The reader (Vietnam)

The reader. I often met her browsing the history section. It was as if all those wars, coups, and treaties happened just so that our reader could find a couple of hours of distraction for these cold days.

Down south, I was at a street-side food shop enjoying Goi Tai Heo (pig ear salad). Across the street, I saw a woman slow down on her bicycle, alight, and rest it beside a tree. She opened a book and settled down to read under the tree. My thoughts drifted to why text is still so endearing.

Our imagination is the best rendering engine. An intriguing novel is perhaps the best virtual reality experience. With a book, we render our own characters and environs, building upon the hints that the author provides in the text. This way we are active collaborators in the storytelling process.