Not a completely uncommon problem it seems. So like many of you I am an avid reader, I have been since a young age. I’ve read a lot of books and that includes many of the classics. It’s not that I can’t enjoy what I know is considered good literature – often I do and often I don’t, but most likely I could not tell you why it’s one or the other.
For example: I don’t really know what good prose is? I know some things, like purple prose is bad (even though I think I have often been touched by what is considered “purple” or “flowery”). I can tell when it’s really, really bad, like 50 Shades of Grey. But other than that? No clue honestly.
I know to some people, certain genres are automatically disqualified from being considered literature, for example fantasy or sci-fi. Is that simply elitism, or is there something that inherently makes genre books not literary?
I know that I can like what I like and that it’s fine to do so, but I would consider myself fairly intelligent and yet it seems I can’t pick up on critical reading skills. I engage in forums, I watch YouTube videos about it, I even took a summer course – and yet I feel far behind when it comes to putting into words why I thought something was good beyond fun, touching, exciting, the theme appealed to me, the “vibe” etc.
Would be happy read your thoughts on this!
I’m 29 years old by the way, so not a teenager who is still developing.
by JankyJinx