You think your pains and your heartbreaks are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read.
James Baldwin
So far, this is one of my favorite Baldwin quotes, and I suspect it will stay this way as it perfectly encapsulates how I believe people should approach reading.
The internet is currently fascinated with the “literary crisis,” and this fascination has spawned many conversations around the “proper” way to read and what it is that people should be reading. There are thousands upon thousands of videos that recommend books, teach people how to annotate a book, or even just people giving their opinions on books they’ve read. Many creators strive to create positive communities with their discussions; however, some unhelpful opinions come into the spotlight through this recent boom in book discussion.
One idea in particular has piqued my interest recently. The idea that the genre of romance is lesser than other genres has come back into the cultural zeitgeist, bigger than ever, with some creators going as far as claiming that the genre is useless and that anyone who reads romance couldn’t possibly be literate. Which has always an interesting claim to me. Does any and all reading not count toward literacy? One memory in particular stands out to me in contrast of this claim: in high school, in an advanced English class in fact, there was an opportunity of reading “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen. Is Jane Austen not, amongst other things, a romance author? And not just a romance author, but an immensely studied one who is known for her wit and for her commentary of women’s place in society.
However, I do not want to imply that the romance genre should be respected because some books are literary in nature. Every genre has its best and its worst. There could be no Jane Austen and I would defend those who read romance novels ardently; any sort of reading contributes to literacy! I also do not want to emphasize literacy here: people should not read just to gain literacy, although it is a worthwhile endeavor and literacy is central to a successful society. No, I want to emphasize the idea originally introduced by Baldwin in the beginning.
Reading is the window to the soul. Through reading, whether it be literary or lowbrow, exposes you to different viewpoints, people, and ideas you would never have the opportunity to encounter otherwise. Reading can help you accept parts of yourself you hated otherwise or help you learn something new about yourself. Reading can give you the opportunity to relax and temporarily escape from the difficult world we live in.
You don’t need to have an intellectual approach to reading. Just read! Find out what you like and read it; it doesn’t matter if it’s good or not. You don’t even have to read novels: you can read short stories, graphic novels, poetry, and even comics! Don’t approach reading as some sort of noble pursuit—approach it as you are. Let yourself experiment with the kinds of things you read. Have fun! That is what’s most important: you need to enjoy reading, in whatever way works for you.
Again, my advice to you is: just read whatever you want!
It was books that taught me that the things that tormented me most were the very things that connected me with all the people who were alive, or who have ever been alive.
James Baldwin