Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

virtualaenigma OP t1_ixcws16 wrote

Reply to comment by Ok_Let8329 in The deep meanings we extract from books are not a reflection of the author's genius by virtualaenigma

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.

−1

Ok_Let8329 t1_ixfox9h wrote

Any specific examples?

2

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.

0