ABSTRACT
Authored by practicing book designers, the chapter outlines an approach for recognizing the somatic aspects of reading, with the intention of shifting literary theory and designerly knowledge closer to each other. The authors apply their practice-based knowledge while focusing on somatics particularly in the context of experimental literature. Design-based methods of abstraction and reading are applied to two hybrid books, Fun Primavera (2020) by Elsa Tölli and Yours (2017) by Margot Ferrick. The authors then distinguish three “somatic devices” foregrounding the involvement of the soma in reading acts. Proposals instead of recipes, these will work as prompts for further discussion on the somatics in books and reading.
