Take Time to Read Classic Literature - Dr. Ed Iannuccilli

Take Time to Read Classic Literature - Dr. Ed Iannuccilli

Recently, I decided to read classic literature. Why? Well, I had read many of these works when I was in school, but too often I overlooked their value; hurrying to get through them to get that good grade. I was preoccupied with medical school acceptance, and a good grade was the holy grail. In retrospect, I sold myself short; especially not taking more advantage of my professors and what they had to offer in examining the work. So recently, I tried to recoup.

I started with Dostoyevsky’s Brothers Karamazov, moved to Dickens’ Great Expectations, and then to Melville’s Moby Dick. I set a goal of reading at least ten pages a day, now taking time to appreciate and savor the writing and the authors’ messages. I  dashed through them, not with the speed of a racehorse, but more with the speed of a careful trotter, especially one who broke stride now and then, to rest, comprehend. It took a while.

I repeatedly looked away from the page to think, wonder, and admire, “How did he write that?” Pausing made it worth the effort.

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On too many occasions during my education, I did not appreciate, enjoy, or even comprehend what I was reading as well as I should have. In medical school, and during my medical career, I was pushed for time. When I read, it was to keep up with the medical literature and, save for vacations, reading for pleasure came second.

In my high school days, I read Classics Illustrated . . . Ivanhoe, The Count of Monte Cristo, and The Three Musketeers. They afforded me the false sense that comics were OK, even considered literature. They provided a false sense that I was reading good stuff, albeit abridged. They absolved me(maybe) of the guilt of not reading the real thing.

But now, I felt a sense of accomplishment in the undertaking of the classics. What I realized, however, was that I had to read other things concomitantly, those a bit easier to absorb, i.e. The New Yorker, mystery novels, daily news, writing magazines, etc., for pleasure.

Moby Dick seemed the more difficult of the classics because it was crucial to pay close attention to the story, its meaning, and symbolism. Oh, how I wish I were back in school with a teacher to guide me. I would not have minded being assigned an essay.

I’m not finished. On the shelves, I see A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, David Copperfield, Far from The Madding Crowd. Yikes, I need more time.

I thought of others. James Joyce? Nope. My mind might not be able to soak up his writing. War and Peace? Maybe. Middlemarch, Silas Marner . . . doubtful.

My efforts have felt worth it. Not only did I feel a sense of accomplishment, but I also seemed more able to appreciate the writing and the writer.

Take the time to read classic literature. You won’t be disappointed and, I can assure you, you will get a good grade.

Dr. Ed Iannuccilli is the author of three popular memoirs, “Growing up Italian; Grandfather’s Fig Tree and Other Stories”, “What Ever Happened to Sunday Dinner” and “My Story Continues: From Neighborhood to Junior High.”  Learn more HERE.