In an effort to boost reading nationwide, the National Endowment for the Arts has created “the Big Read,” deemed America’s largest book club. A 2004 NEA report found a dramatic decline in literary reading among all age groups, ethnic groups and education levels; the Big Read aims to reverse this trend by giving citizens in all 50 states an inviting opportunity to read and discuss great books.

“We want people of all ages across the country to enjoy the social aspects of reading and the enthusiasm that’s generated by discussing a good book in a library, with a neighbor, a classmate, or a co-worker,” said NEA Chairman Dana Gioia. “I’m not a betting man, but I’d wager those who join the Big Read, will be hooked on the joys of great literature. Think of a national book club – potentially with a chapter in every community.”

The books chosen for the Big Read, all modern American classics, have all been used successfully in city reads programs and book clubs across the country. They are: FAHRENHEIT 451 by Ray Bradbury, MY ÁNTONIA by Willa Cather, THE GREAT GATSBY by F. Scott Fitzgerald, A FAREWELL TO ARMS by Ernest Hemingway, THEIR EYES WERE WATCHING GOD by Zora Neale Hurston, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD by Harper Lee, THE GRAPES OF WRATH by John Steinbeck and THE JOY LUCK CLUB by Amy Tan.

I’ve read all but two of those books (bonus points if you can guess which two), but only one of those I’ve read was not assigned to me at some point in my education; not surprisingly, FAHRENHEIT 451. I’m glad to see the NEA chose at least one genre title as part of the initial offerings – and a great one at that – because otherwise, I wouldn’t expect a lot of young people to be cool with the prospect of reading about immigrant farmers or race relations if a grade weren’t dependent upon it.

I’m reminded of a quote by Mia Farrow in the June 2006 of Esquire: “And I won’t let (my kids) read junk. They’re not gonna read THE BABY-SITTERS CLUB, not when they could be reading TREASURE ISLAND or TOM SAWYER. That’s not gonna happen.”

No offense to TREASURE ISLAND (which I enjoyed) or TOM SAWYER (less so), but this kind of attitude is what turns kids off of reading. Let them read what interests them, and you’ll be amazed at what they want to pick up. My 8-year-old may read the occasional comic book and pieces of HARRY POTTER and SPONGEBOB joke books, but he also read Jack London’s WHITE FANG and Charles Dickens’ OLIVER TWIST entirely of his own accord. BOOKGASM is all about reading what excites you; it’s when you make reading a chore or make them ashamed for their choices that people lose interest and turn on the TV.