“Reading is the sole means by which we slip, involuntarily, often helplessly, into another’s skin, another’s voice, another’s soul.”  – Joyce Carol Oates

I do not know that I fully agree with Ms. Oates on this one.  But, I do get that the whole concept is why so many blogs and stories and books are so enjoyable.  Alone without books in our daily lives, we maybe share the words of our friends and people we meet but we do not so fully absorb these as when we read the words.

The same I suppose might be said about movies and well written television shows.  But, then I think about music and how having spent countless hours absorbed in music composed by others playing on guitar or singing or other instruments, I have often felt that I have had glimpses at what brought about certain choices.  Then again, maybe it was because I read the books and interviews and sometimes received lessons from these that imparted a more thorough insight than some got by simply playing?

What do you think?  I think there are many ways of experiencing the voice and sharing in another’s soul.  I mean if you truly listen and not just wait to reply…