The semester is ending, so it’s become time to close out another chapter of my life. Thus, it has also come time to write my final passion blog of the semester (for real this time)–and in interest of not being able to think up a book important enough to dedicate my last post to…

I’d instead like to talk about all of them. I’ve covered some lovely novels and made some good points in both this semester and last, so I’d like to dedicate this post to reiterating all of the important points and takeaways that I’d like people to remember.

It can be hard to get into literature, as many classics are seemingly boring, old, and depressing. However, we’re not often meant to read these works for the fun of it–we’re meant to read them for their messages, in a similar way to how we read textbooks for other classes. It may not exactly be everyone’s definition of fun, but it certainly isn’t useless.

This is not to say that all classics are boring, or that books need to be boring to have a message–or that entertaining books and non-classics have no messages! Despite what I may have lead you to believe, some of my favorite ‘classic’ novels have been the less-lionized, fun-to-read ones like “Phantom of the Opera” (I’m biased) and “The Metamorphosis” (I am biased once again). I simply just believe that “boring” books should be given a chance, too–and if we’ve kept them around this long, it’s probably because they truly do contain value.

I’ve also often found that one’s eventual opinion on a book can be largely influenced by their attitude going into it. If you expect to not enjoy a book, you’ll probably notice the negatives more than the positives and end up hating it. But if you try to look for the themes, find the positives, or simply have some fun with the book, the experience ends up ultimately much more fun and memorable.

And once again, I’d like to reiterate that I am by NO MEANS an english buff! If I’ve learned anything my freshman year, it’s that I’m very grateful to be a science major. I don’t often have the time to read books in my spare time, let alone form analyses or write about them. And unfortunately, I’m not sure when I’ll next get the chance to read again.

However, the one school year I spent actively engaging with classics showed me that I can still appreciate the impacts these old books have had on our culture and could have on all of our lives going forward.

So, I’m able to motivate my (imaginary) readers to do one thing after suffering through my ramble of a blog, it is this: go to your local library or bookstore and head to the classic section. Pick up one book you’ve heard about (maybe from me?) and think looks interesting and give it an honest try. Perhaps you’ll discover something truly wonderful–or maybe you actually won’t be able to stand it?

But you’ll never know until you give it a try.