Skit week is upon us for Return of the Native, and with it comes a break from the discussions concerning the book. With this break, and the fun of putting together goofy or silly skits, comes the out of sight out of mind temptation to put the book aside and concentrate on other things. It is a trap, though.

It seems fitting that I take the time here to talk about active reading as opposed to passive reading. Active reading is the process by which we, being students of literature, fully engage with the text. It is a solitary activity for most, although group reads (book clubs, reading groups, book circles) can work in spots. But however you do your active reading, it is imperative that you spend the time engaged on a variety of levels. Yes, read for the enjoyment (if you can with some of these books. 19th century literature isn't everybody's cup of tea, I know.); bask in the glow of the language, repose in the varied voices, recline in the abundant descriptions of setting (What, we're on the heath again? How many ways can you describe a heath?), and luxuriate in the fast paced story arcs that go whizzing by at light speed (actually, Dickens does do this).

But also be a student of literature. Take notes. Make timelines. Scrawl brief chapter summaries on the backs of napkins if need be. Sketch characters- with words and drawings if need be. In short, live the book. Do whatever works for you. And make sure that you can talk about assigned chunks of reading at the appropriate times. I never fail to get students who are adamant that they read the book, in fact are way ahead in the book, but cannot converse about an assigned group of pages. You might have to combat this by- gasp- refreshing your memory on the notes from a selected passage(s) prior to starting class. In the end, it's all about preparing for an English class like you would for a math or science class. I once went to grad school with a guy who had an argument prepped for every piece of literature we read- I mean critical articles had been read, thesis statements had been prepared, the whole nine yards! That guy has moved on in his career to be an assistant commissioner of the New York State Education Department. I bet he's still prepped for every meeting.

Being prepared will carry you far. Whether it's success on the AP exam, a great GPA in college, or a dream job down the road, knowing your stuff when you need to know it cannot be undervalued. Keep reading.