Blog #2 The Price of Reading Is Eternal Vigilance

In this weeks reading, " The Price of Reading Is Eternal Vigilance" we meet a 53 year old editor of The Book Review named Anatole Broyard. He begins the article by noting that he is just learning to read. He then begins going through his certain attributes that he has acquired through his respect for books. He explains that, " He saw them as absolutes, faits accomplis, and nonnegotiable." The way that it crossed me is that Broyard was almost afraid to read these books that he bought and kept immaculate and clean in his home. It is interesting to see the perspective of someone who is just beginning to read at an older age, since so many of us learn to read at a very young age, none of us can recall what it was like when we started. Broyard begins to tell us that when he purchases a book it is solemnly and completely his to do with what he pleases. He "Opens it, occupies, and stomps around in it." He certainly overcomes his fears of ruining or mistreating any of the authors words. He puts himself entirely as one with the reading, he argues with the author, he even visualizes that the book has a voice. I really loved the way that Anatole Broyard came to the conclusion that every book, good or bad had something good you could get from it. All you have to do is read it properly and it could be a great piece of writing.