Category: book Nook
What's your purpose in reading literature. Let me know what makes it significant from your own perspective? I really need your help its for my presentation for Tuesday, so please respond to this one. Thanks
Do you see any connection between reading literature, and social, political, and economic views or in general just our culture and society?
Literature lets you get into another person's mind. You can walk with them, hear what they say and think, even have sex with them. In fact, Ulysses by James Joyce takes a guy completely through an entire day of his life including everything--going to the bathroom, lust, probably more than you really want to know.
A good book can make a commentary on almost any subject. For example, the author of Uncle Tom's Cabin (whose name escapes me for the moment.) Doesn't just say "slavery is bad" she takes you into the mind of Uncle Tom and all his owners, and his contemporaries. He tells you about his pain, his simple joys, his pride and his loyalty. The author doesn't just tell you about them, she lets Tom share his experiences with you.
Oh yes, the author was Harriet Beacher Stowe. hahahaha!
Hope this helps.
Bob
I read partly to gather experience for my writing. I read to get into other worlds and see things I'll probably never see. I guess, I read to travel.
To be educated to drift away into another world and an alternative psyche, I like mine very alternative.
Stevie
OK, here's an ignorant question. Is there a difference between literature and fiction? I would suppose literature has more intellectual things in mind, and fiction is just fiction and is mostly for escapism. If that's the case, I'm more into just straight escapist fiction, like horror or fantasy or science fiction than anything else that would be called great literature. I suppose, however, that in a lot of escapist fiction you can get insight into the human condition depending on the author's intentions.
Thanks for helping out. I really appreciate it. Peace out.
Casandra, I wish I knew something about the requirements for your presentation, what sort of course it is for, etc., to know if I could contribute anything helpful. I think all of the responses above are excellent, and yet the topic is practically inexhaustible. I don't disagree with anything that's been said here, but here is a quotation from Franz Kafka that sums up my own literary preferences. "The books we need are the kind that act upon us like a misfortune, that make us suffer like the death of someone we love more than ourselves, that make us feel as though we were on the verge of suicide or lost in a forest remote from all human habitation. A book should serve as the axe for the frozen sea within us."
I'll present this topic tomorrow and lecture about what you all told me. Its actually just a survey asking different people from various age groups on their purpose for reading literature or any type of reading material. If you want to add more thoughts to this one feel free to add some more...
I would say my reasons varry depending on the material. For example, if I'm reading something by VC Andrews, beyond escaping from my life in to that of another, it doesn't serve much of a purpose. On the other hand, a book like 1984 by George Orwell I read more because it commented on society, and paints a picture of what our future may be like. However, I still prefer mostly nonfiction simply because it has happened. I'd rather read about something that did happen versus something that didn't.
I read anything, and I really do mean everything. I just love to read, and there really isn't anything I'll at least try to read in all honesty. I'm not much for mysteries, but if I had to, I guess I would read them. I love nonfiction just as much as I love fiction. Am I dork? Maybe...
I'll contribute to this topic since i was the one who ask everyone to state their opinions. For me, reading is an investment. It can help a person in many ways. It lets you discover yourself, go to different places, enjoy the character's experiences, and get to know different views from different authors. Reading fiction helps a person in different levels. I mean it's not the same when children and adults read. Children read mostly because of the story itself or the cover of the book, but adults read to find meaning and understand its purpose.
I read to sometimes to relieve stress and try to figure out my problems. Lately, I have been reading a lot of figure it out type of books. I dunno, I suppose to aid me in certain ways. Uh, I have been reading Pride And Prejudice. Even if I am reading for school, it has influenced me. I can actually see some of the characters and it's like rolling over my mind. It shows me things. The prejudice part atracts me most. Hp also does a good job of it too. I also read to go in to a fantasy when I am quite tired of my world.
I read to go into a more interesting world than my own. I read to learn. There are so many reasons to read. It depends on your mood and your situation at the time.