Immersion in a Virtual World

You may recall that back in August, I ranted rather, about something I had read in the essay collection Reading The Lord of the Rings: New Writings on Tolkien's Classic edited by Robert Eaglestone. This came back to me today, when I was sorting through a large pile of notes for book reviews. And I remembered that not only did Jay Bolter's comment annoy me, but so do this remark from Marie-Laure Ryan:

"immersion [in a virtual world] promotes a passive attitude in the reader" (Ryan, Narrative as Virtual Reality, p. 11)

I've been thinking a lot about immersion in a virtual world, since I've been immersed in one myself for the past couple of months, as regular readers will know. It's known to fans as the Whoniverse (short for the Doctor Who universe, logically). My own immersion in a virtual world feels far from passive, to tell the truth. I've moved from being a viewer of the New Doctor Who TV episodes, to being a "sub-creator", writing fiction that allows me to create my own characters, places and events that impact on the Doctor. I'm now actively watching the TV episodes (of both New and Classic Doctor Who), "reading" the show through an analysis of character behaviour and interactions, and analysis of plot and pace. I'm also reading (as you'll have noticed) "Doctor Who" books - fiction and non-fiction, and discussing both the TV episodes and the books avidly with everyone around me, be they devoted Whovians, or non-fans.

I have also begun to read fiction of all kinds on yet another level. In addition to reading as a "pure" reader (someone who just wants to know "what happens next?"), and reading as a critic (someone who asks how book A compares with all the other books by author X, or how it compares with other books in book A's (sub)genre), I now find myself reading as a fiction writer, wondering about complex plots, checking character behaviour for consistency (which is easier to do if only one author is responsible for writing a character, but rather harder if the character, like the Doctor, has been written by many authors and has had a number of incarnations!), looking at narrative structure - in terms of paragraphing and chapter breaks, as much as anything else. And I've concluded that my life as a reader was definitely more passive when I wasn't immersed in a virtual world.

What's Your Guilty Read ?

The Guardian reports that a survey carried out on behalf of the Costa Book Awards 2006 has revealed that Stephen King has beaten J K Rowling to the title of the UK's favourite literary guilty pleasure. 85% of those surveyed admitted to having an author they turn to for sheer gratification, but whom they might not admit to reading in public. Third place was tied between Dan Brown and John Grisham, whilst the fourth place was split between Catherine Cookson and Danielle Steel. Terry Pratchett was placed fifth.

Frankly, I'm bemused. I read whatever takes my fancy and I really don't give two hoots what anyone else thinks of my reading choices. I'll happily sit on the bus, publicly reading Harry Potter, Shakespeare, a biography of an actor I admire, or a book of poetry. People can think what they like of my choices because it's really none of their business... But perhaps others feel differently ? Do you have a guilty pleasure when it comes to books ? (Comments can be posted anonymously if you choose... *grins*)

Is Shakespeare good for the brain ?

Last week The Times reported that reading Shakespeare can excite the brain in a way that keeps it "fit", so researchers at the University of Liverpool are claiming. They are investigating whether wrestling with Shakespeare's innovative use of language can help to prevent dementia. Whilst monitoring participants with brain-imaging equipment, the research team found that certain lines from Shakespeare, and other great British writers such as Chaucer and Wordsworth, caused the brain to "spark" with electrical activity because of the unusual words or sentence structure. In particular, the use of "functional shift", such as when a noun is used as a verb, causes the brain to react "in a similar way to putting a jigsaw puzzle together", reports Philip Davis, of the university’s School of English. Professor Davis, who has a book out next week called Shakespeare Thinking, believes that reading classic literature helps children in their wider studies.

Thanks to Lee at Lowebrow Blog for the link.

Does being a reviewer affect my reading ?

I've been thinking about this quite a bit since Jen Robinson posted about it on her Blog last week. An intense discussion has taken place in the comments on the post, which you can read if you follow the link above, but here's what I said

Jen mentioned, in her remarks, that she marks passages in books with post-it notes:

I, too, have taken to marking good passages with sticky notes to include in my reviews. I like to include such passages as proof that I'm paying attention to the writing style as well as the actual narrative, so that no one thinks that my sole object is to read as many books as possible ! Just because I read fast doesn't mean I don't pay attention. (Unproofed copies of books get their errors marked up in pencil, too !)

