The article recounts the author's experience volunteering as a reader for Roger Butler, a gay blind man in Oxford, starting in 2003. Their initial meetings involved navigating shyness and avoiding personal topics, but gradually they began to bond over literature, including novels by Alan Hollinghurst and memoirs by Edmund White. The author reflects on the unique challenges of collaborative reading, enhancing both their literary appreciation and personal connection while working together to enjoy the written word.
"We both shy, avoiding topics of conversation that might seem too personal... Roger, I later learned, called to ask the academic who had introduced us whether I was absolutely, definitely one of us."
"This was an education for me in learning to read collaboratively: progress is slow when you say the words aloud, skimming isn't an option..."
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