RP

Overall the way I read in school doesn’t affect the way I read outside of school. There is a separation in my mind between books that I read for leisure and books that I read for work. While reading a book for school I am constantly analyzing the book and focusing on the little details, especially if I know I will be tested on the reading. When reading a book outside of school, I am able to take my time and appreciate the overall story. I find it is more relaxing and beneficial to read when I know there won’t be a test. I treat the books for school, even when I enjoy them, as work. I can’t completely immerse myself in the reading because in the back of my mind I know I will either have to take a test or write an essay on what I’ve read. This type of reading encourages me to search for symbols and themes that I may have otherwise skipped over. Sometimes I am able to understand the book more by reading it more carefully, but that type of reading is never truly enjoyable to me, nor relaxing. When I get to read for leisure I can relax and focus on the overall meaning of the book and I can truly absorb myself in the book. I rarely search for themes and symbols while reading books outside of school. It becomes more of an activity instead of work. Since there is a separation for me between reading for fun and reading for leisure the reading that I have done for school hasn’t hindered nor developed my love for reading.