Like the title says. English isn’t my first language(though I feel like that isn’t much of an excuse since my first language isn’t that better off lol), and I don’t have much experience with reading outside of really light, ya-ish books or nonfiction. On top of that, I have absolutely no people skills or experience with people so it’s hard to see the characters as someone with more experience and clarity would see them. Reading is okay as it is now, too, but it’s just kind of frustrating and confusing to go look at people talking about the books I’ve read and find that I can’t really relate at all. And that I’ve only gotten like 50 percent of what I could have gotten from the book.
Is there anything I can do to help with this? Is it just a matter of reading more? Or I could take a look at literature theory or maybe rereading books or taking notes while reading would help?
by inforapenny11
10 Comments
It’s ok for most of a book to go over your head. It does with everyone on the first read through, it’s only through rereading and discussion that we can really delve into the themes and characters.
One does get more practiced at looking for a book’s themes, but that “I only got half of it” feeling rarely goes away. You might get a “You know what? I’ve understood this book as much as I think I’d care to” (positive or negetive) but everyone has a unique perspective to add and so everyone “misses” so much.
You’ll probably notice it in your YA discussions too, the discussion may be a little more unpracticed and immature, but so many times people will talk about how they missed this play on words that completely changes a scene or missed the subtle setup of the villain’s actions or that actually this character from the end is the same as way back at the start of the series. Even with YA, there are so many perspectives and so much to miss.
Don’t feel like you have to make reading for fun into homework, but if you have thoughts on what you think the author is trying to say or meaningful quotes go ahead and write those down. Or if you’re having difficulty with a passage trying to write as of you’re explaining to someone else can help (I prefer to do this verbally and will even argue against myself!). Just the stuff you want to stick with you.
As you learn more about how you read and what you find difficult you’ll know what kind of notes will actually help. Like some people have trouble with loads of names and will write a little guide for themselves. Some have trouble with non linear story telling and will make a timeline. Some have trouble with dreamlike shit and will write a no nonsense version of what’s happening as they go along. Some have trouble with being able to remember anything if they leave a book for a while and will write reminders. Some keep a mini dictionary of terminology will have to look up simple english explanations of more technical stuff before they get something. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses and you’ll find many things you won’t need that others do.
**Tldr: that’s normal. It means you’re challenging yourself. It’s not something to worry about but something to chase!**
Say “Hey you like a challenge, right?” Andb Give it away to someone.
It really depends on various factors. Why are you reading? Both that specific book and in general. Why did you pick up that book? Do you want to understand more or are you okay getting pieces? Do you really want to finish it or would you be okay dropping it?
Since you’re asking I take it that you do want to get better at understanding the text, but I think it’s worth mentioning that it’s okay to question whether a particular book is worth continuing or worth understanding.
It also depends on the book. If you’re reading a book about topic X because you have an interest in topic X and want to learn more, then obviously you’re going to want to understand it. If you’re just reading fiction for fun and you’re not getting a lot of the book, it will make sense to approach it in a different way.
If you’re not understanding plot, it might be worth reading a summary or finding a read-along or even study-guide type of material. If you’re not understanding concepts a trip to wikipedia might clarify things, or give you a better base to build from.
As you mentioned, taking notes is definitely one way to solidify your memory and understanding. Even if you’re just writing “I don’t understand Y thing,” you’re planting that idea more firmly in your mind, so that if it’s explained more later you’ll probably better recall what the issue was before.
But this is all very general advice. Understanding a technical manual is different from understanding a convoluted epic fantasy novel is different from understanding a political drama is different from understanding hard science fiction.
For like a specific paragraph I reread, and then eventually I try to just continue on with the book if that nagging feeling remains, otherwise I’d be there all day and get too annoyed and too fixated I wouldn’t want to move on until I get what they’re saying.
When I finish something, like a book or tv show or movie, I like to watch analysis videos on it, which sorta helps me better understand the whole thing and or parts of it. Sort of a celebration, so that helps. Oh discussion threads as well too, now that I’ve gotten in the habit of reading books more now.
I’ll read paragraphs, slowly, again and again and then full pages, slowly, again and again and if I still can’t seem to grasp what the author is saying, I’ll toss the book aside. I’m talking to you Immanuel Kant!
it also happens to me and reading this post makes me a little hapier.
after reading a lot of books, i’ve come to the conclusion that the comprenhension level depends on a lot of things. for me, it depends a lot on how much am i into the narrative and how am i feeling at the moment.
for example, i’ve just finished the lord of the rings trilogy and i really remember a lot of things, but there are some parts of the books that i can’t really remember beacuse i read them when i wasn’t feeling well.
one thing that i see tho is that i am not usually able to make “complex” correlations between things in the book. i can’t really explain it but it’s like i don’t have a normal comprenhension level (compared to others).
Reasonable questions here: how old are you, how much school have you been to? If you’re in college or have access to a community college, take an English course! Examining and “getting” novels isn’t necessarily something that comes naturally, that’s literally why there are teachers that you how to read books critically.
Find someone who also reads to talk books with. If you and a buddy tackle the same story you can discuss what you read, what you took away, etc.
The other thing is to just read more, and more types of stuff. Eventually you’ll start making connections and seeing ideas that echo and interconnect with each other.
Usually? Find something else. Come back to it (or not) later.
Put that book down, maybe pick it up at a later date.
If you’ve got access to the audiobook (on its own or in addition to the print book) that can help a ton. Even though I’m a native English speaker and read constantly I miss things, usually in older books or things I don’t have a cultural link to. I know there are jokes in Shakespeare’s plays I completely missed until I watched a performance. Also, there’s a really tricky book I had to work really hard to get through but I ended up loving. I listened to the audiobook a while later and there was SO MUCH MORE to the characters and the story than I’d realized… because I don’t know a lot about Scotland in the late 1500s.
If audiobooks aren’t available, look for discussion groups online talking about the book yourself reading. Someone else probably has the same problem you do, or at least the other people reading might be able to explain.