6 Books to Pull Students Out of a Reading Rut
It happened last Christmas (or before Christmas to be exact). You were reading "Lady Chatterley's Lover" when you noticed something. You felt uneasy in your bed. You don't have any health issues, and your mobile phone was nowhere to be seen. (You placed it inside a drawer, so it wouldn't distract you.) Was it the book you've been reading? If it wasn't a reading rut, then you don't know what else to call it. And it happened when you have two deadlines to beat (and an examination in between). What to do?
You were floored when your tutor suggested another book. It must be a story to your own liking, if not a book cover that must pique your curiosity. Your artistic leaning would make you a snob, which your coursemate put it. The remark put you in a defensive, unaware that he was right after all. (You keep on staring at the book cover of "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen", which inspired you to study Victorian literature with a passion. Your professor noticed it in one of your essays, and she was pleased about it.) As for "Lady Chatterley's Lover", you could hardly emphasize with Constance Chatterley, who attempted to flee from the so-called tyranny of domestic life (and childless marriage), only to find out too late that she didn't find freedom at all. D.H. Lawrence's description of the sex scenes was so graphic, such that you wouldn't imagine Meryl Streep playing that role. (She was overrated, your other coursemate quipped. She's a huge fan of kitchen-sink drama, though.) If the novel, a notable title in Modernist literature, wasn't a must-read, then you would have closed the book after page 100. It was a requirement, so you plodded through. How did you pull out of your reading rut? You heeded your tutor's advice. Partying wasn't an option. And the pandemic made reading difficult for many.
How I Achieve a Breakthrough
"Notes on a Scandal" by Zoe Heller. The book cover was an illustration of a blindfolded brunette lying on a bed of roses (or so you thought). You were drawn to her, so you opened the book. And you felt duped. It turned out that Zoe Heller's book was a gossipy confession guise as a thriller. A fortysomething teacher was having an affair with her fifteen-year-old student. And a veteran teacher, at the same school, would know it. Her bitter description (of that affair) made you feel sorry for the older teacher. It emboldened you to ask your tutor about it. That incredulous look said it all. It renewed your interest in the reading list, though.
"Serpentine" by Philip Pullman. Your sister recommended this novella, which was available on hardbound only. It's the "bridge" connecting "The Amber Spyglass", the third (and final) book in the "His Dark Materials" trilogy, and "The Secret Commonwealth", the second book in "The Book of Dust" trilogy. The story was deceptively simple, as Pullman described the strained relationship between Lyra Silvertongue, who had the unenviable task of saving multiple worlds from the Authority, and Pantalaimon, her daemon. The latter didn't get over the former abandoning him at the world of the dead, and the bond was nonexistent. If there were theological themes, you were unable to notice them. This (short) tale puts you into an introspective mood, which helped you finish your assignment in two hours, more or less.
"Captain Pantoja and the Special Service" by Mario Vargas Llosa. Another coursemate, who hailed from Lima, Peru, was quite offended at your opinion on this outrageous novel. He's proud of the fact that Mario Vargas Llosa, Nobel Prize recipient, is his countryman. He also thinks highly of Latin American literature, which would make you recall your conversation. The titular character was a dedicated military officer and role model, he said. The final chapter revealed that he could be a stuck-up as well. If you weren't an American (or a New England native), you wouldn't agree to disagree. But it helped you finish a book in two sittings. Title?
"Charlotte's Web" by E.B. White. Would the message of friendship have less impact if the main characters (in this children's book) were adults? Your mother thought so. She also believed that children have the purest hearts. (She still keeps in touch with her childhood friends.) And it flushed out the jaded feeling that lingers after a bad experience. It could be the reason behind Wilbur's amicability towards Templeton, a gluttonous rat. You didn't get enough of this book, so you read it again. (And it didn't disrupt your routine.)
"She, a History of Adventure" by H. Rider Haggard. Your friends were surprised at your lack of enthusiasm for exotic lands (while reading the novel). Where did life begin? Haggard, whose (happy) feet brought him to Africa (and beyond), would describe ruins located in the African Rift Valley (or near that volcanic region), much older than the Great Pyramid (or the Great Ziggurat of Ur). Did Haggard considered the Western Hemisphere as the cradle of civilization? You asked your tutor, and you were quite surprised that he gave a lengthy response. (You couldn't share the details, as it gave you some ideas on your next assignment.) You may have expected Allan Quatermain and She to meet, and you read a number of chapters of their encounter. You have a reservation, though. (You rather not want the two to meet somewhere, but it could be your snobbish taste.)
"Emma" by Jane Austen. The music video of "Fancy" prompted you to watch "Clueless", and it made you curious about "Emma". It may be less popular than "Pride and Prejudice", but you thought that Emma Woodhouse, the titular character, was the coolest girl you met. It also made you think that you were part of a secret club, exchanging stories (or books in this case). You were glad that your coursemates thought of the same thing.
It Took Me a Year to Finish a Book for Pleasure Again
Your tutor was amazed at how it took you a year to finish a book for pleasure. It took him five years, which didn't surprise you. (Academicians read too much.) He asked you if you would enjoy Reading Week. You will find out soon.
But you asked him about "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer". It was set in a part of America that you haven't been to.
