Experiencing Class Outside of Class

In the course of a few weeks, I have found myself in situations, two to be specific, where I am discussing the novels that we're reading in class with people that I meet while at work. To make sure that I stay on track with the reading that we need to do for the next class session, I often read during my shift at work when I have nothing else to do, mostly to help pass the time. The first instance was with The Bluest Eye. Two women came to the counter and saw that I was reading the book, one of them being a teacher herself, and within 20 minutes or so, we found ourselves getting into a deep conversation about the characters, Morrison's writing style and language, concepts taught in class now versus then (apparently The Bluest Eye is a common staple in many classes whereas Gentlemen Prefer Blondes isn't), and other such things. 

The second instance happened yesterday night (by the time I post this), November 5th, and a different woman came in and saw that my copy of Of Love and Other Demons on the counter. She has obviously read it and is a great fan of Marquez' writing, referencing another work of his. Again, though not as thorough as with Morrison's work, she and I came to discussing a little bit about the writing of the novel and what the story may provide and so one, since we're not so deep into the book yet. Based on the saturation of certain people in the area, it was safe to assume that she was Hispanic, a Latina woman for sure, and she read it in the Spanish translation. One thing she noted was that it is a book that is better appreciated with age. Being 22 myself, she said it would be a little difficult to really appreciate certain aspects of the book, but she encouraged me to look deeper and enjoy a lot of what is offered in the book.

The point of both of these anecdotes is that the concepts that we learn in these novels transcend outside the classroom, and make an impact on everyone that they touch. These concepts are universal among anyone, and you can always find someone to get into a discussion with in regards to what you learn from the stories themselves. Don't be afraid to show off, or be seen with, the books that we're reading in class or anywhere else. You never know what these books will do to you in meeting new people and learning something you probably never noticed before.