Otherwise, the way I read hasn't really changed since I took to writing regular reviews for my Blog. I've always been one to discuss books passionately, but now I do it on my Blog, instead of boring my non-reading friends with my ravings (well OK, I do rave occasionally to friends !) - which was the main reason for starting my Blog in the first place since the reading friend to whom I raved passed away.

In the discussion that followed, Jen also mentioned that book reviewing has taken away some of her enjoyment of the books she reads as she doesn't get as lost in them as she used to do, or she doesn't get as lost so often. Jen also mentions the need "to come up for air" in order to make a note of something she's read. Here's what I said in response:

I've mentioned this before in various places, but since I did my English degree 5 years ago, I have acquired the facility to read on two levels at once (98% of the time), as a critic and as a child. My inner 6 year old just wants to know what happens next and does everyone live "happily ever after" ? My inner critic looks at the point(s) of view, the narrative structure, use of language, style, voice, etc., etc.

This has, in fact, *increased* my enjoyment of the books I read, not decreased it... But apparently, I'm luckier than some/most in that respect !

I confess that it was doing a degree in English that changed the way I read. When I started my degree, I did worry that my favourite books would be spoilt by studying them in detail, but the opposite was, and still is, true. I can appreciate books, and what their authors have achieved, more by studying them - close reading, analytical comparison, and the "dissection" of books have taught me to appreciate the art of story telling that is being practised in the books I read. I feel I am a more intelligent and engaged reader now, than I was back in 1998, before I started my degree. Does that make me a "better" reader ? The answer to that depends on what you mean by "better", of course. Is it better to be able to spot themes, recognise symbolism, observe when the narratorial point of view switches between first and third person as well as between characters ? I think so. Why ? Because it means that when I talk to authors, I have a better understanding of their art and the work that goes into making a good story, which makes my conversations with authors more interesting to me, as a reader and as a writer. But that doesn't mean I disdain anyone who reads simply and purely for pleasure. Far from it. Analysing books isn't for everyone - I know that. So I'm a better reader for a given value of better. But that doesn't mean that readers who don't analyse books are somehow worse readers. There's no elitism implied in my use of the term "better reader". The desire to be a better reader is purely personal, and it's not a goal that every reader will have, and of course, that's OK. I want people to read and to enjoy reading - I don't care what they read or how they choose to read, I only care that they read because I believe that reading makes the reader a better human being. Reading opens up minds, shows us what it's like to be other people in other places living other lives - which can only be a good thing as it breaks down barriers and helps to overcome prejudice. Which is not to say that I disdain non-readers. I feel slightly sorry for people who don't enjoy reading, simply because I get such pleasure from it, but I know very well that not everyone loves books as much as I do.

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Jen's comments from her post are reported with her permission.

EDITED to add - there was an interesting and thought-provoking article by American novelist Paul Auster in the Guardian yesterday. He says:

art is useless, at least when compared, say, to the work of a plumber, or a doctor, or a railroad engineer. But is uselessness a bad thing? Does a lack of practical purpose mean that books and paintings and string quartets are simply a waste of our time? Many people think so. But I would argue that it is the very uselessness of art that gives it its value and that the making of art is what distinguishes us from all other creatures who inhabit this planet, that it is, essentially, what defines us as human beings.

To do something for the pure pleasure and beauty of doing it. Think of the effort involved, the long hours of practice and discipline required to become an accomplished pianist or dancer. All the suffering and hard work, all the sacrifices in order to achieve something that is utterly and magnificently ... useless.

Fiction, however, exists in a somewhat different realm from the other arts. Its medium is language, and language is something we share with others, that is common to us all. From the moment we learn to talk, we begin to develop a hunger for stories.

Do take a look and then feel free to come back and discuss Auster's thoughts here.