Falling out of love with books: Leisure reading declining in students

Many younger folks are losing their interest in reading, possibly due to an increase in social media usage

By: Aylia Naqvi

(Christin Hume/Unsplash)

There is a growing number of people who don't read books like they used to anymore. Some read for school, others read news articles when they can and some were passionate readers as kids but lost the habit as they grew older. 

As a child, I used to be an avid reader. I read regularly and could complete 500+ page novels in the Harry Potter and The Hunger Games series in a day. As I got older, more responsibilities fell on me and leisure time for reading moved to the back burner because it was hard to balance reading for pleasure and juggling school, work and family. 

The truth is, as people progress through stages of life, responsibilities increase. Whether that's school, work, extracurricular activities or even the mental demand of social media, many give up their passion for reading. According to research published by the American Psychological Association, less than 20 per cent of U.S. teens report reading a book, magazine or newspaper daily for pleasure. In comparison, more than 80 per cent say they use social media every day.

Sonny Sehra, a second-year student at X University, blames declining attention spans on one's ability and lack of desire to read. 

"I used to read one book per day, and now I'm only reading a couple of chapters every week,” said Sehra. “It's hard to focus with so much going on now." 

While everyone can agree that reading in children should be encouraged, it is also essential to promote healthy reading habits, so they don't lose their passion for reading. 

Larry Swartz, a classroom teacher and instructor at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, questions how reading habits form at a young age.

"What happens in their early years when the kids are learning to read, when they sit around as a community listening to the teacher read aloud? What experiences have they had in their lives with books in their homes?"

Swartz believes teaching children healthy reading habits rather than forcing them to read in a classroom encourages a relationship with books.

"If my teacher forces me to read a book that I'm not interested in, that would be too hard for me. I do want us to explore and critically look at a book, but I think we need balance," said Swartz.

Some students say they find it difficult to read for their pleasure, preferring to use their leisure time for other tasks.

Kayla Fonte, a second-year X University student, was afraid of losing the time to read for leisure even before starting university. As expected, the heavy workload that university life brings on forced her to prioritize her curriculars first. 

"This is what I was scared of in high school, that the workload was just going to be too much and then with everything else that was going on, my job and personal life, and I was right. I don't have the time to read anymore," said Fonte.

Social media is another large part of why people spend less time reading nowadays or have trouble getting back into it. According to Instictif, experts in influence and communication, in the pre-social media age, downtime "wouldn't be spent scrolling through posts on different social media platforms but rather with a book, magazine, or newspaper in hand." 

According to their blog post, when social media use gained popularity, societies integrated it to such a degree that it changed human thought and behaviour often without us even realizing it.

Second-year X University student Sania Ali shares that she's been trying to get back into reading, but it's been hard because the social media apps on her phone are much more tempting.

"Reading takes a lot of energy and my attention span is a lot shorter now so I find myself buying books and really having difficulty getting through one chapter and giving up on it and procrastinating on reading it," said Ali.

Swartz advises those struggling with reading to connect with peers and take on the task with others. 

"It's a very social thing and for older students, in particular, it is very much peer-influenced. Start with peers, and if you're a parent, talk to your kid about a book. I think there's always different ways we can experience reading," said Swartz.

Rupi Kaur: Authenticity through the lens of poetry

By Mariah Siddiqui

Rupi Kaur is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and illustrator. The Indian-born Canadian poet released two poetry collections: Milk and Honey and The Sun and Her Flowers that caught the eyes and hearts of people on a worldwide scale.

Two illustrated bees can be seen on the dark cover of Milk and Honey. (CanCulture/Mariah Siddiqui)

Milk and Honey is raw and unforgettable. It was released in 2014 and jumpstarted Kaur’s career as people resonated with the poetry and prose she poured her heart into. The book is separated into four parts: the hurting, the loving, the breaking, and the healing.

‘The hurting’ deals with the themes of sexual assault and trauma. The pages hit you in a way you don’t expect because they are so real and authentic. There is no filter when it comes to this section and the experiences are uncensored and heartbreaking.

‘The loving’ explores the feeling of being so wrapped up in love and the happiness that comes with being with someone. It not only explores romantic love but the kind of love you feel from a maternal perspective. People can relate to love as it is something so commonly felt and experienced. However, with love also comes heartbreak which people can heavily relate to as well.

