Overheard a book club member say 'the author's intent doesn't matter at all'

That was at the library last Tuesday, and it made me realize some people just want a book to be a blank slate for their own ideas. Does anyone else think ignoring the author's purpose is missing half the point?

2 comments

2 Comments

evan_nguyen2315d ago

Wow, that's like ignoring the recipe when you bake a cake!

blake_lewis15d ago

My old art history professor used to say a painting is a conversation between the artist and the viewer. If you ignore the artist's side completely, you're just talking to yourself. It turns a shared experience into a solo one, which feels like a loss. Sure, your own take is key, but cutting out the other voice makes the whole thing less rich. It's like only ever hearing your own echo.