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ValerieW-17, 29 September 2009
READABILITY
As a result of all my years of reading experience, I’ve come to truly appreciate a certain quality of literature that I shall, for the lack of a better word, coin as “readability”.
In case the definition of the word isn’t clear even by the fact that it’s a portmanteau (a creative combination of two words, and yes, I did just plug my own creativity :o), I am referring to the sheer ease of reading a particular work, the flow of the sentences, the x-factor of good writing, if you will. It’s an aspect that a shockingly high number of “good literature” lacks. Sure, these novels or plays or whatever contain plenty of literary features such as imagery, metaphors and symbols galore, but many also embody an astonishing absence of incentive to read on.
Now, this is all well and good if the reader in question has an infinite amount of persistence, but the truth of the matter is that the vast majority of people do not, in fact, have the patience of a saint. People write for a whole host of reasons, but one of the most common ones is the urge to communicate a (hopefully) profound message through the written word. In order to do so, however, one must somehow catch the interest of the reader so as to get him or her to continue reading (hence the term “readability”). In other words, it doesn’t matter how profound an author’s message is, if he or she fails to get his or her audience to read on, he or she has failed to communicate effectively.
Many a literary snob has shunned bestsellers in the past, citing “trashiness” as the principal reason for their dislike. However, bestsellers are bestsellers for a reason, and more often than not, that reason is their very “readability”. Granted, these books may lack a certain profundity or “meaning” in the eyes of many, but hey, you gotta admit, they are pretty darn addictive. As for me, I think I’ve got the readability part down, but my writing lacks profundity, at least for the moment. But hey, we all need something to aspire to---I guess I’ve just found a new goal.
COMMENT BELOW: Anyone have an example of a book that is high on profoundity but low on readability?
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Reading best-sellers
one reason to read best sellers is to have an idea of what is in our collective consciousness, but what if the best seller is about something that completely bore you? or, that you really dislike?
:)
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~ Margaret (Mags)
"Live a meaningful life"