‘The breaking’ is all about that heartbreak. Breakups suck but most people have gone through one and know how hard it is to get over sometimes. This section pours that all onto the paper through the dark illustrations and truthful emotions within the poems.

‘The healing’ is warm and inviting. It talks about dealing with that trauma and heartbreak and finding yourself again through all of that. It is a reclamation of loving who you are and where you come from. Reading the words is almost therapeutic as you witness Kaur overcoming battles in an inspirational way.

The stark white cover can be seen with illustrations of sunflowers. (CanCulture/Mariah Siddiqui)

The Sun and Her Flowers is full of metaphors and powerful messages. The poetry book was released in 2017 and is set up in a similar way to her first collection. This book is separated into five parts: wilting, falling, rooting, rising, and blooming.

‘Wilting’ is all about pain and the subject of heartbreak is revisited once again.

‘Falling’ is about being at your lowest. It visits the subject of depression and loneliness in an intense way.

‘Rooting’ talks about searching for your identity and beginning to manifest the idea of who you are again into your own mind.

‘Rising’ is putting those thoughts of who you are into the real world as you make changes that encourage your personal growth.

‘Blooming’ is succeeding in doing so and looking back at everything you have gone through, knowing you are stronger because of it. This section discusses femininity and empowerment through having important discussions and putting those thoughts into action.

When comparing the two poetry collections, there are many patterns and similarities between them. The first book cover is dark black and the second opposes that with its stark white cover. They both are organized in sections and each book tackles sensitive issues in a way a lot of people haven’t seen before. Both discuss the way love feels and the pain of a heartbreak, but they both do it in a way that can be easily related to.

While Milk and Honey is straightforward with the process of growth, The Sun and Her Flowers embodies the process in a beautiful way. The life of a flower is used as a metaphor to explain the way humans feel. First, we wilt due to pain and trauma, then we fall before we begin to root. Then we begin to grow and find ourselves and we rise and bloom. The image of a flower is a known image of beauty and strength. The comparison was done effectively and draws a powerful parallel.

Many share the opinion that Kaur writes mainstream poetry that isn’t that special, but it takes immense strength to write these poems down and share them with others. When people share their truth, it is never guaranteed that every single person is going to get it and relate to it. There are no rules to expression through art. It takes courage to tackle such significant and broadly misrepresented issues in the bold ways Kaur has.

If you want to check out one of these books, I suggest you start with Milk and Honey first for an insight on how Kaur progressed as a poet. Personally, that one resonated with me on a deeper level and I felt connected to many of the pieces in it. I hope it does the same for you.

10 Canadian Books for Valentines of Every Kind

By: Jacklyn Gilmor

It’s Feb. 14, and people everywhere are overspending on chocolate boxes and tacky cards. To be different, why not get lost in some wonderful Canadian literature that speaks to your love life?

Whether you’re single, in a relationship, casually dating, or deeply committed to your bed, the cold weather makes it the perfect time to catch up on some good books. So, here are 10 tried and true Canadian novels to read, chosen for your current relationship status.

1. If you’re in a long-distance relationship: The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood. The Penelopiad tells the epic Greek tale of Odysseus from his deceased wife’s point of view. Abandoned by her adventurous husband for years, Penelope waited for him, turning away many suitors. She retells the story from the afterlife, revealing secret truths and illustrating her complicated romance with a man who was always far away.

2. If you’re looking for ‘The One’: Anne of the Island by L.M. Montgomery. Part of the classic and beloved Anne of Green Gables series, this book follows Anne through college as she navigates relationships. She ends up having to choose between two men, and learns about true love and adventure along the way.

3. If you’re head over heels: The Cinnamon Peeler: Selected Poems, by Michael Ondaatje. Ondaatje’s poetry is rich and dream-like, but The Cinnamon Peeler stands out. It’s an elegant, passion-filled piece about the woman he loves. It will have your heart racing.

4. If you’re single and finding yourself: The Sun and her Flowers, by Rupi Kaur. A recent release by the celebrated young poet, The Sun and Her Flowers is raw, wise, and ultimately relatable. Kaur writes about her personal journey through heartache and joy, and you’ll definitely want to join her in it.

5. If your dates are disappointing: The Book of Awesome by Neil Pasricha. If you’ve been going on dates but potential partners just aren’t cutting it, check out this book for a guaranteed pick-me-up. Author Neil Pasricha compiled short essays on the little things in life that make him happy, like popping bubble wrap or the smell of bakeries. What’s not to love?

