On Reading Well {A Book Review}

 On Reading Well, by Karen Swallow Prior (Brazos Press, 2018)

A book about books. That is what On Reading Well is all about. However, Karen Swallow Prior does not limit herself to simply producing a bibliography of good books within her book. Instead, she gives her readers an exceptional piece of writing that illustrates in itself how reading has the power to shape our very lives. Indeed, after finishing the last page of the book, I believe Prior does with her book exactly what she argues all great books should do: "Great books offer perspectives more than lessons." (page 28) 

On Reading Well is masterfully written. Prior, being an award-winning Professor of English at Liberty University, is well-qualified to write a book about how to read books; she crafts her words, sentences, and paragraphs with skill and expertise, resulting in her own book becoming an excellent example of great writing! 

Prior chooses twelve separate virtues to form the skeleton of her book; she then employs twelve (well, actually thirteen--two are discussed side-by-side within the same chapter) to exemplify these virtues. So for example, when considering the heavenly virtue of "Patience", Prior intertwines excerpts from Persuasion by Jane Austen, along with an extensive discussion of the plot, to expand on one's understanding of what patience is all about.

To be honest, I do not feel competent to write much of a review of this book, for my experience with literature is limited and thus, I am a novice and will probably completely fail to capture the true beauty of this book. Nevertheless, because of its impact in my own life, I feel compelled to write something, so that I might intrigue you enough to cause you to also read it. You won't be sorry.

Here's what I appreciate about On Reading Well:

It was Thought-Provoking

The discussion on each virtue (Prudence, Temperance, Justice, Courage, Faith, Hope, Love, Chastity, Diligence, Patience, Kindness, and Humility) was so well-written and memorable, I don't think I will ever look at any of these qualities in the same way I did before reading this book. Because of the in-depth and insightful manner in which Prior tackles even the very definition of each of these virtues, one could almost consider this book to be a handbook on how to cultivate those qualities in life that we should all aspire to possess.

For example, in "Chastity", the literary example of Ethan Frome, by Edith Wharton, centers around a man who is seeking the affection of a woman who is not his wife. Such a scenario naturally lends itself to a discussion of marriage and the nurturing (or lack of nurturing) of affections, one spouse toward the other. I found the following quote to provide some profound insight into my own marriage: 

The marital relationship is singular in the way each partner shapes and forms the other. The good habits practiced by one partner contributes to the positive formation of the other. The same is true of bad habits. This mutuality doubles the effects of one person's habits, whether positively or negatively. Thus to reject the partner you once chose, as Ethan does, is, in a way, a kind of rejection of oneself. This is the idea expressed in Ephesians 5 when it says that 'husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body' (vv. 28-29). (page 168)

Needless to say, this is merely one instance where I had to pause to consider the implications for my own life in what I had just read.

It was Distinctly Scriptural

While it is possible to successfully discuss literature from a secular perspective, Prior discusses it here from a distinctly  conservative Christian perspective. She often traces the development of the particular virtue and how it has been viewed over time, but repeatedly, her conclusions point back to Scripture's applications of the particular virtue. However, she doesn't just "happen" to arrive at such conclusions: many times she rightly divides Scripture itself in order to support her argument.

For example, when discussing "Humility", Prior uses Christ's example in Philippians 2 to present us with the ultimate example of humility. She also employs the Beatitudes from Matthew 5 to expand on what it means for us to be humble. Prior says, "Of course, every humiliation of ours is but a pale shadow of Christ's humiliation. Comparing whatever we go through to what he did puts our afflictions in proper perspective. This is the beginning of humility. Humility is not, therefore, simply a low regard of oneself; rather it is a proper view of oneself that is low in comparison to God and in recognition of our own fallenness. 'Humility is thinking less about yourself, not thinking less of yourself.' " (page 231)

Again, I'm no literary expert, but I would say that this beautiful blending of a discussion literature with a Scriptural interpretation and application is indeed a rare and impressive combination!

It Created a Desire to Read Great Books

Surprise! A book about books had made its reader want to read more books! No way!

Yes, as I mentioned earlier, I have not read much literature, but after reading On Reading Well, I have been given a glimpse into the value of reading great books. Of the thirteen literary works discussed, I definitely want to read Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan and Persuasion by Jane Austen. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain also intrigue me. I know there are many, many other fantastic books out there also worth reading that are not mentioned!

While I know I have not even begun to scratch the surface of the depths of this book, these are a few of the things that I appreciate from reading On Reading Well. This book is definitely a book that I know I would benefit from reading a second time!

Note: If you do not like spoilers, On Reading Well does contain many spoilers. However, on the other hand, if you have read, for example, Persuasion (or any of the other pieces of literature discussed in the book), you will undoubtedly have an even greater appreciation for On Reading Well than I did!