Ben and I recently watched the film Shadowlands with Anthony Hopkins and Debra Winger. It’s based on the true story of the writer C. S. Lewis and how he came to meet his wife and about their relationship. You know you’re always in for something remarkable with Anthony Hopkins but oh my, this was utterly mesmerising. I was so captivated, in fact, that I watched it twice and feel I could watch it a thousand times more.
There is a scene in the film between C. S. Lewis and one of his students at Oxford in which the student says to Lewis, “My father used to say we read to know we’re not alone”.
A strange feeling of blissful warmth tinged with such sadness washed over me when I heard that line. We read to know we’re not alone. Surely there could be no better way of saying it. Doesn’t it bring tears to your eyes?
I thought back to an email of thanks I received just recently from a reader I have never heard from before. She gave a brief description of herself, her family, the place she lives with her husband and their longing for a simple, slow life doing meaningful work. She ended her note, ‘From a kindred, sensitive soul.’
Though her email was not long, her words and descriptions painted a beautiful vision in my mind of the place she lives and her simple openness made me feel as though I knew the essence of her heart. Through her words of gratitude I knew that my work had helped her know she is not alone. Her note in return did the same for me.
Towards the very end of the film, C. S. Lewis repeats the same line to one of his new students and afterwards adds a question:
“We read to know we’re not alone. Do you think that is so?”
Well, yes, I do think it is so, although I’m not sure I could have articulated it before seeing this film. That one short line has helped me appreciate with much greater clarity the writers whose words fill my own bookshelves. Writers who speak what is in my own heart. Friends I will never meet who offer me the lifelong gift through their pages of written words of knowing I am not alone.
Hope you’re feeling better Leah. Your last blog on anxiety was really meaningful. Thanks for sharing and know that your writing is very helpful to many.
Hello Andrew! Only just seen your comment, my apologies. So much better right now, thank you. And thank you so much for the kind words. I hope you are well yourself. Much love.
Dear Leah, oh yes! I definitely believe that is so. I’m familiar with C.S. Lewis but hadn’t heard that quote before. Even when I read fiction it connects me to the author and to the people and places she/he writes about. I love thinking about the person who has written what I am reading and love to find out as much as I can about them and how they came to write what I am reading. I used to call you my friend who writes from Cornwall and my husband would know right away who I meant and was always interested to hear what you had to share. Now you are Leah from the Lake District. 😊 and I’m so glad always to hear from you. Being an introvert I like having the written word/books to connect me to people. And I am glad that I can travel by reading books because I’m not likely to actually visit and see most of what I read about. So, again, thank you for what you write and for the time you give to share your thoughts. It means a lot and I want to reciprocate more so I can be a part of others feeling connected and not alone. It is such a gift to have a connection with others who I can relate to and be understood. I need that more and more the older I get.
Hello Kyla – it’s lovely to hear from you here and thank you for your part in inspiring this piece of writing 🙂 I feel the same that being an introvert there is something wonderful about being able to connect to people through the medium of the written word. And, like you say, the incredible adventure of being able to travel to far away places we may never visit in person through the magic of a page. I’m very glad you’re here.
I have a greeting card that I have had framed and hanging on the wall since my birthday in 2005. The photo on the front is of a lovely woman in colorful dress, with glasses, reading a book. She is from Calcutta, according to the bac of the card. The caption is: We read to know we’re not alone. –C.S. Lewis
It brought tears to my eyes when reading your missive to this wonderful quote. It caused me to get the frame off the wall and look at it closer. I had not remembered the date. I had not remembered what I wrote inside, but here is what I found: a thank you note to all my favorite authors, listed by name with a caveat thanking anyone whose name I’d forgotten to list, extending the thanks to all those, as well. Now I add you to the list.
Thank you, Leah
Oh Cate, your story of the card and what you wrote inside brought tears to my eyes in turn. Utterly beautiful. How wonderful it is to feel the way these stories and connections weave through our lives. Sending you lots of love.