How to Read Literature Like a Professor: A Lively and Entertaining Guide to Reading Between the Lines

I liked it

I don't read much. A book has to really steal my attention away from my cherished vice TV. This book did that. Sometimes it did lag, but I was so keen on getting to his next witty or engaging comment-usually found at the beginning of chapters-I muscled through it. Now I analysis books-and music, poetry, plays, my day-with the tool box he gave me. Caution though, his knowledge and wisdom are so great you often put the book down feeling small. It's good and I liked it.

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

Great Companion For Those Who Want To Get More From Their Reading

Thomas C. Foster writes an excellent compliment to any one's library who reads a lot. He describes looking past the words and looking into what the author is really trying to say. You almost feel like you are back in high school, or college when he asks you to read a snippet of something, then asking "what does that mean?"

If you ever wanted to really understand what it means when an author mentions water, falling in mud, flying, eating with others, etc and other literary symbols, then this is an excellent book to read. Some of the chapters seem to go on and on, but he keeps reaffirming each symbol (which is arranged to be each chapter) to the reader and offering examples found in many literary works. He also lets you know that the symbols in his book are 1) not always what he says they are and 2) the symbols in the book aren't the definite complete list. There are many other symbols, like fire, he doesn't cover; but he wants to give you the basics for reading something, stepping back, and catching what the real meaning to the text is.

I recommend this to anyone that would like to get more out of their reading experience, and those who have, or run a book club. I enjoyed it.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Good required reading book, bad free-reading book.

I was assigned this book for school reading and it's great for that purpose. The author informs you on different literary techniques authors use in a comprehensive and interesting way. However, the content may be too dry for casual readers who are not required to read this book.

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

the new rosetta stone of literature

Seldom in literature is anyone willing to address the intricate nature of the written words meaning. In the case of Thomas Foster's book "How To Read Literature Like A Professor' all barriers have been shattered. If you are a writer or aspire to be one you will profit from the definitive way Mr Foster peels back the layers of storytelling. Like removing the leaves of an artichoke we are brought deeper and closer to the core dipping each leaf in the butter, relishing the new flavor of his knowledge. and all at once we find the heart of the delicacy and he gives us a taste of wisdom far beyond our expectations. All in all this book becomes one of those "awww moments" and leaves us wiser and with a greater understanding of our species cultural intercourse in literature.

2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Flashback to College

As an English major, I found this book to be a delightful read and flashback to the hours I spent in class dissecting the symbolism in movies and books that were assigned viewing and reading for class.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Surprisingly interesting required reading

Its not very often that I really feel like I have gained anything significant from required reading but this book was very captivating and informative. I really feel like I learned a lot about reading literature.

Awesome analysm!

No text was provided for this review.

For AP Lang/Lit Students

Great advice and easy read. Enjoy!!

Where are the othe chapters after 10

Imn chapter 7 he mentions talking more about something in chapter 14 but there are no more chapterd after 10

So, sure! Defenitely worth your time, though maybe not vice versa

So i found it very satisfying, though i am a big fan of reading and am able to appreciate analysies. It does require some patience but it is certainly helpful, especially to less well read individuals.

Glad I bought both books

I enjoyed his "How to Read Novels Like a Professor" and debated getting this one as well for a long time, worried about crossover material and not as much unique information. However, it is well worth having both books, this one goes more into symbolism while the other book covers more of form.

Useful but extremely pretentious.

I was assigned to read select chapters of this book for my AP Literature class. The book touches on some basic concepts of reading literature that are essential and very useful. You know you are learning some concepts while reading, but I would not reccomend this book to anyone who is just starting to learn literature (as the title and author would suggest). The author uses examples from books that only the most mature literature student would know of. His summaries are vague and the connections he tries to make with the concepts, such as symbolism, are hard to follow. Foster's style is overly relaxed and informal, while trying to achieve just the opposite result (irony if you will). He goes off on many tangents to explore a very simple topic. In essence, he overcomplicates the learning of the concepts which can be good or bad depending on how interested in the topics you are. Bottom line: I would not recommend this book to someone who has not spent some time in a literature class. The way Foster attempts to explain the concepts is VERY poor, but his introduction of the essential elements of literature is honorable.

Translation from professor-speak to the general public

I picked this up after a friend of mine was complaining about her teacher using it in her literature class. Although I haven't completely finished it yet, I think it brings up a lot of interesting points about symbolism and interacting with the author as we read a book or poem. We've all had a teacher or two who would ask seemingly ridiculous questions about what the writer 'really' meant. This book helps bring some of the perspective of a professional to the general public. It has definitely made me pay attention more as I read. Also, Mr. Foster offers a list of all the literature he uses as examples as well as more books to read.

Great book for anyone who likes to read or has to for school.

I read this book between College semesters. I am an older student of 51, returning to school after a job layoff. I enjoy reading and found the title eye-catching. The author makes the work fun to read with his own brand of comedy thrown in. An otherwise boring subject to many, the writer makes the book entertaining. I do feel I will develop the ability to see deeper meanings in literary texts that I read for a class or read for my own enjoyment. I like to read especially classic literature such as Faulkner, Stienbeck, and Cather to name a few. I like to read such books to try to see why the piece of literature has continued to be relavent for years on end up to this very day. This book by Foster helps identify the reason a book has endured when thousands of written pieces have experienced a short life span of public interest. dwp

Worth every penny...

A must read for both the "expert" and the novice. You will never look at literature the same way again.

The Title Says It All

Mr. Foster covers the basics of interpreting literary texts in an engaging and clear manner. Each chapter leads the reader deeper into how a seasoned reader sees commonly used symbols, events, images, themes, and ideas in literature without getting into literary theory in a technical manner. The information is commonplace to English teachers or literature students but so engagingly expressed and with such a wealth of examples it's worth reading just to get his take on the possible meanings of seasons, colors, vampires, mealtimes, flying, rainbows, births, deaths, and other aspects of the literary universe as well as elucidating how a writer thinks. Occasionally Foster gets bogged down in the details of some illustrative example, but it's easy to skip on to the next enlightening chapter. For this reason, even inexperienced and teen readers could gain from the ideas in this book.

Well worth the read.

How to Read Literature was fun to read and very informative. A great buy for anyone who wants to become a better reader.

HOW to read literature like a professor

i personally did not like this book. the book refers to alot of old classic boooks that a 10th grade wouldnt have read yet alot of the words were extremly are to comprehend

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Grateful for this Treasure

On returning to college post-retirement after a 30-year hiatus, I discovered that literary criticism and study had moved in unfamiliar directions. Prof. Foster provided the guidance I needed to reorient myself. I am amazed that an apparently non-academic book can be so filled with information that is scholarly, practical and insightful, as well as a delight to read again and again. It has helped me to feel comfortable in the classroom and confident about competing successfully with students 1/3 my age.

very entertaining read...

This is an excellent book for those who take their fiction seriously. His writing style is very witty and makes what could be a dry subject very entertaining. It is excellent for students. It is a great book for the people who want to get the hang of interpreting literature. The only criticism I have is that sometimes his wittiness is a little over the top.