Read who you like and what you want. I always hated literature class, mostly because it was of no interest to me as my younger version and I hated when it was pushed on me. I’m surprised I got a college degree 🙃 Later in my life I took up reading with a vengeance. And I learned a lot by reading books of my own interest. Happy it turned out that way🤓
Love this piece. I think the one area where I would disagree a little (and I'm aware it'll make be a pretentious git), is about not *needing* to read x, y, or z. That is - absolutely - true, but I think it's worth pushing oneself a bit. I'm not on TikTok, but I do follow a guy called Jack in the Books on YouTube, and I continually look to him for bite-sized criticism or a huge range of books. I don't always agree, and it's not always my jam, but I have absolutely found some bangers by listening to this (depressingly young and handsome) man with taste wildly different from own.
Basically, I think it's at least a little bit fair to ask people who enjoy reading to consciously broaden their readership somewhat. That doesn't mean people who love murder mysteries or Alex Cross novels should all tuck into "the canon" or that "the canon needs more inclusivity" (it does.) But that if you take joy and meaning from reading, it's worth pushing yourself on occasion.
Sidenote: I find Infinite Jest even less readable than Ulysses, a book I 100% battled through purely for street cred (though the Stephen chapters and a few others were worthwhile).
A.) I have a tough time with “broadening my readership” too. So like only in the past three years or so, have I started to move deliberately out of my tastes. But, having done it, I do think it’s valuable.
B.) yeah, I’m not one of the Ulysses people. I see them. But I’m not among them.
Maybe it’s the small business owner in me, but I’ve been geeky enough to run a spreadsheet and record things like gender of author, origin, if it’s in translation, etc. of course sometimes this is just superficial, but it’s useful to see tangible proof when I’m getting deep into middle aged Anglos.
I don’t think it influences my taste / buying habits, but it’s definitely affected my “next up” list sometimes.
I don’t think Lit Bros are real. Also, Infinite Jest is a great, really great novel, and I hate that it’s basically become a meme. I was a young woman when I first read it (and now I am a middle-aged woman).
I try to read everything, and I try not to be a snob about others’ reading habits.
Funny thing, Zadie Smith thinks Karl Ove Knausgaard's books are addictive like crack. I like both. I appreciate Knausgaard's 'honesty' about his retrogressive selfishness -- I don't think you're supposed to like what he's revealing (just like you're not supposed to like Heathcliff's selfish obsession!). It's not something admire or respect. Knausgaard is a great writer. So is Smith.
Read who you like and what you want. I always hated literature class, mostly because it was of no interest to me as my younger version and I hated when it was pushed on me. I’m surprised I got a college degree 🙃 Later in my life I took up reading with a vengeance. And I learned a lot by reading books of my own interest. Happy it turned out that way🤓
Love this piece. I think the one area where I would disagree a little (and I'm aware it'll make be a pretentious git), is about not *needing* to read x, y, or z. That is - absolutely - true, but I think it's worth pushing oneself a bit. I'm not on TikTok, but I do follow a guy called Jack in the Books on YouTube, and I continually look to him for bite-sized criticism or a huge range of books. I don't always agree, and it's not always my jam, but I have absolutely found some bangers by listening to this (depressingly young and handsome) man with taste wildly different from own.
Basically, I think it's at least a little bit fair to ask people who enjoy reading to consciously broaden their readership somewhat. That doesn't mean people who love murder mysteries or Alex Cross novels should all tuck into "the canon" or that "the canon needs more inclusivity" (it does.) But that if you take joy and meaning from reading, it's worth pushing yourself on occasion.
Sidenote: I find Infinite Jest even less readable than Ulysses, a book I 100% battled through purely for street cred (though the Stephen chapters and a few others were worthwhile).
A.) I have a tough time with “broadening my readership” too. So like only in the past three years or so, have I started to move deliberately out of my tastes. But, having done it, I do think it’s valuable.
B.) yeah, I’m not one of the Ulysses people. I see them. But I’m not among them.
Maybe it’s the small business owner in me, but I’ve been geeky enough to run a spreadsheet and record things like gender of author, origin, if it’s in translation, etc. of course sometimes this is just superficial, but it’s useful to see tangible proof when I’m getting deep into middle aged Anglos.
I don’t think it influences my taste / buying habits, but it’s definitely affected my “next up” list sometimes.
I don’t think Lit Bros are real. Also, Infinite Jest is a great, really great novel, and I hate that it’s basically become a meme. I was a young woman when I first read it (and now I am a middle-aged woman).
I try to read everything, and I try not to be a snob about others’ reading habits.
yeah I think this whole thing is about not being a snob about other people’s reading habits
Funny thing, Zadie Smith thinks Karl Ove Knausgaard's books are addictive like crack. I like both. I appreciate Knausgaard's 'honesty' about his retrogressive selfishness -- I don't think you're supposed to like what he's revealing (just like you're not supposed to like Heathcliff's selfish obsession!). It's not something admire or respect. Knausgaard is a great writer. So is Smith.
lol, some of those books you listed are my favorites.
That being said, I agree that some people can be pretty snobby about other people's taste in books.