You may or may not have heard the saying "No two people ever read the same book." I feel that this definitely holds true for any book, even children's books. This can simply be due to differing mental images of what characters and places look like, or it can be attributed to the perspective brought to the book by the reader. Either way, the same book can hold a completely different experience for different people. This is just a small part of the reason why I love books so much. Even for me, the same book holds a completely different experience each time I read it.
Two people can read the same pages and have different opinions and take-aways from that page, just like two people see two different movies. One person can absolutely love the movie, and the other hate it and never want to see it again. That aside, a book can take two people on the same quest toward the same goal or destination, but each will experience a different journey. Part of this is each individual's personal life and what they are bringing with them into the story. They can bring personal experiences, preconceived opinions about the book or its topic, and preferences. One person can pull for the antagonist, while another can be endeared to the protagonist. It all depends on each person's personal preference and/or the author's writing style.
A friend and I both had to read the same book in high school, The Red Badge of Courage. I thoroughly enjoyed, but he cringes whenever the title is mentioned. Where he experienced a sad tale of a young boy playing soldier, I experienced a journey from boyhood to manhood, a journey of discovery. Granted, we both read it for two different classes, but the perception and the experience of the book is still the same. This same friend read Edgar Allen Poe in high school a year before I did. Again, there is a difference of opinion about the work, but this time it is reversed. He loves it and can't understand why I don't like it as much as he does. The stories are... entertaining, but I don't think I would ever pick up a copy of Poe and read it just because I have a few extra minutes and want to be creeped out.
The same can be said about The Chronicles of Narnia. I, along with most if not all of my friends, see Narnia as a metaphor for a spiritual journey as well as a great adventure. However, not everyone sees these classics the same way I do. I think what most people think of when they think of Lewis' works is a land of magic, mythical creatures, and adventure, which it is. I see it that way too. But that is as far as their experience with the book goes. There are so many more examples I could give about the different perceptions of books, but I won't go on.
Have you experienced anything like I have mentioned? Something different? Are there any books you think have different meanings for different people? I would love to hear your story! Please comment and tell me!
Happy reading!
