ES

I don’t think that school has had much of an influence on the way I read outside of school, but the way I read for school is different than how I read normally. Before this year I would read all the assigned books very quickly, either to get them finished and out of the way because I didn’t like them, or to bask in the pleasure of reading them. Outside of school I also pick up books and usually don’t put them down until I’m finished. But this year my time has been very limited, so I’m more conscious of where exactly I have to be in a school book and what I should be looking for in it (themes, writing style), and that takes out some of the enjoyment for me.

Book discussions in class don't change how I read on my own. Sometimes they're interesting, and other times they're pointless, but it doesn't affect my desire to read or my opinion of the book. If I liked the book we've read, I usually like discussing it in class and my teachers have mostly come up with interesting topics for discussion. If I didn't like the book, then I don't like discussing it and find it tiring.

This class has definitely made me more critical of how people write—whether they’re credible, articulate, or artful, etc. If I had read The Great Gatsby a couple years ago, I might not have taken the time to notice the writing, or how innovative the many metaphors were, but because of this class I was paying more attention and could appreciate the original writing. But that is a positive for me, because paying attention to how successful authors write can help me phrase my thoughts more effectively (sometimes, at least). Overall, that's really the only influence school has had on my reading habits.