Very early on in her book Proust and the Squid, MaryAnn Wolf writes simply that-we are what we read. That was the hook for me, but the book was a great hook. Unfortunately, much of the science and references to neurons and brain activity kind of ruined it for me, the non-scientist. But at least I can now say I have read it and I now understand the context for the title of the book though I am still not sure I understand it either. So here goes.
I was so eager to get into the meat of the book that I skipped over the title completely and on understanding it, there will be much understanding into this topic. Marcel Proust for whom the book was named was a french novelist who saw reading "as an intellectual sanctuary" and the squid represents the scientific work done in the 1950's "to understand how neurons fire and transmit to each other (Wolf p. 5-6). I have never read Proust and know nothing about squids, but I did learn something of the history of when and how we learned to read and was amazed that it was only some 3,000 years ago. I cannot pretend that I will retain much of this, it was over my head. My favorite parts were the simple facts and the literary quotes sprinkled throughout. And the title of this blog "we are what we read" seems most apropos. In reading this article from the Atlantic Monthly it is believed that we read and become more like the characters in the novels we choose. We read for to escape. And if we are what we read, what are you reading? I am reading The House I loved by Tatiana de Rosnay and Yellow Cake by Cathleen Cummins. What does that say?
http://www.theatlanticwire.com/entertainment/2012/05/what-we-read-matters-so-what-are-we-reading/52304/
I have found this journey into the world of reading very interesting and totally enjoyed the comments of classmates. I'd like to end this blog with a quote from Proust
I believe that reading, in its original essence, [is] that fruitful miracle of communication in the midst of solitude.
Your book does sound pretty confusing and I'm not sure I would even be able to understand much more than you did, even being a scientist myself. I do however agree that you are what you read. I find bits of myself in nearly all of the books I read.
ReplyDeleteI'd have to agree that we are what we read. What we read supports our daily lives such as street signs, maps, reports, and lesson plans. Reading is all around us and if we can't make connections living would be very difficult.
ReplyDeleteGreat last post! I also, like everyone else above me, agree that we take bits and pieces from the characters we read about and shape our own lives. I'm currently reading The Obernewtyn Chronicles. Now, I don't expect to have magical powers like the main character, but I like immersing myself in a world in which the main character is powerful underneath her shyness, has a good heart, makes mistakes but ultimately learns lessons, etc. This makes me wonder about the books I will be having my students read one day, and which ones they will relate to/ like the most.
ReplyDeleteI love that last quote, Gretchen. As readers, we stick to the books that we can relate to and with characters that we can develop relationships with. It is in that solitude that relationships are fruited through the communication with the text. A meaningful transaction that becomes a part of our very being.
ReplyDeleteIronic you mention neuroactivity in relation to Proust. Do you realize his major work, Rememberance of Things Past begins with the main character having a cookie and tea from his childhood? It causes this comfort-food euphoric nostalgic flashback which encompasses the rest of the book. It is one of the most famous moments in modern literature.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely yes, great last post Gretchen. I don't think that I would have made it through this book either. So I truly appreciate your take on it. I am not familiar with Proust, but will at least google him, so I'll know a bit. Will I retain it? Probably not. But you caught my attention with your initial post when you that you were bugged with yourself for not knowing who Proust was, but probably should have, even though you still didn't initially pick up the book.
ReplyDeleteMatt summed it up well. We stick with the books we relate to, and characters that we can develop relationships with. I do think most readers will sometimes venture a little off the path, every now and then. If only to reinforce what we do love.
I just read Never Fall Down (Patricia McCormick) and Homeless Bird (Gloria Whelan) this week. YA literature. my most favorite. And I have Little Brother (Cory Doctorow) in my bag to start next week.
And yes, a great ending quote from Proust. Best of luck to you on your journeys! ..thanks for sharing!
Gretchen, I agree with Matt meaningful transaction stick with us and the relationships we draw upon. This obviously should translate to the books we choose to assign in our classrooms.
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