I am a book freak and there's no extent I won't go to to get a book to read, especially when i hear it's an interesting one.
Back in the days, I used to board a bus from Aba-Owerri road to the Post office (for those who know Aba very well)to exchange books at the rate of N30 for small novels and N60 for the big ones. I never got enough of reading.
There were books that never really cut it for me and i struggled so hard to read and understand them ....
Wole Soyinka's works were one of them and the only one I remember that was easy to read and assimilate was "The Lion And The Jewel" .
Shakespeare's works also had that 'lost effect' on me, the old English left me confused and I remember I had to buy his complete works of Shakespeare books(Anthology) just to get a better understanding ...
I couldn't wait to be free from the strain and stress of reading works I could barely grasp and still had to analyze them to pass my tests and exams.
My chance came when I got into 300 level and given the option to choose either Literature or Language. I wasted no time in opting for the latter and I did better at it.
I am one of the few English students who cannot adequately quote a line from any works of Shakespeare, although I still remember bits and pieces, but the details have become blurry with time.
I find reading most literary classics, written in the different English era a herculean task.
Nothing beats a book written in plain English with clear/unambiguous words...
Nothing beats reading a comment written in clear unflawed English in the comment section of SDK Blog.......
*runs out of post*
You didn't lie at all. You see Shakespeare books, I don't bother reading.
ReplyDeleteI only read those types when I was a literature student. Such boring stuff
Shakespeare books?Oluwa o,it was a difficult phase for me reading Merchant of Venice, Macbeth to pass exams. Awon English 1900
DeleteThen in school our english teachers were very nice and knew about the cumbersome English. So we had filmshow on all Shakespeare's books. FGGC saggy English teachers rock!
DeleteWhich was why simpler versions of Shakespeare was written. Lamb tales and More tales from Shakespeare made it easier for me to understand the main book.
DeleteI was never able to comprehend the book the beautiful ones are not yet born.
ReplyDeleteI started reading it a couples of times but I was never able to finish reading it.
That was one of my favourite books.
DeleteOne of my favorite book of all time.
DeleteNever understood that book. Still have it somewhere in my library. Maybe will attempt it again.
DeleteEven "A man of the people" i read it twice n flung it.
DeleteI love that book, someone wrote on the wall of my class room in secondary school that "the beautiful ones are not yet born because the ugly ones refuse to die" 😂😂😂, it cracks me up when ever I remember it.
DeleteMelancholy
Nice write up Mrs Dee
ReplyDeletePlz what school did u graduate from???
I love reading 📚 good books ,
ReplyDeleteI love lucidity as well .
Same here.👍
DeleteI am Facing the same challenge,I have an exam,when I am reading through the literature I get confused and I am a lover of reading.
ReplyDeleteI avoid opening the materials. It's so frustrating.
I thought its just me. Till date I've never read a complete novel from Shakespear and Soyinka. Their method of writing isn't just for me. Thank God for the new generation of authors who write in simple English/language.
ReplyDeleteLike which one have you read?
DeleteI didnt like the lion and the jewel, the story about the baale and d belle just tire me.
DeleteLol.so true. Anytime I am reading a post on social media and I come across grammatical errors,I lose interest or busy myself correcting it. I am a lover of books too. I read Sidney Sheldon and other authors back to back. I love reading.
ReplyDeleteSometimes, you just have to read more than once to understand some literature works, oh well good old days
ReplyDeleteSoyinka was a challenge for me. I could only read trials of brother Jero
ReplyDeleteMetamorphosis of brother Jero🤣
DeleteHahahaha I love that prophet without liver.
DeleteI also love reading but never enjoyed any of the Shakespeare's books.
ReplyDeleteToday, the social media has robbed the few Nigerians that used to read
their reading habit. It is a shame to talk books to an average Nigerian
teenager or graduate. How many people can write comments without exchanging
thought for taught, would for could, and a lot of them are beginning to think
that "lol, lwkmd, toast me etc" are grammatically correct.
Get over yourself! You don't know what informal writing is huh?
Delete@Shooter
DeleteBefore you shoot, think of me writing about my experiences. Do you still write emails and
letters to people that are older than you in age and profession?
Remember that there is also a mid-line "semi-formal" writings.
in as much don't belong the sophisticated books readers.
ReplyDeletei still read some novels..although fews ones are intense while some in large can be dynamic in breaking down
Any book used for Literature aaaa!
ReplyDeleteI will read multiple times before I understand.Sometimes with the help of teacher back then.
Those authors, I don't know where they get their own inspiration that their books are beyond comprehension.
I love reading books, Shakespeare , Soyinka all, But I’ve only totally hated one book in my life and that is Virginia Woolf’s To the Lighthouse. The convoluted writing was too much for me. I still shiver when I think of the book.
ReplyDeleteTess of d'uberville...jeez, let me trek under sun than reading it again.
DeleteOh... Tess of the Dubervilles was a personal favorite.
DeleteI feel you Mrs dee, i read those classics in school too and I have not picked them up to reread again. There are some people that can quote lines from these Shakespearean books eh, i find it admirable and cute but not me, thank God for lamb tales, it was understandable
ReplyDeleteMelancholy
My recent obsession is Charles Bukowski i can't get enough of his books.
ReplyDeleteI read a lot of novels too, but not those old English ones. I only read them enough to pass.
ReplyDeleteThey were really headache inducing 😥
I had to go back and read Shakespeare novels when they started reproducing them in modern English, to enjoy them.
I enjoyed reading Woke Soyinka's novels as a literature student.
Jero’s Metamorphosis
ReplyDeleteBack in the days I always prefer reading More tales from Shakespeare or lamb Tales from Shakespeare, this way I get a summary of all the Shakespearian tales
ReplyDelete👍 exactly what I said.
DeleteI love simplified novels jare
ReplyDeleteI have read almost all the James Hardly Chase. I read a few other novels by Sydney Sheldon and a few other great writers.
ReplyDeleteThese days, I read mostly motivationals and other inspirational books.
Two authors changed my life....
Successful Achievement.. Vols 1 - 4 by Dr Sidney Bremer and
All Dale Carnegie's books I could lay my hands on.
Wow James hardly chase. His books were amazing.
DeleteReading is what I’m know for by all. I can read anything as long as it’s written in a language I understand.
ReplyDeleteThe only international literature books I have ever read is arms and the man by George Bernard S. I havnt read any Shakespeare book. But I have read a bit of shoyinka, Achebe’s there was a country(I think all Nigerians should read that book btw), chimamanda adichie’s book; I have read all she’s written. Books are amazing though and I wish people did more of that.
I’m writing my first novel too, it’s been 3 years I started, it’s not easy lol.
I am a Bibliophile ( book lover). My dad had a rich library when I was growing up. I read EVERYTHING. But I avoided Shakespeare. Just tolerated his books to get my credit in Literature. But now, I recommend any book by FRANCINE RIVERS. She is phenomenal..
ReplyDeleteI am a Bibliophile ( book lover). My dad had a rich library when I was growing up. I read EVERYTHING. But I avoided Shakespeare. Just tolerated his books to get my credit in Literature. But now, I recommend any book by FRANCINE RIVERS. She is phenomenal..
ReplyDelete