1.8.16

I will have to slightly revisit perhaps the most popular of the early ntamo catchphrases, where I posited that ”nothing that initially interests more than seven people can ever alter the consciousness of the masses”. Despite the multiple ironic undertones here, I still seem to indicate that the final goal of literature is to be read – by ”masses”, whatsmore, and bought by same. I no longer think that way. My view is – and both ntamo and my illness have taught me – that it is enough for literature to be written, and that in the end the only significant readers of any book are the ones through whom it creates new writing. Everyone else – and regardless of how much joy and what experiences they glean from books – are the benign parasites of literature.

                                                   Leevi Lehto