Should we swap high brow novels for something less challenging?

 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/booknews/11141627/Cant-get-into-highbrow-novels-Ditch-them-says-Nick-Hornby.html

I read the article that this link takes you to on the Telegraph website this morning.

The article was basically a discussion about whether we should stop forcing ourselves to read books we find to difficult.

According to this and other articles regarding the same subject, many people force themselves through books they find too challenging simply because they feel they ought to (or most likely in the case of young people, because they're teacher has told them to). Nick Hornby argues that this begins to make reading feel like a chore, lessening he enjoyment and therefore not opting to read on a regular basis.

I think I am inclined to agree with such a statement.

Why should people feel a 'sense of duty' to persevering to the end if it is simply too challenging. Reading should be enjoyable. Though I am not adverse to a challenging text, it has to be said I am someone that will feel guilty if I do not make it the end of the novel, I usually find its worth it in the end (Not every time, but mostly). However, I also thoroughly enjoy picking up an easier book, usually one I've read multiple times and reading it cover to cover in a night or two.

The Perks of Being A Wallflower, for example, is a book I've read upwards of five times and will continue to re-read whenever I want an easy book. The Harry Potter series also comes into this, as does a whole lot of children's stories. The Lemoney Snicket series, Alice in Wonderland, all of these, though they may not be the most challenging texts, or the most acclaimed, give me a break from thinking about a book too hard. If I only read difficult books all the time, I don't think I'd enjoy reading the same way I do now. There is absolutely nothing wrong with picking up an easy book and just enjoying it. Thats not to say we shouldn't challenge ourselves regularly, but there should be no pressure to read a book just because people think you should.

Here is one quote I particularly liked:
"Every time we pick up a book for a sense of duty and we find that we're struggling to get through it, we're reinforcing the notion that reading is something you should do but telly is something you want to do."



'Some books should be tasted, some devoured, but only a few should be chewed and digested thoroughly.’
Francis Bacon