Posted 10:16 pm Sunday, July 29, 2012
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SHELF LIFE - COLLEGE EDITION: Embracing Classic Books I’ve Avoided For Years
By ANDY TAYLOR
ataylor@tylerpaper.com
Reading never came easy for me as a child. That is not to say I struggled to learn, as my mom ensured I knew how to “sound-it-out” at a very young age. Rather, reading was never easy because I rarely found it enjoyable.
I blame this partly on the timing of my childhood. I grew up during the heart of the “Harry Potter” craze, with the most of the seven-book series hitting the shelves while I was in elementary school. But while most of my friends were hooked, I couldn’t have been less interested. Even at a young age, fantasy seemed so, well, unrealistic.
This habit continued through middle school and high school, during which I only read books I would be quizzed over (such as “The Scarlett Letter” and “The Outsiders”).
ataylor@tylerpaper.com
Reading never came easy for me as a child. That is not to say I struggled to learn, as my mom ensured I knew how to “sound-it-out” at a very young age. Rather, reading was never easy because I rarely found it enjoyable.
I blame this partly on the timing of my childhood. I grew up during the heart of the “Harry Potter” craze, with the most of the seven-book series hitting the shelves while I was in elementary school. But while most of my friends were hooked, I couldn’t have been less interested. Even at a young age, fantasy seemed so, well, unrealistic.
This habit continued through middle school and high school, during which I only read books I would be quizzed over (such as “The Scarlett Letter” and “The Outsiders”).
It wasn’t until my freshman year at The University of Texas at Tyler that I discovered the problem: I was reading the wrong books. That Christmas, the girl who is now my fiancée gave me a paperback copy of David McCullough’s “1776.” That was it. Nonfiction.
I quickly began a hunt for all of the related material I could find. I pored through biographies, such as Aida McDonald’s “Lion in the White House: A Life of Theodore Roosevelt,” as well as stories of the darker moments in American history. I couldn’t put down Candice Millard’s gripping novel about the assassination of President James Garfield — “Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President.”
I quickly began a hunt for all of the related material I could find. I pored through biographies, such as Aida McDonald’s “Lion in the White House: A Life of Theodore Roosevelt,” as well as stories of the darker moments in American history. I couldn’t put down Candice Millard’s gripping novel about the assassination of President James Garfield — “Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President.”
Through these incredible works I learned what I had been missing through the years, and I decided to open my mind to the classics, starting with “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald. After learning about my friend and colleague Vanessa Pearson’s quest to read 30 books before she turns 30, I decided to begin a reading adventure of my own.
I stumbled upon several lists compiling books every student should read before graduating college. As I am entering my senior year, this seemed to be an appropriate mission. I combined and condensed the lists into a group of seven books I am determined to finish by next summer. I selected works that cover an array of topics, including reflections on philosophy and society.
I hope to emerge with more insight into the world and the relative insignificance of everyday problems. I also hope to show Vanessa she’s not the only one around here with will power.
I stumbled upon several lists compiling books every student should read before graduating college. As I am entering my senior year, this seemed to be an appropriate mission. I combined and condensed the lists into a group of seven books I am determined to finish by next summer. I selected works that cover an array of topics, including reflections on philosophy and society.
I hope to emerge with more insight into the world and the relative insignificance of everyday problems. I also hope to show Vanessa she’s not the only one around here with will power.
