Reading - A Dying Art?

[Montero]

The reading vs reading discussion - could you give some examples of each? I'm not quite getting my head around the sorts of books you are referring to.

[Parson]

Originally Posted by Ursa major

Yesterday (the 6th), I heard someone on the radio claim that the set texts for her daughter's A level English course (17 & 18 year olds) were Black Beauty and Watership Down. (I can't help thinking that a bit of exaggeration was going on.)

At least those are solid books, classics even. It beats a lot of trendy "hot" books which will fill those library shelves no one reads in years to come. One might want more from an A level English course, but with Black Beauty and especially with Watership Down, there are layers to the books which bare contemplating.

[JadeTrickster]

Sadly, I have to agree with the reading is dying theory. Only 3 of my friends read(though those are all my friends), and when I read at school people mock me and try to take my books away! Even worse, no one in my class had ever heard of Fahrenheit 451 or LOTR before being forced to read them in class

[j. d. worthington]

Originally Posted by Montero

The reading vs reading discussion - could you give some examples of each? I'm not quite getting my head around the sorts of books you are referring to.

It has little to do (generally speaking) with the sort of book, but more the approach the reader takes. If you're reading to fill the time, or for a "rousing good adventure" as it were, chances are you are only reading at a very shallow, surface level. If, on the other hand, you are reading for that purpose, but also for what the writer may have to say about their worldview, their experiences on what it means to be human, the beauty of their use of the language, the various levels of symbolism, the dynamic contradictions inherent in nearly all texts, etc., etc., etc.... then you're reading at a much deeper level, and able to extract a great deal more from the experience, and leave (at least with a good book) feeling you've spent your time well, learned something both about life and about yourself, and had an intellectually and emotionally satisfying aesthetic experience. It's the difference between a switchback or ghost train and visiting some special site filled with history and beauty; or between candy floss and a steak with a truly rare and wonderful vintage to accent it....

[Lith]

Or a quick (and fun!) example:

Book-A-Minute Classics: Animal Farm

Some books lend themselves more readily to multiple or "deeper" (to be a bit of a literary snob for a minute) readings, however few books are entirely without merit, if one reads them in the right way(s).

This is, I think, why so many students find the literature they are made to read in schools so boring. They are not picking up on the things the author is showing, and lacking more exciting action and dramatic elements, there's little to interest them. I was one of them too, until I read the Scarlet Letter, and had a teacher that didn't just make us read it but made us understand the symbolism of it- no teacher before that had put in the effort, for whatever reason. The result is I started reading again, knowing that books could be more than just a few hour's entertainment.

[Overread]

you raise an important point Lith - too many students are given "classics" and told to read them - so part of the fun is gone - and they are then not intoduced to the book in the correct way - the book is read to get grades and that is what the teacher teaches in many cases, a failing if you ask me.
(I know I could not stand the "assinged" books - never any fantasy tales!!)

[j. d. worthington]

Originally Posted by Overread

you raise an important point Lith - too many students are given "classics" and told to read them - so part of the fun is gone - and they are then not intoduced to the book in the correct way - the book is read to get grades and that is what the teacher teaches in many cases, a failing if you ask me.
(I know I could not stand the "assinged" books - never any fantasy tales!!)

Oh, indeed. Lots of literature teachers out there have a great deal to answer for.... In the hands of a good one, such a course can be a joy and turn kids on to reading in droves. In the hands of the mediocre (let alone the rotten)... it poisons the well perhaps forever....

[Montero]

Originally Posted by JadeTrickster

Sadly, I have to agree with the reading is dying theory. Only 3 of my friends read(though those are all my friends), and when I read at school people mock me and try to take my books away! Even worse, no one in my class had ever heard of Fahrenheit 451 or LOTR before being forced to read them in class

Sorry to hear that. However, not quite sure it is data for reading is dying - purely because exactly the same used to happen to me at secondary school 20 years ago. They eased off as we all got older - I think 14 is a bit of a turning point.
Mind you, haven't forgotten sitting quietly reading in the 6th form common room, and someone sticking their face over my book to ask "Are you alright?" Done nicely, but the implication.... They had just been made a prefect and had delusions of grandeur.
I do know some people who were brought up to believe that it is rude to read when there is another person in the room, you should be making conversation. I was brought up to respect that someone reading doesn't want to be interrupted. (Amazing the variations in "good manners" in one culture - but that's for a different thread. )

[JadeTrickster]

My dad had an ironic answer. "As long as Final Fantasy exists, people will read something with substance."

[BladeOfFire]

Hehe. That is so funny, but true. There is so much text in the FF games.

[LJonesy]

There is so much text but compared to other things out there it doesn't compare in quality.

[Connavar]

Originally Posted by j. d. worthington

Oh, indeed. Lots of literature teachers out there have a great deal to answer for.... In the hands of a good one, such a course can be a joy and turn kids on to reading in droves. In the hands of the mediocre (let alone the rotten)... it poisons the well perhaps forever....

A good teacher is the reason i read so much and enjoy it these days.

I remember as a kid teachers forcing you on classics you didnt want to read cause they were forced on you.

I still cant read Jane Austen cause of that. I dont even want to try her books.

I remember a teacher selling The Count Monte Cristo to me so well that i wanted to read it so much. My first book and still a fav.

I see my youngest siblings being forced on books these days. I give them my books. I gave my little sister Strom Front by Jim Butcher. She liked it so much that she did a report on it for school.

[BladeOfFire]

Originally Posted by LJonesy

There is so much text but compared to other things out there it doesn't compare in quality.

Exactly my dear fruend

[j. d. worthington]

Originally Posted by Connavar of Rigante

I still cant read Jane Austen cause of that. I dont even want to try her books.

And that is a great pity. I wasn't forced to read Austen but, when I finally did approach her books on my own, I was a bit trepidatious, due to the reputation. What I found was a wonderful writer with sparkling, barbed wit, an incisive insight, and a great deal of warm good humor....

Faugh! How many wonderful reading experiences have been spoiled for so many by either poor teaching or making what should be accessible books seem like these towering monuments to sterility and dullness.....

[brsrkrkomdy]

Originally Posted by JadeTrickster

Sadly, I have to agree with the reading is dying theory. Only 3 of my friends read(though those are all my friends), and when I read at school people mock me and try to take my books away! Even worse, no one in my class had ever heard of Fahrenheit 451 or LOTR before being forced to read them in class

In the adult world, if that were to happen when someone were to take any of them away from my hands, he's gonna be staring down the business end of a fist before it crashes. Of course, I digress. It has yet to happen. I wouldn't tolerate those types of jerks trying that stunt.