Reading Literature You Don't Like

[DystopianGypsy]

Hello, all! :wink5:

I've recently encountered a difficulty in my "literary endeavors" (a silly way of putting, I know). Ordinarily I enjoy reading a great deal -- but only as much as the literature permits. Although I may be enamored with one book or author, I'll find another to be an insufferable tedium.

My question is, how do you force yourself to read a book that you don't want to? I'm not currently enrolled in any English courses, so it's not a pressing issue. Nevertheless it's a skill I would like to cultivate for when I'll need it later on in college.

How do you find the resolution and concentration to continue reading, when you're on the verge of slipping into a coma? There are a great many books I dislike, but that I want to learn to appreciate.

Any thoughts?

P.S. Please excuse my poor writing. English isn't exactly my forte! :frown5:

[Alexander III]

Personaly If I dont like it I dont read it. For me literature is not knowlege or an academic pursuit, it is simply and purley pleasure. I dont drink wine I dont like, I dont sleep with girls I find unatractive and I dont read what doesnt appeal to me.

Though it is not the best aproach at university as my poor grades reflect, I stick with it.

[Desolation]

Life's too short to spend with people and books that you can't stand.

[cafolini]

Hello, all! :wink5:

I've recently encountered a difficulty in my "literary endeavors" (a silly way of putting, I know). Ordinarily I enjoy reading a great deal -- but only as much as the literature permits. Although I may be enamored with one book or author, I'll find another to be an insufferable tedium.

My question is, how do you force yourself to read a book that you don't want to? I'm not currently enrolled in any English courses, so it's not a pressing issue. Nevertheless it's a skill I would like to cultivate for when I'll need it later on in college.

How do you find the resolution and concentration to continue reading, when you're on the verge of slipping into a coma? There are a great many books I dislike, but that I want to learn to appreciate.

Any thoughts?

P.S. Please excuse my poor writing. English isn't exactly my forte! :frown5:

You don't learn to appreciate what you don't like other than you already did. You appreciate it and run away from it.
It's hard to answer your question without knowing if you dislike or fail to like. Anything said in that regard without knowing you better would be pointless.
But assuming that you are mature enough to read well, I would recommend critique of what you don't like. Any english course most likely will give you choices, but again, learn how to critique to contribute what you have to say.
Giving a finger sometimes is a form of critique if a more civilized one doesn't work. Ha!

[Aylinn]

I don't think reading books I don't enjoy will do my any good, so I don't force myself and leave them for some other time.

[Drkshadow03]

Hello, all! :wink5:

I've recently encountered a difficulty in my "literary endeavors" (a silly way of putting, I know). Ordinarily I enjoy reading a great deal -- but only as much as the literature permits. Although I may be enamored with one book or author, I'll find another to be an insufferable tedium.

My question is, how do you force yourself to read a book that you don't want to? I'm not currently enrolled in any English courses, so it's not a pressing issue. Nevertheless it's a skill I would like to cultivate for when I'll need it later on in college.

How do you find the resolution and concentration to continue reading, when you're on the verge of slipping into a coma? There are a great many books I dislike, but that I want to learn to appreciate.

Any thoughts?

P.S. Please excuse my poor writing. English isn't exactly my forte! :frown5:

I agree with what everyone else said so far. Life is too short. There are too many books. If you don't like it, don't waste your time.

However, I would modify the advice a little. I have had books I hated or couldn't stand the first time around. I think there is something to say for trying again after you get older or at a different point in your life. I've found that a lot of books I disliked the first time I really enjoyed at a later period, either because I was older and had newer experiences so I could relate better to the book, had read other books that helped me understand the perspective of the original book that I struggled with better, or I just read it in a different mood (like not being busy with my job).

It really depends what your goals are.

[Emil Miller]

If, as part of your studies, you are required to read a book that you don't like, you will just have to grin and bear it. However, apart from that, simply avoid books that you don't like. The moment I feel that I ought to read a certain book, it's dead in the water. Reading should be instructive and a pleasure rather than a chore

[MystyrMystyry]

For general reading they're called chapters, shelves and bookmarks, and I think it's why they were originally devised. I believe an effort should be made on all the works regarded by others as 'great' and 'classic', even if they aren't your bag of fresh strawberries. You read a bit and put it down for a few days - or weeks - or months - or however long, until you're in the mood to tackle another chapter.

There are a lot of books that don't do it for me on initial embarking, and a number that only grow in intensity toward the end - making what has come before just the background to the climax. But read the climax without what came before and you'll get neither the impact nor the point.

