I nowadays have the feeling that not only are most bookmen are eccentrics, but even the act they support--reading--is itself an eccentricity now, if a mild one. Interrupted narrative has become a natural thing. One could argue that Dickens and the other popular, serially published nineteenth-century novelists started this, and the television commercial made interruption come to seem normal. But the silicon chip has accelerated the process of interruption beyond all reckoning: iPods, Blackberries, laptops all break narrative into shorter and shorter sequences.
In his reflections, Larry McMurtry observes that the act of reading has become increasingly viewed as an eccentric activity, especially among contemporary readers and "bookmen." He points out that interruptions have seeped into the act of storytelling itself, suggesting that this trend traces back to the serialized novels of the 19th century, like those of Dickens, which were structured to accommodate breaks in narrative.
McMurtry further argues that modern technology has significantly exacerbated this phenomenon. Devices such as iPods, Blackberries, and laptops foster an environment where attention spans are shortened and narratives are fragmented, making it common for people to engage with stories in disjointed ways. This shift highlights how the traditional experience of reading is evolving in response to advances in technology.
