We loved with a love that was more than love. Edgar Allan Poe
Were you at one point embarrassed to read, are you still? This is something that I would like to discuss with you all. Why do people deem reading books as "Nerdy" and "Uncool" and why do we let it affect us?
I think high school is the highlight of BS e.g., bitchiness, drama and peer pressure. Neither of the above really occurs in college since the environment is more relaxed and consists of much more mature people. High School is such a different story through, it is all about cliques, fitting in, bullying and fighting. High School can either be one of the best times of your life (If you’re popular or a bully) or for your average student a struggle, and for some absolute hell. How does reading come into this? Who knows? You would think teens have enough on their plate with facing teen like issues call it what you may, that reading doesn't even come to mind. Or so people think.
What that means is that reading doesn't really hold much importance in school because not many in school are open minded enough to think that anyone reads. Only when they do spot someone, it's a matter of curiosity but also an opportunity to label an individual. I think this is what puts of the reader, being labelled, some spend years in school blending in or finding a social circle to call their own, upon being found out a reader the spotlight is on you and not in any good fashion.
Many because of this stop reading; or lie to themselves and make themselves believe that they don't need to read. It's sad yes, but true. Thankfully many now are perhaps more curious and will ask a question or two rather than be spiteful and nasty, it's a start I guess right? Those young teenagers who are bloggers will know that reading is freaking amazing on a whole other level, and so someone criticising or judging them will hardly affect them, but for those like myself who had no communication with any other readers at that point of time, or someone supporting them to tell them that reading is great, can make one easily doubt themselves as well as question if it is worth continuing. Damn I wish I had discovered blogging years back, I still get pissed of when I think of all the amazing books I missed out on because I cared about what some noobs thought.
You know I remember paying a visit to my school Library a few times, but it would always result in irritation and annoyance from friends and eventually because of this, I started paying less and less visits to the Library. I remember this one highlight that I remember being so, so excited for.
There was a sheet of paper taped to a classroom door and I noticed that it read something about a reading group. I instantly thought omg! This is just too good to be true and there went what anyone would think right out of the window. I can faintly recall how overjoyed I was, I didn't have a lot of those moments, and I guess that is why that one stands out to me even now.
It was held once a week. I remember being so excited for the first meeting, as I opened the door I had these crazy butterflies and became nervous like crazy, thankfully my English teacher was a delight and happened to be a part of the group, what further amazed me was some of the students there. There were 7 in total I believe, but I remember that first session feeling like home. For the first time I felt like I was finally surrounded by people who understood what I loved. I felt like I belonged. What further shocked me was that I recognised some of these students, people who I would have never considered readers.
I discovered some great books because of this club, one in particular being "Tales of the Otori Series" The first book was the one we were focusing on and was the only one out at the time I think, called Across The Nightingale Floor By Lian Hearn *So looking back I was to young for the book, it contained some sexual content towards the end, but so what! the book was amazing!* (The first book is the best out of the series in my opinion), years later I searched and searched for the book and found that there were more in the series, I have held immense respect and a fond regard for the series ever since.
Sadly just after two sessions the Reading
I remember passing them down the hall and them looking at me as if almost saying "It never happened, do not ever tell anyone" what was there to tell? I never let myself get my hopes up again after that. The school was rough and gritty, with regular fights and plenty of bullying with crappy-useless teachers, the school was just a disaster in itself, and it was not a good place to be, From what I hear it still isn't. However that group held a complete different atmosphere from the one that I was surrounded by on a daily basis. Maybe that, and the comfort and acceptance of books in that point of time, was what really made me love those two sessions. I haven't thought back to that period for such a long time, until now. It's almost as if the feelings are still afresh of those two sessions when I think back, a few more sessions may have just made life so much easier though. If your a school teacher, or work in a school, trust me when I say setting up a reading group of some kind could mean to some students much more than you could ever imagine.
Thankfully I became more confident towards the last year of school and overcame most of my shyness, but even then I never read at school, I regret that now. Now I read on a train, in college, in the cafeteria, in the car, anywhere at all and it affects me in no way whatsoever. I have long passed that line of "omg what will others think?" I just wish I had passed it some years back and had the courage to read in school without caring about what people thought. So Question - At this moment wherever you are, do you feel pressured not to read, to read? Is your love for reading not encouraged? Have you ever been embarrassed to read at a certain point of your life? Do share, and explain your thoughts on this topic.
The death of a beautiful woman, is unquestionably the most poetical topic in the world. Edgar Allan Poe
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