I never liked reading. Never. As a kid I would “accidentally” spill things on my books all the time so that I didn’t have to read them. I avoided any kind of inside activity like a vampire avoids the morning sun. That is, until I discovered Salinger’s “The Catcher in the Rye”.
I was able to read well before I had picked up this particular book, but none of them held my attention or caused me to think in the same way that this one did. The childhood me wasn’t actually understanding the novels, I was just remembering the order of facts that occurred. Starting with Sallinger’s novel, I read anything and everything. I wanted to explore the ends of Middle Earth, the depths of the Pacific, and the wild country along the Mississippi river towns. My first memories of literacy emerge when I experienced a phenomenon I’ve described to others as “culture shock”. Culture shock is that moment when you put down a book, and no matter how hard you try, your brain still operates in the laws of the novel you’re reading. After a while you would struggle free and come up for air in the real world. Awakened, confused, and disappointed, I first defined my modern thoughts of literacy to include only this brief phenomenon.
It isn’t possible to consider yourself truly literate unless you’re willing to be changed.
This is interesting. I like how you mention that you could read and write prior to The Catcher in the Rye but for you it was not only about the ability to do it, but also having a more emotional connection than just regurgitation. I think this is that “intimate” level we were talking about in class. It isn’t just the ability but also something more than that. I had this experience with The Great Gatsby in ninth grade. I was constantly having that “culture shock” feeling with the characters and plot and was never really satisfied with the real world when I had to set the book down. This was a really unique way to give an example of the intimacy we were referring to in class.
I’ve never thought that phenomenon as a part of being “literate”, but now that you bring it up I definitely remember that as being a big part of reading when I was young too. I always thought in order to show comprehension of something, it had to be either written down or spoken. Changing your mindset is certainly another form of comprehension and I think it is very interesting that you were able to figure that out at that age.
I really like the idea of “culture shock” when you finish reading. I also feel that when I put down a novel, but I never had a phrasing for it until now. Thank you for that.
The feeling of being a part of a novel, really caring about the characters and being emotionally attached to them, is one of the best things about reading for me. It’s always a shock when someone interrupts me while I’m in the middle of reading a novel, because it can really be a jarring transition from the world of the novel into the real world.
I agree with this post 100%. When you find that one certain book, it’s like a flip switches in your head. It’s just a great way to find out new things and experience personal growth in a way that’s hard to find anywhere else. I also hate when I finish an amazing book and other people can just walk around like everything is alright with the world.