{"id":35112,"date":"2026-01-07T05:21:20","date_gmt":"2026-01-07T11:21:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/chicago\/2026\/01\/07\/in-todays-english-classes-kids-often-read-just-snippets-of-novels-and-thats-a-shame\/"},"modified":"2026-01-07T05:21:21","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T11:21:21","slug":"in-todays-english-classes-kids-often-read-just-snippets-of-novels-and-thats-a-shame","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citystuff.com\/chicago\/2026\/01\/07\/in-todays-english-classes-kids-often-read-just-snippets-of-novels-and-thats-a-shame\/","title":{"rendered":"In today’s English classes, kids often read just snippets of novels \u2014 and that’s a shame"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Lost Art of Reading Whole Books<\/h1>\n

Introduction to a Forgotten World<\/h2>\n

Confession: I never read \u201cThe Grapes of Wrath.\u201d Not until now. Most people are forced to read it in high school. It was taught in American Tradition, \u201cAmTrad\u201d we called it. I scorned the plebe English course, and took Honors AP Literature. We read \u201cGreat Expectations.\u201d I might have never read \u201cThe Grapes of Wrath"\u2014 something about migrant farm workers in the 1930s; sounded dreary \u2014 without a prod from technology. I signed up for Audible, years ago, because I wanted to read all 21 volumes of Patrick O\u2019Brian\u2019s \u201cMaster and Commander\u201d seafaring series. Listening to books is easy, especially when you walk a dog.<\/p>\n

The Allure of Audiobooks<\/h2>\n

But Audible is a stern taskmaster. You pay your $14.99 a month, permitting you to download one book. Those months snap by, particularly when you\u2019re signing up for bricks like \u201cDon Quixote.\u201d Desperate to knock back a credit, I grabbed \u201cThe Grapes of Wrath\u201d just because it seems like one of those books that a person such as myself ought to have read. Honestly, I came to it so unfamiliar, I thought William Faulkner had written it, until I saw that no, it was John Steinbeck. We all have voids.<\/p>\n

A Journey Through "The Grapes of Wrath"<\/h2>\n

The book is almost 500 pages long \u2014 30 hours of listening. The plot is simple. The good though poor Joad family loses their Oklahoma farm and goes on the road to California, where they expect to pluck oranges off the trees and enjoy life. Complications ensue. While lost in the midst of this, in one of those moments where the news becomes a sort of Greek chorus, the New York Times reported on a survey of 2,000 parents, teachers and students, whose findings were neatly summed up in the headline: \u201cKids Rarely Read Whole Books Anymore. Even in English Class.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Problem with Snippets<\/h2>\n

Instead they get snippets. Distillations. This is a shame because actually reading a great book is a journey, not unlike the Joads\u2019 trek. A brief slice just won\u2019t cut it. It\u2019s like looking at a postcard of a national park versus spending time hiking there. Does \u201cThe Grapes of Wrath\u201d get tiresome in places? Certainly. You are bouncing along in that balky Hudson truck forever. Part of me is still there, sitting on a mattress with Ma, worrying about Rose of Sharon \u2014 her 19-year-old daughter, pregnant through most of the book, whom I feel comfortable declaring one of the great characters in literature. Or perhaps I just fell in love with her.<\/p>\n

The Timeless Relevance of Literature<\/h2>\n

I was captivated by the way Steinbeck wrote it. His descriptions of the land. Some chapters are set pieces \u2014truck drivers at a diner, salesmen bantering on a used car lot \u2014 that don\u2019t advance the narrative in any way, except to establish the scene where this is taking place, 1930s America. A very different country, in some regards. The New Deal social programs that Republicans so hate \u2014 like food stamps \u2014 have done much to eradicate true hunger. In other ways, it\u2019s the same. Californians despise the Okies for showing up, so needy, so willing to work for nearly nothing. Anyone puzzling over our nation\u2019s ability to hate desperate immigrants who come here trying to forge new lives for themselves should realize that skin color and language just make doing so easier. Lacking those, we\u2019ll hate our fellow white American citizens, for the crime of being poor, except when the peach crop needs picking.<\/p>\n

The Enduring Impact of Books<\/h2>\n

Yes, nothing is more tiresome than old people pining for their moribund technologies. The endless slideshow carnival of TikTok and Instagram are not without merit, I\u2019m sure. But I can\u2019t imagine the impact lingers more than a minute, never mind decades. Books can stick with a person. I remember reading the end of \u201cCatch-22" in high school. Not for any class. Just \u2018cause. I remember where I was sitting in the library when I finished the book, stunned. Wanting to grab the lines that stuck with me \u2014"You\u2019ll have to jump\u201d \u2014 I plugged the request into AI several ways just now and got nothing: bland assessments that were not what I was looking for. For something that\u2019s going to take over the world, AI is still pretty dumb. Then again, that seems to be the current dynamic.<\/p>\n

Rediscovering the Joy of Reading<\/h2>\n

Then I realized \u2014 I have \u201cCatch-22" on the shelf. I pulled it down. \u201cYou\u2019ll have to jump.\u201d \u201cI\u2019ll jump.\u201d \u201cJump!\u201d Major Danby cried. \u201cYossarian jumped.\u201d \u2014 just as another character swings at him with a knife. \u201cThe knife came down, missing him by inches, and he took off.\u201d In 50 years of jumping and running, \u201cCatch-22" has been very handy to have in the back of one\u2019s mind, just as \u201cThe Grapes of Wrath\u201d is a welcome addition to my mental landscape. Books are still vital. I can\u2019t imagine young people being denied the chance to read them.<\/p>\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n

The experience of reading whole books is invaluable, offering a depth and richness that snippets cannot match. In an era where technology dominates our lives, it’s crucial to remember the importance of immersing ourselves in literature. The journey through the pages of a great book like "The Grapes of Wrath" or "Catch-22" can leave a lasting impact, providing insights into the human condition, societal issues, and personal growth. As we move forward, it’s essential to ensure that future generations have the opportunity to experience this joy of reading whole books.<\/p>\n

FAQs<\/h2>\n