What We See When We Read (Book Review)

"Reading mirrors the procedure by which we acquaint ourselves with the world. It is not that our narratives necessarily tell us something true about the world (though they might), but rather that the practice of reading feels like, and is like, consciousness itself: imperfect; partial; hazy; co-creative.”

Have you ever told anyone that when you read a book, it's as if a movie is playing in your head? I have said this countless times, but I never understood how complicated the process of reading actually is until I read Peter Mendelsund's book, What We See When We Read. As readers, we are often unaware of the many steps we take when we read a story. It turns out that reading is not a linear path from start to resolution; it is a creative process by which we engage with the author, the characters, and with each description provided. 

Mendelsund begins by explaining the extent to which our imaginations shape the narrative we are reading. An author may give us only a short description of our protagonist, but the mind uses memory and creative instinct to fill in the blanks, thus allowing us to engage more fully with the text. Indeed, according to Mendelsund, the best authors leave the details to the reader's imagination:

"Books allow us certain freedoms- we are free to be mentally active when we read; we are full participants in the making (the imagining) of a narrative" (192).

Our minds are powerful tools that allow us to share in the formation of people and places and then act as director of that story’s performance. One of the most important points Mendelsund was making throughout his book was the power of the reader. The author fills a very important role, that is granted, but the reader has control of memory and experiences, of imagination and creativity. Without the reader, a story would be only a series of meaningless words on a page.

"Words are effective not because of what they carry in them, but for their latent potential to unlock the accumulated experience of the reader. Words 'contain' meanings, but, more importantly, words potentiate meaning" (302). 

What We See When We Read is wonderfully effective at illustrating the power of words and the power of the human mind. This amazing book taught me so much about something of which I believed I was an expert, which is something I both welcome and appreciate. I truly enjoyed the experience of reading this book, not just for Mendelsund’s wit and intelligence, but for the amazing illustrative designs that reinforced his ideas on almost every page. I highly recommend that any reader pick up this book, as it is both an exciting and compelling read.