Comments on: Ruining the Reading http://bookgroupbuzz.booklistonline.com/2009/06/10/ruining-the-reading/ Sat, 21 Nov 2009 21:30:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: Book Blog - Likely Stories, by Keir Graff - Booklist Online » Blog Archive » Same Covers, Different Books http://bookgroupbuzz.booklistonline.com/2009/06/10/ruining-the-reading/comment-page-1/#comment-71302 Book Blog - Likely Stories, by Keir Graff - Booklist Online » Blog Archive » Same Covers, Different Books Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:54:58 +0000 http://bookgroupbuzz.booklistonline.com/?p=2206#comment-71302 [...] couldn’t I?) Anywho, Kaite Mediatore Stover, our “She Reads” columnist and Book Group Buzz blogger, brought the following to my [...] [...] couldn’t I?) Anywho, Kaite Mediatore Stover, our “She Reads” columnist and Book Group Buzz blogger, brought the following to my [...]

]]> By: Jessica http://bookgroupbuzz.booklistonline.com/2009/06/10/ruining-the-reading/comment-page-1/#comment-70541 Jessica Thu, 11 Jun 2009 18:56:59 +0000 http://bookgroupbuzz.booklistonline.com/?p=2206#comment-70541 Maybe it would be better to turn the question around and ask, what did you learn from reading this? That way it doesnt have to be academic and we know that many readers learn from leisure reading, and enjoy that aspect of the reading experience. Maybe it would be better to turn the question around and ask, what did you learn from reading this? That way it doesnt have to be academic and we know that many readers learn from leisure reading, and enjoy that aspect of the reading experience.

]]> By: Kaite Stover http://bookgroupbuzz.booklistonline.com/2009/06/10/ruining-the-reading/comment-page-1/#comment-70540 Kaite Stover Thu, 11 Jun 2009 18:56:35 +0000 http://bookgroupbuzz.booklistonline.com/?p=2206#comment-70540 I think I'd try to reword that closing question. There's a way to ask what the author wants the readers to take away from the text without making a "lesson" of it. Maybe that's the phrasing to use, "In closing, what do you think the author wants the reader to understand about this book?" I think I’d try to reword that closing question. There’s a way to ask what the author wants the readers to take away from the text without making a “lesson” of it. Maybe that’s the phrasing to use, “In closing, what do you think the author wants the reader to understand about this book?”

]]> By: Keir http://bookgroupbuzz.booklistonline.com/2009/06/10/ruining-the-reading/comment-page-1/#comment-70505 Keir Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:47:13 +0000 http://bookgroupbuzz.booklistonline.com/?p=2206#comment-70505 Good post, Kaite! And the "valuable tip" applies throughout life, doesn't it--we engage better with people when we close our mouths and open our ears. I respectfully disagree, however, with one of the questions: "What are the lessons here?" I think the equation of reading with learning (and the notion that there is a lesson to be extracted from every text) is exactly what turns some students and adults off from reading. I linked to a great essay on that topic awhile back on <a href="http://blog.booklistonline.com/2008/12/23/do-the-holidays-make-you-depressed-too/" rel="nofollow">Likely Stories</a>, "<a href="http://chronicle.com/free/v55/i17/17b01401.htm" rel="nofollow">Leaving Literature Behind</a>," in which Bruce Fleming argues that the teaching of literature is killing the love of reading. "Great," that is, if you like being depressed. Good post, Kaite! And the “valuable tip” applies throughout life, doesn’t it–we engage better with people when we close our mouths and open our ears.

I respectfully disagree, however, with one of the questions: “What are the lessons here?” I think the equation of reading with learning (and the notion that there is a lesson to be extracted from every text) is exactly what turns some students and adults off from reading.

I linked to a great essay on that topic awhile back on Likely Stories, “Leaving Literature Behind,” in which Bruce Fleming argues that the teaching of literature is killing the love of reading.

“Great,” that is, if you like being depressed.

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