How to Read Literature Like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster

Cover via sequoits.com.

Rating: 4/5 stars.

EVERYTHING IS A SYMBOL.

Okay, not really. But more things than not, at least when it comes to literature. I was hesitant to read How to Read Literature Like a Professor because I felt that I had not read enough classics to understand what Thomas Foster would be talking about – but then I realized that maybe it was a good idea to read the book before embarking on my literature quest, so I would have some background knowledge heading in. After all, knowledge is power.

And I was right. Though a myriad of the book titles went over my head and some of the examples were consequently confusing, for the most part I feel like I’ve learned a lot from reading this book. Granted, I’m a high school student, so I didn’t know much to begin with, but I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves English, literature, or is interested in reading a book about books. As a bibliophile and self-proclaimed future English major, I loved learning about irony, allusions, and everything else Foster shared using his casual yet sophisticated writing style.

Not a bad book to start out 2012 with. Now to move on to an actual novel…