The ludic reader reads for pleasure. According to Victor Nell in his paper “The Psychology of Reading for Pleasure: Needs and Gratifications”
“The reading of light fiction, most usually in book form, is of special interest for at least three reasons: First, fiction reading accounts for most ludic reading (Nell, 1985). Second, the experience of being lost in a book, in absorption or entrancement, is most strongly associated with the reading of fiction and of “narrative nonfiction” (Wolfe, 1975). Third, since the eighteenth century the reading of fiction, unlike other kinds of reading, has been the target of merciless critical asceticism and has even been regarded as addictive: The circulating libraries were “tuppenny dram shops,” and “to read novels, as to drink wine, in the morning, was far into the [nineteenth] century a sign of vice” (Leavis, 193811965, pp. 8, 50; see also Nell, 1985).
Read the entire article here.
The Ludic Reader 
NOVEL FOR REVIEW: A Soul’s Calling, 340 pp., Wanderlust Publishing House, ISBN 13-978-0-61569-535-8
Dear Christie,
Sorry to approach you through your comments but I could find no email address to send this to. And, I know your time is limited and have to be very selective in the books you review, but I would count myself very lucky if you considered my book A Soul’s Calling for review on your website.
A Soul’s Calling is a memoir about a man who listened to his heart instead of reason. The book, a work of speculative non-fiction, is part travelogue, part hiking adventure, with shamanism and magic woven throughout.
A Soul’s Calling transports readers to Nepal’s rugged but enchanting Khumbu Valley where mountains speak and nature is imbued with a special kind of magic. The novel is an inspiring modern day adventure that weaves the timeless themes of living an authentic life, the consequences of power, and what a man would do for unrequited love.
Scott, a forty-something attorney, is average in every way except one. He has a connection to the Other Side. He speaks to Spirit and Spirit speaks to him. He sees, hears, and interacts with an invisible realm that is beyond ordinary human perception. When Scott learns his soul has been spiritually compromised he travels to the ancient kingdom of Nepal to win it back. Once there, he hikes the Himalaya carrying a mysterious bundle and a stick laden with prayers from Luminous Beings hoping to come face to face with the greatest mountain on earth: Mount Everest. As his journey unfolds, Scott is called on to battle his fear of heights, the thin air, and his physical limitations. Powerful, sweeping, and deeply moving, readers will search their hearts as the book draws to a stunning conclusion.
If this sounds appealing, I would be happy to provide you with a Kindle copy through Amazon. To read an excerpt from the book, please visit http://www.scott-bishop.com or you can view it using Amazon’s Look Inside feature here:
With every best wish,
Scott Bishop
Author
http://www.scott-bishop.com
info@scott-bishop.com
Hi Scott,
Thanks for the opportunity to read your book. I’m not a Kindle owner (or an e-reader of any type owner) and I truly have WAY too many books on my tbr pile to add any new titles. Good luck!
Christie
Here I am!
Yay!