Why Read?

Isn't amazing how literature can move us into places that we've never dreamt of, stir up emotions that we thought were buried, show us the emotions we want to bury, and teach us lessons about the hard and undesirable aspects of life? We can live vicariously through Odysseus' adventures in the Odyssey, search for buried treasure with Tom Sawyer, laugh at Fudgy for having to wear his cereal in Tales of A Fourth Grade Nothing, or deeply empathize with To Kill A Mockingbird's Atticus Finch as we walk around in his shoes. Whether providing a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of life or teaching a lesson, the stories always provoke us to see things differently at the end. Due to this insight, I am developing a deeper love for literature as each day passes. I only hope I can pass a little bit of the passion on with each class I teach.

Literature ponders the tough issues of life: "Is it a lifetime process of purging ourselves through our own catharsis over and over so that we can get to the core of who we really are as people? Will we ever find out the answer to the question of "Who am I"? So many people, so many authors have tackled the subject. So many readers have plunged the depths and grappled with the meat of it. Despite the many challenges of life, by living through the characters and their experiences, we can learn to move forward through the hard times (and the good times) for there is always a definite resolution no matter how ambiguous the ending of the conflict may seem to be.

Even hate and prejudice can be felt as we discover the messages with Bobby in Chernowitz, experiencing the horror of persecution. We can feel the pressure of hiding in the secret confines with Anne Frank. Sometimes we can be glad we don't have to live in the world of 1984 or The Giver; instead we can learn from the stories and become better citizens who fight to preserve our freedoms. Through it all we internalize the situation and close the book with a greater understanding and compassion for those who may look, think, or act differently than we do ourselves.

We can celebrate with the characters, finding the courage to chase our own dreams. We find joy in journeying to the Whistle Stop Café or cherish the friendship of Miss Daisy and Hoke as we read the play. We rejoice when Huckleberry Finn gets adopted and Anne finds a home at Green Gables.

As we pondering the philosophy of life that Hemingway was sharing by having Frederic admire the priest for his simple faith in A Farewell to Arms, we couldn't help but to think about the life that the characters were leading and what we could learn through their experience. We felt the love, and we felt the loss. Walking away with a greater insight into life, we learned something about the human condition.

How will we answer the tests of life? Will we handle them with grace under pressure as the priest did by holding on to a simple faith? Will we find ourselves in the beauty of poetry as Anne did? Will we turn to the support and love of our family like Anne Frank or find ourselves in nature with Wordsworth and Thoreau? It is through our literary journey where we can safely wrestle with the issues and form our own philosophies.

The big picture in life is holding on to that simple faith, the simple things- the comfort of family, nature, art or meditation- that keep us going. It's grasping the spiritual and emotional strength we can find through the childish curiosity that so often becomes buried.

Why then is reading a good book so often at the bottom of our list?