Here's a hilarious post from Meg Cabot about reading and forced reading in schools. I'm of the same opinion.
Plus I once had a librarian ask me if I was going to read anything other than Babysitter Club books for the year. I was annoyed and I think I took out two as an act of rebellion. But at that age (6th grade), there wasn't much for me that I liked. There were these books that had a heroine and always two guys on the cover. She had to choose between the two men - they were mostly historical fiction. I think I read all those too.
Someone came into the library three weeks ago and for help gathering books. She described one book as a Catcher in the Rye book meets... and I had to tell her I never read that book. I tried it, but it never took.
I've long gotten over reading books I don't enjoy. There's just too many great books out there on my list to read that I can't even bother wasting my time.
I hated reading for high school. I stopped reading a bit in high school because it was so dull. I never "understood" what the author was obviously saying. This happened through college where I had my into to English course. I hated that professor because he said that shyness wouldn't count towards your participation grade - but it totally did (I'm wicked shy). I never understood what he was talking about. I NEVER got the short stories we talked about. I almost changed majors because clearly I was in the wrong place. I don't remember what changed my mind, but there were other English that I did enjoy.
I see teens coming into the library looking for summer reading books with their parents and half of them want the shortest book on the list - they don't even care what it's about. The other half want something interesting. There's also the other section and many people choose not to have that option of reading anything you choose - but to stick to something on the list. I never understood that because if you're forced to read - it might as well be something you're interested in.
Plus I once had a librarian ask me if I was going to read anything other than Babysitter Club books for the year. I was annoyed and I think I took out two as an act of rebellion. But at that age (6th grade), there wasn't much for me that I liked. There were these books that had a heroine and always two guys on the cover. She had to choose between the two men - they were mostly historical fiction. I think I read all those too.
Someone came into the library three weeks ago and for help gathering books. She described one book as a Catcher in the Rye book meets... and I had to tell her I never read that book. I tried it, but it never took.
I've long gotten over reading books I don't enjoy. There's just too many great books out there on my list to read that I can't even bother wasting my time.
I hated reading for high school. I stopped reading a bit in high school because it was so dull. I never "understood" what the author was obviously saying. This happened through college where I had my into to English course. I hated that professor because he said that shyness wouldn't count towards your participation grade - but it totally did (I'm wicked shy). I never understood what he was talking about. I NEVER got the short stories we talked about. I almost changed majors because clearly I was in the wrong place. I don't remember what changed my mind, but there were other English that I did enjoy.
I see teens coming into the library looking for summer reading books with their parents and half of them want the shortest book on the list - they don't even care what it's about. The other half want something interesting. There's also the other section and many people choose not to have that option of reading anything you choose - but to stick to something on the list. I never understood that because if you're forced to read - it might as well be something you're interested in.
Great post! I definitely agree with you. I have that problem with poetry. Nine times out of ten I just can't wrap my head around what in the world the poet is trying to get across. I'm an avid reader and at the head of my class so it's not that I'm incompetant - poetry with lots of figurative language just confuses me. Apparently, my teachers can't relate..
ReplyDeleteSo basically I just want the writer to come out and say whatever it is they're wanting me to know. So I stick with the regular novels.