Courtesy of Jonas Jacobsson
As finals approach and Connecticut College students are soon to experience academic trials and tribulations, I’ve found myself wondering: When did reading become such a chore?
As an English student I have been subjected to various types of “readings”—academic and theoretical works filled with jargon and large words, uncomfortably long articles that are offensively boring, classic literature that’s held to a higher standing than anything I’ve ever read (and also entirely disappointing when I get around to reading them)—just to name a few.
In my world, there is a distinction between books read for fun and books read for academia, and only one is supposed to benefit me. As for other people in my community, when asked about their reading habits, I often hear responses such as “I haven’t read a book in 5 years,” “I find reading boring,” or “I always start a book and then never finish it.” In a world increasingly filled with technology and fast-paced life, this sentiment distresses me.
What I really want to do is to convince you to read for fun. Reading a book is part of the human experience, and although I may be pandering to my department, literature should be an essential part of academic and personal development, and it should also be enjoyable. Reading is an entertainment device, a tool for learning and developing writing skills and literacy, and a way to discover and engage with perspectives other than your own. It’s also an alternative to doom-scrolling on TikTok or stalking people on Instagram—and I promise it’s much more fulfilling. Reading novels has the peculiar effect of placing a reader directly into a character’s thoughts and feelings, and taking them out of the world they themselves live in. This effect is relevant in discourse on empathy. By exposing ourselves to the feelings of others, we allow ourselves to understand them.
Reading allows us to empathize with fictional characters, but these skills are transferable to real life as well. Reading books also allows you to transport yourself to a different setting and experience it through a character’s eyes. If you read, you are given the chance to immerse yourself in a new place, one that may not even exist in real life.
My argument remains the same whether you’re reading graphic novels, realistic fiction, historical fiction, erotica, poetry, romance novels, or memoirs. It doesn’t matter what you read – as long as you’re doing it. When you’ve found your niche or genre, it’s important to read things you like. If you’re reading a book, and it’s not entertaining or developing you, you should stop reading. (Unless, of course, it’s for an assignment.) It’s not worth it to force yourself to read something that is not interesting, when reading is such a joy. The “chore” of reading something shouldn’t be reinforced by your desire to finish a book.
Another benefit to reading a lot of books is that you can say you’ve read a lot of books. Maybe the feeling of academic superiority is what you need to motivate you to read. The more you read, the more you can brag about it.
My argument is as much a reminder to me as it is a request for anyone who reads this – read more, be excited about reading more, and share your excitement.
This summer is the perfect time to start your reading journey. Go to the library, the thrift store, or Barnes and Noble, and pick something that looks fun—and NOT for any other reason.
