An Open Letter To Those Who Don't Like Reading | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

An Open Letter To Those Who Don't Like Reading

You don't know what you're missing.

8
An Open Letter To Those Who Don't Like Reading
Eli Samuelu

To those who don't like reading,

Reading has always been an important part of my life. I read thousands of pages every year, and feel empty when I do not have a book to pick up in times of boredom. Because of this, I find it absolutely ludicrous that you do not enjoy reading, and even more so that you feel the need to say you “hate” reading and that you only read in school. You are seriously missing out.

I am not crazy because I read books for fun. I am not trying to get ahead in classes or perfect my ability to analyze literature. I read because I genuinely enjoy it. The fact that you say you do not enjoy it leads me to believe you have never read a good book before, and therefore cannot have a valid opinion until you find one.

Reading is not boring. Reading is more than the classic novel your English teacher assigned to you against your will, promising a lengthy exam at the end of the unit. Reading is watching TV in your head. It is the joy of finding that book you can’t put down, staying up way later than you should and only finding joy in sleep when you are past the point of recognizing words or have finished the novel. Reading is rushing to get to the end of the book only to result in depression when it’s over and you can’t spend time with the characters anymore. Reading is excitement.

Reading is not something that only smart people can do. Reading is not something that only fast readers can do. Just because you hate English class does not mean you have to hate reading, and reading does not have to be viewed as something nerdy or boring. Until you find a book you enjoy, one that feels to you as if a movie reel is being played in your head with each sentence, you may think this. But you will be utterly wrong.

To love reading is to cry over the death of a character, to shake your fist at the sociopathy of the author who kills off someone before their time (but to also understand why they did it), and to, sometimes, throw a book across the room because you can’t stand to read another sentence until you calm down. Reading is also falling in love with a character, understand his or her happiness and feeling it in your heart too, and finishing a book with satisfaction that your character will go on to live a fulfilling life. This does happen every now and then.

Think about your favorite TV show, and the reasons why you love it. Maybe it features a setting you enjoy, or a subject you can relate to. Maybe you love the character development or the feisty romance between two lovers; maybe you love the violence or the mystery or the action. Now, think about this: there are hundreds of thousands of more books out there than there are TV shows. (Maybe the show was even based on a book). You can find a book with similar themes to the show you love. You can find multiple books. You just have to look.

So, to you I say: pick up a book and give it a try. Find one that actually interests you, and if you don’t like it, stop reading it. Find another one. Search online for books that suit your interests, ones that are at your reading level and involve subjects that you will

not find boring and that will not make you say you hate reading. Ask your book-lover friends for recommendations (believe me; they’re happy to give them) and actually try out the books they suggest to you. To not experience the love of books is not miss out on a vital experience of life: seeing the world through the eyes of an author and a character all at once. You will fall in love. If you don’t, you just haven’t found the right book.


Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

190934
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

15275
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

458139
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

26769
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments