Why I Read Old Books
How classic books have grown me, challenged me, and pointed me to the gospel.
It’s that time of year when everyone shares about the books they’ve read over the past year. In today’s digital age of limited attention spans, I’ve come to view reading as a simple act of rebellion. It’s the push-back against my own mental atrophy.
Lately my evenings include a cup of tea and sitting next to my husband as we read in silence with the occasional, “Listen to this…” It’s glorious.
I don’t know about you, but over the past few years I’ve noticed what seems like a resurgence of millennials reading classic literature, myself included. I don’t consider myself well read when it comes to classics, but I keep coming back to them, reading one or two a year slowly and purposefully.
My first “official” introduction to classic literature was in my high school AP English class (my one and only AP class, mind you). I read works like Pride and Prejudice (Austen), Invisible Man (Ellison), and A Good Man is Hard to Find (O’Connor). Their prose was moving and the dialogue surprisingly witty. I quickly got swept up in the characters and their lives that seemed so different (or similar) to my own.
But why? Why read a book by some old, dead guy (or gal) when there are plenty of new bestsellers that might also include a Netflix series to binge? Why read a scrappy Penguin classic when I could give in to the escapism promised by the latest Emily Henry romcom?1
Reading classic literature challenges me.
I read The Brothers Karamazov (Dostoevsky) a couple of years ago after multiple recommendations from people I admire including writers, pastors, and friends. As I worked my way through Dostoevsky’s work, I found myself confused and challenged. Still, I kept reading. Did I understand everything? Not even close. Yet, two years later, I’m still thinking about that book. Reading a classic book forces me to slow down, look up the definitions of words I don’t know, and think outside my modernized worldview. I’m far from an academic, but I do aim to be a lifelong learner; old books cultivate that.
Reading classic literature makes me a better writer.
Turns out that stumbling over unknown words and complex plots helps me in my own writing. As a songwriter specifically, reading classics has expanded my vocabulary and my ability to paint a scene through words. It’s made me fall in love with good storytelling through song. Fun fact: I wrote my first song in high school based on the parachutist from The Lord of the Flies (Golding).
Reading classic literature reveals my need for the gospel.
I’ve found that the classics point to biblical themes and principles time and time again. I see my tendencies towards stinginess when I read A Christmas Carol (Dickens). I resonate with the initial pain and sweet relief of surrender when I read of Eustace Scrubb’s encounter with Aslan in The Voyage of Dawn Treader (Lewis). I’m moved to tears by Tolkien’s description of the beginning of creation in The Silmarillion (Tolkien) that is an echo of God’s song in Genesis. As I wrestle with these broken and imperfect characters, I see my own brokenness and need to draw near to the One who wrote the most beautiful story of all.
What are you reading? Any classics you would recommend? Let me know in the comments below. Happy reading!
Three things I’m enjoying this month:
1. A Liturgy, A Legacy, & the Songs of Rich Mullins (Live) by Andrew Peterson and friends. What a beautiful collection of songs sung with joy by a group of friends!
2. Earl grey tea (decaf) with a spot of honey to accompany my nightly reading.
3. How to Remember: Forgotten Pathways to an Authentic Faith by Andrew Osenga. I’m only halfway through this one, but I’m really enjoying it so far. Osenga is a voice I respect in the music world, and these short essays come from a heart of humility and grace.
Full disclosure, I’ve never actually read an Emily Henry book, but if you like them, read them. I’m in full support of reading what you enjoy! Despite my sassiness here, I do enjoy some modern writers. Leif Enger, Andrew Peterson, and Daniel Nayeri are a few I’ve been enjoying lately.