Read for the Heart

Oh my! I've been waiting for this book. No really. I've been waiting for somebody to put the words in my head together and put them into a book and for that book to be published. This is that book. I hug it. I love it. It is awesome!

A friend of mine gave me a copy of this book for Christmas and I was thinking it was a lot like The Book Tree (click on title for review) and it is that. However, it is that and so much more. I would say that the differences between Read for the Heart and The Book Tree is that Clarkson shares more of her philosophy behind what she feels is good quality literature and she spreads her thoughts about by book genre. So, for example, in The Book Tree the authors give you their philosophy upfront and the rest of the book is full of suggestions for quality books to read. Read for the Heart is divided up into category by genre with an introduction by Clarkson to each part. She also has a more Montgomery-ish flair to her, so of course I'm going to like that.

Sarah Clarkson says a lot in this book that I agreed with. We had some differences of opinion on particular book titles but you can't agree with people on everything all of the time and I'm feeling magnanimous at the moment.

The very best argument that Clarkson makes in this book, and I know that this is not going to sit pretty with some of you, is against abridged classics or re-writes. It irks me when I see abridged copies of classic pieces of literature because I feel like we're doing ourselves a disservice by not making ourselves work towards deeper understanding of great works. We're such a McDonald's society - give it to us quick and easy. But where is the benefit of watering down the classics in the long run? Instead of calling ourselves to higher standards, we're trying to find the shortcut and the easy way around MASTERPIECES. It's like standing in the Louvre, looking at the Mona Lisa and deciding she's too complicated. So we grab a pencil and draw a stick figure of a lady. Er, we guess it's a lady. The stick figure has long, string-like looking hair. Must be the Mona Lisa. "AH!," we say, "I have gazed upon the Mona Lisa and she is lovely."

But she's a stick figure.

I'm not even going to begin describing the inner emotional turmoil I felt when I laid eyes on an abridged copy of Anne of Green Gables. My word, people!! (Don't admit it to me if you've read it.) It was written in 1908. There are no language barriers or difficulties between then and now. It's practically a children's book story. Where are our limits?

Clarkson, unlike me, doesn't rant though. She just gives you facts in a pretty little way. I know one of the common complaints about classic literature is that the vocabulary gets in the way. Instead of looking up definitions and expanding our vocabulary by learning new words, we'd rather just....not. Clarkson addresses the issue of vocabulary and I offer you this excerpt from Read for the Heart:

On a more spiritual level, the habit of reading influences the ability to think deeply about life-altering ideas of faith and belief. Madeleine L'Engle, author of A Wrinkle in Time, once wrote that the decreasing vocabulary of modern culture would result in an inability to think greatly about God:

"The more limited our language is, the more limited we are; the more limited the literature we give to our children, the more limited their capacity to respond, and therefore, in their turn, to create. The more our vocabulary is controlled, the less we will be able to think for ourselves. We do think in words, and the fewer words we know, the more restricted our thoughts. As our vocabulary expands, so does our power to think."

When we limit our ability to articulate truth about God, we limit our awareness of His presence and power in our lives. An inadequate vocabulary sometimes equals an inadequate comprehension of spiritual reality. God formed our brains to be molded by words.

. . .

A young intellect nourished by a feast of words can tackle any concept -- whether mathematical, scientific, spiritual, or imaginative - with confidence. (pages 20-21)

I think it's downright tragic that we would try to limit our reading experiences with rewrites and abridged versions of classics. Language translations are one thing. I'm not arguing against those, but I do think we could stand to broaden our vocabulary and maybe even preserve what's left of it. We complain when kids don't like to read but would rather spend their time playing video games or watching t.v. and yet we remove challenges that might inspire them. Perhaps if we raised them on a steady diet of good stories and healthy vocabulary, their minds would crave more complex activities and books! (Yes, I am arguing.)

The secret, which is not really a secret, according to Clarkson is to start reading early and then read often. She would argue that we should begin building within our children a love for classics and then gradually introduce the classics to them at an age where they can truly appreciate it. Developing and training child in the habit of reading is one of the greatest gifts a parent/guardian could give to a child. A child who begins reading young develops a taste for it and can tackle bigger and greater reading habits with age. Then, when the child is of an appropriate age, he or she can grab those great classics of the past and not just read them, but ENJOY them for what they are, in all of their original glory! Instead of being scared of great literature, great literature will be their natural choice.

I think we adults, who are always looking for a quick fix, give children the permission that they are looking for to avoid hard things in the book department. Sure, Les Miserables (for example) is a stretch. It's long and tedious in parts. But the reward in having read it? Priceless! There is a richness in it that cannot be substituted by the Claire Danes. It is a masterpiece for a reason so why do we not train ourselves to enjoy it for what it is?

Clarkson also talks about the gift of imagination in this book but I'm going to save that discussion for a separate post.

There is a lot of thought-worthy information in this book and I think it offers some good and valid arguments as to why we need to be reading the best in literature to our children. By offering them the greatest writings that we can, they will learn to seek good writing all on their own. I appreciated her bringing her opinion to the table, as it is, and I feel quite comfortable in recommending this book to others. I'd be hard pressed not to!