Ode to a Good Read

Ryan Nayler, a second year Masters of Information student, is the contributor of this entry. He praises classic literature, championing the belief that the latest vampire series simply will not be challenging enough for the growth and spirit of many readers. One need only take a glance at a person's bookshelf to gain a greater sense of who that person is. In this post, Nayler suggests that the language we use also comprises our personalities. The image below captures Hart House Library, circa 1942.

My fascination with fiction began through my intrigue with the archetypal figure you might call the ‘deviant gentleman’ (i.e. Dorian Gray, Jekyll & Hyde, Notes from the Underground, etc.). Classy, yet somewhat villainous, through literature I could not resist the urge to tap into these intriguing anomalies of the human psyche. The historic settings and situations evoked the sort of nostalgia and ambiance that is often attributed to literature, but only experienced when you begin to pour over the pages of immersive, eloquent prose, even though some patience is often required. Fifth Business, by the prolific Canadian author Robertson Davies, illustrates this quite well, as the narrator gradually conjures up a haunting atmosphere, where the fates of numerous people become gradually interwoven in such an intricate way that one cannot help but appreciate the calculation and artistry that must have gone into crafting such a story.

A film director might adopt the philosophy, “show, don’t tell”, although a writer realizes that the process of translating what we see and perceive into language helps us understand it much better. In one page, one line even, a clever writer can make us look at that which we have seen a million times in a different light. Thoreau’s Walden is a diary-come-to-life that depicts the connection of a man with nature through vivid articulation of thought, feeling, and philosophy, which cannot be as clearly illustrated through any other medium. I love film as much as the next person but, in this regard, it doesn’t come close to literature.

Librarians and educators seeking to promote sustained reading in this hurried digital era should explore exactly what sets short stories and novels apart from other mediums. Reader’s advisory programs need to include works which best exemplify these qualities which are idiosyncratic to print. Promoting the latest vampire fiction series may encourage literacy among some teens, but educators should also select classics which challenge the common preconceptions that older literature is too dense, inaccessible, or unappealing to younger audiences. Jack London’s Sea Wolf is a personal favourite that I would recommend to any budding, or seasoned, reader. Its antagonist (or protagonist, depending on your perspective), Wolf Larsen, is one of the most fascinating fictional characters I have encountered. Wolf is the ruthless captain of a ship who uses Darwinian survival-of-the-fittest philosophy to justify his tyrannical command of the schooner. He is also described as a sort of beast, with superhuman strength, although the reader is made to sympathize with him. The story is one of an affluent literary critic who inadvertently boards a rogue pirate ship, and is appalled to discover that anarchy prevails among the cutthroat crew, and life appears to be cheap and disposable.

Books such as Sea Wolf, historical fiction, and fantasy or gothic horror novels provide readers with a healthy escape from reality, while still promoting intellectual growth. However, there is a final merit of literature that I would like to highlight. Beyond our interests, or fashion styles, the language we use helps to make up our personality. Language is an art form and a personality trait, and this is perhaps the greatest appeal of poetry. Everyone has their favourite poetic lines or verses, those which really seem to resonate with them because they just love the way the poet captured the essence of something, or made a distinct statement that was deeper than the superficial personality indicators I’ve alluded to. Perhaps it is owing to the fact that the process of reading itself is more active than merely observing something, requiring us to decode, interpret, and compelling us to take notice of the details often overlooked in everyday life. Even as the usefulness of reading fiction remains a topic of debate, there is always something unique and nostalgic about the experience of curling up in front of the fire with an extravagant tale. Hmmm, I know just the place where you can do this!

The image above is of Robertson Davies, circa 1984.
...Feel free to comment with your favourite poetic lines or verses.