There are many books that only really seem to make sense on the second reading (though it may be due to how attentive the reader was the first time), but that also depends on the author's ability to maintain your interest.
There are any number of 'classics' that are only vaguely deserving to be called that to any individual reader - especially really long and unyielding nineteenth century yawnfests - Damn you to Hell, Arnold Bennett!

Perhaps just listen to the audiobook in the hammock or bath if it's a required college text that you know you're not enjoying, and read the important parts again later (just in case they've been abridged).

[billl]

Since you're apparently in high school, I think part of the problem would be a naturally-short attention span, maybe. Maybe that isn't it exactly, but I think high schoolers are naturally more ready to find something tedious. I think, then, that the best advice might come from looking back to what it was like reading stuff during high school.

Like the OP, I found some books basically impossible to read the whole way through. The books I had the easiest time with were brief and/or fast-moving. However, I sometimes enjoyed longer books, or slower books.

I remember I ended up enjoying The Red Badge of Courage (a book that initially bored me, and sort of smelled bad as I remember) because I had nothing else to do (I was visiting a relative's house), and so I eventually began to visualize elements and get interested in the story. I also remember a Dickens novel became pretty interesting to me, because the characters and the setting were so richly developed--it might've been long and less-than-action-packed, but upon reflection I found that there was a lot to think about, and the characters were interesting enough to care about moving forward. It took longer, but it was like a good movie, I guess.

Basically, my advice would be to maybe take some time after you've read a chapter or two, and see if thinking about what happened during that particular section is at all interesting. If it isn't interesting, maybe try to see why other people might have found it interesting--if you can get interested in those things, that might be a kind of growth. Of course, copying the tastes of other people isn't to be too strongly recommended; but especially early on in appreciating art/music/lit (and in life in general) people tend to learn from and adopt (and adapt...) the tastes of others.

I don't think you need to worry too much about finding some famous literary works boring--you will always find some to be like that, but more and more will become interesting with time probably. At the moment, the amount of different things out there for you is maybe making it hard to stay with just one for a long time, I'd guess. But sticking with things and thinking about them can be more interesting than finding new things right away--some long and slow books you might want to never end (perhaps that's happened already).

Anyhow, to summarize:

1. Try to find what is interesting about the book. After you've read a bit, think back to what happened. Is it, in fact, more interesting than the process of sitting down and reading page after page (which is what you've been dong, and getting tired of)? Try to get excited about moving forward and seeing what happens next.

2. Also, sometimes language is pretty interesting in itself. I mention this because it seems in your post that you (the OP) might like writing. Different writers have different styles. Some, you might love right away (and the style might be what makes the book easy to read), but other ones might take a while to get the hang of. Some, you will probably NEVER like. But, again, if you can "crack the code" of how some other people like something, it might make the books more enjoyable, and might give you interesting ideas about writing.

And here, I want to say that any study of writing by a young writer can lead to imitation. There's nothing terribly bad about that, it's experimentation--but try to be aware of it, and move on to your own style. It's good to appreciate more and more different things, but originality is a lot more interesting, as far as it can be accomplished. In the end, you should read what you read because you like it--and write what you write they way you see and say it.

[Dark Muse]

I do not know if there truly is a way to acquire a taste for reading something you are simply not enjoying. I was lucky that most of my assigned reading I did acutally enjoy, but there were some of which I did not care for that I had to read, and ultimately you simply get it done becasue you have to do it. You just have to keep plowing your way through the book.

Some things which may help make the task more bearable is to try and find at least some aspect of the book which you might like or at least tolerate. Is there at least one chrachater who you kind of like or interests you in some way? Or are there certain passages in the book that you acutally enjoy? Try to find at least one positive thing, or one tolerable thing in the book that you can focus on.

And on the occasions when I did have to read a book which I found particularly difficult to get through it might help to take it in small amounts, when you do find you are at the point of wanting to shoot yourself in the head rather than read another page, than put the book down and do something fun, than try and come back to the book again later.

Reading background material on the author, if you know about the author's life might also help give you a new perspective upon the book. If you find out something really interesting about the author it might make you more inclined toward reading the book, or if you know more where the author was coming from you might better understand why they may have written the book the way they did. You can begin to make connection between the book and the authors life and experiences.

It might also help if you can get together with a small group of fell students and discuss the book while reading. In one of my classes a group of students set up a discussion online where we would talk about the book while we read, and sometimes we would just rant about things, talk about the things we did not like and it did make the reading experience all in all more enjoyable.

