I really had to hunt down this old post. I meant so long ago to reply to this and keep this conversation going. Sorry for my tardiness.
So, we were trying to determine was what it takes to make a person well-read.
First, I'd like to say that before coming to lj, I considered myself well read. I think I filled much of your criteria. I had read much of the literary cannon and devoured all of the books by the particular authors that I adored before moving on to something new. It was not until coming to lj that I realized how much of modern lit I have overlooked. Perhaps I'm a little reluctant to stray too far from the tried and true, or maybe it's just that every time I try something new, I find it to be garbage. or maybe it's just that there is so much that I haven't gotten to that I am already aware of that makes me more reluctant to finish those before attempting what may just be another fad book. Regardless, discovery of books is only part of it.
Also, there must be some comprehension, analysis, or some amount of thought applied to the subject area. I still remember being in a senior English seminar and discussing Frankenstein. We were talking about all these different themes and discussing Rousseau and having a great discussion. And there was this one guy there that wasn't getting a word of it. I think he got stuck on the whole "don't mess with God's creation" and couldn't move beyond it, but it was as if he had never analyzed or really thought on what he had read in his life. How do you get to be a senior and not know how to think and use a book? Regardless, I think reading isn't enough. you have to be able to do with it. You have to have opinions and know why. Why was this book a great book?
And then you have to speak the language. I considered you well-read without even knowing what you've read. Regardless of how much you have read, you have presented yourself here in a most articulate manner and convey that you have had some learning: good grammar, grasp of language, etc. This would allow one to assume that you have read much simply because of your ability to participate as an educated person. I suppose we are predisposed that people become literate through reading, though that is probably a faulty signifier.
I think that's all I have for now. I wish I disagreed more. Too bad there aren't more people to contribute to our discussion!
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Tardy
Date: 2004-07-13 11:30 pm (UTC)So, we were trying to determine was what it takes to make a person well-read.
First, I'd like to say that before coming to lj, I considered myself well read. I think I filled much of your criteria. I had read much of the literary cannon and devoured all of the books by the particular authors that I adored before moving on to something new. It was not until coming to lj that I realized how much of modern lit I have overlooked. Perhaps I'm a little reluctant to stray too far from the tried and true, or maybe it's just that every time I try something new, I find it to be garbage. or maybe it's just that there is so much that I haven't gotten to that I am already aware of that makes me more reluctant to finish those before attempting what may just be another fad book. Regardless, discovery of books is only part of it.
Also, there must be some comprehension, analysis, or some amount of thought applied to the subject area. I still remember being in a senior English seminar and discussing Frankenstein. We were talking about all these different themes and discussing Rousseau and having a great discussion. And there was this one guy there that wasn't getting a word of it. I think he got stuck on the whole "don't mess with God's creation" and couldn't move beyond it, but it was as if he had never analyzed or really thought on what he had read in his life. How do you get to be a senior and not know how to think and use a book? Regardless, I think reading isn't enough. you have to be able to do with it. You have to have opinions and know why. Why was this book a great book?
And then you have to speak the language. I considered you well-read without even knowing what you've read. Regardless of how much you have read, you have presented yourself here in a most articulate manner and convey that you have had some learning: good grammar, grasp of language, etc. This would allow one to assume that you have read much simply because of your ability to participate as an educated person. I suppose we are predisposed that people become literate through reading, though that is probably a faulty signifier.
I think that's all I have for now. I wish I disagreed more. Too bad there aren't more people to contribute to our discussion!