When Reading Changed My Life

Reading today is a lot different then it was in the year 868 AD; when the first book was published in China. You know a written or printed work consisting of pages glued or sewn together along one side and bound in covers. Society today is so advanced that everything we do is constantly changing whether we realize it or not. For example, the book, before people would go to a bookstore or library to get the books they were interested in. Today society is making fewer trips to the bookstore and library, and making purchases of novels on their e-readers in the comfort of their own home. With these e-readers you can simply purchase any book you would like, some books being under a buck or even free, saving you a trip to the bookstore. E-readers

When times are filled with despair and unhappiness, we are driven away from the comfort of our mental home, and there is no greater relief than emerging one’s self into an activity or person that grants us a dry place to survive in life’s created storm. We turn to these things until the storm passes, and while we wait, we often discover something worth bringing back home. For me, my safe haven, my anchor, my shield against the rain, was reading books. Reading has opened many doors for me, planted seeds of new perspectives that I wouldn't have ever grew myself if I hadn't found the words and stories that nurture them. The luxary of reading has been taken away from many because of war, hate, and ignorance over the course of mankind, and I understand

“How Reading Changed My Life” is the book from where the piece of fragment that we read was taken. This book was written by Anna Quindlen. I was able to relate to Quindlen’s perspective and strongly agree with her. Although children have more extra time to read their favorite books over and over again, adults were children and if they liked to re-read books in the past because the book was in their interest, they will also reread their favorite novel in the present.

In summary, I felt as if I changed after the fourth grade. Like video games, I could be in a fantasy and pretend I was actually in the hero’s position. I could be a part of a story. This contest of literacy competition started a passion of reading books for me. Now that I’m older if I ever want to escape the real world after having a long hard stressful day all I have to do is crack open a book a let the adventure begin. Even though my teacher never followed through on her promise of a prize I was rewarded with something so much more Important, a burning passion for

Coming from CP World Voices to Honors English II pushed me to work hard as a result of my fear of falling behind. However, the jump made me grow as a writer; my strength in analyzing literary texts grew and so did my love for the literary works we read. Because this class pushed me to become a more focused and serious writer I have experienced many pivotal moments that caused me to become more aware of my strengths and weaknesses. Looking back on the work we have covered this year I have concluded that my pivotal moments were a series of realizations that came in intervals. Close to the beginning of the year, I discovered that I enjoyed understanding and analyzing literary works to the smallest detail. To successfully do so I focused on my

From start to finish, English this year had been unlike any other I had. From start to finish, each and every book had a deeper meaning than I, before, could possibly resolve from the text. The exposure I had to this deeper level of thinking forever changed the way I see literature. Less about “what” than “why”, Literature distinguishes a meaningful story from another. While what makes a book “good” is different for everyone, what makes a story meaningful is what it teaches. Each book I read this year had a story and logic behind it. Every story was real enough to have actually happened because the plot points are supported with real speculation backed up by the nature of humanity. I, personally, have never gone as deep into literature as I have this year, giving me a new appreciation for the genius behind the speculation these books present.

As I read, “The Dark Night of the Soul” by Richard E. Miller, I found it to be an interesting read. He inquires, why we read, why we write and what might literate arts be said to be good for? In his essay he describes the school massacres that have occurred throughout the years. As he describes these events, he asks a deeper question, “What is the point of continuing to read, write and learn in the face of such underlying dangers. I think that with all that is happening, individuals/students should continue with education because reading, television, writing and communication makes a difference in the lives of individuals around the world. The bottom line is that literary art has a way of touching students unexpectedly one way or another and students should not just throw the art away because of society’s perception.

Many pieces of literature are written each year, and each year dedicated high school students come together to read any type of literature ranging from plays, poetry, graphic novels to podcasts. Out of all the pieces of literature the students read, the students will debate which piece they believe is best. Once all these pieces are chosen, an anthology is created, “The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2014”. In the introduction of this book, Lemony Snicket claims, “the most passionate and interesting pieces of writing divide a literary team” (Snicket xii). Literary pieces divide people in their opinions since the pieces allow readers to interpret the pieces differently and gives the readers a sense of mystery.

