As an adult, it’s been a constant source of frustration to me that there are huge gaps in my knowledge when it comes to literature that other people of my generation have read - either through school, or because they were popular at the time, or because they’re regarded as “classics”*
But it wasn’t like I didn’t read as a kid. I read A LOT. But the funny thing was, I was really specific about what I read.
For example, Jaws by Peter Benchley. I read that as an 11-12 year old and loved it. And then I read it 6 times in a row. Did I read anything else of his? Of course not. Wasn’t interested.
Or the Point Horror series (because I’m too old for Goosebumps!). I absolutely devoured them, but only the ones by R.L.Stein. Why? Because I read one of his first. That’s literally it.
Anyone else had this relationship with books as a kid?
*don’t worry, I know this is often more to do with matters of capitalism/patriarchy/colonialism than quality.
I don’t think it’s odd that a child wouldn’t have a particularly diverse book diet. Kids are often pushed towards commercialized series because it’s considered just good that they’re reading, and a series usually provides parents with a reliable source of new books they can draw on to provide their child. Most people don’t really start approaching well known “classics” until high school or maybe junior high at the earliest. And even then, their exposure is limited. Most people who seem to have read “a lot” and widely have done so of their own volition, as the number of books you can read as part of a HS curriculum is necessarily limited.
I fully agree. I was an avid reader at a young age. It makes me ill when my children’s teachers assign books based on some level they believe a child should be reading these days. The first book of substance I read was The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank. I was eight, and it was for a book report. My teacher was hesitant, but I was insistent. My mother was skeptical, but I did not care. I aced my report. My mother let me read anything I wanted from that point on, and I never chose a book assigned by teachers again. Children aren’t given a chance to explore books that might interest them anymore. Perhaps that’s why so many don’t even have an interest in trying to read great books.