Novel Experiences: On Page, In Ear, On Screen

This study examines the experience of literary reading as an example of document work. It launches from the insight that books are mediated through technology, and all technology presents affordances. When a book is remediated, how do the affordances of the remediated technology change the reader’s experience with the book? Using analytical perspectives from phenomenology and semiotics, this study examined reader reviews of Ulysses and Infinite Jest in three formats: hardcover, audiobook and Kindle. Findings suggest that, while immersive experiences occur with both novels across all formats, reviewers of the hardcover books demonstrated deeper experiences with the novels, while reviewers of other formats demonstrated sensitivity to issues in the remediation process.