Saturday, October 31: Mississippi Mud
FROM THE HORSE’S MOUTH
by John M. Floyd
 |
Plenty has been said at this blog, by me and by others as well, on the subject of writing and writings, and also on the subject of reading. But not much has been said about readings.
I’ve been to a lot of author readings, usually those that follow signings, and I always have a good time. I get to meet the writer, I buy a book, I see friends there, and I enjoy much of what the author has to say in the presentation. What I don’t usually enjoy is the reading itself. In other words, I don’t much like, and never have liked, hearing an author read from his or her own work. There — I admit it.
I have two reasons for this. One is because, as I mentioned, the reading often follows a signing, and I’ve usually already bought the book at the signing. So here I am, sitting in a room with a newly purchased book that I’m looking forward to taking home and starting. Why, at this point, would I want to listen to the author read from it? Besides, some of them read for twenty minutes or more. Sweet jumpin’ Jiminy.
My second reason probably isn’t any more convincing than the first, but here it is anyway: Unlike the dialogue in plays and screenplays, novels and short stories were not written to be presented aloud. That wasn’t the intention, and the words don’t have the same flow — or impact — when they’re read by the eye and when they’re heard by the ear. I just don’t think prose was meant to be performed on stage, like a song.
I don’t even like to hear myself read aloud from my own work. I’ve done it lots of times, and I’ve even been told afterward that I did a good job (okay, okay, it was my wife who told me that, but still). I just don’t find it pleasant. Maybe if I had a more expressive and melodious voice . . .
Here’s what I do like: I enjoy hearing authors read for a couple minutes if they feel they must, then address questions from the audience, or maybe share information about the writing of the book or the writing process itself. Lawrence Block did that, when I attended one of his signings/readings, and Elmore Leonard and Greg Iles and Carolyn Haines and Michael Connelly and Dennis Lehane too. Several of them didn’t read at all — they just had a relaxed conversation with the audience. Hey, if folks of that stature think it’s a good idea, it must be a good idea. I’ve even been told by regular folks who are not themselves writers that they too enjoy this kind of presentation — or discussion, actually — more than just a reading. Everybody likes to sneak a look behind the scenes.
I realize I’m probably in the minority here. What’s your opinion on the subject?
Boy, I’m glad I’m not reading this column out loud . . .
Well, I’d like to get a recording of you reading one of your stories and post it on “Aural Argument”.
John,
I agree that I’d prefer an author to read not much more than a snippet from a book I’ve just bought.
However, I enjoy hearing short stories read aloud by good readers, as happens on Selected Shorts, which runs on NPR stations. (Granted, those readers are professional actors.) Also, I think your story “Midnight” would make a wonderful read aloud.
You put my name in some really high cotton, John. Thank you. And I wanted to merely agree with you. Books are written to be read in the reader’s inner voice. I enjoy hearing a sampling of the author’s voice, so I catch the emphasis and rhythm of his/her voice. But an over-long reading is hard for me–heck, I write in tiny bursts and then jump up to clean stalls or stir a pot of chicken and dumplings I’m cooking for the dogs (god, they love Southern cooking!) In a Q & A session or in a casual talk, the writer is able to engage a little with the audience, which I find to be more enjoyable. But again, that’s just me.
Jmi, that’s kind of you. I’d probably have to get one of our kids to help me figure out how to do it.
I was once asked to record a story for HEIST magazine in Australia. I have the resulting CD but have never listened to my story. And one of my AHMM stories was picked up by Matilda Ziegler Magazine for the Blind in New York and was done on audio tape and in Braille, but that recording was done by (thank God) a professional actor.
I’m not saying that I never enjoyed listening to a story being read aloud — but I much prefer reading it silently to myself . . .
Except for Steve Steinberg, the fossils who write this blog all seem to have survived the extinction of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago. There is an invention that seems to have passed them all by called the audiobook. Albeit most audiobooks are narrated by professionals, a large percentage (17% of the 1,778 in my database) are read by their authors.
Since all of you limit your interest to one single genre — things that never happened — we’ll note that Tom Bodett, Fanny Flagg, Tony Hillerman, Garrison Keiller, Stephen King, Barbara Kingsolver, John Le Carre, Armistad Maupin, and Amy Tan have narrated their own fiction.
Aside from Mr. Floyd’s pejorative opinion about authors reading their books, many con$umers of audio literature don’t agree. Does anyone think someone can read Garrison Keiller’s stories better than he can? Does anyone think the privilege of hearing Stephen King, one of the world’s most famous authors, read his own stories has no value? Tony Hillerman sounded like a dottering old codger when he narrated his Navajo stories, but he’s dead now. His voice and his personal interpretations would be lost forever if we didn’t have those recordings.
Only being able to see the author’s words on a printed page doesn’t satisfy the many avid audio readers who have abandoned the codex for hearing “the master’s voice.”
Tony, it’s Steve Steinbock.
And I don’t know why you think we’re fossils just because John doesn’t like to hear authors read. I don’t remember saying anything negative about audiobooks in any of my columns. Although I don’t make a habit of them, I do have recordings of Leo McKern reading several Rumpole stories that I wouldn’t trade for the world. If I don’t listen to audiobooks when I drive, it’s only because I’ll get too interested in the narration, lose focus, and cause a sixteen car pile-up on the 405.
But even if we didn’t like them, how would that make us fossils? The audiobook is not exactly a cutting-edge new invention. I own readings on 12-inch vinyl records.
Finally, I can’t agree that we the regular contributors limit our interest to a single genre. I would say rather that we all participate in a uniquely-themed web log. The topics that pop up around here are all over the map. Sometimes we even deal with facts.
Mr. Harris, my comments were directed more at public readings, usually those following a booksigning event, than at audiobooks. (I’ll have to look that term up–I’m sure I must’ve heard it someplace.)
I do agree that I’m in the minority on this subject. I just enjoy reading fiction more than listening to it, no matter who’s doing the talking. And I happily agree that many of my opinions are fossilized.
While I’ve enjoyed authors doing brief readings of their work, I’m much more interested in the other things they have to say. I’d rather read the book myself.
As for audiobooks, I’ve listened to them, primarily when I had a 40-mile commute to work. They were all right to pass the time on such a daily drive, but fell far short of the enjoyment of actually reading – even when the reader was Stephen King. I’m just not bent that way, I guess.
Or, I’m a dinosaur.
A quick apology for the misspellings that began my two comments: “Jmi” should have been “Jim” and “Mr.” should have been “Dr.” I just bought an Imac yesterday with a new keyboard and I’m getting used to it (although the mistakes will probably continue}.
To Carolyn Haines: Your name was already in high cotton long before I put it there. Keep up the great writing . . .
Why would I want the author to start reading a book that I just bought. Especially when they are reading a scene from somewhere in the book and I have no idea what happened before said scene. I would much rather know more about the author and/or why the topic was chosen.
The one author reading I attended (Sara Paretsky) went true to your ideal, brief reading and q & a after, so I’ll add that I do like having the actual voice of the author when it’s available. (I here praise audiobooks.) And there is a lot of short fiction that can be read aloud to an appreciative audience. Reading to somebody and being read to are not merely pleasures of childhood.
A pleasure of my adulthood is reading this column, thanks!