6. If you’re recently single and possibly plotting revenge: The Silent Wife by A.S.A. Harrison. This gripping thriller follows a cheating husband and a wife determined to settle the score. It’s told in alternating viewpoints for added suspense. (Side note: enjoy the thrill, but please don’t actually kill anyone, eh.)

7. If you’re struggling with relationships: Dahanu Road by Anosh Irani. This time-traveling tale set in Mumbai combines tragedy, morality, and romance. Its author has published several award-winning novels so far, so it’s sure to capture your emotions and take your mind off your own troubles.

8. If you’re married: Hearts and Minds: Canadian Romance at the Dawn of the Modern Era, 1900–1930, by Dan Azoulay. Take a break from cheesy romance novels or sub-par ‘chick-lit’. This is a creative non-fiction exploration of Canadian romance and courtship in the early 20th century. Azoulay writes about and analyzes history, weaving in beautiful relics of the era to bring it to life, like real love letters and diary entries.

9. If you just went through a breakup or divorce: Hateship, Friendship, Courtship, Loveship, Marriage by Alice Munro. This collection of short stories brilliantly explores the lives of many different characters, through love, heartbreak, and everything in between. It’s not in the romance genre by any means, but you’ll be caught up in the unique journeys of both married and single characters.

10. If you’re celebrating family love: Love You Forever, by Robert Munsch. It’s sweet, it’s simple, and it’s classic. This blue picture book has likely been in every Canadian family’s household at some point. A mother’s devotion to her son from his birth to adulthood slowly evolves into a role reversal. As the mother grows older and more vulnerable, her son learns to care for her with the kind of love she showed him throughout his life. Read this with your kids, with your parents, or with a blanket and mug of tea if you’re feeling sentimental.

This piece was edited by Luke Elisio

Review: "Canada" by Mike Myers

Our main mission here at CanCulture is to write about anything that relates to or helps define Canadian culture. But what exactly is Canadian culture? How do we define what is Canadian and what is not? In his new book Canada, Mike Myers grapples with these questions. While exploring his own relationship with Canada Myers writes about this country’s constant desire to define itself. Mike Myers book is cleverly written in a way that satisfies two literary genres: autobiography and nonfiction pop-culture. From the start, Mike Myers dives into the fundamental questions of ‘what are we?’ and ‘who are we?.’ Myers elaborates on the typical Canadian stereotypes of ‘politeness’ and how as a country, with relatively little history when compared to our ‘brother’ America or our ‘mother’ the UK, we consistently feel we need to apologize for well… just being. Our polite and apologetic nature is built into everything that we do, from our lack of national pride (because pride and fame are looked down upon) to our conversational dialogue (the way we up talk every sentence until we finish our story indicating to the other person it is their turn to speak). Myer’s choice to include these well-known stereotypes works to the novels advantage. It is humorous to the Canadian reader and educational to those not familiar with Canadian culture. Including these pop culture references draws the reader in from the beginning with light-hearted content, and waits until later into the book before bringing up heavier topics of identity and politics.

Myers interlaces Canadian tendencies into his own upbringing. Born to immigrant parents, and brought up in Toronto, Myers has worked hard to keep his Canadian culture in almost every aspect of his work. From his time in Second City, working with Neil Mullarkey in England, Saturday Night Live, and his subsequent movie Wayne’s World, the covertly Canadian character Wayne Campbell has defined Myers and his style of comedy. And in describing his love of Canada, he manages to make the reader fall in love with the country. His passion for the Canada is refreshing. He makes you miss the country you have never left.

A statement that Myers makes in the novel is that Canada can never be defined without mentioning politics and its ‘big government’. Although he cautions himself against taking a political stance as a public person, Myers does not hesitate to attach himself to the Liberal party. His passion for the party is what the reader ultimately takes away from the novel, as he both begins and ends by describing the impact the Liberals have had on the country and shaping its ideals. His statements against former prime minister Stephen Harper's Conservative government are the most heavy-handed and impactful in the novel, and leaves the reader thinking that to be conservative is to be anti-Canadian. Myers chose to include a photo of a barn that was painted in big bold white letters “Canada, you have changed.” An image such as this one can not easily be forgotten.

