What Do I Do When A Book Makes Me Feel Dumb?
Dear Literary Lady,
What do you do when a “great” book just makes you feel dumb?
–R.F., Austin, TX
Dear R.F.,
I had a professor in college who once told me that, year after year, James Joyce’s Ulysses remains on the list of greatest novels ever written, but very few people have ever actually read it. He then painstakingly guided my class through every page of the novel until we all, finally, “got it.”
I am endlessly grateful to that professor, and I like to think about that class whenever I plod through a book that makes me feel dumb. In addition to teaching me a whole lot about James Joyce (which, let’s be honest, has helped me feel a lot less dumb in even the snootiest of literary situations), that professor and that class also taught me the following:
1. As mentioned above, a lot of people don’t actually read the “great” books
We all know what books are supposed to be great, what books an erudite person should have read and loved, and what books “smart people” read. But very few of us ever get around to reading more than a few of these in our lifetime. If you’re tackling some tough texts, remember you’re already ahead of the people who didn’t even try.
2. A lot of great novels are great for reasons other than being enjoyable
If you’re having trouble getting through a novel that’s purportedly one of the greatest ever written, consider the fact that many literary masterpieces aren’t masterpieces because they’re fun. They might be inventive or pioneering or avant garde for their time. Or they might be entirely typical for their time or historically accurate or embody the principles of a literary movement. They may be lauded for any number of reasons, and not necessarily because they’re a rollicking good-time read. So it’s okay that you may not exactly enjoy them.
3. Some books are meant to be taught
Some books are so challenging they’re only comprehensible when you have a knowledgeable person to guide you. That could be anyone, from a favorite professor to a literary critic to the one person in your book club who brags about reading it in college. Of course, many of us don’t have the benefit of literary instruction in our adult lives, so we grope our way through difficult novels on our own. If you’re reading one of these books solo, cut yourself some slack.
4. When in doubt, look it up
If you’re feeling baffled by your novel, do some research on it. Reading up on your book can help fill in the blanks if you’re confused by the characters or the plot. It can also give you some pointers on what to look out for in the novel—what themes, what stylistic choices, what plot twists you should note. Learning about the circumstances under which the novel was written or the reason why it’s heralded as such a good book can be helpful, too.
5. Talk it out
If you’re struggling to get through a book, find a friend who has read it and talk it out. Engaging in literary discussion with someone will accomplish a couple things. First, you might figure out what it is you’re “missing” in the book that your friend sees. Second, holding up your end of a literary discussion helps you remember you’re not dumb at all. You might be pleasantly surprised at your own ability to articulate why the book just doesn’t do it for you.
6. Move on
If you simply can’t get into the book and it’s really starting to get you down, shrug it off and move on. There are so many books to read, and many of them may be just as critically acclaimed or rewarding as the one with which you are currently grappling. Set it aside and come back to it some other time. In the meantime, go out and find another novel that resonates with you.
Lastly, remember what Epictetus said: “Books are the training weights of the mind.” If it feels like heavy lifting when you’re reading, it’s not because you’re dumb, it’s because you’re working hard.
Love and paperbacks,
Literary Lady