As much as I love reading, there are some books that you just don't want to force yourself through. There's always that kid in English class who asks, "Why do we have to read this? What's the point?" At the end of that long collection of words, there is a point. I promise. We aren't reading "Twilight" in class for a reason. We don't discuss Edward, Jacob, and Bella's love triangle after vocabulary because it simply isn't important. True, "Twilight" is a very popular franchise, but that doesn't make it relevant or good reading material. Just because it's popular doesn't mean it's good.
Instead, we read books of relevance and that are actually well written. Yes, "The Odyssey" looks daunting at first, but it is a good book. Books are extremely influential, and they can reflect a lot about the culture or ideas behind them. For example, there is a reason the Bible is one of the top-selling books in the nation. It is certainly not as hip as Twilight, but it is considered relevant for a reason. It represents an entire movement of religion.Whether you agree with the ideas behind the cover or not, you now what the Bible is.
So although we may groan and complain when we get a required reading list, there is a purpose behind those pages that seem to be forced on us. For the sake of knowledge and understanding what a good book is, we read. We suffer through to the end, and are rewarded with reading something of with substance, unlike "Twilight".
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