Whether it be book launches or readings I find that these days our appreciation of literature has become so inward, so very quiet. I often find launches and even readings excruciatingly tense, mute affairs. Where has the passion gone in our appreciation of writing? Granted I am not advocating full-scale pandemonium but I do feel we have become rather subdued and very conservative in our reception of the spoken word.
I remember my favourite ever reading was with seeing Famous Seamus Heaney) at the literature festival in Clifden southern Ireland. OK, it took place in a local pub by the sea and of course his work is well known, but by God was it great to hear the clapping, shouting and clamour for more poems from the crowd. In contrast, a poetry reading I went to last week had no more than a few quiet sighs in reaction to the words and a few piercing stares in my direction when I let out a loud "hooray!" on the announcement of one poem's title.
Of course this may all mean that I am losing the ability to behave myself at sophisticated public events and should think about channelling my taste for verbal appreciation into watching football. But I really have the nagging feeling that it wasn't always like this; that our reaction to the spoken word has become dreadfully tame.
So, let's have a noisy debate: Should we shout and laugh more at readings, or are you more comfortable with quiet contemplation?
