Get off Sparknotes! Do your summer reading!

Dante Alighieri's Divine Comedy: this
epic poem, written in the 1300's, is a culmination
of the medieval world-view that developed in the
Western Church during the 12th century. It is said
to be the greatest work of Italian Literature, and
one of the greatest works ever written.
credit: google.com

When most high school students pick up a copy of a book like Fyodor Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment or William Golding’s Lord of the Flies, some may immediately recall the countless hours spent reading a novel that they were forced to read during their summer vacation. Others, on the other hand, may remember being handed one of these books to read over the summer but slothfully choosing to check out Sparknotes for all the information instead of actually diving into a fine piece of literature. (And don’t tell me that you didn’t have time to read them; three months is plenty of time!) 
Sure, having to read four-hundred page novels was never my favorite way to spend the months of June, July, and August (well, mostly August since I put my reading off to the last second…). However, looking back at everything that I have learned from my English classes in high school, such as critical thinking, syntax, philosophy and more, I now realize the importance that these stories played in the development of my own ability to comprehend more complex thinking and written works.
The Lord of the Flies, a book that I was assigned to finish the summer before my freshman year of high school, was one of the very first books that I actually enjoyed reading. The novel’s themes of the darker side of human nature and the effects it has on society made it a story that I refused to put down. Although I loved the book, I was not very good at recognizing symbolism, themes, or connections to other literary works at the time. So when the time came to discuss the novel in my 9th grade honors English class, it blew my mind when I discovered the genius behind William Golding’s characters, setting,  and his use of syntax (a better word for “word-choice”) to foreshadow upcoming events and show the darkness of human nature through the boys in the story.
After The Lord of the Flies, I wanted to find more well-written books that were more than just a story but, instead, a work with thought-provoking ideas. Fortunately for me, I did not have to wait long since my school provided me with many pieces of fine literature for my summer reading and English classes. Some of my favorite reads included All Quiet on the Western Front, Brave New World, The Man Who was Thursday, The Old Man and the Sea, Crime and Punishment, and The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights.
Don’t get me wrong! I’m still glad that I don’t have to do required summer reading anymore, but by having to read these great works of literature, I have discovered my love for a higher standard of writing. This, in turn, has led me to learn how to write more effectively in all fields of writing; short fiction, journalism, essays, you name it. 
Even if you don’t like to read, or maybe reading isn’t one of your skills, don’t dismiss the books that you're given for just another homework assignment. The authors of these stories have written some of the finest pieces of literature in the history of the world, and learning how to analyze and understand their works provides a giant step in learning how to be a better writer and, more importantly, a better thinker. So get off Sparknotes, stop being lazy and dive into your summer reading!

credit: memegenerator.net