What’s your favorite book? A question that is commonly asked, yet rarely gets a substantial answer.
I have noticed that the majority of my classmates cannot answer this question, saying they do not read and blaming it on a lack of interest or time. Reading simply is lost in the minds of many young adults, particularly as we grow up in a world dominated by social media. The truth is reading takes time, and it feels impossible to give up precious minutes on something as time consuming as reading a book. Our attention spans are much too corrupted to sit down and read 300 pages solely for the purpose of enjoyment.
In addition, many students are under the impression that they do not like to read and, therefore, do not want to waste time finding out. When assigned 100 pages of “Cyrano de Bergerac” with annotations and an upcoming essay, it can be difficult to believe that good books exist. Required reading allows students to explore literary classics but, unfortunately, it often overshadows the joy of reading for pleasure. When a book is required, the romanticism of reading disappears, and it inadvertently becomes a chore. This is where an association between reading and work is developed. So, how can one blame a teenager for groaning and mumbling at yet another novel?
Especially as students get more involved with extracurriculars, the time to explore reading becomes even more limited. It’s the picture perfect excuse: “I don’t have time to read, but if I did, I definitely would.” How many times have I said this phrase? Is it even true? Honestly, if there’s time to watch a movie for two hours, I’m sure there is time to pick up the book that’s been on my bookshelf since August with the Barnes and Noble receipt still inside.
The dilemma that faces our generation is that there are good books, and most of us are oblivious to them. The types of literature that hook you from the very beginning and you can’t stop reading, even when your sister begs you to turn the lights off, and you’ve resorted to using your flashlight to read under the blankets.
Books like these allow us to escape from the stress of reality and engage in a world of thrilling mysteries, acts of heroism or budding romances. Taking a much-needed break and sitting down with a good book can have enormous benefits to one’s mental health, but still, nobody chooses this option. Reading has been labeled as “too much work,” and the pleasure of turning the pages in a book has been stolen by the unrelenting required materials given to students. Our school days, weekends and vacations are all consumed with required reading, leaving very few moments to even think of beginning a new book.
To allow for more recreational reading among students, schools should be taking more of an initiative in encouraging the exploration of books. One way to do this would be to permit more flexibility in book requirements. Take, for example, required reading over school breaks. If students were allowed to choose their own books, a higher number of them would actually be engaged and interested in pursuing reading further.
Book trades are another way to get students involved in reading as they expose students to a diverse selection of books and genres and give an opportunity to hear about ones that do not have concurrent assignments waiting to be turned in.
With the extensive requirements and lack of free time, I have not read a book for just myself in over six months. Reading, I’ve realized, has become something like a job, rather than what it used to be: fun. I hope to eventually have an answer to what my favorite book is, and for the upcoming months, discovering this answer is of high priority.
