Venturing into someplace unknown with Internet literature

JOY SANTIAGO / MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

Amanda Watkins

Silhouette Staff

Nowadays, it is very rare to find someone reading a book in their free time. With the chaos of school, work and a social life, most people choose quick Facebook sessions on their computers or playing Bubble Blaster on their phones over sitting down with a literary classic.

Having little free time is a major factor that affects how much reading people do beyond school work, but convenience and accessibility also matter.

In last week’s edition of the Silhouette, an article [“Textbooks, meet technology” – March 1] discussed the option of using an e-reader as an alternative to a paperback book. Although the e-reading technology does allow for portability, it is a pricey alternative and still adds weight to a growing surplus of laptops, smart phones and iPods that are already being toted around.

Since most of us already carry an abundance of gadgets that support the reading of a text document, why go through the hassle of buying a new device? Isn’t there a way to bring accessible reading to pre-existing technologies?

Enter author AJ Hanks, whose solution to this dilemma lies in the creation of an easily accessible webpage that allows the reader to enjoy his novel on the go. For his publication, Someplace Unknown, Hanks has developed a webpage, Someplaceunknown.com, where readers can preview the book, purchase it for $9 (a major discount in comparison to prices at your average bookstore) and receive a custom URL that will allow them to access the novel at any time and from any place.

Hanks, who previously worked in publishing with a literary agency in NYC and is a self-professed “iPhone addict” explains that “digital publishing avoids leaving readers out.

The Internet provides ridiculously good access.” He further explains that the primary difficulty with reading in today’s society has to do with finding a way to create a connection between today’s devices and classic reading habits through a happy technological medium.

“The problem is that technology is evolving at a breakneck speed, but the way writers’ thoughts are conveyed hasn’t really changed.” By developing an interactive webpage, Hanks is able to develop his novel with all desired aspects while maintaining a level of ease and accessibility for the reader through use of the Internet.

Someplace Unknown is told from the alternating perspectives of the protagonist, Mike, and his father. After Mike spends his school days tormenting a classmate, it comes as a guilt-ridden shock when this classmate is later found dead.

As he travels across America with his parents, Mike is forced to come to grips with the death without bringing up the fact that he believes he is responsible for his classmate’s suicide. All the while, his father is observing his son’s behaviour and is himself pushed to come to terms with a similar event from his past: the suicide of his brother.

“It’s an old story that reveals how bullying has always been around, but its causes are more complicated than most are willing to address, and its effects spread to much more than the unfortunate victims,” explains the author.

With a story that reveals so much about the characters, it’s both helpful and interesting to have more than just text to tell it. With AJ Hanks’ implementation of a literary website, as the reader moves along through the story, custom coding and interactive elements such as pop-ups and links allow the reader see the story represented visually and develop a more complex understanding of the characters’ emotions. “This is what all good fiction should do. Entertain you. And let you identify with someone else. And by doing so, you might feel less different and less alone. And you might have some compassion for other folks too,” says Hanks.

Although nothing can replace the rewarding experience of flipping the pages of a book, there’s something to be said for convenience.

Aside from the ease factor, this medium also appeals to a new demographic and allows for more diverse and widespread sharing. While previous generations favoured classic print literature, today’s generation appreciates a book that goes along with their gadgets.

Most students – if not all – have 24/7 access to technology. Using these resources for reading allows a more tech-savvy generation to have easy access to literature at all hours of the day.

Additionally, having books online allows for instant access to the content. Internet-published literature does not require rifling through stacks of books at the library or book store, or hunting down the correct title on an expensive e-reader.

It removes the middle man of e-books and paperback novels.

“Also, when reviews are published digitally, interested folks can read the book immediately. One click. And they can read from anywhere – Antarctica, Beijing, Sydney, wherever. No need for a trip to a store or for device compatibility,” says Hanks.

So the next time you turn on your computer or take a look at your phone, think about all that your device can offer. With new ideas in the sharing of literature, reading can be incorporated into your schedule with the click of a mouse or the touch of a screen.

“Hopefully it’s a push in the right direction. Or at least something different,” explains Hanks. With a new found accessibility and a creative aspect of expression, it seems that this push into “someplace unknown” might just be a push in the right direction.