do go get new books, Marie? More importantly, why on God’s green earth would you want to re-read books and look for ideas that are encrypted in the author’s writing, Mae?
MAE:
[pointedly]
Nicci, when you read, you open up your mind to new thoughts and ideas. There is no solid answer; you can interpret the text in whichever way you choose. Love it, like it, hate it, challenge it, qualify it. Let it change your life. Have its babies. Most importantly, learn from it. That is the whole point of reading-its open to interpretation. You have the freedom to see the ideas in any light you wish to see them in.
NICOLE:
You, my friend, are WEIRD.
What is the point of reading “for fun” anyway? Why do you want do go get new books, Marie? More importantly, why on God’s green earth would you want to re-read books and look for ideas that are encrypted in the author’s writing, Mae?
MAE:
[pointedly]
Nicci, when you read, you open up your mind to new thoughts and ideas. There is no solid answer; you can interpret the text in whichever way you choose. Love it, like it, hate it, challenge it, qualify it. Let it change your life. Have its babies. Most importantly, learn from it. That is the whole point of reading-its open to interpretation. You have the freedom to see the ideas in any light you wish to see them in.
NICOLE:
You, my friend, are WEIRD.
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