Hannah Cole, Literature Columnist
There is something that happens when you combine travel and literature. Every page of a novel you read is marked with the surrounding sights and the atmosphere of the setting you are in. I travelled to Toronto over fall break, and, while there, I bought a copy of The Count of Monte Cristo from a secondhand bookshop. Leafing through its pages in a world outside of my home caused me to suddenly appreciate the words more. Whenever I read the first few chapters from this point on, I will picture myself sitting on a park bench in the late afternoon reading about Edmond Dantès walking the streets of Marseille. It was as if the mere act of reading in an unfamiliar setting caused me to read more intentionally and connect with the story in a closer way than I might have otherwise. I believe that atmosphere of a place determines the way literature affects us. From the moment I set foot on the University of Toronto’s campus, I was immersed in a culture built on books. The Fisher Rare Book Library is probably the most-affecting room in all of Toronto; the walls are lined with old tomes of varying colored vellum and sizes and the skylight illuminates the dust and collection of stories—perhaps some of the world’s rarest volumes. This changed my perspective of the book I held in my hands—as if one day it might find a place on the shelves of Fisher—and that made reading Alexandre Dumas’ novel more significant. When you travel, your experiences color the way you see things, and reading a book in the same way can affect the way you view the story. This also influences the way we view literature and how we approach interpreting the author’s words. Some people often say that literature is timeless, unchanged no matter where you encounter it. However, there is something to be said for the atmosphere of reading while travelling. Literature and words can heighten the excitement of a new place, or bring perspective to the monotony of a boring one. There is a community of readers that we pass everyday, and I love when I see someone reading a novel or text that I am familiar with. It allows me to immediately connect with them and wonder what they are thinking of the story and how they view the words. I hope that your reading over fall break proved impactful and enjoyable, and if you need a suggestion of an up-and-coming author, check out the winner of the 2015 Man Booker Prize for Fiction: A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James[1]. You can find more info on his book here. _________________________________________________________________ [1] You should think about reading it. Seriously. You'll be glad you did. *originally posted on leeclarion.com as part of my weekly lit column.
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By Hannah Cole, Literature Columnist
There’s something about cooler weather that wakes up the reader in us all. Fall is a season that speaks of literature and breathes inspiration on writers gearing up for NaNoWiMo (National Novel Writing Month in November). The leaves begin to turn, changing the landscape in a matter of a few days to a rich warmth dominated by reds and yellows. Something inside of me tells me it’s time to find a new book. I want to find a story as captivating as the one I see outside. With all of the looming midterms and papers we have to prepare for, it’s easy to not want to read anything. Especially the hefty textbook you have to re-read for your exam next week. However, fall break is coming, and those few days are good to finally relax and help you reorient yourself before heading into the second half of the semester. I suggest finding a new book to read over fall break. Pick something fun that has nothing to do with school, and let yourself be lost in the story. What to look for in a fall book:
I often feel that I have to analyze every thing I read, but sometimes it’s nice to turn off the critical side of my brain and simply immerse myself in what I’m reading. Last week I found a book of poems by Shel Silverstein, and I hid in the bookstore so I could finish reading it. It was fun for me to just pick up a work and not hold myself to the stress of “I have to find some meaning in this text.” It was refreshing to read it and simply enjoy the act of losing myself in the book. Read to remind yourself that stories are engaging, and sometimes, it’s fun just to read John Green or The Maze Runner because we can. *originally posted on leeclarion.com as part of my weekly literature column. |
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