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This book develops a method called intimate reading to investigate how ordinary readers are deeply moved by what they read, and the transformative impact such experiences have on their sense of self. The book presents unique narratives of such experiences and suggests a theory of transformative affective patterns that may form the basis of an affective literary theory.
‘This highly original and illuminating book is a methodological tour de force offering rich and compelling means to analyse, understand and demonstrate the transformative power of literary reading in its living context. Essential reading for everyone concerned with the place of literature in the world today.’ —Josie Billington, Professor of English Literature, University of Liverpool, UK
Thor Magnus Tangerås’s book on life-changing encounters with literature is a groundbreaking work within reading research and the psychology of reading, adding new perspectives and knowledge to our understanding of the reading experience.’ —Ragnar Audunson, Professor, Library and Information Science, Oslo Metropolitan University, Norway
Thor Magnus Tangerås is an associate professor of rhetoric at Kristiania University College, Oslo. He teaches courses in rhetoric and narrative methods.
Preface; Acknowledgements; Chapter One: Introduction; Chapter Two: Intimate Reading: A Narrative Method; Chapter Three: Veronica’s Bruise; Chapter Four: Nina’s Life- Long Friend Flicka; Chapter Five: Esther’s Episode; Chapter Six: Jane’s Visionary Reading; Chapter Seven: Sue’s Buried Life; Chapter Eight: Reading by Heart: Lexithymia and Transformative Affective Patterns; Bibliography; Index.
Part One, Introduction; Intimate Reading: a hermeneutically oriented narrative method; Part Two, Narratives and Interpretations; Five Readers Re-membering: Intimations of life-changing reading experiences; Chapter 3, Narrative One: Veronica’s Bruise, Interpretation: Listening to the Heart; Chapter 4, Narrative Two: Nina’s Life-long Friend Flicka, Interpretation: The Nostos of MySpace; Chapter 5, Narrative Three: Esther’s Episode, Interpretation: From Discord to Concord; Chapter 6, Narrative Four: Jane’s Visionary Reading, Interpretation: The Big Bang and the View from Above; Chapter 7, Narrative Five: Sue’s Buried Life, Interpretation: Re-membering the Body’s Song; Part Three, Discussion; Chapter 8, Reading by Heart: Literature as Spiritual Necessity; Chapter 9, Towards a Theory of Transformative Affective Patterns; Bibliography; Index.