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Literary fiction exercises a reader’s imagination in matters of character and emotional nuance… Conversation, like literary fiction, asks for imagination and engagement. And conversation, like literary fiction, demands quiet time.
~Sherry Turkle, in Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age
This summer we’ve taken on a few “mini-challenges” based on our summer read, Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age by Sherry Turkle. We’ve learned that if we want to nurture empathy in ourselves and in our children, we must prioritize conversation and time spent with people, without the distraction of digital devices. And that it’s important to cultivate a capacity for solitude as well.
For our final mini-challenge in our summer series, here's another excellent habit you can start to develop, if you aren’t regularly doing this already. (Perhaps this should have been first on our summer list!):
Find some amount of quiet time to spend time reading deeply on a regular basis. Dive into a great work of literary fiction, for example – something with a sustained narrative and complex characters that will develop your concentration. Use classic literature as a way to access your imagination, improve your capacity for empathy, and connect with others.
These are a few of the many benefits our children receive through reading quality literature at SLOCA. Let’s do this on our own as adults, too! When we make time for reading the classics, we gain a better understanding of human nature, increase our own empathy for others, and model the practice of deep reading to our kids.
Are you reading a classic right now? Leave a comment and tell us about a recent experience with literary fiction, or share something that's on your reading wish list!
