Reading Complexity Quotes

From the reader's view, a poem is more demanding than prose.

I believe the structure of 'House of Leaves' is far more difficult to explain than it is to read. And while I'd like to lay claim to some extraordinary act of originality, truth is I'm only taking advantage of capabilities inherent in everyone.

Writing for adults, you have to keep reminding them of what is going on. The poor things have given up using their brains when they read. Children you only need to tell things to once.

After a few drinks, my mom would recite her lines as Portia in 'The Merchant of Venice' from her high school play. But I first discovered Shakespeare properly when I was about five. I used to look for the most complicated books I could find and pretend to be reading them. I wanted people to think I was smart.

I don't think there's anything wrong with someone having to read a poem twice. Or even a book.

There are good books which are only for adults. There are no good books which are only for children.

My favorite reader is one that revisits books and gets something new out of them each time.

To read a novel is a difficult and complex art.

An active and creative reader is a re-reader.

I don't think anyone wants a reader to be completely lost - certainly not to the point of giving up - but there's something to be said for a book that isn't instantly disposable, that rewards a second reading.

There is no surer way to misread any document than to read it literally.

I've read short stories that are as dense as a 19th century novel and novels that really are short stories filled with a lot of helium.