READING LESSON: The Difference between Liking a Book and Appreciating a Book.

TS In English class, I care more about whether you can learn to appreciate the books we read, than whether you like them. SD Let me use an analogy and compare reading to skateboarding. CM I don't like to skateboard (Yikes! I'd kill myself!), and I don't even especially like to watch it on television. CM However, when I do watch a serious skateboarder, especially when I'm with someone who can explain the complexity of the movements, I quickly begin to appreciate the skill and artistry in what I'm seeing. CM If someone asked me if I liked watching the skateboarding, I would probably answer no but that I did learn to appreciate the creativity and originality of the sport. SD Similarly, in English class , I hope you develop the habit of asking yourself not whether you are enjoying the book, but whether you are appreciating it. CM Take another analogy, between reading and rock music. CM I do not like listening to most rock music, but when someone explains to me the creativity involved in putting a good rock song together, I can begin to appreciate it. CM I may not love listening to a particular band, but with the help of an expert, I can learn to appreciate what they are doing in their music. SD The same, I hope, will be true in English class. CM Try your best to not use the word "like" when discussing your reactions to a book, story, play, or poem. CM Try to replace it with words like "appreciate", "understand", and "recognize the value or quality of". CS If you can do this, you will be well on your way to becoming a serious, intelligent, and sophisticated reader.