15.

READING BOOKS

Literature is the most available piece of art, enjoyed by literature lovers and readers of all
ages. In comparison with the passive consumption of TV reading is an active hobby. There are
various ways to choose a book for reading. Some people read a book for its subject and setting,
others for the author or on personal recommendation. Also reasons for reading are different – we
read for pleasure, relaxation or we look for information and advice. We read books to enrich our
lives, to learn about cultural heritage. We read for pleasure, we train our imagination. Books make
us think, amuse us and give us answers to some questions. A good book is also a pleasant way to
escape from the real world. When we read a lot, we improve our vocabulary too. People, who read
more, express themselves better.
Our first books are usually read by our parents or grandparents. These are fairy tales or
stories and they normally have more pictures than text. They always have happy ending. They take
children to the world of fantasy and teach them to distinguish good from evil. Children’s books by
Hans Christian Andersen and the Brothers Grimm are popular worldwide. Classic English
children’s books like Alice in Wonderland (written by Lewis Caroll) and Winnie the Pooh (written
by A. A. Milne) are read a loved by many generations of English children. The most popular Slovak
fairy tales were written by Pavol Dobšinský (Slovenské rozprávky), Mária Rázusová-Martáková
(Zlaté zvonky), Mária Ďuríčková (Zlatá brána, O Guľkovi Bombuľkovi) or Elena Čepčeková
(Meduška).

Main literary genres include:

POETRY
1. epic poetry (long narrative poetry with a plot)
2. lyric poetry (short poems that reflect personal feelings)
3. verse drama (drama written in verse)
PROSE
1. fiction: novel – historical, detective, mystery, thriller, horror, adventure, short story, fairy tale,
legend, fantasy
2. non-fiction: encyclopedia, dictionary, guidebook, textbook, atlas…
DRAMA
1. tragedy (a play with a sad ending)
2. comedy (a play with a happy ending)

Nowadays, people in Slovakia can read both original Slovak books and books translated
from different languages, mainly English. They read books from both the fiction and non-fiction
genres. Boys usually read adventure stories, novels or science fiction, girls prefer romances or
novels. Many Slovaks read in English. A lot of English books exist that are simplified and are not
difficult to read for non-native speakers. Adults like to read detective stories, historical novels or
travel books. Some also read non-fiction genres, such as biographies or scientific papers. There are
people who enjoy reading poetry. There are not many of them because this genre is not easy to read.
Speculative fiction for adults and fantasy series for children have become very popular genres in
recent years. People also enjoy watching film versions of famous books which they have read. In
Western Europe, people like to read comic books – there are more pictures than text and the story is
usually adventurous and dynamic.
We can buy books at bookshops or borrow them from libraries or friends. A large number of
books are published in the world every year. Books can be bought in a wide range of bookshops.
Some are small and quite specialized, others are situated in big shopping centres. People can drink a
cup of tea or coffee there and sometimes see a presentation of a new book. Bestsellers can also be
bought at newsstands or in supermarkets. It is becoming more and more popular to buy a book via
the Internet from and Internet bookshop. It is also possible to read a book in electronic form – and
e-book. In England and other countries in Western Europe, publishing companies publish many
more books than in Slovakia. People buy them in mega stores or small specialized bookshops. The
place where books are lent and borrowed for a fee is called a library. A good one is usually
equipped with a wider range of books which are lent to library members for an agreed lending
period. Library members are given lending cards. Unique books, current and older issues of
magazines and newspapers are available just for reading in study rooms where silence is requested.
Nowadays, almost every educational institution and public library provide an online service which
helps readers check all information about the books they request.

