LITERARY PREFERENCES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1277, 4 November 1911, Page 9

LITERARY PREFERENCES.

There is in tho current "Book Monthly" an article which, while interesting as an independent and delightfully unconventional confession of littrnry preferences, strikes a British contemporary as an illustration of tho perils cf excessivo individualism in the matter of taste. The writer, who is a lady, claims that it is her practice to read only books that intcrtst her. Neither the censures nor the eulogies of critics hare influenced her in her choice of reading. She lias never "read against tho grain," and advises her readors not to do so either. There aro many who need no such advice, and out of thoir janks the readers of unlitcrary popular favourites are recruited. Think of her preferences. Mrs. Henry Wond is a prime favottritb, and the writer maintains that her books "will bo read and enjoyed just ro lor.g as there are young men and maidens in the world." She much prefer.i Jane Braddon to Jane Austen. Cavlylo sho never "mado any pretence of liking .'.">r understanding.". Of Dickens sho likes only "Oliver Twist" and "David G'opperficld." She, has never greatly cared for any of Mr. Hardy's books, and, as for Thackeray, he lir.s never appealed to her in the least. Now it is clear that a writer who talks thus does not pose as a superior person, and most people will find romethiag refreshing in her candour. Nevertheless, the reflection must occur that it is to be regretted that;, one who has apparently a strong taste in literature should be content that it should remain an untutored taste. The truth is that in the make-np of a good reader there is in addition to the clear perception of what it is that appeais to him in.the books he likes a keen curiosity as to what it is that appeals to others in the books he does not like. He is modest oaough to believe that there are things that ho may learn, and he does not object to "reading against the grain," in the renso of putting forih mental effort to attain a point of view that was not originally his own, if by that means he can be initiated into the enjoyment oi what' were to him before mere scaled books.