Tuesday, October 16, 2012

They Say, "I hate to read" & What Makes Quality Reading?

Gorman and Suellentrop answered my question.  Why do kids say, "I don't read"?  I thought they were being punks.  I was right.  Gorman and Suellentrop say that chances are that this is said "mainly for show, to mark turf, to challenge authority".  However, they go on to say that chances are they are reading, just not things that school librarians would put out for a booktalk.  They might be reading things like magazines, newspapers, the internet, or graphic novels; these things would not cause ridicule if they were caught reading them. 

At least now I know that there is a reason, not that they are just jerks or idiots.  It makes me feel better about the youth of America.  Our goal now is to find some good reading material that he would be interested in; don't force him to read something he has no interest in reading.

Now, what makes a good book, or quality reading?  I think it is personal taste.  My neighbor used to draw for Marvel Comics, so he loves to read comic books (not graphic novels).  When I took an english class in college, the teacher said that poems that rhyme, or lymrics are the worst forms of poetry created, and should not be read.  I'm not a poetry fan, but I happen to like lymrics and rhymes (ex. Dr. Seuss, Shel Silverstein, "There once was a man from Nantucket. . .").  I don't like other forms of poetry.

The music I choose to listen to is excellent (Bing Crosby, Animaniacs and songs from Dr. Demento), but others disagree.  I think their stuff is garbage.  It is all personal taste.

For reading, read what you like, because if you like it, it is a good read.

2 comments:

  1. I would have to agree that the answer to the question, "What qualifies as "good" or "quality" reading material?" is almost impossible to answer. The rules and judgement that goes into analyzing reading material for "literary quality" is often arbitrary and subject to change over time. It was just a few years ago that literary critics snubbed their noses at graphic novels and comics as quality literature. Now many college English professors are adding graphic novels and comics to their curriculum. Additionally, history shows how women writers were rarely taken seriously in literary circles; however, now there is whole areas of study dedicated to women writers and their literature.

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  2. I love your bluntness and sense of humor:) I think you are totally right that what make "good" or "quality" material things that fit the taste of the reader. The important thing is to always be providing materials that will be enjoyable to teens to read, and also using them as a possible segway to other relevant material that they may not think they will enjoy, but once they get a tast of something new it could change their views! I got my husband to read Jane Austen He tried several times and when he eventually got it as a cd and listened to it, he loved it! It was the style of writing that challenged him, but not necessarily the content (although he wasn't too thrilled abou that either) that kept him from giving it a chance. Thanks for the post!

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