“When I define polarities in my work, I actually create the space between things. I point to the question I am actually interested in, without naming it. ”
~ Alva Noto
When I look into the pages of a book – any book – I see reflections of myself in the words, phrases and sentences that I am about to devour. I’ve read some of my favourite novels several times over, at different stages of my life, and each time, I’ve found something new in those pages that I never saw before, and in doing so, I learn something new about myself that I’ve never been shown before.
I believe that nothing makes a story more unique than the perspective the reader brings to it. When writers pen their thoughts down and bring their visions, they give us a reflection of themselves in the shape of a word mirror, one that we can look into every time we read their work. And every time we take a peek, we see something new and with changing perspectives, the story changes too.
Stories aren’t mere dead words on paper – they’re living breathing entities that each turn of the page fans more life into. And like people, they’re different creatures to everyone who meets them. What I see when I read something – anything – is not the same as what you will see when you read the same story. MY reactions, my feelings towards it, its impact on me… it’s all different and unique to my perspective. When a character comes alive for me, its persona is not the same as it would be for someone else. It might not even be the persona the author imagined for their character, because it is a reflection of me and mine, and in bringing to life someone else’s work, I give life to a persona in me.
Every month, we bring you a funhouse full of mirrors that you can pick and choose from, to see which one tickles your fancy the most, or find out which one provides you with a glimpse into a different you. This month, too, we bring you more of the same.
So when you flip through these pages, what do you think you’ll find?
About the Author
Richa Mehta is a writer-editor and enjoys treading the tricky path between the two. She has several years of writing and editing experience, supplemented by a master's degree in publishing from the University of Sydney. She is also a compulsive reader and a self-appointed grammar custodian.
