Bookworm’s Manifesto
Posted on October 20, 2010
Filed under Project One
posted by Eriks Reks
Process Note
I started off this essay thinking about the Kindle that I had recently purchased. I figured talking about that would flush out any ideas I had about technology and reading. While I did end up having many things to say, it unfortunately ended up being too much. With my second revision of my x2, I had this essay about a whole mess of stuff—science fiction, education, people sitting in front of YouTube, etc. If I had 5 months to write this essay then I probably would have tried to manage all of the things I was originally talking about. But I didn’t so I resorted to talking about books—something that I knew was at the heart of the essay to begin with. Perhaps my essay is a little simple and quirky; all I do is talk about loving books. However, in its simplicity, I hope the truth of a bookworm’s love for books resonates. It isn’t really complicated why we love particular things in life; we just do.
Eriks, I was really interested in your piece, because it was concerned with technology (which I also looked at in my Project One but from quite a different perspective).
What I think really works for your piece is your use of punctuation. It doesn’t seem excessive. I think it works perfectly, giving us glimpses of you, such as “being sentimental” comes from your father’s side of the family. The tone and the use of punctuation really helped me enjoy the technology vs. old-fashioned books tension.
p.s. It was really interesting for me to read your conclusion. While we did tackle a similar topic from completely different perspective, I came to a similar conclusion as you did.
Eriks,
What a piece! I am an avid reader, as I bet most of us are, and I really appreciate what you have to say on the subject. I was dismayed a couple of years ago when the talk in the news was all about how print newspapers and magazines would soon become extinct. There is something beautiful and right about holding, touching, feeling what you are reading.
Your italicized phrases and conversations between yourself and your skeptical reader are great- it lends a lovely dry humor to the piece and makes it flow so well.
I really enjoyed your piece!
I absolutely love this piece: both the design and the content. I love how you used the fur of the book to really get across the physicality of reading. I also really liked your dialogue with the reader (the “you:” and “me:”). You also had great transitions–especially the “it belongs in a museum!” part. I could hear it in my head and I think that that’s a very cool skill to have.
Something random: I checked out “outofprintclothing.com” and I LOVED IT!!! I already added things to my cart haha.
Great work, thanks for the read!
You took a really big risk in writing this piece. It’s not a typical essay, and I like it! You take us through the books that are formative in your childhood years and discuss how technology has taken away the feeling of reading from a physical book. It’s both a social commentary and a commentary on your life! Interesting.
I am sad that I can’t touch the fuzzy book…
Wow, Eriks, what a great piece. The digressions and interjection of speculative conversations between you and your reader gave this work a unique, fun personality. I totally agree with nearly word. I too loved Little Fur Family, and—despite my love for technology— had similar feelings toward eBooks when I went to the library to pick up a book on reserve, only to be handed a Nook. I love the line where you recount texting you mom to find where the old book has ended up, only to receive an emotionally uninvested, unsure answer. Oh times have changed. Great work.