I grew up in a home of gigantic nerds. Between my mom and dad, almost every nerdy pursuit was covered. My mom was huge into things like Star wars and Star Trek, while my dad was engrossed with things like comics and fantasy novels. They would always bicker about which nerdy pursuit was better, but the one thing they always agreed upon is that The Lord of the Rings was the best thing to ever grace God’s green earth.
When I was around 10, I really wanted to impress my parents and read their favorite trilogy. For those of you who have not had the pleasure of reading the LOTR novels, they’re long, they’re mostly boring, and they’re full of words that no 10 year old should or would ever know. My parents understood that it was difficult for even an adult to read, so they told me it was fine and that they would read it to me, or I could read it later. While this was a kind gesture, I was determined to do it. So I went and got the dictionary, and looked up any word I didn’t understand in it.
I’m proud to say that I managed to finish those books in a measly two and a half years.
First, LOL at your username, whoever you are, you are going to have to reveal yourself to the class at some point.
Second, it is funny because I can somewhat relate to your memory because my younger brother has been IN LOVE with Star Wars, so much so that I possibly remember it being his first words. The only thing I could ever have a conversation with him about was the character and which Lego set he should purchase next. After the purchase, I would sit with him and read all of the directions, as he flew through the set not even listening to my orders. Your story randomly reminded me of him, because just like you, he was determined to get it done on his own…only in about two and a half hours, not years.
This reminded me of my parents and older sister reading the Harry Potter books out loud to me and my younger sister. I did not read the books on my own until the end of my Junior year of high school. Also I am dating a guy who is OBSESSED with LOTR, so I feel you, sillyman. Are you saying you were not literate enough to read the books without a dictionary? Would that make you partially illiterate?
I would say so haha. I was very literate for the age group, but it was certainly a struggle!
It really isn’t surprising, but I haven’t thought in awhile that kinds of peer pressure might be uncannily positive, encouraging you to challenge yourself and improve as a reader. Humorously, it had kind of an opposite effect on me: I refused to read the Harry Potter books while everyone else in my class was reading them. I’m making it sound so simple, when it is ostensibly a huge challenge for parents, peers, or professionals to “make” people like to read. Happily, it happens organically sometimes.