I have long been an avid reader of nonfiction. Such books have a great deal to teach us about history, society, thought etc. but often times, they are fairly straightforward. Histories of particular events are of especial interest to me, as they place the reader in a given time and, as LP Hartley famously opined: “The past is a different country: they do things differently there”.
However the degree of interpretation needed to read such texts is not the same as is necessary, or at least desirable when reading fiction. Much of the fiction I have hitherto consumed has been popular works (and there is nothing wrong with that) of the Tom Clancy type, or at least easy to read works such as Sherlock Holmes (for which I still have a great soft spot). It soon became clear to me that reading classic literature for enjoyment necessitates a deeper appreciation of nuance, as well as an appreciation of the story itself. In short, I was and am a beginner when it comes to reading these works.
In an effort to improve my abilities in this area, I picked up an interesting book:
It is an easy read and explains much, in top level terms, about classic literary styles and techniques. For example have you ever noticed how many literary figures succumb to either consumption or to drowning? There is a reason for that! I learned a lot, including what I don’t know! You can read a review of this book on my Goodreads profile.
It is a challenge for me. Sometimes imagery is easy to spot. In O’Neil’s wonderful play “A Long Day’s Journey into Night” the fog that frequently shrouds proceedings is akin to the mists that the main characters are fumbling through. However in many cases the imagery and message is harder to identify. Often times there is social commentary and satire built into the prose. There may be references to other classical works or the Bible (“Moby Dick” being a great example of the latter).
I am still struggling with this but it makes the reading experience so much richer and, as with most things, practice improves skills. There are so many stories, they are often deliberately rehashed and due homage paid to those that went before. I am always looking for these references and it is very fun to do so. I have a long way to go but, as always, the journey is as important as the destination.