In my experience, reading has more often than not, been a two-sided prospect. There are times in which I enjoy reading; however, there are also moments in which I form enmity towards it. For instance, during my sophomore and junior years of high school, Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities and F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby were assigned; these particular books left quite the positive impression. On the other hand, literature such as the memoir Night by Elie Wiesel did not seem to leave the same feeling; in some ways, Wiesel’s memoir intensified my distaste for reading.

Personally, Bible reading has increase over the years tremendously. There were years of not owning a Bible at home, during my childhood or adult years of life. There was a struggle at one point learning how to read the Bible, that is, people talk about the story that was inside the Bible, but there was no personal reading time. The initial purchase of a Bible was in the year of 1993, by a door-to-door sales person whose Bible resemble a purse. Even then, the Bible collect dust on the self, because there was no attendance of church, personally or for my kid. I was not winning the mother of the year awarded during that time, spiritually.

Throughout my life, I have been at odds with the literary world. I could never find it in myself to sit down and enjoy poetry or short stories, penned by the literary visionaries of yore. However, even I must begrudgingly admit that there is great value in these works of literature through the lessons and messages they communicate, as is evidenced by the myriad of societal changes which have been forged by the pen of a novelist. Literature has done a lot for me, such as giving me new perspective on politics and propaganda, entertaining me, and offering the ability to view the world through the philosophical perspective of the author. Though I may not derive much amusement from the perusal of books, there is no questioning the immense value

McCandless’s story of going out into the wild and believing in what a book says proves Millers point about how most readers surround themselves with books that reinforce their own beliefs and in this case McCandless ended up passing away. Miller says “McCandless stands as evidence that there continue to be real readers who invest the activities of reading and writing with great significance” (443). If McCandless would have read more he might have learned the toxicity of these seeds before eating them. This is one of many of Millers ways of questioning literature. Miller ends the paper with a call to action directed towards teachers of first year English classes. “ If there is to be lasting hope for the future of higher education, that hope can only be generated by confronting our desolate world and its threatening, urgent realities. The only way out is through” (457)

My goal for the fourth quarter was to read a classic novel that I normally wouldn’t read. This quarter was a crucial part of my development as a reader. This was challenging for me because I never read classic novels unless it is chose for me to read. I don’t usually have any interest in books that were written in a different time period. Although I learned that a lot of the times, books that were written in history, teach us lessons that we can apply to our future. I also feel that this concept will apply in college. I am going to have to read books or texts that I have no interest in. Therefore, I feel that learning that I have to read books I don’t think I’ll like, taught me that maybe it’s just for a lesson that I have to read it. I will know there is some purpose for it.

I entered this class with a sort of defiance towards the casual reading of literature that was considered unnecessary outside of instructional textbooks of standard learning. In most cases, if there was a movie version of the stories text I would always choose the movie version over the text. However, because of the influence that this class has had on me, I have discovered that the text in most cases will take you deeper into the story that the movie version can. Through the aid of this class I learned about evaluating literature as well as how to interpret and analyze it. I particularly liked the statement made by author Sharon James McGee, who emphases that “literature is a way to experience a way of life, a time period, a culture, an emotion, a deed, an event that you are not otherwise able” (McGee, n.d., p. 2). I found this statement to be so very true and important because it fits so closely how I now feel about literature. In conclusion, it is this newly found love of literate that I will be able to take with me throughout my life and

A blue oval carpet with the alphabet circling around the carpet is where I sat for story time. I vividly remember sitting down on the letter “J” of the carpet. I criss crossed apple sauced my legs, my favorite position for storytime at the library. Mrs. Fernandez, the first grade librarian, read “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie”, this is my first memory of reading. The librarian would read word by word, indicating what she was reading and of course she would show off the pictures. After she finished reading my classmates and I would sit in large tables and were handed a piece of paper with crayons and pencils in a box. “Alright class, now it’s time to write about your favorite part of the story, please include a drawing as well.” I began to recall all parts of the story. I was able to retell the story perfectly. I began with my drawing and when I got to the writing section I struggled. My weakness was spelling and grammar. I wasn’t able to spell what I had in mind. No matter how hard I tried I always missed a letter, forgot an apostrophe, mistakenly added a comma, etc. While other students had their summary with a picture completed I was still in battle with my mind in how to put together my first sentence. I felt so ashamed and embarrassed. Finally the librarian helped me put my thoughts together to write my sentence.