“The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can’t read them.” - Mark Twain
Is this elitism?
While on the train today I saw someone reading one of those throwaway, urban romance/crime novels, and I thought, “Why bother reading at all?” I’ve often thought this upon hearing of friends reading Harry Potter. It is difficult to deny that the writing is poor and contrived, and even more difficult to maneuver with someone who does not think this and argues the opposite.
If one is comfortable reading trash, one should be comfortable with admitting it is trash. Otherwise, my opinion of you is somewhat colored, and here is where I feel a guilt-laden sense of elitism. It is not so much a declaration of my own exalted position as a declaration that works of literature can, and should, be categorized along a scale.
As such, literature can be like food. Good literature is like eating the finest foods with the highest nutritional value. The mastication of great thoughts ensues, leading to a rich, well-fed brain.
Junk novels are like junk food. The brain is not required to think very much and grows fatty, slow and indulgent. There’s nothing wrong with a little junk food every now and again, but this should not be the meal from which one always sups.
Is this an oversimplification?
Posted on Thursday, 7 May 2009
