Neil Gaiman talk on Reading and obligation

[Kenny]

The Reading Agency Talk:
"On 14 October 2013 Neil Gaiman gave our second annual lecture at the Barbican Centre, London. The following us a full transcript of the lecture.

It's important for people to tell you what side they are on and why, and whether they might be biased. A declaration of member's interests, of a sort. So, I am going to be talking to you about reading. I'm going to tell you that libraries are important. I'm going to suggest that reading fiction, that reading for pleasure, is one of the most important things one can do. I'm going to make an impassioned plea for people to understand what libraries and librarians are, and to preserve both of these things.

And I am biased, obviously and enormously: I'm an author, often an author of fiction. I write for children and for adults. For about thirty years I have been earning my living though my words, mostly by making things up and writing them down. It is obviously in my interest for people to read, for them to read fiction, for libraries and librarians to exist and help foster a love of reading and places in which reading can occur. ...."

http://readingagency.org.uk/news/blog...

[MrsJoseph *grouchy*]

Kenny, you always find the coolest stuff! How are you? Haven't seen you around in a while. :)

[Kenny]

Thanks! I'm around, doing well and hope you are too! Trying a bit to stay off-line and do my art and writing. :)

[Brenda]

Gaiman is a wonderful and right-thinking man.

[Ken]

Great lecture.

[Becky]

Brenda wrote: "Gaiman is a wonderful and right-thinking man."

He really is. Slightly off topic, I watched a documentary about H.P. Lovecraft over the weekend and his contributions and insight were very interesting and intelligent. I haven't really been a huge fan of Lovecraft - he's one of those authors that I want to like more than I really DO like, but I wonder if I'd feel differently after the new perspective.

Anyway - Neil Gaiman is one of the authors that I have a HUGE amount of respect for. He's well spoken and so smart, and he understands and respects readers. And he writes fantastic stories. What's not to love? :D

[Lee]

I do find at least part of this true. I don't know much about the prison system. But from the different people I have come into contact with in my life, readers tend to have more empathy than others. And understanding around them. Not to say non readers aren't nice people, or that they aren't intelligent. But I do believe that reading opens your mind to possibilities you may not have otherwise.

[Penny]

Great link thanks Kenny! :)

[L.G.]

Gaiman has always impressed me with not only his eloquence but also his practicality. I very much agree that libraries are important.