Hello,
I ofcourse have developed an opinion about what I consider “good” and “bad” writing but I’d like to learn how to delve into texts and deeply understand them. Is there any book that allowes you to learn that? Also, do you guys have any advice for me, how to properly understand literature?
Thanks in advance
by The_namelessdude
4 Comments
Join a book club?
I’ll let others recommend good literature analysis books but wanted to say that analyzing craft is always done through a specific lens, and there isn’t an objective right way to do it. For instance, the western canon/the idea of what is “proper” literature was derived from a historically white male perspective. The book “Craft in the Real World” is a good exploration of this idea.
Edgar Allen Poe’s short stories are a great starting point! You can work yourself up from there to bigger novels like Gulliver’s Travels or Frankenstein. I would try to find books with topics that you are interested in like science fiction or romance. Be prepared for very long and detailed chapters, with some even just describing a room or space.
Do not be afraid to look things up online if you want better explanations or even ask a local librarian. Lookup the history surrounding a novel / time period when it was written & when it could have taken place. It could give you a better understanding.
Here are some Reddit post links that may be useful:
[How to start reading classic literature?](https://www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/bf08h0/advice_on_how_to_start_reading_and_enjoying/)
[How to understand classic literature?](https://www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/8bu92x/how_to_understand_classic_writing_styles/)
How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas Foster is a good resource