Reading backwards

Although Leonardo Da Vinci was a master at writing in mirror image, and I suspect this is a lefty talent, I can't write in mirror image. But I can read both backwards and in mirror image (or a combination of these) decently enough. (Remember this post?)




I recently read Barbara Kingsolver's Poisonwood Bible which was fascinating. I loved the taste of the writing and I loved the story. One of the characters, Adah, has hemiplegia which causes her to be left handed and think of things with a very different perspective than most people. She is very interested in palindromes and often reads books forwards then backwards and finds a different, albeit interesting, story with each reading. Although she is mostly silent, she is alsoincredibly brilliant and creative. She even has an alter-ego, Ada, which is more in line with her preference for palindromes.

Ironically the author's name, Hannah, is a palindrome!

Again, while I can't (and don't) claim to be nearly as brilliant as Adah or Da Vinci, I do read some books backwards first. I don't usually analyze my reading habits consciously and so only recently discovered this.



With some books that are disturbing me or I need to know who to cheer for, I read them from the last page backwards through the last few chapters. Yes, I read page 300, then page 299, then page 298, and so forth. I usually start at the last paragraph on a page and work my way back up the page. (However, I always read the sentences in staunchly Roman fashion from left to right... I'm not quite as creative as Adah in that sense.)

I really wish this was the order in which English was read.

I recently tried to read the last chapter of a book by starting at the beginning of that chapter, but it really didn't make any sense. It makes more sense when I start from the last page and work backwards. Go figure. Blame it on my "sinister" preferences...

I don't do this with all books, and in fact I don't do it with most books. But there are some that I just need to know what the final outcome is before I invest days or weeks to fretting over it. Oddly enough, this has never ruined a book for me before. (I don't read the endings of mysteries or other books where the ending is supposed to be a puzzle that you slowly piece together and try to beat the characters or narrator to the conclusion.)




And now that I'm aware that I read books backwards, I see that I actually really enjoy the flavor it gives to a book. I wish I could describe it but I am at an utter loss. (We'll blame that on being a lefty, too.) Suffice it to say, it really adds to my reading experience and does not detract from it when I read some of the book backwards first, then read it from the beginning in the neurotypical fashion.

I've never been one of those people, though, that finds books or movies easily ruined by knowing the outcome of the plot. My best friend and I have a good understanding of this and routinely share endings of movies with each other so we can make informed decisions before spending time and money on entertainment that will not entertain. And many a book I have found out the ending of and still thoroughly enjoyed the experience.


So try it out, just once. See what alternate story you can find hidden within the backwards pages of a book. You might be surprised!