Ana Barraza
ReadingAna Barraza1-1-1-1
Recreational Reading HabitsThe College Student and Recreational ReadingDo College Students Read?
“Catcher in the Rye”, “1984”, “To Kill a Mockingbird”, “The Great Gatsby” and “Harry Potter”- Using the wonders of Facebook, these are the top books read by college students in the California State University Northridge network.
Though when all homework is done, when eight-hour shifts have been worked and stomachs have been fed, what would the average college student do with that precious time? Would they rather strain their eyes watching TV, playing videogames or checking their latest comments on Myspace, or would they prefer to spend some quality time with Boo Radley, Holden Caulfield or the beloved wizard, Harry?
“Most people don’t have time. The little time they spend not working or studying, they spend online,” said Solange Nanetti, a Pierce College film major.
“I read before I go to bed. It relaxes me,” said undeclared major Wesley Baker who is currently reading Steve Martin’s “Pure Dribble.”
According to Baker, most college students only read because they have to and is convinced they don’t know what’s going on in the world.
“They don’t watch the news, and if they do, they watch the Colbert Report or the Daily Show and think that’s actual news. I read the L.A. Times and the Financial Times,” said Baker, a fan of historical novels.
“Stuff like that is interesting, different points of view of history and different sides of a story.”
Baker’s favorite author to read “over and over and over” is Patrick F. McManus, a whimsical author who elaborates on all his childhood fishing and camping stories. His favorite book, however, is “The Last Catholic in America” by John R. Powers.
“It’s absolutely hilarious,” he said.
While the average college student has so much on their plate already, one wouldn’t think that a little reading for pleasure would rouse feelings of guilt.
“Embarrassingly enough, I have read the last two ‘Harry Potters,’ but every time I pick up a book other than a textbook I feel bad because I’m neglecting class-work,” said Vincent Lazzaretto, a philosophy major who is currently reading Chuck Palahniuk’s book, “Diary.”
Responding to whether he thought most college students read recreationally he said, “I think students are so overwhelmed with required reading as it is, not to mention spending $75 to $100 on a textbook and then spending extra money to read for pleasure makes you feel pretty guilty.”