"You see, the interesting thing about books, as opposed, say, to films, is that it's always just one person encountering the book, it's not an audience, it's one to one"

In this quote, Paul Auster highlights the deeply individual nature of checking out books as compared to taking in films. He highlights that reading is a singular activity, where a private encounters and engages with a text alone. This remains in stark contrast to films, which are frequently experienced in a social setting, whether in a cinema or at home with family and friends.

Checking out a book belongs to having an one-on-one conversation with the author. The reader brings their own experiences, feelings, and imagination to the story, producing an unique interpretation and connection with the text. This particular engagement with a book enables a level of self-questioning and internal dialogue that is hardly ever paralleled in the communal consumption of films. Each individual's perception of a book might differ considerably, with the reader having the autonomy to stop briefly, show, and revisit passages at their own pace, additional improving the individual experience.

Films, on the other hand, need shared attention to a common narrative, where the visual and auditory aspects guide the audience's responses and emotions jointly. While movies provide an effective medium for storytelling, the shared experience can be less personal as it is influenced by external factors and the presence of others, serving more as a cumulative journey instead of an intimate encounter.

Auster's quote welcomes us to value the unique bond that forms between a reader and a book. It acknowledges the introspective privacy of reading, where singular engagement can lead to profound personal insights and psychological resonance. This individualistic journey of understanding and individual growth is valued in Auster's perspective, as books provide an unmediated, personal relationship with their stories, cultivating a connection that is distinctly private and deeply personal.