[My2cents]

If you read a book you detest from cover to cover giving it 75-80 % level of your attention, I think it gives you a psychological justification to disparage it. Really that's about the only benefit that I can think of in forcing yourself to read a book that you don't have to. I've done it a few times, and in my case it was because I couldn't stand the thought of having bought books only to let them sit on the shelf gathering dust.

[Calidore]

If the book's assigned and you have no choice, try asking the professor to clue you in on either what he likes about it, or, if he doesn't like it either but thinks it important, what he wants you to look for in it.

[stlukesguild]

As others have suggested, as a student you will probably need to simply buck up and read a lot of stuff you might not initially love. Recognize that at your age it is quite likely that what you like is going to be greatly impacted by your lack of experience with given forms, conventions, and even uses of language or vocabulary. Be open enough to give everything an honest effort. I'd also suggest you recognize that some works which you find do not click with you now may really grab you years later so don't write anything off completely.

At this point in my reading I'm closer to sharing the opinions of Alexander and Emil. I read for the pleasure it brings me. If something doesn't bring me pleasure I will look elsewhere. This need not mean sticking with the simple and easy pleasures. After a certain degree of experience those works which are too "easy"... too cliche... too pandering... can fail to please, while works which challenge... which approach things in an unexpected manner... can become imminently pleasurable.

[Austin Butler]

What's to say? Why give valuable time in your life to books you don't like?

[PeterL]

I enjoy reading good literatue, and I do not enjoy reading bad literature. Therefore, if I co not enjoy reading ssomehing it is not good literature, and I feel no reason exists for me to read it.

[hawthorns]

Hello, all! :wink5:

I've recently encountered a difficulty in my "literary endeavors" (a silly way of putting, I know). Ordinarily I enjoy reading a great deal -- but only as much as the literature permits. Although I may be enamored with one book or author, I'll find another to be an insufferable tedium.

My question is, how do you force yourself to read a book that you don't want to? I'm not currently enrolled in any English courses, so it's not a pressing issue. Nevertheless it's a skill I would like to cultivate for when I'll need it later on in college.

How do you find the resolution and concentration to continue reading, when you're on the verge of slipping into a coma? There are a great many books I dislike, but that I want to learn to appreciate.

Any thoughts?

P.S. Please excuse my poor writing. English isn't exactly my forte! :frown5:


My advice would be to change your focus a little (if you haven't already). In high school, you're tested and lectured on who, what, when, and where's. In college you're tested on how, what if, and why's. Try to start thinking deeply about what exactly it is that's putting you in coma, rather than just the events of the storyline. Is it the prose, pace, dialogue, author's message? Some novels, no matter how well regarded they are, will strike us as boring, offensive, or absurd simply due to the subject matter. I had to read Lord of the Flies in HS and hated it; I still do because I find the hypotheticals absurd. I think pedophiles are disgusting, so Lolita isn't at the top of my list either. But if you've no choice, try the above and start thinking in allegories, metaphors, character development, symbols, etc., rather than banal events. This is, after all, what great literature inspires. But even then, don't feel bad that you aren't in love with it. Some will lend themselves to layers of challenging analysis without it being pleasurable. Like any other art, our tastes are personal and specific.

[KCurtis]

I think pedophiles are disgusting, so Lolita isn't at the top of my list either. But if you've no choice, try the above and start thinking in allegories, metaphors, character development, symbols, etc., rather than banal events. This is, after all, what great literature inspires. But even then, don't feel bad that you aren't in love with it. Some will lend themselves to layers of challenging analysis without it being pleasurable. Like any other art, our tastes are personal and specific.

I think the great majority of people think that pedophilia is disgusting, but these are the same people who read Lolita. We read it because it is Nabokov's brilliance at work in the novel- the main character also thinks pedophilia is disgusting. It is a disturbing, beautifully written book, although hard to read just because of the subject matter.

[Arrowni]

You can read books you don't like if you can find them interesting. If you don't find them interesting, but you can always find them interesting later on, you're free to reread.

[LitNetIsGreat]

Hello, all! :wink5:

I've recently encountered a difficulty in my "literary endeavors" (a silly way of putting, I know). Ordinarily I enjoy reading a great deal -- but only as much as the literature permits. Although I may be enamored with one book or author, I'll find another to be an insufferable tedium.

