I thought that it was very interesting to hear Birkerts’ opinion and ideas about the Hypertext and the revolution of turning books into an electronic source of literature. He brings up the fact that there are two sides and opinions to the idea of having a book as a new hypertext. There is one side being the extremists-the ones that say, “the book is no longer the axis of our intellectual culture” (152). And the others, including Birkerts that do not want the revolution of technology to take over the print of books. “I am proof of the fact that many of us are still habit-bound, unable to grasp the scope of the transformation that is underway all around us” (152). Birkerts goes on to say that everyone will eventually be able to adjust to the changes or so the extremists say. But other people who enjoy reading, who enjoy the printed text, rather then the virtual world of trying to find your novel, characters, and plot line, will not transition to this virtual world very well.
After reading this part of the Chapter 11, “Hypertext,” I definitely agree with Birkerts’ statement of “But those of us who live by the word, who are still embedded in the ancient and formerly stable reader-writer relationship, will have to make our difficult peace,” (152). Personally, if all books were in a hypertext form I would never read for enjoyment or for school. I would absolutely hate reading all the time, because as of right now I really dislike reading Patchwork Girl, which is in hypertext form. So if all novels were in an electronic form and had to be read by clicking and trying to follow a map, that is hard to read, I would just become very frustrated and would give up. Also, when reading for enjoyment it should be easy and allow you to go to another world where the characters come to life and allow you to be taken to a place of relaxation, suspense, adventure, and whatever the plot of the novel is trying to convey. I do not read often but when I do read, I enjoy relaxing and easily going through the words of the novel to experience the plot and what emotions the characters are experiencing. I love a good novel when I can empathize with the characters and pretend as if I am in the shoes of the character or as if I am right beside the characters following them as they make their decisions, whether good or bad. I personally wonder if Birkerts thought that novels would stop being printed and the only hypertext forms of novels would be left? I hope that books are not put into the form of hypertext because I know I would never enjoy reading and would never want to read.
