But the problem with readers, the idea we’re given of reading is that the model of a reader is the person watching a film, or watching television. So the greatest principle is, “I should sit here and I should be entertained.” And the more classical model, which has been completely taken away, is the idea of a reader as an amateur musician. An amateur musician who sits at the piano, has a piece of music, which is the work, made by somebody they don’t know, who they probably couldn’t comprehend entirely, and they have to use their skills to play this piece of music. The greater the skill, the greater the gift that you give the artist and that the artist gives you. That’s the incredibly unfashionable idea of reading. And yet when you practice reading, and you work at a text, it can only give you what you put into it. It’s an old moral, but it’s completely true.
Zadie Smith (via lyras)
1,033 notes
  1. jeremymichaelreed reblogged this from therumpus
  2. eyesthebye reblogged this from eyesthebye
  3. jeoblivion reblogged this from therumpus
  4. coconutmaplefigandpaperclips reblogged this from housingworksbookstore
  5. craftsbyknight reblogged this from riversofgold
  6. owlings reblogged this from skillypot
  7. a-true-janian-reply reblogged this from riversofgold
  8. zookmurnig reblogged this from thisclockworkheart
  9. thisclockworkheart reblogged this from mestizametaphor
  10. mestizametaphor reblogged this from bestweapons
  11. bestweapons reblogged this from stitchingatthecircuitboard
  12. nerd-bird-blog reblogged this from vagabondaesthetics
  13. meritha reblogged this from artigas
  14. gingerzome reblogged this from un-funk
  15. vodkaformyenemies reblogged this from plaidshirtsandpancakes
  16. sir-wozzell reblogged this from facetiousfigment
  17. mackenzie-brown reblogged this from lyras
  18. artionn reblogged this from texturepresence
  19. texturepresence reblogged this from fizzlewitz
  20. lyras posted this