My question is, how do you force yourself to read a book that you don't want to? I'm not currently enrolled in any English courses, so it's not a pressing issue. Nevertheless it's a skill I would like to cultivate for when I'll need it later on in college.

How do you find the resolution and concentration to continue reading, when you're on the verge of slipping into a coma? There are a great many books I dislike, but that I want to learn to appreciate.

Any thoughts?

P.S. Please excuse my poor writing. English isn't exactly my forte! :frown5:

It depends what your goal is. If you are, or want to be a student of literature or the arts, then you need to read the foundation texts and whether you enjoy them or not is of little importance.

Could you conceive of a mathematics student not studying multiplication because they don't like it? Or a biology student dropping cell division because they thought is was dull? Of course not, but it seems to be the attitude to those studying literature sometimes. It's ridiculous.

You seem to me quite studious and I admire the fact that you say you are not on an English course so I don't direct those thoughts towards you at all - I'm just speaking generally - but if you were to want to study I would advise reading some solid foundation texts that you do enjoy as well! This way then at least you can do a bit of both before you make your mind up what you do.

[TurquoiseSunset]

I didn't read the other responses, so someone might have said this already, but researching the book and reading it with sparknotes (or the like) helps. You might uncover interesting aspects about the back-story of the book that will keep you reading even if you don't really like it or the writing style.

[Ecurb]

What's to say? Why give valuable time in your life to books you don't like?

You might want to learn something. Let's face it, many physics texts, math books, works of philosophy, and historical texts aren't all that much fun to read, but the reader may be more educated, once he has finished. The notion that "literature" comprises novels and poems is silly.

Novels, however, are another cup of tea. You might be assigned novel reading by a teacher (I can think of few surer ways of turning teenagers off to novel-reading), but other than that there is no reason to read a novel other than for pleasure. However, some novels are very difficult, and the pleasure can only be attained through hard work and thorough study.

[Alexander III]

You might want to learn something. Let's face it, many physics texts, math books, works of philosophy, and historical texts aren't all that much fun to read, but the reader may be more educated, once he has finished. The notion that "literature" comprises novels and poems is silly.



That is a very good point. But some people read to learn, and some read for pleasure and some read for pleasure and learning. But those two things are the same, people who read for knowlege, read so because knowlege gives them pleasure, if it did not they would not read. At the end of the day it all buubles out to pleasure.

[Ecurb]

That is a very good point. But some people read to learn, and some read for pleasure and some read for pleasure and learning. But those two things are the same, people who read for knowlege, read so because knowlege gives them pleasure, if it did not they would not read. At the end of the day it all buubles out to pleasure.

Knowledge may (for example) give people the ability to make money, and money may give people the ability to feed their families, and feeding their families may give them pleasure. I'll grant that. But saying they read for pleasure involves following a dubious and tortuous path.

[Arrowni]

There is also the satisfaction of outgrowing a certain mindset you used to have when reading. I know there was a time I could only read light literature, and after a very soft and natural evolution I started liking something more "artistic". This gave me pleasure even aside from the one that the books themselves produce.

Let's not even begin with the sense of belonging that can be entitled to you because of that.

[TheChilly]

Hello, all! :wink5:

I've recently encountered a difficulty in my "literary endeavors" (a silly way of putting, I know). Ordinarily I enjoy reading a great deal -- but only as much as the literature permits. Although I may be enamored with one book or author, I'll find another to be an insufferable tedium.

My question is, how do you force yourself to read a book that you don't want to? I'm not currently enrolled in any English courses, so it's not a pressing issue. Nevertheless it's a skill I would like to cultivate for when I'll need it later on in college.

How do you find the resolution and concentration to continue reading, when you're on the verge of slipping into a coma? There are a great many books I dislike, but that I want to learn to appreciate.

Any thoughts?

P.S. Please excuse my poor writing. English isn't exactly my forte! :frown5:

You don't need to worry. If you don't want to read it, you don't have to read it. There are many books worth reading, and many books (even some regarded as classics) not worth the trouble despite its critical acclaim at the time period (i.e.: "Vanity Fair" sitting on my bookshelf, but I don't feel like reading it).

Hell, as much as I want to appreciate Denis Johnson's Tree of Smoke, I kinda want to put it down a good bulk of the time just because the exhausting amount of poetic prose in the piece gets COMPLETELY in the way of what portrait the story is trying to paint (No, I don't care if it won the National Book Award in 2007... even The Corrections can keep me crazy-occupied for hours on end... just because Franzen's smooth like that).