What I love about literature

A quick jaunt into my mind.

You know what I love about literature? For the most part when you read something, you don’t personally know the author. Whether it be an article in the newspaper, a restaurant review online or a fiction novel, most of the time you start reading with a completely clean slate regarding the author (unless of course you’ve read other books of theirs).

What I mean by “clean slate” is that the written word creates a sort of even playing field. By it’s nature, it takes away the normal biases and stigmas we conjure up about someone when we are first introduced. Think about the last time you read an article in The Stranger or any similar alternative publication. Most likely the article was something sarcastic and you no doubt chuckled and admired the wit of the author and maybe even felt a little jealous of them for their ability to write so well.

Meeting someone through their writing takes away preconceived notions which tend to unintentionally find their way into our judgements when we meet people face to face. That’s the great thing about literature: it eliminates the barriers we put up and the judgments people have of each other just based on physical first impressions and societal statuses.

Writing creates this sort of perfect world where anyone can express themselves to an audience that otherwise might not have taken the time to listen.

Literature is my Utopia. Here I am not disenfranchised. No barrier of the senses shuts me out from the sweet, gracious discourses of my book friends. They talk to me without embarrassment or awkwardness.

-Helen Keller