" To use a book is to engage with it as a set of forms and as a condition of thought; in this sense, the history of book use and the history of theoretical speculation are entwined."
What I appreciate about this article is that it focuses not on popular opinion, rather historical evidence and context for the discussion of the importance of the tangible word. This statement in particular, however, stood as a focus and quality summary of what I gleaned from the article (granted I recognize that this post is not merely to summarize points, but offer some type of insight into the issue). Reading a book is not only about the words but the process, and similarly the process effects the content of the words. Seeing that reading is an engaging activing involiving physical process and something as abstract as the presence of a thought or idea shows that when we read we are involving our entire self. Some of this, in part, is lost when it comes to words on the internet (such as this blog). While I was reading this assessment of the tangible word, my thoughts are always brought back to the one book I am never without, and that is my Bible. The physical presence of my bible alone drives me to open it's worn leather front and look upon the gold-embossed pages to search for the unfathomable truths and treasures hidden deep within its pages. Brandin and Cormack discuss the marking of margins and underlining as the testiment of the readers active process in ingesting the books content. I absolutely agree with this. My bible becomes the literal map of my testimony as readers can see the dates through which I was brought from concept to concept, truth to truth, conviction to conviction, it all remains open and available. It is quite literally my own Ebenezer to the Lord within His great book. I am comparing my analysis of this article to my experience with my Bible because it is the most intimate and influential book I have ever read and continue to read in my life. When I snuggle up to some wonderful music in my comfy pants, down blanket, and warm fire just to get lost in the written reality of my Jesus I am completely and totally free, yet rendered subject to the revelation of His heart for me in His word.
It is indeed a set of forms and a condition of thought, but more specifically, reading this particular book to me is a revelation of a set of His forms and a transformation of my thoughts in accordance to those thoughts. Expediated technology, while convinient and fast, takes some quality away from the experience and development process of having a real book. A really great example is the difference between the popular preacher in skinny jeans drinking startbucks with his iphone application called ,'The Bible', and the everyday looking preacher wearing whatever came to mind that morning with his torn up, marked up leather bible that has not only rips and bumps, but tear drop stains and wear marks. We then begin to see the difference between the physical ethos of that man bearning the physical bible and the one not. The viewer can tell that the man carrying his physical Bible has gone to war with himself with that book, and that is of infinate value.
You may be reading this from my English course and be asking yourself, 'why in the world is she talking about this?' The realiy is simple: this is the greatest practical reflection I have of the historical concepts invovled in the process of writing, printing, and reading tangible books as opposed to literature online. One of the concepts being discussed in this article is the author's including of the reader in the active process of investigating thinking, shifting of personal identity, and teaching the reader personally. It is as though when you are turning the physical pages of the book you are communing with the author himself. That is why I am so passionate about the physical presence of my Bible. I am communing with the Author Himself as He guides me through His plan for my life; a transformation of identity and developmental process to become more like Him.
Soli deo Gloria
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