Readers imbue books with life

“No book is complete until it has found a reader, not alone because books are written to be read, but because an author can only express a part of himself.

“The reader completes the circle of expression by transmuting art into life again.” These words are from Holbrook Jackson’s work, “The Reading of Books.” I found the quote in an article on the making of a creative reader by children’s author Peggy Christian.

There is much talk about creative writing, but little recognition that the reader, too, must be creative in order to complete the cycle and make the words meaningful. For example, if you read, “There is a tree by the water,” you will most likely see a different picture than the one your neighbor sees. Every reader creates an individual story from the printed text. In fact you can even read the same book at a different time in your life and get a very different story.

We are living in an age where words are everywhere, but literacy seems to be declining. Even for many people who can read, it has become a chore.

How sad! Peggy Christian thinks those who view reading as work are passive readers who are being buried under “an avalanche of meaningless information.” She has written a wonderful article in the latest Journal of Public Libraries talking about her experiences as a literacy tutor. She urges those teaching reading to get the student involved with all “six senses – sight, hearing, touch, taste, smell and feelings.”

Those who read “Life of Pi” as part of Bangor Reads in January experienced creative reading. It was amazing how the same words produced so many different stories. The Bangor Public Library thanks all the presenters and participants for sharing in the joy of reading and making the winter little easier to get through.

If you have a young reader in your house, you may want to consider the programs at the library. The library children’s department has programs for the very tiniest tot to teen forums. You may see the schedule on the library’s Web site at www.bpl.lib.me.us or call 947-8336 for more information.

Upcoming programs at the library include:

. “Allagash Wilderness Waterway” a slide show with Tim and Susan Caverly, 2 p.m. Satuday, Feb. 28.

. Dr. Seuss 100th Birthday Celebration, 3:30 p.m. Tuesday March 2.