The mistake is that too many people are confused about what reading fiction is for. They believe you're supposed to read novels to be improved, to be present at the clash of great ideas, to be challenged by new and profound ways to look at life. And then it turns out, they're too tired.
Oh, they buy the books, the serious award winners, described by publisher and critic alike as important, ground-breaking, even deeply disturbing. They pay their dues. But when the moment comes, once again they fall off. Just for now, just as a stopgap, sheepishly they slink off, inadvertently to read fiction for the right reason: because it's fun.
- Donald Westlake, introduction to Murderous Schemes, 1996
No comments:
Post a Comment