Literature and Friendship

I realized today, while talking excitedly, sometimes talking over each other, about symbolism, themes, allegories, and the significance of certain plot points of a Joyce Carol Oates novella with a friend, that one of the things that makes a friend a really good friend is being able to talk literature with them.

There's something about engaging each other literarily that adds an element of dynamism to a relationship. There's something magical about being able to incite each others' minds to acts of critical thinking.

I'd venture to say that bonding over the written word is one of the most intimate forms of bonding. When you truly engage with a piece of writing, to some degree, your heart gets caught up in it. When you're able to share that ardor with someone else who taps into that same reserve, your brains become friends. There's something special about that.