so you say you're tired of being elitist?

If you're really someone who cares about what other people read but you're not in a position to teach literature because you didn't graduate from an EngLit course or anything remotely connected to Lit; if you're someone who gets affected when people disregard the importance of literary canon; if you simply consider yourself a writer or a reader, then by the name of the Lord H Christ, you've got to do something about it. Let's just stop all these discussions for a while and think about what can possibly be done to improve the situation we are all in. Think!

I have a plan but it's not a remarkable one. It's something that starts small and I'm sure that it's not anything that's new. If some people can get wind of it and do it, they are bound to get results.

I was actually inspired by my supervisor, who was never a reader. But when I shared my insights about certain books with her then eventually lent her some books, she became interested in them. Now she picks out books all on her own. She's now trying out Alcott and Bronte, I think. And these are authors who I started out with when I first got hooked with anything lit.

So my Anything Lit Project is for people who're tired of talking and want, instead, to act on the things they say. I repeat, this is nothing grandiose. I'm sorry, but I can't wait for someone to start something grandiose.

So here are the steps for my Anything Lit Project:

1. Think of someone who isn't a reader. This person can be someone you work with or someone whom you know. But, this should be a person whom you have established a relationship with so that you know that that person already trusts you about certain important things.

2. Share stories about concepts you've read that s/he may be able to relate to. You have to be subtle and you have to muster a lot of enthusiasm about what you're trying to relay to him/her. Try not to sound like a dork or an Avon lady. Maintaining someone's interest is very tricky so don't scare the person off.

3. When you see that s/he is interested enough, you can volunteer to lend the person a book. Don't push it if the person feels that s/he doesn't have the time or is not ready yet. The last thing that you want to do is drive the non-reader away.

4. Scrutinize the books that you have in your collection. Try to make an objective analysis of each. Think of what type of book that person will appreciate reading based on the things you've talked about. Bring it along with you during times when you know you'll see the person. Then if the person asks about it, lend it to him or her.

5. If the person has shown appreciation for the book (s/he should if you've made the correct book choice), encourage him/ her to read another. Pick books that s/he might be interested in but increase the difficulty level for comprehension and, well, aesthetic qualities.

This works, trust me. It's exactly what my mother did with me and what I've tried to do with my friends. Most of my friends have read books that I've been reading. The downside of this though is, of course, if they show you the door at the onset or after the first book has been lent. Or, s/he could stop reading once you stop seeing each other. But at least you've tried. Devising ways to help others overcome ignorance is always better than trying to contest it.