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virtualaenigma OP t1_ix9zklx wrote

Reply to comment by McCarthy_Narrator in The deep meanings we extract from books are not a reflection of the author's genius by virtualaenigma

That's a good point. I like the idea of a mutual process of meaning-making between the book and the reader.

It's like the writing has unique value to each reader based on what each reader takes from it. It may be an objectively well written piece of work, but it's real value lies in the unique meaning each individual reader takes.

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Ok_Let8329 t1_ixb073g wrote

>It may be an objectively well written piece of work, but it's real value lies in the unique meaning each individual reader takes.

Yes, but authors can intentionally take you to specific places of perception you haven't been or didn't know about, even if it's slightly different for everyone. It takes a perceptive reader, but it also takes skill and talent on the author's part.

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virtualaenigma OP t1_ixb9w8i wrote

>Yes, but authors can intentionally take you to specific places of perception you haven't been or didn't know about

Yes, they can. But doesn't necessarily mean that every feeling or perspective you take away from a book was the author's doing.

If I have a profound experience with a book but I have no idea if my understanding of the text is what the author intended, how can I praise the author for leading me to this profound experience?

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Ok_Let8329 t1_ixc2qpm wrote

>If I have a profound experience with a book but I have no idea if my understanding of the text is what the author intended, how can I praise the author for leading me to this profound experience?

You have to be more specific than that. Are you saying you found the meaning of life in a cupcake recipe? Or did you interpret Animal Farm slightly differently than most people. Because if an author aims to write something thought-provoking and it provokes your thoughts, I don't see how you wouldn't credit them.

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virtualaenigma OP t1_ixcws16 wrote

Is it not possible for people to read unique meanings in a particular text, beyond the general message?

Of course the general understanding of a book that everyone takes away is praiseworthy because that was the intent of the author. But that doesn't mean that every perspective I take away is the author's intent. If it wasn't the author's intent, I cannot solely credit them or the book for helping me reach that perspective.

The book was simply a means for me to bring to mind something that was already within me. Another book could also have done that. It's not a unique praiseworthy quality of that particular book.

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Ok_Let8329 t1_ixfox9h wrote

Any specific examples?

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virtualaenigma OP t1_ixh62a1 wrote

No specific examples come to mind right now.

I'm speaking more generally of how people will often associate their own unique interpretation of a book with the book itself, as though that was the intended purpose of the book.

If it wasn't intended, isn't that more a reflection of the reader's own mind rather than the author's? To me it just seems wrong to praise the book or the author for helping me achieve that perspective when it was more a result of my own critical analysis.

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