In his politically-heavy chapters, Myers speaks about his admiration for both Trudeau prime ministers and how those two elections helped define Canada and Canadian culture. After Pierre Trudeau’s election there was a great search for this definition. CanCon came into effect in 1986, obligating media to present at least 30% Canadian content.  Other policies that defined the accepting nature of Canada included the legalization of gay marriage, divorce, and abortion. According to Myers, this is what Canada is about, this is how we define Canada: through acceptance, our ‘salad bowl’ of multiculturalism, and liberal democracy. Canada should never try to be “America Lite”.

The novel succeeds on many levels in terms of design, as well. The book takes on the appearance of a columned article interspersed with full page photos and pull quotes. This, coupled with Myers conversational narrative writing style, makes the reader feel as if Myers is sitting across from you at the dinner table and is recounting his tale in person. He draws you into the story and manages to describe the scene effectively.

Although we are still a country without a mission statement, we are closer now than ever before, Myers said. As Canadians we are slowly allowing ourselves to become prideful, protective of our talent, and celebratory of our unique nation. Part of this is due to people like Catherine O’Hara, Russell Peters, Jim Carrey, and Drake, who continue to include their Canadian background in their wide-reaching work. They are the people saying ‘Hey America, look up! We’ve got some great thing going on up here!’ But culture cannot create itself without looking within and we cannot let ourselves be defined by what others think. As Myers says, “Canada will be defined by its ideals alone.” Its culture is formed on those ideals of equality, cooperation, mutual respect, and a level playing field.

This piece was edited by Mathew Ouellet, Feature Editor of CanCulture. 

"The Heart Goes Last" is a Weak Attempt at Dystopian Satire

After The Hunger Games and Divergent, post-apocalyptic stories have exploded in the world of fiction. With so many similar books being released in the dystopian genre, a story about a married couple choosing to live in a prison seems intriguing and original. In her typical sharp-witted style, Margaret Atwood pens an unusual satire in her recent novel, The Heart Goes Last.

The Positron Project is the perfect solution for homeless American couple Stan and Charmaine. After living in their car during an economic crisis, their country ravaged by crime and impoverishment, the prospect of a new life with The Project is exciting. It’s a simple idea: residents get the opportunity to live in the lovely town of Consilience with full employment and a house of their own. The only catch is that on alternating months, they must reside in Positron Prison, divided by gender. The "inmates" spend their time doing menial labour while enjoying many of the same benefits as Consilience citizens. To Stan and Charmaine, being inmates every other month seems like a minor price to pay in exchange for a fresh start. After all, it couldn’t be any worse than it is outside. 

As you would expect, life in Consilience gets worse — much worse. The city is walled off with airtight gates and security. At first, Stan and Charmaine are just relieved to be living in an actual house; the months they spend in Positron are surprisingly comfortable. But when Charmaine begins a tumultuous love affair with the man who lives in their house every other month as an Alternate, the couple become tangled in a dangerous web of lies and secrets. 

In terms of plot, The Heart Goes Last was quite compelling; the ‘love-to-hate’ villains, underhanded schemes and endless plot twists made it difficult to put the book down. However, the characters are a different story. The main characters (more so Charmaine) were unbelievably naïve. Regardless of their ever-worsening circumstances, such as euthanizing helpless prisoners or being forced to live as mock spouses of Positron elites, the pair hardly questioned the gravity of the situations, let alone tried to escape them. It was difficult to sympathize with Stan and Charmaine; they seemed to have little depth or ambition. The secondary characters were more complex with stronger motives, but still lacked a sense of deeper emotion to make them believable. Perhaps Atwood was attempting to make a point about human nature in writing shallow characters with no moral backbone, or perhaps the story simply lacked true direction.

The novel took some bizarre and interesting turns — at one point, Stan became a stowaway in an Elvis costume— but ultimately, it was a weak story. What could have been a satisfyingly rich tale filled with danger and adventure was tempered by unremarkable characters and a sloppy resolution. After a long series of plot twists, the ending felt rushed and unconvincing.

Although Atwood made some thought-provoking points about morality and humanity’s desensitization to violence, The Heart Goes Last was a piece of mediocre work. The story opened with a sense of originality, but eventually trailed into a confusing social commentary with no real purpose. Readers should expect more from this great Canadian storyteller.

This piece was edited by Mathew Ouellet, the feature editor of CanCulture.