Every year the Swedish Academy announces the Nobel Prize winners for literature. It is
based on the last will of Alfred Nobel. Winning the Nobel Prize for literature is one of the highest
honours for a writer. Books by such authors become widely translated and sold. The authors get the
award from His Majesty the King of Sweden during a Nobel Prize Award Ceremony in Stockholm.
They are awarded it for their overall contribution to literature or their uniqueness. Here are some of
the Nobel Prize winners for literature and their most popular books:
George Bernard Shaw (a dramatist, 1925) – Pygmalion
William Faulkner (novels, short stories, 1949) – The Sound and the Fury (Bľabot a bes)
Ernest Hemingway (novels, short stories, 1954) – The Old Man and the Sea (Starec a more)
John Steinbeck (novels, short stories, 1962) – The Grapes of Wrath (Ovocie hnevu)
William Golding (a novelist, 1983) – Lord of the Flies (Pán múch)

Nowadays, according to statistics, there is reading crisis, not many people buy books. They
visit libraries and bookshops less often than in the past. There are several reasons why there is a
crisis of reading nowadays. The first one is that books are quite expensive and people cannot afford
to buy many of them. This also leads to illegal photocopying, mainly among students who often
copy textbooks. The second reason is that people do not read so much anymore. People do not look
for information in books (such as encyclopedias or textbooks) as much as they used to in the past.
They need to save as much time as possible. Therefore, they prefer to look up the information on
the Internet. Instead of reading good fiction, they watch films. Reading a book takes days or weeks,
watching a film just one or two hours. People do not have to concentrate so much, they do not need
to imagine things. Everything is ready for them on the screen. Moreover, teenagers prefer the
interactive virtual reality of computer games. They participate in the game, take action, feel what
the heroes feel. Adults read more and more magazines because it takes less time and concentration
than reading a book. To change this negative trend it is very important to develop a good
relationship with reading and literature from a very young age.
Some people think that books will die out in the future. They say that everything will be
read in electronic form and people will have less and less time to read books. Others argue that
reading is a hobby for many people and books are a part of the cultural heritage of every nation.
That is why they think that the book will never cease to exist and is irreplaceable.
 15. QUESTIONS

1. What kind of hobby is reading in comparison with watching TV? What can you learn from reading?
2. Why do children like fairy tales? What are the most famous ones?
3. Define the classifications of literature and genres.
4. What influences people’s choice of books?
5. Which literary genres are popular among boys, girls and adults?
6. What are the possible ways of getting books?
7. What do you like reading? Do you prefer reading fiction or non-fiction? Present your favourite
genres and writers.
8. Do you read in the original language or in translation?
9. Do you get pleasure from poetry? Have you ever tried to write poems?
10. What do you think of comics?
11. What book, which you have read, have you also seen as a movie? Which did you like better?
12. Talk about the biography and work of an English-speaking writer. Choose one of his / her books
which you have read.
13. What is the Nobel Prize? Can you name some Nobel Prize winners for literature?
14. Compare printed books and e-books, their advantages and disadvantages. Which do you favour:
paper or digital reading?
15. What is the attitude of young people to reading in comparison with the past?
16. What is the future of reading books?

ROLEPLAYS / SIMULATIONS

Imagine there is a new library being built in your school. The institution has a budget of € 3,000 to spend on
books. Talk about:
- the books you could buy from the money
- genres and titles of the books which should be there
How would you attract other students from your school to visit the library regularly?

A
You like reading mystery novels. Your friend has invited you to go to the cinema with him / her to see the
adaptation of Dan Brown’s The Lost Symbol because he / she knows that you like this kind of genre. Refuse
the invitation in a polite way. Explain that you would like to read the book first and then go to the cinema.
Give him / her clear arguments for your decision.

B
You like going to the cinema. You want to go and see a new film based on Dan Brown’s The Lost Symbol
with your friend who is keen on reading mystery novels. Invite him / her with you. Tell him / her that you
have already bought the tickets.

It is your best friend’s birthday soon. He / She likes reading fiction and you want to buy him / her a book.
How would you choose the book? (reviews on the Internet, best-seller, on personal recommendation…)
What genre would you choose? Where would you buy it? (in a bookshop in Prievidza, via the Internet…)
How much money would you be willing to spend on the book?
 15. PICTURES

1 Characterize major classifications of literature captured in the pictures.

2 Present genres of literature which are popular with young people. Do boys and girls share the same
taste in reading?
3 Did your parents read you bedtime stories? If yes, which stories did you like most?
4 Talk about your attitude towards reading. How have your reading habits changed over the years?