Life as an ENG Major: 10 Things I Learned My First Year

A few months ago I finished my first year as an English major. I'm learning so much and there's so much to think about that I decided to write some posts about life as an ENG major. I really enjoy it and I can't imagine majoring in anything else, but there were somethings I had to get used to and other things that I had to just accept. Here's a list of 10 things I learned my first year as an English major.

You are not going to like every book
As much as I want to love everything I read, the truth is that I probably like less than half of it. Some of it just isn't my type, while others are just really difficult for me to understand. The main thing is that I try to get SOMETHING out of what I read. Maybe it's a quote, an idea, or another example of a certain era or archetype.

10 page essays are not hard when you know & like the topic
I am dead serious. I was nervous the first time I had to write a 10 analytical essay, the only time I had written that much was for a research essay in a composition II class. That teacher made the point that since we were students our thoughts didn't matter, we were only supposed to write other sources' thoughts and cite them. When I finally got to write a paper on what I loved, I had a lot of fun with it!

Talk to your professors
When your taking classes in your major, you're going to see a lot of the same teachers. These people know their subjects and they know their field, if you have questions then ask them. Some teachers are more approachable than others, so choose the ones you feel most comfortable around. I once asked a teacher how Bleak House was first published and she talked to me for a half-hour about serialized publication of Victorian novels. It was awesome!

Everyone is prejudice towards some type of fiction
You don't like YA? Well, I don't like poetry. We're even. Although other students may not like the same books as you, all of you have a love the written word in common.

Literature teachers & Creative Writing teachers often define the term "literary" differently
First day of creative writing, my professor talked about what "literary" fiction was and why it's the only type of short story we're allowed to write. The same day my critical approaches to lit teacher wrote a bunch of book titles on the board which included Toni Morrison, Stephan King, and Twilight. She asked us which ones were "literary". The answer was all of the above.

If you want a job go into technical writing
This is something I hear all the time. I, of course, went into Literature and Creative Writing which means that I can get a job in law. I don't know why, but that's what the Literature department keeps telling me. Seriously. The reality is they just don't know what to do with us.

Literary criticism is hardcore nerdom
It may put you to sleep, but think of how much these writers study their book(s). I think it's awesome and that's why I actually enjoy reading and writing it.

Literature is everything
As a Literature major I'm not just studying books, I'm studying: history, philosophy, psychology, politics, religion, culture, and so much more. Books contain the world, and we get to study it.

Keep an open mind
You think you won't like a book or a class? Well, you might be wrong. You never know until you try.

Have Fun
Seriously, you're an ENG major. If you're not having fun then why didn't you pick something practical? It is school, so it's unrealistic that you're going to love every moment, but always try to enjoy what you are doing and what you are learning.

     -Christina

7 Deadly Sins Tag

Thanks Kirsty-Marie @ Studio Reads for tagging us, this was really fun! We thought it would be funny to post it on a Sunday so just consider this our bookish confessions.

 

1) Greed

What is your most inexpensive book?

I get most of my books from the Library booksale so most of the books on my bookshelf I got for 50 cents to $1 and on bag day I get books for mere pennies. But I have gotten books for free like The Lost Girl and many of my Jane Austen Books from Sarah (seriously, she has more than enough Austen to share with me) and recently a friend gave me her husband's old copy of Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy that he was going to throw out.

 
My answer is the same as Christina's. 50 cent to $1 at the library and sometimes cheaper at yardsales. And then sometimes Christina will give me some of her doubles like I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You.

2) Wrath

What author do you have a love/hate relationship with?

This was a really hard one because there are plenty of authors I love, but not many that I hate or love/hate. I think maybe Janet Evanovich. I love her Stephanie Plum books... sometimes... at some parts... depending on how much I've already consumed. I read the first six books fairly quickly and I had to take a break for months because there is only so much Stephanie Plum I can handle. It gets a bit much sometimes, and then other times it's exactly what I need.

I'd probably have to say Cassandra Clare. While I really enjoyed City of Bones and I love the friendship between Jem and Will in the Infernal Devices sometimes the things she does to those characters are so painful it makes me mad. Like I would love the series a lot better if "that" didn't happen.

3) Gluttony

What book have you devoured over and over with no shame?

Harry Potter, easily. I have read it 7 times in 7 years. I'm going to be working on my 8th time this fall.

I have read Out of Sight, Out of Time by Ally Carter 4 times within a few months. I can read it in a day so the first time I read it I read it in one day then I reread it the next day. It is such an amazing book I love it!
 

4) Sloth

What book have you neglected reading due to laziness?

 Ugh, so many. Every unread book on my bookshelf. I guess Need by Carrie Jones it is a gorgeous unread book on my bookshelf and it makes me feel guilty... Stop looking at me like that, Need! I'm sorry!

 

Well, I would say Anna and the French Kiss but I'm in recovery. I'm over half-way through with it now.

5) Pride

What book do you most talk about in order to sound like an intellectual reader?

Usually whatever the other person likes. I can talk like an intellectual reader about anything from Charles Dickens to Richelle Mead and even some that I haven't read. I just have general book knowledge. I like talking about books and analyzing them.

Probably Jane Austen or the Hunger Games. They both just have so much depth and I love them so much!!!

6) Lust

What attributes do you find attractive in male or female characters?

I have a thing for fictional guys that have hearts of gold. The ones that are truly kind and loyal and care about the people around them. I like the snarky bad boy as much as everyone else, but I fall in love with the good guy. Novel examples: Mr. Knightly, Samwise Gamgee, Peeta Mellark.

Snarkiness, being a scoundrel, thief.... Give me a guy like Han Solo and I'm sold.

7) Envy

What book would you most like to receive as a gift?

Ooooh, this is a tough one. It's between Still Star-Crossed by Melinda Taub and Out of Sight, Out of Time by Ally Carter. I can have both, right? Are you listening, Santa?

Hmm, right now I'd have to say Something Strange and Deadly... or the whole series. I'm loving that series so much and I have to wait for the last book to come in at the library! Not fun.

Okay, so it's time to tag some people:
Cait and Mime @ Notebook Sisters
Aylee @ Recovering Potter Addict 
Ula @ Blog of Erised