Writers Aren't Readers but Talkers Who Hear with Fingers

So this is the thing about writing:

The Word was first spoken, yes?

Speaking, not reading, is at the heart of words. We read Job's debates, but they were first spoken. At Babel the builders' spoken language was confounded. We are directed to shout praise to the Lord, not write it down with a lot of exclamation marks. Jesus' sermons were spoken affairs, though he did teach from scripture (which, for the most part is only a written record of what was originally spoken.)

That must be why, when I read one of the very best books, I feel it in my ear, not my eyes.