one of my favourite quotes, from emerson: βI cannot remember the books I've read any more than the meals I have eaten; even so, they have made me.β
I think it is the emotional messages and lessons of the writing that reigns paramount, however I do not think that dissuades the importance of the intricacies of said writing. The fine details matter just as much as the big picture, as there is no big picture without fine details. Over time, the details fade until only the impression remains, so, too, does the impression fade and distort. I would consider it -
@ashavedbear, you make a good point & and beautiful image. I think I focused so much on impression because it can outlive the details many times over. But you're right, that details precede the impression.
loved the article. i used to have that odd expectation too, to think that the books i read for pleasure i should expect myself to have an encyclopedic recall of. but it's not a competition. finding a passage that strikes you, that upon recall enables you to more succinctly communicate a life experience or sudden expansion of worldview, is what makes reading so worthwhile. your last line wraps it up well, as does the
I totally agree!
one of my favourite quotes, from emerson: βI cannot remember the books I've read any more than the meals I have eaten; even so, they have made me.β
I think it is the emotional messages and lessons of the writing that reigns paramount, however I do not think that dissuades the importance of the intricacies of said writing. The fine details matter just as much as the big picture, as there is no big picture without fine details. Over time, the details fade until only the impression remains, so, too, does the impression fade and distort. I would consider it -
worthwhile to preserve the details for as long as is reasonable and to reaffirm them when suffiecent degradation has taken place.
@ashavedbear, you make a good point & and beautiful image. I think I focused so much on impression because it can outlive the details many times over. But you're right, that details precede the impression.
loved the article. i used to have that odd expectation too, to think that the books i read for pleasure i should expect myself to have an encyclopedic recall of. but it's not a competition. finding a passage that strikes you, that upon recall enables you to more succinctly communicate a life experience or sudden expansion of worldview, is what makes reading so worthwhile. your last line wraps it up well, as does the
(cont.) emerson quote above.