Importance of Reading

"I used the word readings(plural) advisedly because I read Animal Farm at least four times"

I think this quote symbolizes the importance of reading in becoming a fully literate. Akinnaso writes about his journey of becoming literate can be represented in his reading of Animal Farm and how each time, his consciousness was enhanced, broadened, and intellectually increased. Each time he read the book, the story became "substantially richer" as he puts it. His way of thinking differently about the book, recognizing it as a satire, changed his perspective of the story every time.

I can relate to him because I myself read the book twice, once in 7th grade and again in 9th grade. I had the same experience of coming to new realization about the story, and more fully appreciating the story as a satire.

This new understanding of the book, could not have been achieved had we both not read other books in-between. Reading is supremely important in developing literacy. Each time you sit down to read, your view of the world in which you live can changed and be enhanced. Akinnaso goes on to speak of the importance of being able to read because it is necessary to acquire other discourses. His story is remarkable, becoming literate in a non literate world makes me wonder why literacy is such a problem in our society today. I guess there just needs to be more people like his father who push the idea of the importance of literacy upon his son.